The abandoned shrine stood wrapped in quiet stillness, the soft rustling of dry grass whispering faintly against the cracked stone as the evening air grew cooler. The fading sunlight filtered weakly through the broken structure, casting uneven shadows that stretched along the worn floor, giving the place an eerie sense of forgotten sanctity.

Luca did not hesitate.

Maintaining the illusion was now the only choice left.

His hand remained firmly around Seraphina's waist as he continued the kiss, ensuring that any observer arriving upon the scene would see nothing more than two travelers caught in a private moment, careless of their surroundings.

The faint sound of approaching footsteps grew clearer as two… then three figures emerged from behind the outer stone wall of the shrine, their silhouettes appearing gradually against the dimming light.

The men paused when they noticed the scene before them.

For a brief moment, silence lingered.

Then one of them let out a low chuckle.

"Well, well…" he muttered, amusement evident in his tone.

Another man beside him laughed openly, shaking his head.

"Can't even keep themselves under control out in the open like this?"

The third man tilted his head slightly, observing more closely before recognition seemed to flicker across his expression.

"Wait…" he said slowly, narrowing his eyes as he stepped closer. "Aren't these the same two from yesterday?"

The first man snapped his fingers lightly.

"That's right!" he said with a grin. "The couple walking around the market… acting like the world didn't exist."

The second man smirked.

"Didn't expect them to be this impatient."

Their laughter echoed faintly through the abandoned shrine, their voices carrying casual mockery without any real suspicion.

Only crude amusement.

Luca allowed the act to end naturally, slowly separating from Seraphina as though mildly irritated at having their private moment interrupted.

His expression showed controlled annoyance, just enough to appear believable without inviting unnecessary confrontation.

Seraphina's gaze remained calm as she adjusted her posture, her composed demeanor returning effortlessly despite the sudden intrusion.

Both of them observed the newcomers quietly.

Then—

Their eyes shifted subtly.

One of the men held a large sack slung loosely over his shoulder.

The material was rough, tightly tied at the top.

Heavy enough to slightly affect the man's posture.

Luca's gaze lingered for only a fraction of a second.

Seraphina noticed it instantly.

Their eyes met briefly.

Something unspoken passed between them.

A flicker of awareness.

Possibility.

Then their attention returned to the men before them.

The three men now seemed far more interested in Seraphina than in the supposed interruption they had caused.

Their gazes lingered openly, lacking even the attempt at politeness.

One of them gave a low whistle.

"Now that is a sight worth stumbling upon," he said crudely.

Another smirked as his eyes traveled slowly, openly, without restraint.

"No wonder he couldn't wait," he added with a laugh.

The third man adjusted the sack slightly on his shoulder, his gaze equally undisguised.

"A beauty like that… and dressed like that as well…" he muttered, his tone carrying suggestive implication. "Hard to blame the man."

Their laughter carried unpleasant undertones, their expressions revealing neither shame nor hesitation in their open appraisal.

One of them tilted his head slightly as he addressed Luca directly.

"You must be quite fortunate," he said with a grin that did not reach his eyes.

Seraphina's expression remained unchanged, calm and unreadable, her posture relaxed yet subtly attentive as though weighing every word, every movement.

Luca did not respond immediately.

But the air around them had already changed.

Something beneath the surface had begun to move.

The air around the abandoned shrine seemed to grow heavier as the crude amusement on the men's faces slowly shifted into something more unpleasant. Their gazes lingered upon Seraphina without restraint, their earlier laughter now carrying an edge of boldness that suggested they did not feel threatened in the slightest.

One of the men stepped forward slightly, his grin widening in a manner that revealed far too much confidence for someone who clearly did not understand the situation he had wandered into.

"Well now," he said casually, adjusting the sack upon his shoulder as though the burden meant little to him, "you seem like a reasonable fellow."

Another man beside him chuckled, folding his arms as his eyes remained fixed upon Seraphina.

"No need to be selfish," he added with a smirk. "We can make it worth your while."

The third man reached into his coat, producing a small pouch which gave a faint metallic sound as it shifted within his grasp.

"Consider it fair compensation," he continued lightly. "You let us enjoy her company for a while… and we make sure you leave with more than you arrived with."

Their tone suggested they believed this was nothing more than a crude negotiation.

As though the world would simply bend to their assumption of control.

Luca's expression did not change immediately.

But the warmth left his eyes.

Replaced by something far colder.

"You seem to have a death wish," he said quietly, his voice calm in a way that felt far more dangerous than anger.

The men blinked briefly before looking at one another.

Then they burst into laughter.

"Did you hear that?" one of them said mockingly. "He thinks he can threaten us."

Another shook his head.

"Travelers often forget where they are," he muttered dismissively.

The third man tilted his head slightly, his grin widening as arrogance took hold.

"Well," he said slowly, "if you will not cooperate willingly…"

"…we will simply take what we want."

They began stepping forward, their confidence unshaken, their movements careless.

Luca turned his head slightly toward Seraphina, his gaze steady as he spoke in a calm, quiet voice.

"Now there will be no guilt."

The words carried simple meaning.

Clear understanding.

Seraphina gave the faintest nod.

The next moment—

Two blades appeared within Luca's grasp.

Twin sabers materialized as though summoned from the air itself, their polished surfaces reflecting faint traces of the fading sunlight that filtered through the ruined shrine.

The men barely had time to register the shift.

Luca moved.

His body blurred forward with controlled speed, the precision of his movement revealing discipline far beyond what any ordinary traveler could possess.

The first strike came swiftly, the blunt side of the saber connecting firmly against the wrist of the man holding the pouch, forcing the object to fall from his grasp before he could react further.

The second movement followed seamlessly, the hilt of the other saber striking cleanly against the man's shoulder, disrupting his balance completely. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Before the third man could even process what had occurred, Luca pivoted smoothly, delivering a precise blow to the side of his neck with calculated restraint.

None of the strikes were lethal.

Each carried just enough force to incapacitate.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Within moments, all three men collapsed onto the ground, unconscious before they fully understood what had happened.

Silence returned to the abandoned shrine once more.

Luca exhaled lightly, allowing the sabers to dissipate as though they had never existed.

Seraphina stepped forward calmly, her attention already focused upon the sack that had remained tightly bound throughout the brief confrontation.

Without hesitation, she moved toward it, her expression composed yet alert as she prepared to examine its contents.

The silence that followed the brief clash felt heavier than before, the abandoned shrine once again returning to its still and watchful quiet. The three unconscious men lay sprawled upon the cracked stone floor, their earlier arrogance now replaced by the undignified stillness of those who had underestimated their opponents.

Luca retrieved a length of rope from his storage ring, his movements calm and methodical as he bound the men securely, ensuring there would be no immediate trouble once they regained consciousness. His knots were firm, efficient, leaving little room for escape without causing harm that would draw unnecessary attention.

Seraphina remained near the sack, her gaze focused, her composure fully restored as though the unexpected moment from earlier had never occurred.

Likewise, Luca chose not to acknowledge it.

There were matters of far greater importance at hand.

Once satisfied that the men were properly restrained, he stepped toward her, his attention shifting naturally to the sack resting upon the ground between them.

"In such a secluded location…" Luca said thoughtfully, crouching slightly as he examined the rough fabric, "…carrying a tightly secured sack like this…"

His eyes narrowed faintly.

"It certainly gives the impression of something suspicious."

Seraphina gave a small nod in agreement, her expression calm yet attentive as she carefully loosened the knot securing the top.

"Given the circumstances," she said quietly, "it would have been unusual if they were not attempting to hide something."

The fabric shifted softly as she opened the sack.

Both of them leaned slightly closer, their expressions focused as they examined the contents within.

Inside, they found various items hastily packed together.

Several small pouches containing coins.

A collection of jewelry pieces clearly not meant to be transported together in such careless condition.

A few personal belongings that appeared mismatched, as though gathered from different individuals rather than belonging to a single owner.

There were also worn garments folded poorly, their condition suggesting they had not been packed with care but rather taken quickly.

The contents spoke clearly.

Petty criminals.

Thieves.

Perhaps bandits preying upon travelers who ventured too far from populated paths.

Troubling…

But not connected to cult activity.

Luca exhaled quietly.

"Nothing here indicates demonic involvement," he said calmly.

Seraphina sifted through the items carefully, her movements precise as she ensured nothing was overlooked.

"No ritual components," she confirmed.

"No symbols."

"No concealed mana signatures."

She closed the sack slowly, the faint sound of fabric brushing against itself breaking the stillness.

Another dead end.

Luca allowed a faint sigh to escape him.

"Nothing here either," he said quietly.

For a brief moment, both of them remained silent, the growing pattern of unsuccessful searches pressing faintly upon their thoughts.

Then—

Seraphina paused.

Her gaze shifted slightly as something caught her attention among the scattered items.

Her fingers reached toward a small object partially concealed beneath a folded cloth.

"…What is this?" she said quietly.