Rubina had been a woman spoiled to her growth. She was powerful and blessed. Many would kneel before her and many would try to win her heart. She had seen many curs who thought they were worthy of her. Enemies who despite their animosity towards her. Showed her great respect that a woman of her status has.

At this moment she was not being treated. In front of her was a man whose soul had cracked. There was a candle flame that spiked with energy inside the soul of this man. His eyes were frosty and no hint of respect or admiration was pointed at her. She was confident with her appearance and seeing this man unfazed damped a bit of her confidence.

No, that can’t be right, she thought to herself. It wasn’t his lack of interest towards her that worried her. It was his eyes that showed no light. Her reflection was in the eyes of the man. He was looking at her as if she was a cattle. Yes, she had finally seen the malice of those who were around her. She realized that she had that same look when a man bows to her. She had thought this man as inferior, but he probably thinks the same. Who was captured and who was the victor here? She was the loser and he won against their bout.

“I made a mistake,” she thought.” I shouldn’t have gone alone. I should have gone all out.”

Einar Elion gazed at her nape and her collars. No lust could be found on that gaze. It was more like a gaze of a man who’d like to his hands around her neck. She unconsciously gulped, turned her eyes away, only to look back at the man whose gaze had frozen. He was a ghost within a lamp’s light.

“My master said that naturally selfish and that they always put themselves first. He hasn’t been wrong and I only saw a few who had the selflessness of those. Back then, I choose to murder bandits because it was right. In my eyes, you are nothing more than a powerful bandit that has come to hurt my friends and family. You a strong, and you have your worth, I know that. But even if I let you go, you will come back. You are a proud woman, too proud, and I know that you will come back. Even if the favored children recover, they will know that I live here. Tell me, a proud woman of the favored. Why do you live?”

She couldn’t answer. His words were like an arrow slowly heading towards her heart. His fingers were twitching as if the moment she spoke words there would be fingers digging into her neck. The unknown feeling that was not present to her crawled from the depths of her emotions. Her eyes dilated and her heart rapidly beat like drums, deafening her ears.

“I fight for my people,” she said. Indeed, selfish, spoiled, and utterly arrogant to others. She was still a person who cared enough about her country to respect its wishes. If it was to benefit her country then she would do its bidding. That was at least she could to repay the country that brought her up.

“Is that so?” His words crept on her spine. Such a dismissive tone would have found her rage. She couldn’t allow herself to lose control, knowing, that doing so would only strengthen the man in front of her. He was dangerous not because of his strength. But the ruthlessness that came with his strength and power.

“I am speaking no lies,” she said timidly like a mouse trapped.

“Is that so?”

Stop repeating that word, she thought, her eyes shaking mad. Her vision tunneled and the only focus of her eyes was the person whose fingers were eager to dig into her neck. She couldn’t hold it in, the fear, the stress, and the absurdity of the situation. She was firm first but yet when she had realized how helpless she was. She had gone into a state of fear and panic. Warm liquid started to wet her now disheveled dress, dripping down her thighs, creating a clear puddle underneath her skirt.

Tears poured out of her eyes, a body shaking sob came out of her, and her legs give in, planting her bottom on the puddle. Shame poured on her heart, and yet she looked at the man whose eyes didn’t leave her neck. He was just staring vacantly at her neck.

“Should I?” He asked blankly while looking at her pathetic appearance. “It would be better if I kill my enemies before they come back. But the wrath of a nation after killing it's favored would be disastrous for this tower. Still, it won’t hurt to be careful.”

His hands went to her neck. She dragged her powers into full power and tried to unleash her strongest spell. Alas, the spell broke, and a surge of energy came rushing towards Einar. He took a step back and sat cross-legged in front of her. He absorbed the energy and she saw the candle flame inside of him grew into a bonfire. The cracks of his soul were mended and he was whole.

“I’ve been duped,” Rubina thought. Still, that didn’t change her perception of Einar. She refused to leak out what she thought in fear that she will find his fingers piercing her neck, she couldn’t utter any words.

“Thank you for that,” Einar said with a thin smile on his face. “This is a useful seal. No wonder the Old man only did to that demon. He was right that it would invigorate the soul.”

Earth-like scales appeared on his gloveless fingers. The power that came from his spell cast resembled her energy. She saw a thread of light in her mind’s eyes flowing out and into his soul. “You are stealing my energy...”

“That’s right,” Einar said. “This will seal your powers and feed me your energy if you misbehave.” He looked at the puddle underneath her. “I shall be your escort, and I am guessing that your ladyship has no complaint about that?”