14 Behave or Die! (2/2)
Meanwhile, unlike Bjorn who now beamed with joy, as she stared at Kilian, Lena's eyes flashed vigilance. Bjorn might be a simpleton, but as a woman that managed to establish her own gang of ruffians amidst Ostria's cutthroat slums, Lena wasn't easily deceived. Better, as her long-standing crush, she paid special attention to Lukas' appearance and every move.
Two things puzzled her. First, and most glaringly, the eyes. Although Kilian used fleshcrafting to adjust his too handsome face to match that of the fallen Lukas, their eyes spoke different tales.
In the previous Lukas, Lena always felt a contradictory mixture of silent rage and helplessness. But when he stood beside Bjorn and his sister, Tamara, those feelings would make way for palpable warmth. But now, although Kilian's eyes spoke familiarity, Lena could sense none of that warmth. Worse, she didn't doubt that - unlike the previous Lukas who wouldn't easily unsheathe his blade at her - a wrong move and the new one would gut her on the spot.
Second, the threat level. Although she knew herself unable to contend with him, the previous Lukas never gave her such a crushing sense of helplessness. It was as if a world-sized gulf now stood between them. Either Lukas experienced drastic, magic-related changes across those three days, or this simply wasn't him. She leaned on the latter.
After all, how much change could one man experience across three days?
Eager to expose the fraud - as Kilian readied to give Bjorn an explanation - Lena made various hand signs toward her ten subordinates, motioning for them to stand ready for a fight. Though surprised, they answered the command and silently unsheathed their daggers.
Hunter households aside, the law forbade commoners from owning weapons besides kitchen knives, daggers, small hammers, and other forms of indispensable tools. Even then, they had to make an inventory of all their potentially lethal weapons. Although the aristocracy didn't fear the common man's rebellion, the law was a convenient excuse to conduct impromptu raids and keep their servants in perpetual fright.
The slums may not suffer the same monitoring as the city proper, but not many dared overtly break the law—unspeakable consequences awaited. Worse, in major cities such as Kars or the capital, magical detectors sweeping the entire city could determine who possessed what without fail. Although Ostria didn't reach the major city tier, caution harmed none.
But as Lena's group readied for the assault, an uncanny scene occurred. Unanimously, all felt the weight of their shoulders skyrocket while their limbs stiffened without apparent cause. They could not move an inch.
Their limbs then took control, returning the daggers they'd stealthily pulled out back to their sheaths!
Instantly, their eyes widened with fright!
But the worst had yet to come! As the eleven-man-strong group shivered in utter silence - with their lips unable to part - guided by a force they couldn't comprehend, they all raised their right hands toward their faces. The foreign force tore their flesh from the inside out, engraving three bloody words on their hands:
”Behave, or die!”
They thundered within the ruffians' minds, making their hearts threaten to leap out of their chest!