Serena stood still, but Kain noticed the flick of her fingers. Subtle. Almost like a hand signal. Or a tick. As well as the slight parting of her lips—almost like when a ventriloquist is concealing their own speech.
And then—
Vauleth slipped.
Only for a second. A single half-step off balance, like something interfered with his footing.
But it was enough for the Elemental Guardian to slam a wave of molten rock into his chest, sending him skidding backward across the field.
Kain's eyes narrowed.
'No way that was a coincidence.'
Then Aegis missed a counterattack he should've landed easily.
And one of the Vespid guards suddenly froze mid-flight, as if something had momentarily clouded its judgment. It took a direct beam of light to the thorax and fell from the sky.
Kain's blood ran cold.
He looked at Balens.