Chapter 21: Traitor?!

The kid leads them to a dead end, a cobblestone wall blocking their way.

"Here we are" The girl claims.

"You live…in a wall?" Selina questions.

The girl walks forward, stepping into the wall and disappearing.

"Oh, it's illusion magic, interesting." Reinhart walks into the wall as well followed by Selina who was way more hesitant.

What greets Selina is a shabby wooden house. 

"You guys are finally here!" The girl knocks and an attractive man opens the door. He was a tall, rugged man with messy, long jet-black hair and sharp amber eyes.

"Ah, Nora, you're back. How was the capital?" The man talks sweetly to the younger girl.

"Brother, those people want to talk to you!" Nora points at Selina and Reinhart. Immediately, the man's eyes turn cold as he glares at them with hostility. 

"Who are you? Nora, I told you not to bring unwelcomed guest here."

"I'm sorry, I made a mistake." The girl's ears droop in sorrow.

Reinhart grips the handle of her sword as Selina walks towards them, her hands in the air to show surrender.

"Hey, we're not here to pick a fight. I just wanted to ask a few questions if that's alright with you." Selina speaks softly.

The man takes a closer look at Selina, she was clearly a noble. But, she was a delicate and extremely pretty lady…What's the worse she can do? He looks at up and faces a pair of fierce eyes staring right at him. Maybe Selina can't do anything, but that bodyguard behind her certainly can. 

"Tell that bodyguard of yours to put down her sword, then we can talk."

Selina looks gently towards the redhead and Reinhart reluctantly places her sword down.

"Good, well, it's rude to keep people out, come in. Don't make yourself at home."

The confused Nora stares at the two parties who were glaring daggers into each other but then remembers she has food to eat!

"Brother, warm this up for me!" Nora eagerly shakes the bag of bribes giving to her by Selina.

"The pretty lady gave it to me!"

"Thank you, I suppose" The man coldly thanks.

Selina cautiously enters the small house, Reinhart following closely behind. Selina sits down on a chair while the man sits across from her. 

"...Why are you just standing there?" Selina glances at Reinhart.

"To maximize defense in case things take a turn." She coldly stares at the untrustworthy man.

"You're making a big assumption when you two are the ones who came uninvited. I should be the one worried, not the other way around. Taking advantage of a child, scumbags." The man turns his head to face his little sister who was at the moment, happily eating her little sweets. 

"Listen, just let me explain. Why are you here? You're clearly in the wrong kingdom and before that gets misunderstood, I have no qualms about you being here, but it's not safe."

"Before I say anything, introduce yourself. I'm Alan, just a regular commoner before and now. You are?"

"I'm Amelia and I'm from the Amister household."

Alan's eyes widen in surprise. 

"From the duke's household? Oh shit, what did you get us into this time Nora." He shakes his head.

"Well, to answer your question, it hasn't spread to the capital yet, but the beast kingdom is under attack by demons."

"Demons?!" Selina exclaims in shock.

"It was so sudden, one hour Nora and I were eating with our family, the next was fire, everywhere. We managed to escape thanks to our parents sacrifice." Alan's voice lowers, his sadness prominent in his speech.

"The attack happened a few weeks ago, and I don't know what state the animal kingdom is in now. We weren't the only ones who took refuge in the human empire, there are many."

"I am so sorry for your loss."

Selina's voice softened with genuine sympathy, her noble demeanor giving way to raw emotion. "I can't imagine the pain you must have gone through, losing your home and family like that."

Alan clenched his fists, the weight of his memories evident in his tense posture. "We barely escaped. I'm just trying to keep Nora safe now. That's all that matters."

Reinhart, though still guarded, seemed to relax slightly as she spoke up. "If demons have crossed into the beast kingdom, it's only a matter of time before their influence spreads further. We need to know more about the attack, anything you can remember."

Alan hesitated, his sharp amber eyes studying them carefully. "Why do you care? What does a noble from the Amister household want with this information? The problems of the beast kingdom have never been your kind's concern before."

Selina leaned forward, her gaze steady but sincere. "You're right, I could ignore this. But if demons are involved, it won't stop with your people. They'll bring ruin wherever they go. If I can do something to stop that—" she paused, swallowing the weight of her words. "Then I have to try."

Alan stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed, leaning back in his chair. "The attack wasn't random. The demons knew exactly where to strike, where the guards were weakest. They came in waves, coordinated like an army, not the chaotic monsters the stories make them out to be. Someone had to have helped them."

"Helped them?" Reinhart's voice sharpened. "You're saying there was a traitor?"

Alan nodded grimly. "I don't know who, but it's the only explanation. And if someone allied with them, it means the demons have allies outside the beast kingdom too."