She was growing increasingly suspicious that her encounter with her master all those years ago had been nothing more than a carefully orchestrated scheme. She had always believed their meeting was pure chance—that he had seen her potential and decided to train her. But now, it seemed more like an elaborate setup. Every decision he made, every lesson he taught, every mission he assigned her—even his sudden disappearance—had perhaps been tied to the "Holy Grail" from the very beginning.
And now, Emma's words had given her a startling revelation—Eryx was not just her master. He had other "students." More than that, his goal had never been solely about her.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain composed in front of Emma. Yet, her silence did not go unnoticed.
"What's wrong?" Emma studied her with a slight frown before giving a light chuckle. Half-jokingly, she added, "Don't tell me that my simple description scared you? Sure, the guy's face was full of scars, but he was actually quite charming. No need to be afraid—you'll never meet him in this lifetime."
Never in this lifetime.
But in my past life, I have.
Alia's gaze flickered slightly before she shook her head, adjusting her tone to make it sound more natural. "It's nothing. I just feel a little tired all of a sudden. Let's sit down and talk. I'm quite interested in your story—can you tell me more?" She paused for a moment, feigning casual curiosity. "This man… why did he train you for a while and then leave? Sounds mysterious."
Emma thought for a moment, then shrugged with a hint of helplessness. "I don't know. I never knew who he really was, why he taught me, or why he left." She hesitated briefly, her gaze drifting as if recalling the past. "I just remember that he trained me for a while. One day, he said he wanted me to help him with something, but he never told me what it was. Then he disappeared. I never saw him again."
Alia lowered her gaze, concealing the storm of emotions in her eyes.
This… was exactly what had happened to her.
Eryx had done the same to her. He trained her until she was strong enough, then started giving her missions, guiding her step by step toward a final goal. And when he laid the last piece of the puzzle, he vanished.
Suddenly, a thought struck Alia.
What if this "third force" Emma spoke of was actually working under her master? And the man Emma had encountered back then—was he Eryx himself, or someone connected to him? Were they simply two people with the same name, or were they the same person all along? And if so, could he be linked to the Second Legion Commander?
Once the idea surfaced, it spread like an inescapable web, trapping her in its threads.
She pressed her fingers to her temples, forcing herself to stay calm, keeping her expression neutral. But her deep contemplation did not escape Emma's sharp eyes.
"What's the matter?" Emma's gaze turned shrewder, a half-smile tugging at her lips. "Don't tell me… you've seen this man before? Or maybe you know him?"
Alia's head snapped up, meeting Emma's probing gaze. Her heart clenched. She knew how perceptive Emma was—one wrong move, and she would become suspicious. Although they were allies for now, Alia had no intention of revealing too much.
She quickly adjusted her expression, deliberately showing a trace of admiration, and shook her head with a light chuckle. "No, I just thought that if someone like him had trained me, I would've improved much faster." She smoothly changed the subject.
Emma didn't press further, but her eyes remained watchful.
"That's true…" she murmured, as if recalling something. "It wasn't until I joined the military and underwent formal training that I realized how terrifying he truly was. He only taught me a few simple tricks, yet even in the army, they proved invaluable." A hint of reverence and complexity flickered in her eyes. "What seemed like mere thief skills always ended up saving my life at critical moments."
She paused, then sighed with a touch of nostalgia. "Even now, I wouldn't stand a chance against him."
Alia's fingers trembled slightly but quickly steadied.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath.
No matter how powerful her master was or what grand schemes he had, this time, she would not let herself be manipulated like before. She would uncover the truth. She had to know whether this man was truly her master and what his ultimate goal was.
No matter what—
She would never again be a pawn in someone else's game.