Pascal was drenched in sweat, his face pressed against the cold stone floor. Renard's blade hovered just above his neck, sharp enough to draw blood with the slightest pressure. Yet the human mayor remained silent, lips trembling but refusing to speak.
Renard, unbothered by the resistance, lifted his sword in a swift, practiced arc. Without hesitation, he turned his aim toward the woman kneeling beside Pascal, who clutched a young boy protectively in her arms.
"Wait! Wait—!" Arabella's voice rang out, her hand shooting forward in desperation.
Renard hesitated for only a breath, his golden eyes flicking toward her, weighing the interruption. A mere five seconds passed as he decided his next move- before his sword continued its downward arc despite her standing in its path.
Instinctively, she crossed her arms before her, bracing for impact—
"Down, Renard."
Cassius's voice sliced through the air, calm yet absolute.
