Reincarnated in the Astral World

A few minutes ago.

Eliza signals to her brothers, who quickly reach her at the entrance of the mansion. Both seem concerned, but Tobias is the first to speak. "What's the problem, Sis? What did that woman tell you?"

She looks around before speaking in a low tone. "Don't make a fuss, but we have a problem."

Preston realizes the situation is serious and furrows his brow. "What is it about?"

"The Drummonds," she says solemnly. "They're here for us."

Both Tobias and Preston are confused. "But wasn't it you who invited them-"

"Not those with Josephine, of course," she quickly interrupts them. "I'm talking about the Drummonds from Saltstone."

"Damn!" Tobias exclaims, his expression becoming more apprehensive.

Preston looks a bit skeptical, though. "How did they get here so quickly? That seems unlikely…"

"No," Eliza shakes her head. "That woman didn't lie, they're here to kill us."

"Who would act so quickly?" Tobias wonders.

"Freyna probably," Preston comments, also looking thoughtful.

"Or Marcos…" Eliza responds. "Either way, they're here to start a damn war, and we can't let our side start off losing."

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Preston's gaze becomes sharp and determined, but Tobias doesn't seem as courageous. "But we didn't come prepared for a war against the main Drummonds! How many Champions did they send, anyway??"

"Calm down, Tobias!" Eliza raises her voice for a second before speaking quietly again. "We'll handle them personally, now is not the time to be a little spoiled boy."

"I don't care what you think, Eliza! I don't want to die here because of such a stupid mistake!" Tobias starts to panic. "Shit! You guys said no one would attack us on our territory… this was supposed to be just to punish Emilio's killer… Shit! Shit! Shit!!"

*PAH*

Eliza steps toward Tobias and slaps his face. "Now is not the time to panic. We'll deal with this! Or do you think our father got where he is by avoiding his enemies and hiding like a coward?"

"She's right, Tobias," Preston glances at Eliza with a loving look. "We are the Whittlee, and we'll deal with our enemies as always, but…" His expression becomes thoughtful. "What about that woman? Couldn't she help if things get ugly?"

"I doubt it," Eliza shakes her head. "It's already good enough that she was willing to warn me before it was too late. You know, the Drummonds control one of the largest ports in the south; the League wouldn't help us even if we gave them half of our territory."

Tobias nods several times, clearly trying to compose himself. "Alright, alright! We need to act fast then! Where are they? Let's take all the guards and end this!!"

"It's not that simple," Eliza quickly says, but her tone remains calm. "They've already surrounded us and are using explosive runes."

While Tobias widens his eyes and Preston also shows concern, Eliza remains strangely calm and controlled. "We'll position the guards around the mansion and deal with their Mages ourselves, okay?"

"Good plan, we need to stick together in case one of those bastards shows up…" Preston comments.

Eliza places a hand on her chest while looking at her brothers. "Do you have your medallions?"

Both nod, and she continues, "Good, make sure to use all our resources if necessary. This fight won't be easy."

"I'll alert the guards," Preston heads towards the captain and their main bodyguards.

Tobias checks his sword and other items in his storage bag while Eliza looks towards the forest. She uses her right hand to touch her left shoulder, thinking aloud. "I'm going to need your help more than ever today, my friend…"

The tattoo of a bird, larger and more delicate than Emilio's, glows on her shoulder with a bluish-gray light, which is also reflected in her eyes.

In a minute, Preston gives orders to the captain of the guard and their main bodyguards before returning to Eliza and Tobias. Then the trio heads towards the forest at the back of the mansion with a dozen other Elite Rank guards.

Everything around the mansion is well-lit by magical lamps on trees and posts, but as Eliza's group enters the forest, darkness envelops them along with an eerie silence.

Almost a mile from the mansion, the silence becomes so profound that only the group's footsteps can be heard.

"Wait!" Eliza signals her brothers and the guards to stop.

"What?" Preston and Tobias gather around Eliza with swords in hand. "Did you find them, Sis?"

Eliza's eyes glow a light blue, almost white, as she looks around. "Do you hear that?"

"What?"

"Nothing, not even the sound of insects…"

The entire group falls silent, looking in all directions, but even their heightened senses don't reveal anything in the dense forest darkness.

Preston closes his eyes to focus all his attention on his hearing. As a Champion, his body is at a much higher level than Elite Warriors and Mages like Eliza, allowing him to hear something cutting through the wind between the trees over three hundred meters away.

"AMBUSH!!!"

Preston tries to warn the group while raising his sword, followed by Tobias. Eliza reacts next, raising a magical barrier around them.

*Whoosh* *Whoosh* *Whoosh* *Whoosh*

She acts quickly but not quickly enough to protect all the guards, and most of them are struck by silent black arrows that emerge from the darkness with incredible speed, their tips made of enchanted metal.

*Thud* *Thud* *Thud* *Thud*

Ten guards fall with fatal shots before hitting the ground, leaving only the two closest to the siblings saved by Eliza's barrier.

"Damn!!!" Tobias exclaims, his hands trembling around the hilt of his fancy sword.

Preston looks in various directions where the arrows came from and can now hear dozens of hurried footsteps between the trees. "They're coming!"

"Prepare yourselves!" Eliza exclaims as she grabs her magical scepter and starts placing white runes around the group.

The tension rises as the group prepares for more sneak attacks, but no more arrows come from the shadows. The sounds of footsteps grow louder until they begin to stop.

Silence grows again, making Eliza's group even more tense.

"We know you're there!" Preston shouts into the shadows. "What? I didn't think the Drummonds were such cowards…"

"Tsk!" A tongue click comes from the shadows, followed by a deep male voice. "Spoiled and foolish children, that sums up the Whittlee! I'm just having a little fun before finishing you off."

"If we're children, show yourself and face us head-on," Eliza says calmly, her fingers dancing around the scepter in her hand.

"Of course, sweetheart…" The deep voice sounds again, but what emerges from the shadows with heavy steps is a large green-scaled reptile, something resembling a lizard the size of a bull.

The creature opens its mouth towards the siblings, revealing dozens of sharp green teeth and hissing with a long snake-like tongue.

Behind the giant lizard, a few people emerge, led by a tall man with medium dark brown hair wearing practical yet stylish leather clothes, though dusty.

When Eliza sees that man, her expression grows darker. "Marcos… I knew only trash like you would bring assassins to a party."

"Oh dear, you hurt my feelings like that…" He shakes his head with a fake sad expression while holding a black wooden and shiny steel crossbow. "Especially since there were already many assassins among your honorable guests…"