Kyle's mana flared slightly, just enough to send a shiver through the room.
"Someone destroyed something that belonged to me. And I don't let those things go unanswered."
He said calmly.
He walked toward the door, his presence colder and sharper than before.
And in that moment, Racheal knew—
Whatever force had burned her home and nearly killed her brother was about to learn what it truly meant to provoke Kyle Armstrong.
______
Inside the local tavern, laughter echoed off the old stone walls as the scent of roasted meat and stale ale hung thick in the air.
Candles flickered on the wooden tables, casting dancing shadows over flushed faces and clinking mugs.
It was a lively evening—more than usual. Patrons chattered freely, eating and drinking like nothing in the world could go wrong.
At a table near the center, a particularly rowdy group of men and women were celebrating noisily.
