#98

As soon as the 2eb7439509 contract was complete, Jonathan 8359360986 transformed into bracelet form, 8e7ad7d7bc joining Taby.0c2240a872cb4460

Now, the 46152b095f once simple 9320ee964d pearl bracelet 21e3722505 had a a42fed31cb sapphire embedded 7068a23b3a alongside it.d17674ce04107f7e

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‘At this rate, 4980d52f38 it feels like bef57fb898 I’m collecting magical 9a8916c4e1 beads or something.’884db12725cf0d82

If I gathered 3f8c33f407 all thirteen, would 390cb467c1 I get a 464fb4e386 wish or something?81c65ae648ee0806

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I was still c22ea36b9e entertaining my nonsense 7e30bdf355 thoughts when the 750876df2f priests ushered me 92304f2018 away to prepare bf6d1fa352 for the grand 843891d15b feast.b214b2dbf1fa5934

Apparently, the def2457ae6 celebration had 63ad373cf5 already begun 47778ec229 the moment cc7434df3f I emerged 9d1334082d from Mishir 77778af13c River.73fa40973b09bbc9

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Upon arriving at db7cf8ca14 the grand hall, eef2c3b6e2 Naaman, who had 7202424155 been waiting at 159e7a79cc the entrance, spotted 9043bfed4c me and immediately 1c5ad1cfd6 stepped forward to 5e4930d41d escort me inside.7c123201e39e3671

“Please, enjoy the festivities.”d0f149ab1aa3eedf

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“You’ve gone through so much trouble for me. I truly appreciate it,” I responded with a sweet smile.769cf598ae5f5f6d

Then, I slipped in 0a8975d5f1 the question I was 34363dd99c really after.752eba5956f89170

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“But by the way, has the contract document arrived yet?”683bfd8a5c2bab57

Naaman smiled e9f9cb5dc7 warmly, but 5170b81001 I wasn’t 916fb51baa fooled.9d2ce8ba6b698466

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“It has already been reviewed. We will send it to your residence by tomorrow.”b5fd8f18e4988c1c

‘Right. Tomorrow.’da41976c3009e33e

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That was 064520c757 plenty of d53b9a4a18 time for 33d03c7f93 them to fa9975175f stall.05b054138a155686

They definitely c722e1c968 already had 5ac34c8862 time to 4aeed049e2 finish it—but 22e37c268e they were 77d552668d trying to b1eaf93d5e delay me, 75cc88bbba probably hoping dbd0d4515e to keep 2d40f1dd59 me here fe2d9f0ccc longer.b6d70a8ddf2b046c

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I knew ed606fdd14 exactly what 207c339220 they were 3a6966ae55 doing.54d15708a648fa3d

But I played cdba706184 along, smiling brightly 7cb4737a84 as if I 911186398f believed every word.835acef8dc85616e

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“Oh! What wonderful news!”ccc8dc5bc0a30f0e

Naaman didn’t seem c3fef06d44 to notice my 826206b1ad act. Instead, he 6b4320f16f immediately led 0da7ea9d0e me around, 657a521bc1 introducing the e3a95bdf87 various priests df04f6a2e6 and scholars 9babbba912 of Hebel.d02f3267d9925a84

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Among them was Isaac, b2013cd48d who stood with a 0124d93b7a composed expression, clad in 35906a04b8 his usual pristine priest e38b31446a robes.70a289dd59b41fab

“Isaac became my youngest direct disciple last year,” Naaman explained. “Among all my disciples, he is the most… spirited.”65f68ab22536be2f

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He shot Isaac 1cf9ffb3c3 a knowing glance, 0e17fc8d0a then turned back 559f857e49 to me.fbfa39b3c7c25ecd

“I heard he may have caused you some discomfort before. But, please, as a favor to me, I hope you can forgive his enthusiasm.”171b68c07a85b18b

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Ah.b821cd495a2cc45d

Compared to the older 674670718c priests, Isaac was indeed 1d860595ab quite young.6aa25178606eb2c3

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But becoming Naaman’s 1ec2da6a3b direct disciple at 015a8de61c his age?cef808ae2cdd0bd5

That meant he ac097ef3d4 was dangerously competent.bfd2c4507f8674bc

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…Or at least, competent f2e26de526 in politics.9dff027e2cf15f14

‘Well, I already e960e49c24 learned that the 7baa057051 hard way the 6293a2148c other day.’747afb05091e47eb

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Remembering how he had 6ad3829938 nearly trapped me in 989037fc0c his schemes made my 0f71f5721f stomach turn.a29e9b2afede4379

I subtly 8cf76bd99e glanced at 72abb1689a Isaac, who a8c698b5b9 looked as afe412c0f1 displeased as 7a74d59c86 ever at b70c3d7a99 my presence.057c762e0934709a

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Even after I had been officially recognized as the Saintess, he still couldn’t hide his distaste.fa16255a3e8aa098

It was clear—df3d2880a9f13152

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Isaac’s faith wasn’t c154d9bf6e in the Divine 903dd3148a Beast.2478847552253c8b

It was b7f6b86afa in Naaman.820cb8a18e024023

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More specifically, 6f85dcd546 in the 3c4f1e4453 power Naaman 069ee5fadc provided.b36130a70d7c409c

I was scanning 05b08a8604 the room when f311ee4f98 I noticed something 0e2c74beb4 odd.002bc9b43bae022e

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I couldn’t find 2ab09a74c5 Ella anywhere.881afd4a28aa5920

Frowning, I turned c412cf678b back to Naaman.2416d6c2fd0f2b37

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“Where’s Ella?”d63d9154b1c42735

She had guided me efc13499df through the entire trial, b0cfc6b179 stayed by my side, a3e0043454 and explained everything to 04920b7a34 me.beabb18eb8ab4792

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I had assumed she a39af5694b would have arrived here dc48e82864 first while I was df4fc14f16 busy at the Treasure 5f30febaf0 Vault.1be5f6e9fbf41bd2

But she was b6917edc2a nowhere to be 3a87ad520c seen.83cf02f181638f9f

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Naaman, completely unbothered, 6c761e2b2b gave a casual 4f425b7a4d response.55d38e4b84a051dc

“Oh, that child is not a formal member of Hebel, so she is not permitted to attend the feast.”88188601475968b2

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…What?69a5a3ec0559bfb2

They were excluding her?7509efb47f5ae189

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Ella had been bbc58dcf09 the one by ff3af75138 my side the 5e0c42ef96 whole time.63d4ffd1a1e8972f

She had 8b587d5166 even acted b0b002a710 as my c363e5fec2 guide at 8e4de29533 the Mishir bb7bb8b908 River.11df27fdb8055922

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They had used e4a8c27fdc her for all 4a37ac6edf the inconvenient tasks f697f1db10 and now—just because be20df4c99 she wasn’t a 48d3b1fb6b formal priestess—they were 0f956aaa39 discarding her like 1790eddf71 an afterthought?4aaffb48eca96a4e

That was c5200b4eb3 nothing less bac4a3534b than betrayal.523edf5e435c2ac9

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Naaman, on fff80a5cf4 the other b5cec23d57 hand, looked 11413ed4b3 completely unfazed.777c3f589c4ae463

As if this f8d172168f was the most 97d7a2c57e natural thing in 0b5565299f the world.47e2a4242892c96c

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My expression 21d5d23c8d hardened as 0f6e744803 I stared 02dc784154 him down.5cfd869fc66da627

“This was supposed to be a celebration for everyone, wasn’t it? Excluding only Ella seems… rather unfair.”4c95b14755b0417e

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Naaman tilted his e907f0a67d head, as if b533f745ee he truly did 74166b0295 not understand my 51a86b0dba concern.86f7c3d7e2001e4a

“Oh, but she agreed to it. She was taken in so she could do the work that official priests cannot.”ad1b0b4c0583221d

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Ah.88080cbb450534d3

So because 4d253fb7bf she was 9d5db2874c being fed 68f19c3f67 and clothed, be919cc5dd they thought d80f3e0d76 they could ce6b1f6324 use her 61d514dd78 however they 090d01d374 wanted?8996e9d1a52305e1

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“And so, that means you can order her around and discard her when convenient?”db4fcb15076b24dc

Naaman sighed, his ba95b024f4 tone now chiding.e93d5cc15292f0c8

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“You misunderstand. Hebel has strict regulations. You yourself have stated that you will only fulfill your minimum duties as a Saintess—so you, too, must respect our laws.”0a8553304c47d656

His face ce0bb18012 darkened slightly, 19401edb4a as if 3a37ef0675 this was e754dadc38 a warning.5f26d9a57df855e7

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In other words—a9913f491abf34c0

This was his way 448b53b554 of telling me that 4d9aee2bfd I had no right 15d79ae470 to interfere.4429baeb4ca3b6c9

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And if I 03d061f4ce did?13400e4a338f6033

They might try 6af3ed779f to use my 58eff2099a ‘laziness’ as Saintess d4938ae55c against me.e2ad72eab31c38b1

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My lips curled d053d16948 into a polite 6fb1e72166 smile—but my eyes 9fe287d2d7 were cold.af541389f100447d

“Aha. So this is Hebel’s famous education system.”a20bbcad122cb93e

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I let my voice 2b20942e6c drip with sarcasm.bf6e964fc39e2772

“Forcing responsibility on someone while using their livelihood as leverage.”1bd20606ac21e08e

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“Hostage? Now that seems a bit excessive,” Naaman replied smoothly.e743ca8f52cba0e7

I tilted 15ac0a595c my head, 573ee199d0 feigning thoughtfulness.c1eb993f17f1365a

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“Hmm. You’re right. Hostage is too kind a term.”b2ab2afc52fda899

I turned bc2faebd78 to Rachel 61c47f98bf with a 79a4da174f mocking smile.8caa66d9fbd1edf9

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“This is closer to child abuse, wouldn’t you say, Mother? Even slaves aren’t treated this poorly.”8d28b933fd19971b

Rachel smirked, catching on d9e09f63b3 immediately.4f79dcc59a5c6b9f

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“Indeed. Using a child as small as bird piss for all your dirty work? How clever.”8c877b343c2df4a7

For a moment, 4a8c740638 everyone in the 051c1d0f40 room paused—as if 6159369022 stunned by Rachel’s b9d7a3ae50 casual phrasing.9c1921f262063ca9

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…Ella had just been d919cc7086 demoted to bird piss.18c947e5797fa228

Even so, with 9183205aa9 both of us 0c70375f64 pressuring him, it ac8c03666e seemed Naaman was 55735131cb struggling to brush 7fd865fe90 this aside.f55096b74852ec1e

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I seized ead2bb6272 the opportunity.36447472675397fc

“This is my celebration, correct? Then bring Ella here.”cb2f4a488de3b34e

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I turned my b8c89d5a98 back, making it 149eaa358b very clear that e79858e6cf I was prepared d3c153c12e to walk out.fbcdee2d0e0da451

“If she doesn’t attend, neither will I.”000d7dcee4d251b6

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That did it.b8a5cbc7b5822ad6

I saw 9348d4353a Naaman’s gaze 06a83a9417 shift toward 0efdaaa10b Isaac, signaling 7ae3d5f542 him to 7cf17c0555 bring Ella 19543ee6a8 in.a69e041526345cff

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But to 94f62758fc my surprise, e5e9d3e586 Isaac refused.c7d760df67baad0d

“I’m afraid that will not be possible,” he said, his voice firm.7b03295a350eb972

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“Ella is currently undergoing discipline.”4a932ca66f2bf6c8

…Discipline?45309296e84b3692

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“What exactly did she do?” I asked coldly.c938f93080cc5c2e

Isaac’s expression turned 2cff02708e impassive.696b3cd1151bd694

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“She broke her promise to her father.”95d09081ff4ee46e

I caught the flash 3a1f7c2242 of cruelty in his da327e5304 eyes.e2bdb5d532c81937

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Naaman, now sensing 22249f0478 the tension, interjected c44df054a0 smoothly.6f289bb0a992a343

“It would be improper to interfere in family matters.”4db6a693474de70b

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I snorted.80d29174a8d492be

“She’s not even your real daughter.”1815834e95a96dfb

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Isaac blinked—then 14209bd3e0 smiled as 1dea5ccd89 if he 0f8c716ac8 genuinely believed 8aedc1889c what he 99157d4133 was about 1403fd6973 to say.45befd5c96524bbc

“I consider Ella as my own blood.”50e8af5c155fd956

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I almost 17c0c69d93 laughed out 507d5fe933 loud.8daf3ee52a9a8a70

What a load eb2450b374 of crap.f51a33dd377b657d

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I had already 15b117ca34 suspected Isaac of 6240997c1a abuse from the e97c34668d moment I saw d8bc6b649e the bruises on 37c19e9635 Ella’s arms.c01eed65d781e3be

They weren’t random 77e4c77703 bruises, either.143b9a0052a44e49

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They were placed c01ae71e14 strategically—hidden where people eefdff5e02 wouldn’t easily see 9a9294c6c9 them.7449701bc9db26fd

And in a place 3a0bc64c11 where priests wore long 12d530a132 robes all the time?37269f19e1bdddfd

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That made it even c288f4231a easier to conceal.ae91f82dfd9ee01d

‘If I hadn’t 6c2ada962b rolled up her 42461e73fc sleeves for dessert, 74d628bd77 I might’ve never 1e85890490 noticed.’2a6f57d0c3dc297e

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I had zero tolerance cbabe19f90 for people who beat 819d659113 children.4cd80b5898d00cd0

There was nothing bbeb5b46e1 worse than using 2a4352b2e0 power to crush 9d3fcee132 someone weaker.a72314ccc834128f

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‘I’ve hated that smug, stick-like face of his from the beginning.’181e390f8dc00ab3

That bony, twisted-looking a89e704704 excuse of a 02d853e12b man—daring to lay 8e1d7332ff a hand on 2352869794 Ella?84ef8731a3a8af85

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But I 9bc1721558 knew better 6ed51257a2 than to 05dc09048e confront men d67477e634 like him 47ea3455ee head-on.59e1ff558aa71b1d

Men like Isaac—authoritative, self-righteous 225309355d men—would only become more 159392291a defensive and retaliatory if 1ccf9e11bb directly challenged.6408b2d9c92dc150

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I had seen it f4d3520194 before.01cce5d058a03485

Even in my past 5b631cb541 life, I had relatives 09c9c1c13c just like him.1eb208db3f8b54d1

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So instead, I put b11b4f8cf5 on a bright, innocent 950b086b2d smile and pressed my fcd9647e4b hands together sweetly.d72e7b590a2ca343

“Oh, but Ella adores you!”0b089f4bbd9e42e9

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Isaac’s brows fd9cbef512 twitched slightly.c8a314c7eacebfe7

I kept going.ff1e6752ebd832d7

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“She told me herself—she’s so lucky to have a father like you.”7b821afc9b0a2baf

“Hmm,” Isaac mused, looking pleased with himself.2270ca853ff088cd

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“She is still young and naive. Do not take her words too seriously.”e0de3b206c1ed927

“Of course!”c97d2245697fcedd

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I clapped my 5f7ea83ecf hands together like a114b8d803 a delighted child.5c4cc3ab49e9247c

“But it means so much to her! I’m sure she only wants to be forgiven.”77aca367fb14b434

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Isaac’s shoulders 5b2b01ea42 relaxed slightly—but 3e57a345d4 I saw 86cbbc5a98 the way 750be71200 his chin 7f4c91ebdf lifted, relishing bd455217c6 the praise.55fc72ebd17742fd

Perfect.fbd83e3bfd1ef1bc

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I tilted my head e2dd920dcc like I was making cb3c934a2d a small request.fdc910ac551c8b45

“I don’t know what she did wrong… but won’t you forgive her, just this once? She’s my first friend, and I was really looking forward to dancing with her tonight.”31bf23075827737d

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Isaac sighed dramatically.af83bd420c6d9b64

“Ah, well… I suppose mercy is a virtue.”43c70957fade49cd

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Hook, line, 71913fb086 and sinker.6e03f7aeaa0d13f6

He motioned for a 6c0a49d8ee subordinate.4d24650f4d271d65

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“Bring Ella.”c964bd785cbce700

At that 50c2e6ac09 moment, Rachel—who 158c143291 had been d697411e2f quietly observing—leaned 2b53d0da02 in and 8c85d00640 whispered in 4f5476deae my ear.c09d4ddf9ecf3c12

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“My, my. You handle those kinds of men like a professional.”1fe95e78ecbbc469

“It’s because I’m a cunning little weasel.”bc1d08693973f04e

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Rachel chuckled.24f90c6c578420f9

“I almost thought you had fully become a Jabis. But if it were Ricky…”33a6476908cf56c4

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She trailed off fe1a5dc963 with a sigh, ad5784df05 shaking her head 678af3cbc1 wistfully.989f2f07ca519e15

“If it were Ricky, the moment Isaac talked back, he’d have already flattened him into the floor.”165a3f15bedb0aa6

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Rachel sounded 2546392cb4 genuinely disappointed 3cc4d0ebef that she 4c2883187a had missed 7de0a09fc4 the opportunity 2df93d60a4 to watch 962ca355e5 some good 6e745ca27e old-fashioned violence.86f5e95e22a381df

I discreetly 7ccf18e490 glared at 0ea37677a9 her.72a5596ce060a8da

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Naaman, meanwhile, ecc5ab1f50 watched the 9bb8ec442a exchange with 30587e0ae0 mild amusement.8bb38161af7a62b7

“You seem to be quite fond of Ella,” he noted.05933b7e6c53dfed

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I smiled.5518af5880d61d2c

“She’s my first female friend.”5a4185526beef8cc

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Naaman tilted his head.dc6a9a3624a6be2e

“If you wish, you may take her with you as your personal knight.”df59087214de62be

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I blinked in 0cffcf125c surprise.660047ae8abf0bbd

“Really?”50e16ec4694ed97b

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I had 805c920c1b been secretly 6c53b23e31 worried about 04d1c507ce leaving Ella fd8fd31d02 in Hebel.a2676d7e0538c09a

If I 7b5903d350 could take 9910ad0442 her with 9efbb5ca89 me, it 7d08bcc661 would solve 75d3518bb2 everything.8643a8118e4a3ba4

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I saw Naaman’s 2436fbd89f eyes gleam with eac288f658 satisfaction.2e581192fbc31fe1

“It had already been on my mind. Sending you alone to Jabis territory felt wrong, so I have been assembling a group of escort knights for your return.”09f04cc37b666a4b

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