Chapter 104: Four the jubge

Chapter 104: Four the jubge A wet, spattering sound echoed through the corridor as Sarah’s head erupted in a violent explosion of gore. Eren’s muscles locked in shock, his body frozen as crimson mist settled over the polished stone floor. Where the elven guard had stood just moments ago, only a headless corpse remained upright for one impossible moment before collapsing with a dull thud. From the shadows at the far end of the corridor, a figure emerged. Tall and imposing, she walked with measured steps through the pool of blood, seemingly unbothered as the dark liquid soaked the hem of her flowing robes. Two silent guards flanked her, their expressions impassive behind half-masks of burnished metal. Eren’s eyes fixed on the woman’s forehead, where the number ’4’ was etched into her skin in elaborate script that seemed to shimmer with a faint golden light. Her features were sharp, almost predatory—high cheekbones, a narrow nose, and lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval. Unlike Seven’s wild intensity, Four carried herself with cold, calculated precision. "I was expecting to add her head to my collection," Four remarked, her voice carrying the cadence of one discussing the weather rather than a brutal execution. "Though there isn’t much left to collect now, is there?" Horror and rage warred within Eren. His fingers trembled at his sides as water began to materialize around him—droplets forming from the very air, swirling in agitated circles that mirrored his internal turmoil. The elemental energy responded to his emotions, gathering instinctively for battle. The water flowed around his hands like living serpents, ready to strike at his command. Four’s eyes tracked the manifestation of his power with clinical interest. She showed no fear, no concern at the display. Instead, her lips curved into what might have been amusement. "Oh, Veilwalker," she called out, closing the distance between them with unhurried steps. "I never expected to see you here. What a delightful surprise." Her gaze flicked briefly to the blood-spattered walls. "Though your timing is rather unfortunate." The water around Eren surged, coalescing into a protective barrier between himself and Four. Droplets hung suspended in the air, charged with his power, ready to become lethal projectiles at a moment’s notice. His control over the element was instinctive now, the water responding to his emotional state like an extension of his own body. "Why?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "Why kill her?" Four tilted her head, regarding him with the curiosity one might show an unusual insect. "Why? Because she spoke out of turn, of course." She gestured dismissively at Sarah’s remains. "The little traitor told you about the Thornvale and Moonlight forces, did she not?" Eren’s breath caught in his throat. The water around him rippled with his tension, drops merging into larger globules that hummed with potential energy. "Oh yes," Four continued, stepping closer still, unperturbed by his elemental display. "I heard everything. These halls have many ears, Veilwalker. And many eyes." She tapped her temple with one long finger. "The Master took that ungrateful wretch in, gave her purpose after her village was destroyed, and this is how she repays that kindness? By revealing our secrets to an outsider?" "She was showing me respect," Eren growled. "The respect your ’Master’ claims I deserve as the Veilwalker." Four laughed, the sound like glass breaking. "Respect? Is that what you think it was?" Her eyes narrowed. "She disobeyed a direct command. Information about our defensive preparations was not to be shared with anyone—not even you. Especially not you." The guards at Four’s sides shifted their weight subtly, hands moving to the hilts of their weapons. Eren’s water barrier thickened in response, individual droplets fusing into a wall of liquid that distorted the view behind it, refracting light in eerie patterns across the stone floor. The temperature in the corridor remained unchanged—Eren’s power was purely water, not ice—but the threat was no less potent for it. "And what right do you have to execute someone for such a minor infraction?" Eren questioned, his voice deceptively calm despite the turmoil within. His mind flashed back to Sarah’s innocent admiration, her genuine belief in Kaida’s mission. "She believed in your cause. She was loyal." "Loyalty without obedience is useless," Four replied coolly. "And my right? I am the Judge. That is my function, my purpose in the Master’s design." "What element is this?" Eren asked, his voice tight with controlled fury as he nodded toward the bloody scene. "What power lets you burst a person’s head like a ripe fruit?" Four’s lips curved into a smile that never reached her eyes. "Curious, aren’t you? Always seeking knowledge." She stepped closer, seemingly oblivious to the deadly water hovering inches from her flesh. "I am the Judge, Veilwalker. My element is Mind. I see thoughts, punish lies, execute justice." She gestured toward Sarah’s remains. "Her crime was betrayal. Her sentence was death. Justice is served." The water around Eren churned violently, mirroring the storm of emotions within him. He’d never encountered a Mind element user before—had never even known such a power existed. The implications were terrifying. Could she read his thoughts? Did she know his true intentions? "There was no justice in that," Eren said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It was murder." "Was it?" Four’s voice dropped to a whisper. "The Thornvale and Moonlight forces approach our sanctuary with one purpose—to stop the Master’s great work. To prevent balance from being restored." Her eyes glittered with fanatical light. "They would maintain the chaos, allow the elements to continue their destructive dance. How many more villages must burn? How many more children must be orphaned like our poor Sarah?" Eren’s control wavered, the water rippling erratically as his concentration faltered. His mind raced with implications. If Moonlight and Thornvale forces were indeed approaching, it could mean rescue—or it could mean his mother was placing herself in grave danger. And what of Elena? Was she leading her people into a trap? He studied Four’s expression, searching for deception. "If you truly cared about Sarah, you wouldn’t have executed her so casually." Four’s smile turned cold. "Care? You misunderstand the nature of our relationship, Veilwalker. Sarah was a tool, as are all who serve the Master. Tools that malfunction must be replaced." "And what of my mother?" Eren demanded. "Is she among the approaching forces?" A calculating look crossed Four’s features. Her eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on him with an intensity that made his skin crawl. "Perhaps. Would you like to see her head burst as well? I could arrange a family reunion of sorts—your mother’s scattered thoughts joining yours." Rage exploded through Eren’s veins. The water barrier transformed instantly into dozens of liquid projectiles that shot forward with deadly precision, each aimed at Four’s vital points— "VEILWALKER!" Kiran’s shrill voice cut through the tension like a knife. "ARE YOU COMING IN OR SHOULD I COME OUT THERE TO PLAY?" The moment shattered. The water missiles halted mid-flight, hovering in the air before collapsing into harmless puddles on the stone floor. Four stepped back, a satisfied smirk on her lips, seemingly unperturbed by how close she had come to death. "Better not keep Number Five waiting," she murmured, carefully stepping around the puddles of water. "She gets... creative... when bored." One of Four’s guards nervously cleared his throat. "My lady, should we clean this... mess?" He gestured vaguely toward Sarah’s remains. Four waved a dismissive hand. "Leave it. Let the others see what happens to those who betray the Master’s confidence." Eren stood motionless, slowly reabsorbing the scattered water into his control, drawing the element back to hover around his wrists like liquid bracers. The corridor now smelled of copper and fear, the metallic tang of blood mixing with the damp stone. "This isn’t over," Eren warned, his voice barely above a whisper. Four’s smile widened. "Oh, I sincerely hope not," she replied. "I have a space reserved in my collection that would fit your head perfectly." She tapped her temple again. "I wonder what secrets I’ll find when I crack open that skull of yours, Veilwalker." With a final look at Sarah’s remains—a silent promise that her death would not go unanswered—Eren turned and pushed open the door to Kiran’s chamber, leaving Four and her guards in the bloody corridor.