Chapter 168
“Second, Hadrien has to come with me. He is my personal guard Sentinel p>
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That last sentence gave the Black Spire Sentinels a kind of expected yet unexpected shock.
They’d already guessed Hadrien’s sudden, excessive care for Lyra stemmed from her identity as a Guide. But none of them expected him to skip every customary step and jump straight to the position of her exclusive personal guard.
A flicker of quiet jealousy stirred in quite a few hearts.
Hadrien hadn’t even known Lyra as long as they had. What gave him the right to claim that privileged role?
Still, no one voiced their discontent. They were all on the same side now, and divided loyalty was the worst mistake a Sentinel could make.
“That’s—” Yannis moved to reject the demand without a single thought.
Zev cut him off before he could finish.
“I’ll submit a formal request to headquarters p>
He turned to leave, but Lyra stopped him at once.
“Wait p>
Zev glanced back, watching her type frantically on her Star Brain, her movements rushed and
urgent.
“I really can purify far more Sentinels per day than the standard limit. I’m completely capable of it.
“If you don’t believe me, I can demonstrate right here, right now. Please pass this along to your superiors p>
Zev stared quietly at her anxious, pleading eyes, his expression unreadable.
“Understood p>
Yannis and Lior exchanged a frustrated look, clearly displeased by Zev’s sudden shift in tone.
They already had the Guide within their grasp. Prying her away from these unstable, contaminated Black Spire Sentinels should have been effortless.
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They were inches from success, so why was Zev hesitating all of a sudden?
The two hurried after him to press for answers.
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Only those Sentinels remained standing at the entrance, both monitoring and protecting.
Lyra’s shoulders went slack, all her strength draining away.
“Lyra p>
Hadrien rushed to her side in an instant.
Lyra lifted her gaze to him, her eyes swimming with helpless, desperate tears.
“Hadrien, I don’t know what to do anymore.
“What if they refuse my terms p>
Her fingers trembled lightly against the Star Brain’s surface.
Hadrien’s heart sank with sorrow. He gently brushed the tears rolling down her cheeks and pulled her softly into his arms, holding her tight and soothing her with quiet, steady gestures.
“It’s alright. No matter what happens, as long as you’re safe, nothing else matters.
“As your Sentinel, my will follows yours entirely. If you don’t want to leave, I’ll hold them off until my last breath p>
From the moment a Sentinel chose to devote themselves to a Guide, they surrendered all self- will.
A Guide’s safety was their safety.
A Guide’s joy was their joy.
A Guide’s sorrow was their battle to overcome.
That was the sacred, final duty of every Sentinel.
They did not exist to cling to their Guide–they existed to share life and fate as one.
Lyra’s chest clenched sharply at his words, the pain so heavy it stole her breath.
This was exactly why she’d chosen to compromise. She couldn’t bear seeing anyone hurt or dying for her sake.
Unable to speak a single word, Lyra tightened her grip on Hadrien’s uniform, shaking her head
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repeatedly in his embrace.
He could not die p>
She did not want him to die…
She would go with them.
She would lose her freedom, be treated like a tool, and endure whatever cold treatment they had planned.
None of that mattered compared to the lives and loyalty of the people she cared about.
Zev had barely finished his official report when Yannis and Lior confronted him.
“Mr. Korth, you need to remember the purpose of our mission.
“We are not here to bargain or negotiate deals p>
Zev glanced at them indifferently.
“Take your complaints to the director p>
He was only responsible for obeying orders.
“You p>
Yannis and Lior seethed at his blatant disregard for their authority as senior department leaders, yet they could do nothing to challenge him.
The Oversight Council answered only to the highest–ranking federal officials, acting as the constant, unyielding check–and–balance power hanging over every governing department.
Zev returned to the cell block moments later, addressing the teary Guide in the wheelchair.
“Before we approve your conditions, we need to test your psychic power in person p>
Lyra steadied her emotions and readied herself for the test.
Knowing she had no experience with these procedures, Hadrien leaned close and whispered quiet instructions in her ear.
“Once you put on the device, you’ll face mental obstacles. Just focus your mind, immerse yourself in the mindscape, and push straight through them p>
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Lyra nodded firmly.
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Looking at her red, swollen eyes, Hadrien lovingly wiped away the dampness at the corners of her eyes with his thumb.
“There’s no danger. Don’t be scared p>
Lyra nodded again.
Zev stood opposite her, watching silently p>
Lyra looked young, still like a student far too new to this harsh world. Small and frail in her wheelchair, she seemed even tinier beside Hadrien’s tall, sturdy frame.
Her eyes were swollen half–shut from crying, the corners of her eyes and cheeks flushed a delicate, vulnerable pink. Yet her gaze, washed clean by tears, was bright and crystal clear like polished glass.
As Hadrien gently smoothed the messy strands of hair atop her head, she pressed her lower lip tight, staring at Zev with a quiet mix of defiance and grievance.
Zev met her resistant gaze without reaction and asked flatly, “Ready p>
Hadrien shot Lyra a questioning look.
She nodded once more.
Zev stepped forward with the testing device.
Lyra dropped her gaze and typed quickly on her Star Brain.
“What tier are you ranked as a Sentinel p>
Zev paused briefly, then carefully secured the device over her head.
“Tier–2S p>
Lyra lifted her eyes to him one last time.
Even though his helmet concealed his features completely, she burned every detail of him into her memory.
In that moment, she finally understood every word Jessa had ever told her.
Even the weakest and most timid person had to learn to fight back when pushed to the edge.
Otherwise, they would be trapped at the bottom forever, crushed under the weight of others‘
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control.
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Lyra’s vision shifted abruptly, opening into a vast, empty void stretching endlessly like outer space. Tiny pinpricks of light flickered in the far distance, resembling scattered stars.
She tried turning to look around, but her perspective was locked forward, unable to see anything behind her.
Slowly, the distant star–like glows began drifting toward her, growing bigger and brighter with every passing second.
It should have been dazzling, yet she only felt a faint ache in her head.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.