Lirazel's golden eyes shimmered with something between curiosity and calculation as she floated closer, her wings gently flapping in rhythm with her measured breaths.
The space between them was thick with unspoken tension.
Finally, she spoke again, her voice returning to that careful tone Nolan had come to recognize as her 'serious' mode.
"Considering that the creature you killed was weaker than the average native spawn of this realm," she began, "it's likely that whoever sent it was only testing the waters."
Nolan tilted his head slightly. "Testing?"
"Yes," she said, nodding once, slowly. "A preliminary probe. They were gauging whether this territory is safe for more substantial deployment. It's standard strategy. And now that you've killed their spawn so easily—and without even using a weapon I provided—they'll likely assume that you're a threat."
Nolan raised an eyebrow. "What?"
