"The f*ck, Roni! If your head wasn't in the clouds, we could've gotten that blade!"
Hugo's voice boomed across the battlefield, sharp and bitter. He needed someone to take the fall, and Roni—his guild's errand boy and lowest-ranked member—was the perfect target.
Roni pressed his lips together, fists trembling at his sides. He wanted to defend himself, to shout back, but he couldn't. One wrong word, one wrong tone, and he'd be kicked out of the group. His place within Great Dynasty was already fragile enough without adding rebellion to the list.
So he stayed quiet.
As Hugo's insults rained down, Roni's eyes wandered—unconsciously—to Ren. He didn't know why. It wasn't like Ren was his friend, or even someone who'd help him. But something inside him sought the man's steady presence, as if his mind was asking for guidance he couldn't voice aloud.
