"I'm in trouble," she thought, her mind racing with apprehension. The prospect of traversing the unfamiliar road back to the manor in the dark filled her with unease. If only she possessed a handful of gold coins to secure a carriage for her journey, but alas, she was without any such means. Having a magical ability to fly or even possessing basic magic, such as the ability to conjure light at her fingertips like Raisa, would have proven immensely advantageous in her current predicament.

Restia's mind raced with a solution. She recalled that her friend Nivo owned a pony cart, which she could borrow for the night and return the following day. With a hopeful heart, she set off, hoping Nivo had already returned to Mrs. Thecla’s place. If he had not, she could always ask Mrs. Thecla for assistance. Determined, Restia swiftly made her way through the bustling marketplace, heading towards the apothecaries situated at the far end. Fortunately, she remembered the shortcut Nivo had once shared with her—an alley nearby that would expedite her trip.

Despite a momentary hesitation prompted by the darkness shrouding the alley, Restia pressed forward. Rationalizing that the dimness likely stemmed from the shops being closed and their lights extinguished, she steeled herself and ventured forth. Yet, as she traversed the narrow passageway, a profound silence enveloped her surroundings, amplifying the thunderous pounding of her heart within her chest.

Suddenly, a loud thud pierced the air, accompanied by a man's anguished scream. The unsettling sounds propelled her into action, prompting her to quicken her pace, inadvertently dropping a few parsnips from her basket as she hurried along. Seeking refuge, she turned into another alley, only to be met with the shocking sight of a cloaked figure looming in the shadows. Her eyes widened as she noticed another figure sprawled on the ground nearby, adding to the sense of foreboding that gripped her.

The cloaked figure extended his hand, conjuring blue flames that flickered ominously from his palm. The fallen figure attempted to crawl away, desperation was evident in his movements. It was clear that the cloaked figure intended to harm. Restia realized she had to intervene, yet in the darkness, it seemed they had not yet noticed her presence.

"P-please, spare me," pleaded the fallen man, his voice trembling with fear. Blood dribbled from the side of his face down to his shirt. He bore a resemblance to the man who had been chased earlier. 

“Spare you? I merely wish for you to experience the agony of fire," retorted the cloaked man, his tone devoid of mercy.

As the flames intensified and threatened to engulf the fallen man, Restia's instinct took over. With a cry of "Nooooo," she hurled a handful of carrots and parsnips at the cloaked figure, striking him squarely in the back.

Instantly, the cloaked figure pivoted towards her, causing the hood of his cloak to slip and unveil a mane of dark silver-blonde hair framing a strikingly handsome face. Restia's nerves quivered as she realized the gravity of her situation. She berated herself for placing herself in such perilous circumstances. With a trembling step, she instinctively retreated backward.

The cloaked man fixed a piercing glare upon him, his eyes ablaze in the darkness, causing Restia's limbs to tremble uncontrollably. With a panicked instinct, she spun on her heels to flee, only to collide with an unyielding obstacle and tumble to the ground. As she scrambled to her feet, she realized she had stumbled into another cloaked figure, further adding to her distress.

"And who might this be?" inquired the man she had inadvertently bumped into, directing his query to the cloaked figure nearby. Yet, Restia had no time to linger on their exchange of words. The ominous aura surrounding them was enough to confirm their dangerous intent. The sight of the blue flames flickering in the darkness raised unsettling questions—was that some form of fire magic?

Without hesitation, Restia sprang into action, abandoning her baskets and sprinting for her safety as fast as her legs could carry her. Amidst the chaos, she caught a snippet of the cloaked man's command to pursue the fallen figure, but in her frantic state, it all felt like a dreadful nightmare.

Her heart racing, Restia dashed blindly through the maze-like alleyways, desperate to put as much distance as possible between herself and the menacing figures. Yet, to her dismay, her escape route led her straight into a dead end, thwarting her plans for a swift getaway. Glancing back, she beheld the cloaked man looming mere feet away, his hair seeming to gleam even brighter under the moon's ethereal glow.

"I am sorry. It was not my intention to throw vegetables at you. Look, I was just l-lost in this place. I was merely passing through. I swear on my honor that I won't breathe a word of what I've seen to anyone. I don't even know—"

"So talkative," interjected the cloaked man, cutting her off.

"Please, I beg of you, spare my life. I promise to forget everything I witnessed," pleaded Restia desperately.

However, he extended his hand once more, conjuring blue flames that flickered menacingly in his palm.

"F-fire magic?" stammered Restia, her voice trembling with fear.

Ignoring her question, the man advanced closer, the flames growing larger with a crackling sound filling the air. Restia felt the intense heat washing over her, sweat beading on her brow as if she were standing beneath the scorching sun.

Restia found herself pressed against the wall with each step backward, her gaze locked with the man's piercing eyes. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the striking contrast between his fiery red right iris and the icy blue hue of his left—mirroring the flames in his hand.

"A-are you truly going to end my life over a few vegetables?" she implored, her voice quivering.

He merely smirked, his eyes exuding a malevolent gleam. "Are those your final words?" he taunted.

"Why? W-why are you doing this?" Restia demanded, her voice tinged with desperation.

"Because I have little patience for those who chatter incessantly," he retorted coldly.

"I've already promised not to speak of this to anyone! I swear—" Restia's words were abruptly silenced as the man pressed a finger to her lips, cutting off her protests. His touch sent a faint jolt through her, leaving Restia with a tingling sensation as his finger brushed against her lips.

"What is that?" he queried, motioning toward her left cheekbone. Restia paused for a moment, realizing he might be referring to her birthmark, now exposed as her sweat had smudged away her makeup.

“Oh, t-that-”

In that brief moment, Restia seized an opportunity. While he scrutinized the blemish on her face, she summoned her courage and delivered a powerful blow to his groin with her knee. As he staggered back, a grimace of pain contorting his features, the flames on his hand sputtered and died. With a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins, Restia wasted no time and sprinted as fast as her legs could carry her, her every step fueled by a desperate prayer for survival. Her heart pounded in her chest, its thunderous rhythm drowning out all other sounds, as she darted through the labyrinthine alleyways, her senses hyper-alert to every shadow and every fleeting movement. Refusing to glance back, she pressed on through the enveloping darkness, her sole focus on putting as much distance as possible between herself and the dangerous handsome man lurking behind her.