Chapter 108

Chapter 108: Chapter 108

Freya’s eyes widened slightly before her expression turned cold. She spun around and hurled her mace towards Jowe.

The heavy weapon flew through the corridor with terrifying speed, its four bells ringing loudly as it cut through the air. Jowe’s pupils contracted. He immediately threw himself sideways, narrowly avoiding the weapon as it smashed into the wall behind him. The impact sent chunks of stone flying in every direction, and the mace bounced off the damaged surface before dropping towards the floor.

But Freya was already moving. She pushed herself off the ground, leapt into the air, and landed directly on the handle of her mace as it fell. Her boots hit the weapon, using its movement to propel her forward. Before Jowe could properly regain his balance, she kicked off the mace and rushed towards him, her fist swinging straight at his face.

Jowe raised his arm to block. The impact forced him backwards, his boots scraping against the floor. He barely managed to steady himself before Freya attacked again, this time aiming a sharp kick at his abdomen. He twisted away, but her foot still caught his side, sending him crashing into a nearby pillar. A grunt escaped his throat.

Freya landed several steps away, her shoulders rising and falling as she stared at him. The grin on her scarred face had disappeared, leaving behind an expression that was far more frightening.

"Jowe, do you really want to go against me?"

Jowe straightened slowly, rubbing his side. His eyes were filled with anger, and the hand holding his gun remained raised.

"I always knew you were mischievous, Freya. You’ve never been particularly respectful, and I’ve ignored plenty of your nonsense over the months. But accusing my grandfather of killing Hunter G? That’s too much! You have no right to say such things about him."

Freya let out a short, humourless laugh. "Then what do you want me to do? Apologise to him? Should I get on my knees and beg for forgiveness after he killed the person I love? Is that what you want?"

"You’re not thinking clearly!" Jowe snapped. "Ever since that woman arrived, you’ve been acting strangely. You started questioning everything, getting involved in matters that had nothing to do with you, and now you’re standing here accusing my grandfather of murder. It must be her fault! That Ingrid woman has been filling your head with nonsense. I’ll go and bring her here myself. Once she’s here, we’ll find out what she’s been telling you!"

Freya’s expression changed. For a brief moment, the anger in her eyes was replaced by something resembling pity. She looked at Jowe, then slowly shook her head.

"You’re really hopeless, aren’t you? How can someone be so blind that he can’t see what’s happening right in front of him? Do you honestly believe this has anything to do with Ingrid? Nobody needs to fill my head with anything. I’ve seen enough with my own eyes, and I’ve heard enough to know what kind of monster your grandfather is."

She took another step towards him. "Berthanon is nothing but an ungrateful snake. He kills people, steals what belongs to them, and then stands before everyone acting like some righteous leader. He took this Guild from its rightful owner, destroyed the people who stood in his way, and now he wants everyone to bow their heads and thank him for it. How shameless can someone be? How much more do you need to see before you finally understand that the man you’re defending doesn’t deserve your loyalty?"

"That’s enough!" Jowe shouted.

"No, it isn’t. You need to hear this, and you need to understand it. Hunter G is dead, and your precious grandfather is responsible. If you keep standing in my way, I’ll forget every bit of history we have together. I won’t spare you simply because we’ve known each other for months, so get out of my way!"

Jowe’s jaw tightened. He looked at her for a long moment before raising his weapon again. "I’ll be the one to bring you back to your senses. If you refuse to listen to reason, then I’ll make you listen."

Freya lowered her body slightly, shifting her weight onto her back foot. Her gaze moved briefly to the gun in his hand before returning to his face.

"Since you don’t want to be sensible, don’t blame me for what happens next." She rushed forward.

Jowe fired immediately, but Freya had already moved. She ducked beneath the bullet’s path, her shoulder nearly brushing the floor as she slid forward. Before he could fire again, she hit his wrist with the side of her palm. His gun flew out of his hand and skidded across the corridor.

Jowe tried to retreat, but Freya caught the front of his uniform and pulled him towards her. Her knee slammed into his stomach, forcing the air out of his lungs. He doubled over, and she followed with an elbow to his back that sent him crashing onto one knee.

However, Jowe was not an ordinary opponent. Even while struggling to breathe, he twisted his body and swept his leg towards hers. Freya lost her balance for a moment, and he used the opportunity to grab her arm. He pulled hard, attempting to throw her over his shoulder, but she planted her foot against the ground and resisted. Their bodies collided, and both stumbled several steps before separating.

Jowe reached for the knife at his waist. Freya saw the movement and kicked his hand before he could draw it. The blade fell, and she immediately followed with a punch that struck his cheek. His head snapped sideways, and blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"You’re still defending him?" she demanded, advancing on him. "After everything? Even now?"

Jowe spat blood onto the floor. "You don’t know what you’re talking about!"

"Then make me understand!"

He lunged at her. Freya stepped aside and caught his arm, twisting it behind his back. Jowe struggled, but she used his own momentum to drive him forward. His shoulder struck the wall with a heavy thud, and before he could turn around, she kicked the back of his knee.

He dropped to one knee. Freya released his arm and took several steps backwards, breathing hard. Her mace was still lying near the damaged wall, but she didn’t bother retrieving it. She was already close enough to finish the fight without it.