The Price of Intrusion ( 76 )

Alf could sense something was wrong the moment Lord Garius spoke. 'I don't feel good. Let's head back to the estate. Something is not right.'

Alf's instincts flared, and he immediately signaled to the elite guards, ordering them to turn around and head back to the estate. His voice was low, but the urgency in his tone was unmistakable. "Head back! Keep your eyes sharp!"

Meanwhile, back at the estate, Javier, still seated on his mother lap, was enjoying the rare moment of indulgence. He savored the attention from his mother, who lavished him with affection. But as he rested his head against her, a sudden jolt ran through him—a subtle shift in his perception—a faint signal from the magic alarm he'd set up around the estate.

Javier's heart skipped a beat. "Intruders…"

He quickly masked his concern with a smile, causing his mother to frown in mild confusion as he spoke. "Ah, mother, I need to use the bathroom."