'Fool' was the only thing the girl said before moving her glance back towards Lizzy.

She jutted her thumb in Liam's direction and said,

"Will you take the bet?"[mystery girl] Elizabeth twiddled her thumbs and looked down on the ground. Liam's heart felt constricted in his chest. Was he that unreliable in her eyes?

"Of course you are." [mystery girl]Lizzy's sister's voice rang out.

"What?"[Liam] Liam was somewhat befuddled.

"Unreliable. How could you rely on someone who secretly listens to your conversations?"[mystery girl]

"How did you?"[Liam]

"I'm smarter than you."[mystery girl] Liam pursed his lips and stared at this girl with anger apparent in his brows. He looked over towards Lizzy and a fire grew in his heart. He slammed his fist into his chest and said,

"I'll like Lizzy no matter what!"[Liam] A disgusted sigh followed,

"No matter what? You would like her if she murdered children? You would like her if she secretly skinned your parents alive and wore their hides as suits?" [mystery girl]The black haired girl looked over to Elizabeth and continued, "You would like her even if she stood for things that you hate? That isn't loyalty. It's blind, it's self-indulging, its..."[mystery girl]

While Liam was wondering why those examples seemed oddly specific, Lizzy stomped her foot and said,

"You're not even giving him a chance! Stop nit-picking! I'll take the bet!"[Lizzy] The black haired girl nodded and said,

"Shall I?"[[mystery girl]

"Go ahead." [Lizzy]

"I'm Azalea Cerns, this is my sister Elizabeth Cerns. We have different mothers, but the same father. Elijah Cerns, Duke of the Iron North."[Azalea] Liam's eyes were bloodshot, but he quickly closed them and began to think while he composed himself. The duke of the Iron North was a fat and wasteful man who conscripted the peasantry into his armies, letting them die. Letting his father die, Liam lived under the rule of the Duke of the Iron North. In fact, it was that man who banned the peasants from using magic.

'He'll make us fight, but won’t let us protect ourselves!' Liam's breath quickened, he opened his eyes to see Liz... Elizabeth's expectant gaze. Why was she here? To make her self feel better about profiting off the backs of the poor?

'Feeding us a meal is enough to exchange for our lives? Does she think I am a damn dog?'

"See, he hates you. You will never be able to escape their wrath. Your last name is Cerns."[Azalea]

Elizabeth called out frantically,

"Liam! I'm not my father! Please! You're the first friend I've ever made!"[Lizzy]

'Is her desperation about the bet that she lost?' Liam shook his head, that shouldn't be it. Why even make the bet in the first place if she just wanted to use him? Since she made a bet on him, Liam bit his tongue and said,

"A daughter doesn't carry a father's sins. I forgive her as long as she treats us as people, not tools."[Liam]

"Heh, She isn't yours to forgive, but this is still ongoing. As soon he no longer trusts you, you have to come back to the Duchy."[Azalea] Liam's eyebrows drew together once more, this was good for him, but that wasn't part of the de..'

"Okay!" [Lizzy]Elizabeth said jovially, jumping up into the air, pumping a fist.

Liam looked at this girl is disbelief, was she daft?

'That's right' Liam thought, a smile crept onto his face, 'she was.'

Liam's face became serious again as he said,

"Actually, there's something I need to talk to you about. There is a dead student close by. I need a shovel, and it would help if you could ID her. Her parents ought to know."[Liam]

Lizzy's face showed seriousness and determination.

"Take me there!"[Lizzy] Liam nodded, and the trio headed off. Liam was a little surprised Azalea chose to come along, he didn't take her for the type to care about peasants. When they got to the scene, The scene its self was horrid and the smell matched. Lizzy immediately began to vomit. Liam walked over and held her hair back. Azalea walked over to the body and asked,

"How did this girl die?"[Azalea] Liam spoke through gritted teeth,

"She was stabbed. Right in front of me, killed by a noble."[Liam] He looked at Azalea and said,

"Why would a noble kill in cold blood?"[Liam] If his opinion of Elizabeth was on shaky ground after hearing the truth of her background, he had only despise for this other girl." [Liam]

Azalea quirked her lip and said,

"You really are stupid. This girl was killed by a Skinwalker."[Azalea]

"You weren't there, what bullshit are you spouting?"[Liam] She sent an uninterested gaze towards Liam and said,

"That noble probably saved your life."[Azalea] She pointed towards the body cavity, "Look inside, there are tendrils that have spread throughout her body. Skinwalker's use the tendrils from their back to control the limbs of its host. After they have killed the host, they cut open their body, get inside, and sew together the incision with silk that they can spit from their mouth."[Azalea] She tapped the top of her head and said, "Skinwalkers have retractable needles in their skulls, they can remove them a put them back. They are quite interesting creatures."[Azalea]

"She she was screaming for help!"[Liam]

"Ah, yes, Skinwalkers are very good at copying voices, that's how they trick people."[Azalea]

"You're lying!"[Liam]

"Ok."[Azalea]

"Ok?"[Liam]

"Believe what you wish to believe. I will not stop you."[Azalea]

***

'I was sure it was a ploy.' Neidr had been sitting in the tree this whole time. Waiting, and waiting , and Liam never came...

'Is he pranking me? Surely not, he must have really just gone back then...'

Neidr took a deep breath. Regardless, frustration built in his chest, he couldn't help, but to...

"Dammit!" [Neidr]Then he grabbed his cheek in pain,

"Fuck!" [Neidr]

"Shit" [Neidr]

After cringing in pain for a few minutes, and holding his cheek, tenderly. Neidr finally decided that he would move. Since he still didn't know where to go, his best bet was to follow that bastard Liam, but...

By this time, he had no idea where he went.

All he could do was retrace his steps and hope.