Second Lead Syndrome (1-187) | ✓

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Cecil inhaled sharply.

It's there. It's the energy dampening lanterns.

She panicked, searching around the stalls wildly, noticing that they owned the same lantern everywhere. The awareness of their conundrum struck her so hard, she collided right into Zasiok who had stopped a moment ago. 

"Woah." 

Zasiok balanced himself in time, catching Cecil who was stumbling, his eyes fixed on Alric who entered a shop.

"Za-Zasiok, wait--" Cecil began to say, only to be pulled away gently, her words cutting off.

"He went into another shop, let's hide." Zasiok advised, going back to the alleyway and no one paid them any attention.

Zasiok observed the entrance of the shop intensely, looking out for any irregular movements. However, he was interrupted when Cecil tapped him on the shoulder, and he swiftly turned, completely alert. 

 At that moment, Zasiok noticed how close they were to one another and his eyes widened. On the other hand, Cecil did not seem bothered about it, even leaning it when he jolted back, whispering into his ear.

"Dampening lanterns," Cecil warned. "It's all around us." 

Zasiok flinched back, the ear which Cecil whispered into growing hot. However, he couldn't afford to dwell on it, immediately trying to conjure his own fire element. 

It failed. 

He shot his head back up, the horror evident in his eyes and Cecil nodded back at him in confirmation. 

"We are being led into a trap by the king," Zasiok said, realisation dawning on him. "Shit!"

"We need to get Alric," Cecil spoke hastily. "Or we need to get Xue to come back." 

Cecil made a move to exit the alleyway, wanting to dash into the shop. At that moment, there was a sharp glint in Zasiok's violet eyes and he pulled her back. 

"Cecil, wait!" Zasiok hissed out. "We are being watched!"

"Wh-what?"

Being a personal bodyguard of royalty, especially those of high position, spying and assassination was inevitable. Thus, Zasiok has been trained and hardened in such ways, spotting his own kind didn't require any sort of effort from him. 

In fact, he already knew they were being watched from the very start. However, he didn't think much of it, since he could fight them off without breaking a sweat.

However, with the lanterns here, it was a different case.

Zasiok scowled, gesturing to a few people in the crowd for Cecil to see. 

"Straight ahead, street stall, crouching by the corner in torn clothes."

"To our left, guy looking at the shoes on the table, carrying a black backpack." 

"To our right, similar to our left but wearing a black headband." 

In total, Zasiok managed to point out six different figures watching them. Cecil could feel the tingling sensation of fear creeping up her body. 

"You knew they were spying on us all along?"

"I did, but I was confident we could fight them off if the need arises, but now..."

"...the lanterns." Cecil finished his sentence with a sigh.

Zasiok nodded. "They had been planning quietly, patiently, when to make a move."