a Col

ir of freedom. The sun was warm on my skin, but

san had given me was barely enough for the cheapest proced

walking bag of cash in this town, a man who wa

y moment, he would be drinking in the town's only bar

at my pale, thin reflection. I deliberately messed up my hair, making my eyes look redde

me. I spotted him immediately, sitting in a corner booth. Billy Hick

n he saw me, and he stood, his face a mask of undi

my shoulders trembling slightly, putting

ed my arm, his grip so tight i

money they gave me isn't enough for the Healer's fee. The Healer said... she won'

"ritual" and the forgery a "certifi

ed. "They dare to play me? Th

now you truly want me. Could you... could you give me the bride-price now? I can

rity. In my last life, that money was swallowed

by the possessiveness my words ignited. He looked at my helpless, fragile

one. Fine! Here's the money. But you'd better be qui

et and shoved it into my hands. I could

iumph, but my face remained a mask of tearful

nother second in his presence. I knew the money in my han

ack alleys, arriving at the dilapidate

rse, Evans, was sitting at the front

of cash Susan had given me, but instead of placing it on the counter, I held i

A magical signature that shows the life s

. "That's... that'

refully counted out a few notes-barely a fraction of the total

aid calmly. "There will be another p

bit her lip, then swiftly swept the money into a drawer. She pulled a piece of parchment and

into an empty e

bled some symbols I didn't understand onto the parch

ed magical signature. It would emit a weak energy fluctuation, similar to the end

rse. "It's done. Now, give me the rest of the

than what Susan had given me earlier-and pushed them toward her. She snatched t

ting," I said flatly.

ady committed the forgery. With a bitter gr

envelope from Billy safely tucked inside my coat, and the small sum