Chapter 643: Three Passages
"Oh? So the little guy has some backbone," the Cardinal said, his smile fading into a glacial stare.
He raised his hand, about to cast Luminous Bind, a powerful Light Spell—
—but froze mid-gesture.
The red-haired boy stepped forward and blocked him.
"What's wrong, Lord Jamie?" the Cardinal asked sharply.
"He's not who he appears to be. I don't think I could beat him one-on-one," Jamie said, his eyes fixed on Charles. He bowed politely.
"May I ask your name, sir? And why you're assisting a Hawthorne?"
Charles opened his mouth—and spoke in English.
"That's none of your business."
A hush fell over the group. Even the Cardinal stiffened.
"An otherworldly human?" Zoe said, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "But didn't the Amber Church claim they only appear in the Fifth Layer?"
"He's speaking a completely alien tongue," Ruby muttered.
Jamie nodded. "Unlike before, anomalies are growing. It's not impossible for one to show up in the First Layer now."
