“First of all, let me say that I’m sorry. If it wasn’t for me, you and the others wouldn’t have a target painted on your back.” Lith said while holding her hand and caressing it with his thumb.

“If you want, you guys can escape from this sh*t. Avoid the academy for the first trimester or ask the Headmaster to attend the fifth year after the threat is passed. I don’t think he’ll have any objections.”

“What about you?” Phloria asked.

“I have to stay.” He shrugged. “Whether the attack succeeds or not, my family will be the next in line anyway. At least from here I can do my best to help Linjos and maybe take out the traitors before something else happens. I’m the only one that knows when and how the future changes. I need to inform the Headmaster as soon as it happens.”

Phloria bit her lower lip, full of uncertainty. Lith was right, she and her sisters had an easy way out of that situation. Until they remained at house Ernas or near their parents, they would be safe.

“Also, you can greatly improve your odds of survival simply by cutting your ties with me.”

“What?” Phloria had to fight to prevent herself from slapping him for saying such a thing and herself for seriously considering it, even though for just a second.