The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

A message had arrived in Zoriaien.

The reason was straightforward—it came directly from the official website of the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps, the very group Nova had founded.

Nova had been careful not to expose her IP address or physical location, so she hadn’t felt the need to erase every trace deliberately.

Still, Ghost-Hammer had clearly managed to track her by following the faint digital footprints she left behind, pinpointing that she was somewhere in Zoria, though not exactly where.

That towering figure, despite wielding devastating hammer-like powers, was surprisingly detail-oriented—more so than most women Nova knew.

It was precisely because of this meticulous nature that Nova felt confident enough to temporarily entrust the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps to Ghost-Hammer’s care.

As soon as Nova finished reading the message, Sophia’s eyes caught the screen too, and she gasped in surprise.

Pointing at the phone, still wide-eyed, Sophia said exactly what Nova had expected: “Bloodblade Mercenary Corps? Wait, isn’t that the foreign game you were playing last time? I never thought a game could be so lifelike. They actually send text messages to your phone to make the experience feel real?”

Sophia’s amazement stemmed from this alone.

Though she came from a wealthy family, Sophia was, at heart, just an ordinary student.

Her sheltered upbringing had limited her exposure to such immersive technologies, and thus her imagination hadn’t stretched far.

Besides, Nova looked so young—still a student herself—no one would ever guess she was the leader of a mercenary outfit.

“Yeah, it’s just a game,” Nova confirmed with a calm nod.

She had already predicted that Sophia wouldn’t suspect anything unusual.

With composed grace, Nova turned off her phone screen.

At that moment, Sophia hurried over, sliding her arm through Nova’s, her voice bright and eager. “Forget about the game for now. Tonight is Zane’s birthday party. Let’s just treat it like a normal dance and have some fun.”

She grinned. “Come on, Nova, I’m taking you to try a game you’ve never played before.”

Indeed, Nova had never experienced this particular game.

Near the open space where the birthday celebration was underway, a small playground for children sat quietly.

The academy had built it especially for wealthy parents who brought their kids along during meetings, giving the children a safe place to play.

It was truly a first-rate service.

And now, the undefeated queen of the battlefield—Nova herself—was sliding down the children’s slide with an expressionless face, guided by Sophia’s enthusiastic encouragement.

The sight was utterly absurd.

Yet, in some strange way, it filled a void—something resembling the childhood joy Nova had never truly known.

“This is better, right, Nova?” Sophia said, catching her breath as she ran over, holding two desserts she’d grabbed from the party. “I just love playing where it’s quieter. The party is so packed; I can barely breathe with all those people.”

He had been hiding in the shadows for quite some time, secretly listening in on Nova and Sophia’s conversation, curiosity gnawing at him.

Just recently, Nova had turned down his good friend Zane, and Ethan wanted to understand what this extraordinary girl was really about.

But he hadn’t expected to be caught.

Judging by her tone, she must have known he was there all along, he realized.

Ethan was one of the three most handsome boys at Saint Laurel Royal Academy.

While he might not match Zane or Maxwell in combat skills, he was the school’s best tracker.

When Ethan was in hiding, even Zane and Maxwell—the academy’s undisputed top fighters—couldn’t detect him.

He had once even toyed with professional assassins, experts in stealth.

Yet, Nova had seen right through his concealment from the very beginning.

Her perception was razor-sharp.

She was even more formidable than Zane, Maxwell, and those professional killers, Ethan thought in stunned admiration.