[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dawn-walker":3,"chapter-dawn-walker-dawn-walker-chapter-136":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Dawn Walker",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1836793,2443,"Chapter 136: Misunderstanding  II","dawn-walker-chapter-136",136,"\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Contract Market,\" Lily repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Bat Bat said immediately. \"Master left Bat Bat. Bat Bat wanted to go. The master say no. The master is cruel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily turned slowly to look at Bat Bat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You wanted to go to the Contract Market,\" Lily said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat nodded vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" she said. \"Bat Bat can buy jam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she laughed once, sharp and disbelieving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think the Contract Market sells jam,\" Lily said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat nodded again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everything sells,\" Bat Bat answered with absolute faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena cleared her throat softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He said he needed something,\" Elena said, returning the conversation to reality. \"He should return before lunch, if business does not trap him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily’s lips pressed together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, she looked like she wanted to storm out of the house and drag Sekhmet back by his collar like an angry protective wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she exhaled and forced herself into a calmer posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine,\" Lily said. \"Then we wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat’s face lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Bat Bat said. \"Wait is good. No letters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat’s face fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily’s gaze flicked to the paper again, then to Elena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are teaching her properly,\" Lily said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena’s voice stayed steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am trying to keep her from becoming a public menace,\" Elena replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat gasped, offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bat Bat is private menace,\" Bat Bat corrected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily’s laughter returned, softer this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She moved toward the table and picked up a spare pen like she had done this before, like she had grown up in rooms where learning was expected and disobedience was punished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she looked at Elena, eyes bright with challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know,\" Lily said, \"I was taught by the best tutors in the city lord mansion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena’s gaze remained calm, but the air around her felt slightly sharper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And I raised Sekhmet Dawn,\" Elena replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat looked between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"War,\" Bat Bat whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily pulled a chair beside Bat Bat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All right,\" Lily said warmly. \"Show me what you learned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat puffed up again, happy to perform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena did not object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply sat on the other side, posture straight, hands folded, watching Lily like Lily was a guest and also a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next hour, the room became something strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A battlefield dressed as a classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily taught with charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena taught with discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat learned like a creature trying to steal knowledge without paying the price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lily praised Bat Bat, Bat Bat glowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Elena corrected Bat Bat, Bat Bat sulked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lily corrected Bat Bat, Bat Bat tried to charm her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Elena praised Bat Bat, Bat Bat looked suspicious, as if praise from Elena meant a trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At one point, Lily tried to teach Bat Bat basic manners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When you greet someone,\" Lily said, \"you do not demand respect like a tiny tyrant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat tilted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But respect is important,\" Bat Bat argued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Lily agreed. \"But you can earn it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already earn,\" Bat Bat said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena tapped the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You earn nothing until you write your name correctly,\" Elena said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat stared at the paper, then at Elena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she whispered like it was a confession of deep pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My name is hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily leaned in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your name is two words,\" Lily said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat nodded solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very hard,\" she repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena did not smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lily did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours passed like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat’s growth as a being did not leap in massive numbers, not today. She was too chaotic for that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she did learn a few things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She learned that writing was not an enemy, just a tool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She learned that Lily could laugh and still threaten you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She learned that Elena could praise you and still crush you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She learned that if she ran away, both of them would catch her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At one point, Bat Bat tried to escape by climbing the bookshelf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily grabbed her ankle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena grabbed her wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat dangled between them like a tiny criminal caught in two different legal systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat stared down at them with wide eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bat Bat surrender,\" she announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily smiled sweetly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" Lily said. \"Now write.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat whispered, defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elena is evil.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena answered without missing a beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily laughed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By late morning, Bat Bat finally slumped on the chair, wings drooping, cheeks puffed, eyes half closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I tired,\" Bat Bat muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena’s expression softened a fraction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will nap,\" Elena said. \"Then you will eat. Then you will write again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat’s eyes widened in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily leaned over and patted Bat Bat’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not worry,\" Lily said. \"If you behave, I will buy you jam later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat perked up slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jam,\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena’s eyes narrowed at Lily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily’s smile widened innocently, like she had not just bribed a tiny monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the front hall stirred again. This time, the movement felt different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More direct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Servants’ footsteps quickened. Someone whispered a name with surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young master is back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily rose immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena stood as well, composed but alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat’s head snapped up like someone had shouted the word freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master,\" Bat Bat whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried to run, but her legs wobbled, because even Bat Bat could not sprint after two hours of being forced to write letters like a civilized creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elena caught her gently by the back of her collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait,\" Elena said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bat Bat pouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the story slid forward into the current time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the Dawn House gate, midday light fell across stone and iron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sekhmet stood a few steps away from the entrance, posture calm, face unreadable, as if he had not just walked out of a place where human lives were priced like furniture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Auri stood beside him, quiet and sharp, wings concealed, eyes scanning for threats the way a blade scanned for a throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And behind Sekhmet, the three women waited.\u003C\u002Fp>",1006,"2026-06-09T06:31:32.937Z",1,"novelbin.me","cd5ed93ee3caa81f5426eef64b2746a1dc09a34b3a16825b34e22bff05fb7ad9","dawn-walker-chapter-137","dawn-walker-chapter-135",359,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdawn-walker-cover.jpg"]