Ryke stared at her.
"Yeah..."
He sighed.
"Anyways."
He pointed toward Illyria and Hannah.
"Lyriana spoke with them."
"And these two said they're here to see Draven."
He gestured toward the flooded hall.
"So they helped clear the port."
Kaelira's eyes immediately sharpened.
"You damn bastard."
She stepped closer.
"You're even calling the Master by his name now."
Ryke blinked.
"So you knew his name?"
Kaelira looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious.
"Yes."
"Of course."
She folded her arms.
"Pythia told me."
Ryke's expression slowly fell.
"So..."
He looked around.
"I'm the only one who didn't know?"
Kaelira stared at him for a moment.
Then—
she calmly answered.
"Nobody told you because..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"...it was pointless for you to know."
Ryke's mouth opened.
He stared at her in disbelief.
"...Seriously?"
Kaelira simply turned her attention back toward Illyria.
Ryke remained standing there.
Soaked from head to toe.
Completely exhausted.
And now—
deeply offended.
*Why the hell does everyone keep treating me like I'm useless?*
*I'm still alive, aren't I?*
*That's already an achievement.*
Kaelira turned her attention back toward Illyria.
"So..."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who are you?"
She tilted her head.
"And why do you wish to see the Master?"
Ryke glanced toward her.
*She's going right for it.*
*Honestly, I'd like to know too.*
Illyria remained calm.
"I'm sorry."
She shook her head slightly.
"But I can't tell you."
Kaelira's eyes narrowed.
Illyria continued.
"You'll just have to wait until Draven gets here."
She paused.
"Or..."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Ryke.
"If you really want to know, you should go ahead and ask her."
Kaelira frowned.
"Her?"
Illyria thought for a moment.
"What was her name again?"
Ryke sighed.
"Lyriana."
Kaelira's eyes shifted toward him.
"Right."
Ryke looked between them.
"Alright."
He pointed in the direction Lyriana and Pythia had gone.
"Let's go."
Kaelira blinked.
"Huh?"
Ryke started walking.
"Let's go meet Lyriana and Pythia."
He glanced back at her.
"Or do you want to keep them company?"
Kaelira stared at him.
Then—
she narrowed her eyes.
"You better not try anything."
Her claws flexed slightly.
"I'll be watching you."
Illyria calmly looked at Kaelira.
"So will I."
Kaelira's eyes shifted toward her.
The two stared at each other.
For several seconds—
neither moved.
Then—
Kaelira turned away.
She followed Ryke.
Ryke walked ahead while Kaelira remained several steps behind him.
*It's probably best not to know.*
*Getting deeply involved in all this shit won't do me any good.*
He glanced back briefly.
Kaelira was still watching him.
Ryke immediately looked forward again.
*Yeah.*
*Definitely best not to know.*
---
On the other side—
Illyria turned toward Hannah.
Her voice softened slightly.
"Princess..."
She paused.
"Do you still wish to continue with this?"
Hannah remained silent for a moment.
Then—
she gave a small nod.
Illyria lowered her head.
"As you wish."
The two remained standing inside the flooded hall.
Waiting.
Waiting for Draven to arrive.
---
Meanwhile—
Lyriana and Pythia had already reached the platform where one of the spatial transfer circles was located.
The enormous formation covered most of the platform.
Multiple rings were engraved into the floor, each one connected to the next by intricate patterns.
Lyriana stood at the center.
The artifact rested in her hand.
She glanced down at the spatial circle.
Then—
she spoke.
"Now the circle is secure."
Her gaze shifted toward Pythia.
"Inform Lady Vaelith."
Pythia raised the hand wearing the earring.
"I just did that."
The earring glowed faintly.
"She said she's on her way."
Lyriana nodded.
"Alright."
She turned her attention back toward the spatial circle.
"Let's begin."
The artifact in her hand suddenly began glowing.
One ring began rotating.
Then another.
Then another.
**VRRRRRRMMM!**
The rings continued spinning faster.
The air around the artifact began to distort.
**WHOOOOOM!**
Mana spread from the artifact and flowed into the spatial formation beneath their feet.
The engraved lines immediately lit up.
---
Outside the city—
inside a cave—
Vaelith stood near the entrance.
Both babies were wide awake in her arms.
She stood there quietly, gazing up at the cloudy sky beyond the cave.
Dark clouds stretched across the sky.
The wind moved gently through the surrounding area.
Vaelith's crimson eyes remained fixed ahead.
Then—
she spoke.
"Come along."
Her gaze shifted slightly.
"Let's go."
Footsteps sounded behind her.
Nia walked out of the cave.
She stopped beside Vaelith.
Vaelith glanced toward her.
"Grab onto me."
Nia stared at her for a moment.
Then—
she reached out.
Her hand wrapped around Vaelith's arm, close to her shoulder.
Vaelith didn't say anything else.
Mana immediately began releasing from her body.
**WHOOOOOM!**
A powerful surge of mana spread outward.
The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly.
Vaelith's clothes and hair fluttered from the pressure.
Nia tightened her grip.
Then—
both of them slowly lifted from the ground.
**WHOOSH!**
Their bodies rose into the air.
Vaelith carried the two babies securely in her arms while Nia remained firmly attached to her.
A moment later—
they flew away from the cave.
**FWOOSH!**
They disappeared into the cloudy sky—
heading toward the city.
On the other hand—
inside the city of Dresvalle—
Aldric hovered high above the city.
His black wings were spread wide behind him.
Below—
Dresvalle was being torn apart.
**BOOM!**
Another building collapsed.
Lightning flashed across the battlefield.
**KRAKOOOOOM!**
The sky trembled from the impact.
Aldric stared down at the destruction.
His expression slowly darkened.
His fingers tightened.
*...This is fucking ridiculous.*
He watched another explosion erupt in the distance.
Then another.
The flashes of lightning came faster and faster.
The entire battlefield had become a blur of destruction.
And Aldric—
couldn't do a damn thing about it.
*I hate this.*
His jaw clenched.
*I hate standing here.*
*I hate watching this.*
*And most of all...*
His eyes narrowed.
*I hate that I can't even tell how that damn fight is going.*
Aldric's wings twitched violently.
Mana began gathering around his body.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
*I hate to admit it, but this battle is beyond me.*