Draven soon reached the spatial transfer circle.
The others were already gathered around it.
Everyone's eyes turned toward him.
Ryke stood there with cold sweat covering his face.
His body remained slightly tense.
*He pierced straight through her...*
*Without even hesitating.*
Ryke swallowed.
He still couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
---
Pythia, on the other hand, remained silent.
Her eyes shifted toward the direction where Illyria was still healing Hannah.
*I wasn't expecting that.*
She had heard Lyriana's conversation with them earlier.
From what she understood—
they were acquaintances.
And My Lord seemed to know them as well.
*So I thought...*
*But I was wrong.*
Pythia's eyes narrowed slightly.
She glanced back toward Draven.
---
Lyriana stared at Draven.
Then—
her gaze shifted toward Illyria in the distance.
Illyria was still holding Hannah in her arms.
Glowing water continued to cover Hannah's wounds as she healed her.
Lyriana's expression remained calm.
*I didn't expect any less from His Highness.*
She paused.
*But I didn't think he'd go this far either.*
Her gaze remained on Hannah for a moment.
Then—
she looked back at Draven.
*Though...*
*That is probably for the best.*
---
Aldric stood nearby.
His expression showed slight irritation.
He glanced toward Draven.
*He didn't even bother.*
Draven hadn't looked back.
He simply walked straight toward Lyriana.
Once he reached her—
he stopped.
"Hand it over."
Lyriana looked at him.
She immediately understood what he meant.
"Yes, His Highness."
She glanced at the hovering artifact in her arms.
Then—
she handed it over to Draven.
"I've already set the coordinates."
She glanced toward the spatial transfer circle.
"We were only waiting for everyone to arrive."
She continued.
"After the transfer, we'll be somewhere along the borders of the kingdom."
"But the exact location will be random."
Her expression became slightly serious.
"We can't link this circle to another spatial transfer circle."
Draven stared at the artifact.
Silence.
Then—
he looked toward Lyriana.
"If that's the case..."
He held the artifact out.
"Hand it back."
Lyriana stared at him for a moment.
Then she took the artifact.
Draven looked toward the spatial transfer circle.
"Push the circle to its limits."
His voice remained calm.
"Get us as far as possible."
Lyriana's eyes narrowed slightly.
She understood immediately.
"Yes, His Highness."
She tightened her grip around the artifact.
Then—
she turned toward the spatial transfer circle.
Nia stared at Draven.
He simply stood there.
Silent.
Unmoving.
Then—
the glow of the spatial transfer circle began growing brighter.
Lyriana stood at the center of the formation.
The artifact was firmly held in her hand.
Its rings began spinning faster and faster.
**VMMMMM—**
Mana surged through the circle.
The engraved lines across the ground illuminated one after another.
Lyriana glanced at everyone.
Then—
she spoke.
"Here we go."
**FWOOOOOSH!**
The entire spatial transfer circle erupted with light.
In the next instant—
everyone standing within the formation vanished from the spot.
The light disappeared.
The circle remained glowing for a brief moment.
Then—
**CRACK!**
The spatial formation fractured.
Several cracks spread across the stone beneath it.
The spatial transfer circle had been pushed beyond its normal limits.
---
Illyria stood several meters away.
Her eyes were still filled with anger.
But her attention remained focused entirely on Hannah.
She continued holding the unconscious princess in her arms.
Glowing water surrounded Hannah's stomach.
The wound was already closing.
Illyria carefully examined the injury.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
*Fortunately...*
*None of her vital organs were in the path of the attack.*
The wound was severe.
But—
it wasn't fatal.
*It should heal quickly.*
Illyria continued examining Hannah.
A faint breath escaped her.
*I don't even know if I should consider this luck.*
Her gaze lowered.
Hannah remained unconscious.
But she was alive.
Illyria's expression tightened.
*At least...*
*The Princess is okay.*
Then—
her eyes hardened.
*This was my fault.*
Her jaws clenched.
*I was stupid.*
*I couldn't even protect the Princess.*
Her grip around Hannah tightened slightly.
*I'm useless.*
*What kind of guard am I?*
Draven's words echoed through her mind.
*Do your job better.*
Illyria's jaws tightened even further.
For a moment—
she remained silent.
---
After some time—
the wound across Hannah's stomach completely disappeared.
The glowing water faded away.
Only the bloodstained clothing remained.
Hannah was still unconscious.
Illyria adjusted her position and carried her more securely.
*We need to get out of this place.*
She glanced around the ruined spatial port.
Then—
her gaze landed on the captain's corpse.
Darian's body remained where Draven had left it.
Illyria stared at the corpse.
Her expression became serious.
*There are no witnesses.*
She looked around again.
*Good.*
*We can't let the kingdom get involved in this.*
But—
before she could think any further—
she suddenly sensed someone.
Illyria's eyes snapped toward the entrance.
A figure stood there.
Silver hair.
Golden eyes.
Pointed ears.
Illyria's expression changed.
"...Lunaria."
Lunaria stared back at her.
"Illyria."
He looked around the ruined hall.
Then—
his gaze fell upon the unconscious woman in her arms.
His expression immediately changed.
"Princess..."
He looked back at Illyria.
"What happened to the Princess?"
Illyria remained silent for a moment.
Then—
she stared directly at him.
"What are you doing here?"
Lunaria's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I could ask you the same."
His gaze shifted once again toward Hannah.
"Why is the Princess unconscious?"
Illyria's expression hardened.
She tightened her hold on Hannah.
The hall fell silent.
On the other hand—
beneath a sky painted by the setting sun—
figures suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
**FWOOOOOSH!**
Everyone immediately realized something was wrong.
They were in the sky.
For a moment—
everyone was caught off guard.
Vaelith's eyes narrowed.
Her wings snapped open instantly.
**FWUMP!**
She wrapped them around herself, completely shielding her body and blocking out every trace of sunlight.
Draven stared at the scene.
Then—
his expression relaxed.
He quickly moved.
He grabbed Nia before she could fall.
Nia's eyes widened.
Aldric looked around.
"Why the hell are we in the sky?"
Lyriana remained calm.
"There was no other spatial transfer circle we could link to."
She looked toward Aldric.
"So this was the only choice."
She paused.
"Would you perhaps have preferred to appear inside a rock?"
"Or perhaps inside a tree?"