They continued driving.
Time passed.
Eventually—
the vehicle began to slow down.
Ryke narrowed his eyes as he looked ahead.
"There is an inspection point ahead."
Pythia glanced toward the road.
"Just continue."
Ryke looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
Pythia nodded.
"Just like before."
Ryke sighed and kept driving.
The vehicle gradually approached the checkpoint.
Several soldiers stood along the road, inspecting every vehicle that passed through.
As they got closer, one of the soldiers stepped forward and raised his hand.
Ryke slowed the vehicle to a stop.
The soldier approached the driver's side.
"Stop."
Ryke lowered the window slightly.
Before the soldier could say anything else, Pythia leaned forward and opened the window beside her.
She calmly raised her hand.
Mana gathered around her fingers.
A subtle spell spread through the air.
The soldier's expression briefly changed.
Then—
he stepped aside.
"You may pass."
Ryke blinked.
Pythia closed the window.
Ryke immediately started driving again.
Once they had passed the checkpoint, he let out a breath.
"That went way better than last time."
Pythia glanced at him.
"Yeah."
Ryke chuckled.
"Last time, I thought we were done for."
Pythia nodded.
"The soldiers had magical items that blocked my spell."
"Thankfully, I noticed it quickly."
Ryke looked ahead.
"So you worked around it."
"Exactly."
The vehicle continued down the road.
Behind them, the checkpoint slowly disappeared into the darkness.
Ahead—
the road continued toward Calamyr.
After a long while—
Draven's voice suddenly came from the back.
"Stop."
Ryke's eyes widened slightly.
He immediately reacted, slowing the vehicle down.
The vehicle gradually came to a stop.
Aldric glanced over.
"What's with the stop?"
Draven looked toward Vaelith.
"Vaelith."
"Yes?"
Vaelith immediately understood.
She reached over and took hold of Lucifer and Elenya.
Draven handed the sleeping black cat to Lyriana.
Lyriana carefully took the cat into her arms.
"Okay."
Draven opened the door and stepped outside.
Vaelith followed.
Lyriana stepped out as well.
Aldric got out after them.
"What the hell is this about?"
Draven didn't answer immediately.
"There's something I want to do."
Aldric frowned.
"What is it?"
Draven gave no reply.
Pythia opened the door and stepped out.
"My Lord."
Draven walked forward, passing her.
His eyes settled on Nia.
Nia stared back at him.
"Nia."
"Come here."
Nia hesitated for a moment.
Then she climbed down from the vehicle.
Draven looked toward the others.
"You two."
"Come out as well."
Ryke's eyes narrowed.
*I don't have a good feeling about this.*
*Not one bit.*
Behind them—
Kaelira's ears twitched.
Her eyes slowly flickered open.
She quickly sat up and looked around.
"Master?"
She stared at everyone.
"What?"
"What's happening?"
"Did something happen?"
"Did someone die?"
Aldric looked at her.
"Yeah."
Kaelira's expression changed.
"Who?"
"You."
Kaelira stared at him.
"That isn't funny."
Aldric shrugged.
"Who said I was trying to be?"
Kaelira narrowed her eyes.
"Hmm."
"I don't have plans to die."
"Not yet."
Aldric sighed.
"Shut up."
Ryke finally stepped out of the vehicle.
Draven raised his arm.
Mana gathered around his hand.
The vehicle disappeared into his spatial storage ring.
Draven then walked over and picked Nia up.
He turned toward the roadside.
Then—
**WHOOSH!**
He flew forward, heading into the forest.
Vaelith immediately followed.
Aldric stared after them.
"What the hell is this?"
"What are you trying to do?"
He looked toward Lyriana.
"Do you know anything?"
Lyriana shook her head.
"I think that's the point."
"I don't understand either."
She adjusted the sleeping black cat in her arms.
"So let's go find out."
She moved forward.
Aldric followed.
Kaelira looked toward the forest.
"Alright."
She leapt forward.
**WHOOSH!**
Her figure disappeared into the trees.
Pythia looked toward Ryke.
"Let's go."
Ryke stared at the forest.
"Do we really need to?"
Pythia didn't answer.
Instead—
she grabbed him with magic.
"Whoa—!"
Ryke was lifted off the ground.
Pythia carried him forward through the air as they followed the others into the forest.
After a while—
Draven stopped in the middle of the woods.
"This is far enough."
He gently placed Nia down.
A moment later—
Vaelith arrived, standing on the branch of a nearby tree as she watched silently.
Lyriana arrived soon after.
Then Aldric.
And finally—
Kaelira.
She stared at Draven.
"Master..."
Aldric looked at him.
"So, what is it?"
"What are you actually trying to do?"
Draven stood beside Nia.
In his hand were two small vials.
He looked at Nia.
"Nia."
"Listen."
"I want you to drink these."
Nia stared at the two vials.
Draven continued.
"That's the reason I brought you with me."
Aldric's expression changed slightly.
"I knew it."
"But I was starting to wonder if I was wrong."
He glanced toward Nia.
"But it doesn't seem like it."
"You really planned to use the half-demon."
He paused.
"But for what exactly?"
"What are the contents of those vials?"
Pythia and Ryke finally arrived, landing gently among the trees.
Ryke glanced around.
*What's going on here?*
His gaze eventually settled on Draven and Nia.
Draven looked directly at Nia.
"There is a chance you'll die after drinking them."
Kaelira's eyes widened slightly.
Everyone remained silent.
Ryke stared at the two vials in Draven's hand.
*What's in those?*
*Whatever it is...*
*It doesn't seem good.*
Draven continued.
"That's why you have two options."
He held the vials out toward Nia.
"First, you do as I say."
"Second..."
He paused.
"You don't."
"If you choose the second option, we'll part ways."
"And you can do whatever you want and go wherever you want."
Silence filled the forest.
Ryke's eyes narrowed.
*This...*
*This isn't even something to think about.*
*The choice is obvious, isn't it?*