Draven moved swiftly through the trees, his cloak snapping behind him as he pressed the earring to his ear.
"Vaelith," he said, his voice low and tense. "Where are you now?"
A soft reply came through—calm, but urgent.
"We're moving through the eastern woods. We've cleared the town perimeter. No major resistance so far."
Draven nodded, even though she couldn't see him.
"Good. We're coming," he murmured, his eyes scanning the forest ahead. "Make sure to stay alert."
Aldric flew beside him, blood-red wings slicing through the air.
"Huh… no ambush outside the town, no backup?" He smirked. "Looks like they really underestimated us."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Or maybe they're just idiots."
The cultist shifted in his grasp, the chains around her wrists clinking softly. Her voice was calm, analytical.
"Of course. But it seems they were too focused on activating the barrier, believing it would prevent any escape. They didn't expect… the Lord would be able to bridge it so easily."
Aldric let out a low laugh, shaking his head.
"That's what happens when you rely more on assumptions than on actual brains."
Draven's gaze remained fixed forward, sharp and calculating.
"Doesn't matter. Keep moving," he said quietly. "They'll realize their mistake soon enough."
The forest blurred around them as they advanced—silent, swift—while the distant glow of the town's shattered defenses faded behind them.
---
Outside the ruined town, the commander and Seraphine stood atop a cliff overlooking the chaotic aftermath.
Smoke drifted upward from broken walls and shattered siege formations.
A weary knight approached them, panting heavily. His armor was scorched and dented.
"Commander," he said, bowing slightly. "Casualties… not as high as we feared. Out of six hundred knights, only about sixty were lost."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Mage losses were minimal. Lord **Varion Halbrecht**, a fifth-circle mage, was nearly killed by the arrow, but he survived. He's receiving treatment now."
The commander's expression didn't change.
"…Varion is alive," he repeated quietly.
The knight nodded.
"Yes, sir."
The commander's face remained grim, his brows drawn tight.
"So all the preparation… all of it… and they still managed to escape?"
Seraphine's golden eyes narrowed, disbelief sharp in her voice.
"I never thought he'd manage to break a *four-star barrier* so easily. Not like this. Not without massive losses."
The commander slowly shook his head, his armored gauntlets clenching.
"He didn't *break* through it," he said. "Not in the traditional sense."
Seraphine turned toward him slightly.
"The barrier… opened a passage for him," the commander continued. "Something about his presence—his mana—it forced the barrier to yield. The spell didn't fail."
He paused.
"It **submitted**."
Seraphine's grip tightened around the hilt of her weapon, anger flashing across her face.
"All that planning… and they just walked out," she muttered bitterly. "They evacuated the town before we even realized. Not a soul left to protect. Empty streets… wasted efforts."
The commander's eyes followed the distant forest where the retreating figures had disappeared.
"This isn't over," he said quietly. "We need to understand how he did this… so next time, we won't be so *accommodating*."
Seraphine let out a low, frustrated growl as she stared toward the treeline.
"Next time…" she muttered darkly. "Next time, I'll make him regret underestimating us."
The wind carried smoke and dust from the shattered barrier, twisting it through the fading sunset.
And as the ruined town burned behind them, both silently vowed—
This would not be the end.
The wind moved through the ruined town, carrying the scent of dust, blood, and burned mana.
Knights moved through the streets below, gathering the dead and tending to the wounded. Above the town, the barrier still shimmered faintly, its massive formation humming in the sky like a silent dome.
Seraphine watched it for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"Lower the barrier."
The kneeling knight looked up slightly.
Seraphine's tone didn't change.
"There's no reason to keep it active anymore. What it was meant to contain… is gone."
The knight nodded quickly.
"Yes, Commander."
She turned her gaze toward the airships still hovering above the town, their lights cutting through the smoke-filled sky.
"Send word to the fleet," she continued.
"Tell them to stand down and prepare to withdraw."
The knight straightened slightly, waiting for the rest of the order.
Seraphine's eyes shifted toward the dark forest beyond the town walls—the direction Draven had disappeared.
Then she finished.
"Report back to the capital."
Her voice remained calm.
Controlled.
"The mission has failed."
A brief silence passed before she added,
"The son of the Demon King has escaped."
The knight swallowed.
"…Understood."
He stood and hurried away to relay the orders.
Above them, the airships began shifting slowly as signals spread across the fleet.
The massive barrier overhead flickered as the formation started powering down.
Seraphine remained still, watching the distant forest.
The commander stood beside her in silence.
Far beyond the town—
Their target was already gone.
---
The forest was quiet.
Only the sound of wind moving through leaves and distant night insects filled the darkness.
Draven slowed as he approached the clearing.
Ahead, two figures stepped out from the shadows between the trees.
Lyriana stood first, her eyes scanning the area before settling on Draven.
Behind her was Vaelith, calm as ever. The faint glow of magic faded from her fingers as she dismissed a detection spell.
They had been waiting.
When they saw him emerge from the trees, neither of them looked surprised.
Draven stepped into the clearing.
Aldric descended from the air moments later, landing heavily on the forest floor while still holding the cultist bound in blood chains.
The woman swung slightly as he landed.
Lyriana's gaze immediately shifted to her.
"…I'm surprised you brought her."
Aldric snorted.
"Unfortunately."
He shook the chains slightly.
"Though I still don't see why."
Vaelith stepped forward, her eyes moving calmly over Draven first, checking for injuries. Blood still stained parts of his coat, though most of the wounds had already healed.
"You were delayed, Your Highness," she said.
Draven nodded once.
"They sealed the town."
Lyriana frowned slightly.
"With what?"
Aldric answered before Draven could.
"About five hundred knights, a handful of mages, five airships, and a barrier covering the entire place."
He grinned slightly.
"They were very enthusiastic."
Lyriana's brows lifted.
"And you're all still here."
Aldric shrugged.
"Disappointing, I know."
Draven ignored the exchange.
His eyes moved toward the cultist.
"Remove the chains."
Aldric looked at him.
"…Seriously?"