That night, Asher lingered in the Magnus estate only long enough to ensure his mother had fallen asleep peacefully. He stood by her door for a moment longer, his expression unreadable, then turned away. There were matters far greater than family sentiment waiting for him—threats that would not disappear on their own.
The Next Day
Before dawn had fully broken over Volarisa, Asher had already departed. He didn't bring an escort. He didn't announce his journey. He simply vanished from the Magnus estate—
—and from the galaxy itself.
A single leap through folded space brought him into Sulbian territory. Here, the void was darker, the stars sharper, as if the very fabric of the galaxy bristled with hostility. His presence was not subtle; the moment he arrived, Sulbian sentry fleets scrambled to intercept.
They never reached him.
