The room became quiet.
Aldric looked at Pythia.
"Are you trying to make me kill you?"
He pointed at the cards in her hand.
"And why the hell did you call him? I gave those to you, damn brat. They're mine."
Pythia smiled.
"You really can't help yourself, can you?"
"Could you be nice for one second?"
Aldric's expression darkened.
"How about I take the cards..."
"...and your arm alongside them?"
Pythia calmly shook her head.
"No, thanks."
"I still plan on holding on to my arm."
She tossed the cards toward him.
Aldric caught them with a flicker of mana.
He immediately looked through them.
Pythia spoke.
"There's no lock inside them anymore."
"You can transfer the coins freely now."
Aldric looked at her.
"When did you do that?"
"You said you hadn't done it before."
He frowned.
"But suddenly..."
"It didn't even take you five minutes, did it?"
Pythia smiled faintly.
Aldric clicked his tongue.
"Damn rat."
"Next time, do it in front of me so I'll be able to do it myself."
Pythia raised an eyebrow.
"That's the thanks I get?"
Aldric stared at her.
Pythia waited.
"Thanks?"
Silence.
Kaelira, who was sitting on one of the beds, stared at them.
"...Wow."
Ryke also stared.
Aldric suddenly grinned.
"Don't make me laugh."
"I told you to do it like forever ago that I almost forgot I even did."
He looked down at the cards.
"Damn rat."
Kaelira muttered.
"I knew it was too good to be true."
Pythia smiled.
"And that's why I didn't say anything."
"I see no reason why I should do what you asked."
Aldric glared at her.
"Shut up."
"You did it, didn't you?"
"If you're not going to do something when I ask you, then you're useless."
"And if there's no use for you..."
"I'll be glad to discard you."
Draven, who was resting against the window, spoke calmly.
"You're not allowed to do that."
Aldric turned toward him.
"Huh?"
"What?"
Draven glanced toward Pythia.
"She's mine."
"I need her."
"So keep your hands to yourself."
Pythia's face immediately turned red.
She lowered her head slightly.
*My Lord said he needs me...*
*I'm his.*
Draven continued.
"I'm the only one who's allowed to do as I please with what belongs to me."
Pythia's smile widened.
"I belong to my Lord."
"He just said that."
Aldric looked at Draven.
"Is that right?"
Draven simply stared at him.
Aldric was silent for a moment.
"Alright."
He looked back at Pythia.
She was still muttering to herself with a smile on her face.
Aldric sighed.
"Shut up."
"Alright?"
"He sees you as a toy that belongs to him."
Pythia nodded.
"Yes."
"Do not worry yourself."
"I'm well aware of that fact."
Her smile grew wider.
"And I'm glad that I belong to my Lord..."
"...to be toyed with."
Aldric stared at her.
"Damn freak."
Ryke stood there silently, staring at Pythia.
*Yeah...*
*She's definitely got something wrong in the head.*
Draven stepped forward.
"Vaelith."
Vaelith immediately looked toward him.
"My Lord?"
"Look after them while I'm gone."
Vaelith gave a small nod.
"Of course, my Lord."
Draven then turned toward Lyriana.
"Lyriana, look after Nia."
Lyriana nodded.
"Understood, Your Highness."
Draven looked toward Pythia.
"Pythia, come with me."
Pythia was startled for a moment.
Then she quickly stepped forward.
"Yes, my Lord."
Kaelira immediately moved after her.
"Master, can I come along too?"
Aldric raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
He looked at Draven.
"Care to tell us where you're going?"
Draven didn't stop walking.
"We're going to get blood for my siblings."
Aldric nodded.
"Okay."
He immediately turned toward Kaelira.
"Let's go."
Then he glanced toward Ryke.
"You come too."
Ryke stared at him.
"Me?"
Aldric's expression didn't change.
"Shut up and follow."
"We'll be going to sell that motor of mine you were talking about."
He pointed toward Draven.
"It's in his ring, you said, right?"
Ryke nodded.
"Yes."
"It's in his ring."
Aldric nodded.
"Good."
"Let's go."
Ryke frowned.
"I don't see why I should come along."
Aldric looked at him.
"If you don't want to be unable to speak..."
"...then keep talking."
Ryke immediately clenched his jaw.
*Damn bastard.*
*Don't drag me along with you.*
*This was a chance for me to finally take a breather.*
*But you can't even let me be happy for a little while.*
*Seriously...*
*What a demon.*
Draven reached the entrance.
He picked up the room token from the table.
Then he turned toward Vaelith.
"I'll be taking this."
Vaelith nodded.
"Yes, my Lord."
Draven looked at her.
"If anything comes up, contact me immediately."
"Understood, my Lord."
Draven tapped the token against the door.
**BEEP.**
The lock clicked.
He opened the door.
Then Draven, Pythia, Kaelira, Aldric, and Ryke left the room.
The group stepped into the hallway.
Draven walked ahead without slowing down.
Pythia followed closely behind him.
Kaelira walked beside her, while Aldric and Ryke followed behind.
Ryke glanced around the hotel.
*Where the hell are we even going?*
He quietly sighed.
*I really should've stayed in the room.*
Aldric suddenly spoke.
"Don't fall behind."
Ryke frowned.
"I'm right here."
"Then keep walking."
Ryke clenched his teeth.
*Damn bastard.*
They soon reached the hotel lobby.
Several guests were still moving through the area, talking among themselves.
The group walked outside.
The moment they stepped out of the hotel—
Soraeg's busy streets came into view.
Vehicles passed along the roads while people moved through the streets.
Kaelira looked around curiously.
"So where are we getting the blood?"
Pythia glanced at her.
"Seriously, shut up. Do you think that's something you should really speak of publicly?"
"No, sorry. My bad."
Pythia nodded.
"Good. Just keep your mouth shut."
Aldric looked toward Ryke.
"Now."
Ryke blinked.
"Now what?"
"The motor."
Ryke looked at him.
"Oh."
He glanced around the street.
"We need somewhere that buys them."
Aldric raised an eyebrow.
"You were the one talking about selling it."
"I assume you know where to go."
Ryke hesitated.
"I have an idea of a few places in mind."
"Then lead the way."
Ryke sighed.
"Fine."
He started walking.
The others followed behind him.
Ryke glanced back at them.
*This is really happening.*
*I just wanted to take a break.*
*How did I end up becoming their guide?*
He quickly turned his attention back to the road.
*Whatever.*
*Let's just get this over with.*