"Good."
Draven nodded.
Aldric's voice suddenly came from behind him.
"So that was your plan for her?"
He stared at Draven.
*I knew he had something in mind when he decided to keep her around, but I wasn't expecting this.*
---
On the couch—
Lyriana remained lying down, her eyes still closed.
She had been listening to the entire conversation.
*So that's it.*
*He wants her to protect Lucifer and Elenya.*
Her thoughts lingered on Draven.
*And he had already planned this.*
*Was that the reason he brought her along in the first place?*
Lyriana's expression remained calm.
*I've always thought His Highness was calculating.*
She paused.
*But that's not quite right.*
*Scheming would be a more appropriate word.*
She thought back to everything Draven had done since meeting Nia.
*His actions toward her...*
*They were all leading to this result.*
---
Vaelith also watched Draven.
*So this is what My Lord intends to use her for.*
*As a protector for young Lucifer and Elenya.*
Her gaze shifted toward Nia.
*She's a half-demon. With proper guidance, she could have grown considerably stronger.*
She paused.
*But with the potion My Lord had her consume...*
*Her potential has increased tremendously.*
---
Draven remained standing before Nia.
*I need someone strong.*
*Someone who'll follow my instructions and protect them at any cost.*
His gaze shifted toward the two babies.
*I've been thinking about this since the Holy Empire attacked.*
*But there wasn't anyone suitable.*
He had considered Vaelith.
She was already looking after the children, and he knew she was capable.
But—
*I can't completely trust her with something like this.*
His eyes narrowed slightly.
*She's only looking after them because I told her to.*
*Perhaps if I ordered her to devote herself entirely to protecting Lucifer and Elenya, I could even make her take an oath.*
He paused.
*But I don't want that.*
*If she'll continue following my instructions, that's enough.*
His expression became colder.
*What I want is someone who'll put their safety above everything else.*
Draven finally looked away.
"Alright."
He walked toward the middle of the room.
There was a table and a nearby rug in his path. He casually kicked them aside, clearing the space.
Aldric raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
"What are you doing?"
Draven didn't answer.
Instead—
he pulled back his sleeve and grabbed his own forearm.
Then—
his fingers dug into his flesh.
**SHRK!**
Blood immediately welled from the wound.
It ran down his arm, gathering around his fingers before dripping onto the floor.
Draven bent down.
Using his blood, he began drawing a formation across the cleared space.
Lines connected.
Patterns took shape.
Gradually, the formation spread across the floor, its intricate markings extending outward from the center.
A while passed.
Finally—
Draven stopped.
He released his forearm.
The wound quickly closed as his flesh regenerated.
Aldric stared at the formation.
"A formation?"
Draven straightened.
He stood in the middle of the completed magic circle.
Then—
he looked toward Nia.
"Now, Nia."
She raised her eyes.
"I need you to make an oath to yourself."
Draven's voice remained calm.
"Protecting those two must come first."
He paused.
"At any cost."
Nia stared at the formation.
For a moment—
she said nothing.
Then—
she nodded.
"Yes."
"Alright."
Draven turned toward Vaelith.
"Vaelith."
He gestured toward the babies.
"Bring Lucifer and Elenya."
Vaelith immediately stepped forward.
"Yes, My Lord."
She carefully picked up both children and carried them toward the formation.
Following Draven's instructions, she gently placed them inside the magic circle.
Then—
she stepped back.
Draven also moved away from the formation.
His gaze settled on Nia.
"Now, step inside."
Nia nodded.
She walked forward and entered the circle.
Draven bent down.
He placed his arm against the formation.
Aldric watched him.
"At this point, you'll just be sending out a single announcement to everyone nearby with that jumbled mess you call mana."
Draven glanced at him.
"I'm only casting the spell."
He returned his attention to the formation.
"And if you were the one doing it, your mana would produce the same result."
Aldric frowned.
"The same? Our mana couldn't be more different. And why—"
"I don't need any distractions."
Draven cut him off.
"So shut the fuck up, will you?"
Aldric's expression twitched.
"..."
Draven focused on the formation.
Mana began flowing from his body.
**VMMMMM—**
The magic circle gradually lit up.
Its engraved lines glowed as Draven continued casting the spell.
The light grew brighter.
Then—
something appeared.
Chains.
Several dark chains emerged from within the formation, extending from the bodies of Elenya, Lucifer, and Nia.
**CLINK!**
They stretched upward, suspended in the air.
Nia stared at them.
Her eyes moved from the chains to the two babies.
Draven's voice reached her.
"Nia."
She looked toward him.
"Now."
He paused.
"Make your oath."
Nia stared at Draven for a moment.
Then—
she looked down at Lucifer and Elenya.
The chains surrounding them continued glowing.
Nia slowly nodded.
"Yes."
Her voice was quiet but firm.
"I'll protect Lucifer and Elenya."
She looked at the two babies again.
"At any cost."
Her expression became serious.
"Protecting them comes first."
The moment she finished speaking—
**CLAAAAANG!**
The chains suddenly moved.
They shot toward one another, colliding in the middle of the formation.
**KRRR-CLANK!**
The chains intertwined.
Then—
they began fusing together.
Draven moved his arm.
His fingers traced the final part of the formation.
**WHOOOOOM!**
A powerful surge of mana spread through the circle.
He completed the spell.
But—
**COUGH!**
Blood suddenly escaped his mouth.
The formation flickered.
Its light gradually dimmed.
And just as suddenly as they had appeared—
the chains disappeared.
The magic circle fell silent.
Draven slowly straightened.
Aldric stared at the formation.
"Hmm..."
He examined the remaining traces of mana.
"That wasn't any original spell."
Draven raised his hand and wiped the blood from his mouth.
He briefly licked his lips before wiping them again.
Then—
he looked toward Aldric.
"From my understanding, it's a forbidden dark spell."
He glanced at Nia.
"It binds people together, just like you witnessed."
Aldric stared at him.
Then—
he sighed.
"That's a half-assed explanation."