Draven stared at Nia.
*She's drinking it.*
She continued tearing into his arm.
Each time her fangs tore through his flesh—
The wounds regenerated.
And Nia continued biting.
Pythia watched the scene carefully.
"She was a half-demon before."
"But now..."
She looked at Nia's transformed body.
"She looks no different from how one would depict a demon."
"After consuming the contents of the vials my Lord gave her."
Aldric crossed his arms.
"So that potion is some kind of stimulant?"
Lyriana narrowed her eyes.
"If that's all it is..."
"Then it's a very strong one."
Vaelith shook her head.
"I don't think so."
"It's more like a mutation than a stimulant."
Ryke stared at Nia.
His jaw tightened.
*Damn it.*
*Damn it.*
*Just when I thought I was getting a little used to being around them...*
*This shit happens.*
He glanced around.
*A bunch of demons.*
His gaze shifted toward Pythia.
*Even the only human among them is more like a demon than a human.*
He looked back at Nia.
*I'm watching a kid turn into something like this...*
Then his eyes moved toward Draven.
*And the one running all of this has the face of an angel...*
*But he's a devil.*
*Damn it.*
*Crap.*
*Just being near them puts my life at risk.*
Time passed.
Yet Nia was still struggling.
She continued tearing into Draven's arm, her movements showing no signs of stopping.
Pythia glanced toward her.
"It's been a while."
"But she doesn't seem to have calmed down."
Lyriana's expression became serious.
"She's getting more violent instead."
Aldric looked toward Draven.
"Hey."
"Was this your plan?"
"If it is..."
He glanced at Nia.
"Then this is a pretty pitiful result."
Silence.
Draven continued watching Nia.
"She's still alive."
"So it wasn't a failure."
"But it's not a success either."
His eyes narrowed.
"She seems to be out of it."
Draven's crimson eyes suddenly gleamed.
He attempted to hypnotize her.
Nothing happened.
His eyes narrowed further.
Then he tried to read her mind.
Again—
Nothing.
Draven stared at her for a moment.
"Can't count it out yet."
"We'll have to wait a little longer."
Time passed.
But the situation didn't change.
Nia remained in her transformed state, still struggling and tearing into Draven's arm.
Aldric eventually looked toward Draven.
"So..."
"What are you going to do now?"
Draven stared at Nia.
*So it's a failure.*
*The transformation itself was successful.*
*But the subject lost her mind.*
*I have no use for a mindless being that can't even listen.*
His expression remained calm.
Then—
His arm shifted.
His hand wrapped around Nia's neck.
His grip tightened sharply.
**CRACK!**
Silence.
Nia's body went completely limp.
Aldric's eyes widened slightly.
"So it didn't work."
"You just wasted her life."
He looked at Nia.
"And she's the only one I actually liked..."
"Now you've killed her."
Ryke's eyes widened.
His jaw clenched.
*What?!*
*He just killed Nia?!*
His mind raced.
*He actually just killed her.*
*What the hell is wrong with these people?!*
Draven remained where he was.
His hand was still wrapped around Nia's neck as he stared down at her motionless body.
*She's tougher than I expected.*
*I was aiming to tear her head off in one go.*
*But all I managed to do was break her neck.*
His eyes narrowed.
*And it seems like it's already healing.*
Lyriana suddenly spoke.
"She's still alive."
"Just unconscious."
Aldric glanced toward her.
"Yeah."
He looked back at Nia.
"You're right."
Pythia suddenly pointed toward her.
"Look."
"Her transformation."
Everyone's attention shifted to Nia.
The horns on her head began to retreat.
Her wings slowly disappeared.
Her tail shrank back.
Her fangs shortened.
The claws on her hands and feet gradually returned to normal.
Her entire body slowly began reverting to its original form.
Aldric raised an eyebrow.
"She's changing back to normal."
"So..."
"Does that mean your little experiment was a success?"
Draven stared at Nia.
Then—
He picked her up.
"Can't say yet."
"She'll have to regain consciousness first."
Aldric shrugged.
"If that's all..."
"Maybe you should've knocked her out sooner."
He glanced at Nia.
"That seemed to do the trick."
Draven stood straight, Nia unconscious in his arms.
"Alright."
"I'm done here."
"Let's go."
Aldric looked at him.
"So that's why you dragged us all the way out here?"
"You know, you could've come by yourself, right?"
Draven glanced at him.
"I don't remember asking you to follow me."
Aldric's expression twitched.
"Well, you didn't exactly give me much of a choice."
"You decided to take the damn motor."
"Dammit."
Draven ignored him.
"Where are we right now?"
Pythia immediately pulled out the map.
She unfolded it and studied their surroundings.
"We're currently in the Blackthorn Forest."
"It's within the territory of Calamyr."
Draven looked at the map.
"Is there a settlement nearby?"
Pythia traced her finger across the map.
"There are two."
"The town of Eldmere is the closest."
"And farther from here is the city of Soraeg."
Draven nodded.
"Alright."
"That's where we're going."
Aldric stared at him.
"What?"
"You forgot we need to get off this continent?"
Draven looked at him.
"No."
"That still remains my intention."
"But I've already gotten what I wanted."
"As long as I remain hidden, there shouldn't be anyone coming after us."
Lyriana spoke up.
"Your Highness..."
"That might not entirely be the case."
She glanced toward Pythia.
"Because of the spatial circle we used."
Pythia nodded.
"That's right."
"If someone inspects it, they could potentially discover our destination."
Draven nodded.
"Yeah."
"That might be the case."
"But it won't be of much use to them."
Aldric raised an eyebrow.
"And what makes you say that?"
Vaelith answered.
"The spatial circle was pushed to its limits."
"Before we were even able to teleport, it was already covered in cracks."
Aldric's expression changed.
"So it's too damaged to be of any use."
Pythia nodded.
"Hmm."
"And even if they were to inspect it..."
"There's only so much they could uncover from it."
Draven nodded.
"And it's not like we'll just stay put waiting for someone to come looking for us."
He glanced toward the map.
"There's something that needs to be done in a city."
Then he looked at Vaelith.
"I need blood for my siblings."
"Vaelith."
"Yes."
Draven turned.
Then—
He disappeared.
Vaelith immediately followed.
Pythia took a step forward.
Ryke's eyes widened.
*Wait.*
*They're leaving already?!*
Kaelira suddenly landed gently beside him.
She glanced at Ryke.
"You sure look like you've been scared shitless."
Ryke's body trembled.
Kaelira tilted her head.
"Shaking like a leaf."
"It's kind of hard not to notice."
She paused.
"I'd say I was surprised..."
"But that's about it."
Her gaze shifted away.
"And that's only because I feel Nia was part of us."
"If it were someone else..."
She looked back at Ryke.
"Like you?"
"I wouldn't be surprised."
She turned and began moving.
Ryke swallowed nervously.
"Yeah..."
Silence.
Aldric stared at him.
Then—
He sighed.
"Now that I think about it..."
"The thought that you're only dead weight is starting to weigh on me."
He grabbed Ryke.
"But a deal is a deal."
"You're coming with me."
Aldric lifted him up and followed the others.