Draven moved through the forest.
Nia remained unconscious in his arms.
Vaelith followed closely behind him.
The others soon caught up.
Aldric carried Ryke under one arm as if he weighed nothing.
Ryke looked down at the forest below.
*This guy...*
*He's carrying me like a sack of potatoes.*
He swallowed.
*Though I really don't have any objections. It's better to just go with the flow.*
Pythia continued checking the map as they moved.
"We should reach Soraeg in a while if we continue like this."
Draven nodded.
"Good."
Lyriana glanced at Nia.
"How long do you think she'll remain unconscious, Your Highness?"
Draven looked down at her.
"Not sure."
"The transformation consumed a lot of energy."
He paused.
"But she's recovering, so it seems my blood was doing its job after all."
Vaelith looked at Nia.
"So you believe the experiment succeeded, my Lord?"
Draven remained silent for a moment.
"I'll know once she wakes up."
Aldric glanced over.
"And if she doesn't?"
Draven's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then it failed."
Aldric shrugged.
"At least you're honest."
They continued moving.
After a while—
The forest gradually began to thin.
Through the trees—
Buildings could finally be seen in the distance.
Pythia looked down at the map.
"We're close."
Aldric looked ahead.
"So that's Soraeg."
Beyond the forest stood a large city.
Its walls stretched across the horizon.
Draven adjusted his hold on Nia.
"Let's go."
The group continued toward the city.
They soon stopped just outside the city walls.
Aldric looked toward Draven.
"Why did we stop?"
"We're going over the wall, aren't we?"
Draven nodded.
"Yeah."
"But first..."
He raised his hand.
"**Lesser Night.**"
Darkness spread around them.
A dome of shadow formed over the group, concealing them from sight.
Draven looked at the others.
"With this, we won't be detected."
Aldric glanced around.
"How convenient."
"Though unnecessary."
Pythia stared at the dome.
"Dark magic..."
"And a high-level one, at that."
"At least a fifth-star spell."
Lyriana looked at Draven.
*So he really can use magic after gaining the memories from drinking someone's blood...*
*Just like he said.*
Draven looked toward the city.
"Stay close."
He took off.
The others followed.
Kaelira looked around as they flew.
"Uh..."
"I can't really fly."
"Someone lend me a hand."
Lyriana sighed.
She released some mana and lifted Kaelira into the air.
"Thank you."
The group flew over the city walls.
No one below noticed them.
Under the night sky, the lights of Soraeg spread across the city.
Eventually—
They descended into a quiet alley near the outskirts.
The dome of darkness still concealed them.
Draven then activated the ability of his cloak.
His appearance changed.
The white hair, crimson eyes, and other noticeable features disappeared.
He now looked like an ordinary child.
Aldric, Lyriana, and Vaelith did the same with their magical items.
Kaelira looked at them.
"Seeing you guys like this makes me want one too."
Pythia glanced at her.
"What do you need it for?"
"Nobody knows who you are."
"Nor does anyone have any interest in you."
Kaelira crossed her arms.
"Same goes for you."
"But hiding isn't why I want one."
"I just want to have it."
Pythia stared at her.
"You're like a child."
Kaelira nodded.
"Yeah."
"I'm a child."
She smiled.
"Though I'm older than you."
Pythia's expression twitched.
"It seems you didn't age well."
Kaelira's smile disappeared.
"And you did?"
"A young child like yourself is in a cult serving some creature you don't even know from who knows where."
Aldric chuckled.
"Yeah."
"She's one damn freaking messed-up child, that's for sure."
The spell eventually dispersed.
Draven looked toward Ryke.
"You."
Ryke stared at him.
*Me?*
*What does he want?*
Draven handed Nia over to him.
"Carry her."
Ryke froze.
He looked down at Nia in his arms.
*A kid carrying another kid...*
*While there are adults right here.*
*I guess that's not exactly what you'd call normal.*
He decided not to argue. It's not like he could even if he wanted to.
The group began walking through the quiet streets.
Aldric glanced at Draven.
"We'll be here until tomorrow night, right?"
"So the first thing we need to do is get a hotel."
Pythia immediately corrected him.
"They're not some creature."
"They're the Abyssal Lord."
"And they came from the Abyss."
"Not from who knows where."
Kaelira waved her hand dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Details."
"No one gives a crap about that."
Aldric chuckled.
"I kind of like you when you aren't talking to me."
"The damn rat just keeps throwing out useless details."
Pythia's expression remained calm.
"It no longer matters."
"My eyes have been opened."
"Now, I'm a devoted servant of my Lord."
Aldric raised an eyebrow.
"Is that how you put it?"
"Sounds a bit more like an obsession to me."
Pythia nodded.
"Yeah."
"I'm obsessed with my Lord."
Kaelira stared at her.
"I'm loyal to the Master."
"But that's creepy."
Aldric laughed.
"Yeah."
"She's just a damn freak."
He looked at Pythia.
"And hey."
"You'd better get to cracking those cards."
"I'll be using them while we're in this city."
Pythia glanced at him.
"After that?"
"You think I'll help?"
Aldric's smile disappeared.
"Dammit, rat."
"It isn't a request."
"So you'd better get to it."
"You hear me?"
Pythia smiled faintly.
"I'll think about it."
"Maybe I'll give it some thought if you ask more nicely."
Aldric's eye twitched.
"Dammit, rat."
"Don't you dare screw with me."
A while later—
The group arrived in front of one of the many hotels in the city.
**The Silver Wings.**
A vehicle came to a stop in front of the entrance.
The door opened.
Aldric stepped out first.
Ryke followed, still carrying the unconscious Nia.
Kaelira stepped out after him.
Another vehicle soon pulled up beside them.
Draven, Vaelith, Pythia, and Lyriana stepped out.
Draven paid the driver.
Meanwhile—
Aldric used Hypnosis on the driver of their vehicle.
A moment later, the driver drove away.
Aldric turned toward the hotel.
He looked up at the building.
"What a nice-looking place."
"Rather fitting."
The others began walking toward the entrance.