The night refused to end cleanly, choosing instead to collapse into chaos piece by piece, like a grand illusion unraveling under too much strain. Smoke drifted weakly from the palace behind them, spilling through air vents and open doors, curling upward into the dark sky as if the stone itself were sighing in defeat. Rune lanterns flickered unevenly, their light smeared by haze, casting long, warped shadows across the courtyard where order had once ruled with ceremonial precision.
At the far edge of the courtyard, the remaining male adventurers stood frozen, their boots planted firmly where instinct told them not to move. They had witnessed everything. They had seen Oscar run with the princess through the smoke like a man already half-ghost. They had seen Commander Cedric Highgarden, the unshakable symbol of royal authority, fall not to blade or spell but to raw defiance and a shattered potted plant wielded by a princess who had finally decided she was done obeying.
One adventurer slowly lowered his spear, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Another glanced down at the unconscious commander, then back toward the fleeing pair, weighing duty against survival with the kind of brutal honesty that only chaos could force. None of them stepped forward. None of them called out. Whatever line had existed between royal obligation and self-preservation had been smashed as thoroughly as the pottery scattered across the stones.
"Not worth it," one muttered under his breath, eyes darting as if the walls themselves might overhear.
A second adventurer nodded faintly. "I like my skull intact."
So they stayed where they were, silent witnesses choosing forgetfulness over heroics, letting the night swallow the truth whole.
Across the courtyard, parked like a predator waiting patiently for its moment, sat the Luxmotor.
Even in the chaos, it was impossible to ignore. The vehicle's low, aggressive silhouette resembled a beast crouched before a kill, its body modeled after the sleek dominance of a 2020 Lamborghini SUV Urus. Crimson-red plating gleamed beneath the palace lights, polished to a mirror shine that reflected firelight, smoke, and movement in warped streaks. Glowing runes traced elegant paths along its frame, etched deep into the metal, pulsing faintly with arcane energy that hinted at both speed and violence restrained by craftsmanship. The crest of House Arcanveil gleamed proudly along the side, unmistakable, arrogant, and dangerously out of place in a kingdom that was already unraveling.
Stephanie reached it first, hauling Oscar along with her, her breath sharp, her heart hammering against her ribs. She yanked open the passenger door, the mechanism responding with a smooth hiss rather than the creak of hinges, as though the Luxmotor itself approved of urgency.
The interior revealed itself like a promise.
The cabin was all sharp intent and luxurious restraint, sport-style seating molded for speed and control, upholstered in black leather stitched with crimson lines that caught the light like veins of fire. Gold accents traced the edges of the console and door panels, subtle but unmistakable, not ostentatious so much as confident. The dashboard curved inward toward the driver's seat, layered with rune-lit panels instead of mundane gauges, each symbol glowing softly, shifting as if alive, reacting to proximity and intent. The steering wheel was thick, contoured for grip, wrapped in leather, with embedded glyphs along the spokes that hummed faintly beneath Stephanie's fingertips. The mirrors shimmered with faint enchantment, adjusting their angles automatically, reflecting not just the space behind but potential paths ahead.
Stephanie helped Oscar into the passenger seat, bracing him as he collapsed back against the leather with a sharp hiss.
"Sorry," she said quickly, guilt flashing across her face as she noticed the way his jaw tightened.
He waved it off, forcing a crooked grin despite the pain blooming hot and insistent in his shoulder. "Trust me," he said, breath shallow, "this still beats dying on palace stone."
She shut the door, the seal engaging with a muted thrum that felt final, then sprinted around to the driver's side. Sliding into the seat, she froze for half a second, eyes flicking over the interior in awe, fingers brushing the wheel, the console, the glowing runes.
"Okay," she breathed, unable to stop herself. "This is… actually pretty nice." She tilted her head, lips twitching. "Still not my color."
Oscar's eyes shone like a kid staring through glass at something he'd dreamed about his entire life. "It's perfect," he murmured.
Reality snapped back into place as Stephanie swallowed hard and glanced around. "Right. So," she said, voice tightening with urgency, "how do I start this thing?"
Oscar lifted his uninjured hand, pointing toward a rune-inscribed push-start button embedded into the console. "That one. No keys. Runes do the recognizing."
She pressed it.
The Luxmotor answered instantly.
Headlights flared to life in a blinding flash, slicing through smoke and shadow as the engine roared awake beneath them, deep and powerful, a sound that vibrated through bone and blood alike. The growl echoed off palace walls, rolling across the courtyard like thunder trapped in metal.
Stephanie gasped, laughter bursting out of her as adrenaline surged through her veins. Oscar barked out a breathless laugh of his own, heart pounding in time with the engine.
"Oh gods," she said, gripping the wheel. "That's loud."
"And glorious," Oscar added, reverent.
She didn't hesitate. "Okay, now what?"
Oscar nodded toward two glowing rune panels near the steering column. "That one's drive. That one's reverse."
She glanced at the others. "And the rest?"
"You don't need those yet," Oscar said quickly, smirking.
A dangerous smile spread across Stephanie's face as she wrapped both hands around the wheel, excitement and fear blending into something wild.
"Seatbelt," Oscar cut in, fumbling to click his into place. "I really don't want to die because you're enthusiastic."
She snorted, snapping her own belt into place before reaching for the wheel again.
That was when the banging started.
Stephanie jumped, head snapping to the side as she found herself staring at the driver of the Luxmotor, black hair disheveled, suit rumpled, face twisted with panic and rage. He pounded on the window with both hands, yanking uselessly at the handle.
"What are you doing?" he shouted, though the reinforced glass swallowed his words. "Do you know whose vehicle this is?"
Oscar leaned back, a lazy grin tugging at his lips. "Pretty sure he doesn't know we can't hear him."
He reached out and twisted a rune-lined knob on the console.
Music exploded through the cabin, bass thumping heavy and deep, vibrating the seats and windows as the sound drowned out the world beyond the glass. Outside, the driver's shouts vanished beneath rhythm and magic.
The first pale hints of dawn crept over the horizon, washing the sky in soft gold and bruised violet, signaling an end and a beginning all at once.
The male adventurers watched from afar, some laughing openly now, smug satisfaction flickering across their faces as the driver stumbled back, realization hitting too late.
Stephanie and Oscar exchanged a look, laughter bubbling between them, breathless and raw.
She shifted the Luxmotor into drive.
The tires screamed as she slammed the pedal down, burning rubber against stone as the vehicle surged forward, power exploding beneath them. The courtyard blurred, statues and fountains streaking past as Stephanie navigated instinctively, weaving between obstacles with reckless precision.
"Left!" Oscar shouted, bracing himself. "Now right—careful!"
Each sharp turn sent pain flaring through his shoulder, but adrenaline dulled it just enough to keep him focused. Stephanie laughed, manic and free, hair whipping loose from its braid as the Luxmotor tore across the palace grounds.
They blasted through the estate gates, guards diving out of the way as the crimson blur roared past, smoke and dust trailing behind like a banner of rebellion.
The city opened before them, lantern-lit streets flashing by as citizens stared in stunned disbelief. The Luxmotor cut through San Cordellion like a blade, music thumping, engine howling, speed flattening fear into exhilaration.
Stephanie laughed through tears as the city walls drew closer, every second peeling away layers of duty and expectation. The invisible chains she had worn her entire life shattered one by one, freedom roaring in her chest louder than the engine.
"Thank you," she said, voice breaking as she gripped the wheel. "For not giving up on me."
Oscar smiled, exhaustion finally seeping in beneath the adrenaline. "Anytime," he replied. "Though I could really use a blunt right now."
They burst through the city gate in a storm of sound and motion, guards scrambling aside as the Luxmotor shot into the open road beyond. The morning sun rose fully then, spilling golden light across the path ahead.
They drove into it together, leaving smoke, shattered stone, and a kingdom in their wake, chasing freedom at full speed.