Quinlan stepped back into the moonlit room, and the seam of pale light sealed shut behind him.
The mansion hadn't changed while they were gone. Puddles of melted ice still caught the light across the stone floor. Elder Chizuru slumped against the far wall, Hozumi still struggling for his life. Kaede remained in the corner, her breathing shallow, her eyes on nothing.
"Quin!!" Jasmine bounced on her toes, far too dutiful.
Quinlan smiled at her and let [Warp Gate] hum to life in his open palm. A vertical doorway of warped air stabilized in the center of the room. "Anyone heading to Miri Town, now's the time."
"Love you!" Jasmine tip-toed, leaving a big smooch on his cheek, and was moving before the gate finished forming.
Lucille followed close behind, catching his hand as she passed. "I'll check on Mavena and spend some time with her. Don't get too carried away while I'm gone..." she mused with a big grin.
"Carried away? Why would I do that?"
