Steam still lingered faintly in the bathing room.
Draven stepped out, fully dressed in the fresh clothes Vaelith had prepared. Dark fabric. Clean lines. No excess.
The change was subtle—
But deliberate.
The small slime rested comfortably atop his head, barely visible beneath his hair. In his left arm, he carried the cat, its body relaxed but its eyes half-open, quietly observant.
He walked down the corridor in silence.
Each step measured.
Controlled.
But his thoughts were not.
That girl.
When he crossed the border—
She had seen his face clearly.
There had been no disguise.
No concealment.
If she had recognized him—
Then others might have as well.
By now, word should have spread.
Draven's expression darkened slightly.
Staying here was dangerous.
Too long in one place created patterns.
Patterns invited hunters.
And hunters created complications.
Yet leaving now was not an option.
He glanced toward the window at the end of the hall. Light still streamed in. Late afternoon—bright enough.
The sun had not yet set.
He could endure it.
Aldric could endure it.
Lyriana and Vaelith as well.
But the children—
Lucifer.
Elenya.
They were too young.
Too fragile.
Even brief exposure could harm them.
He would not risk it.
Not for speed.
Not for convenience.
His grip on the cat tightened slightly—just enough for the animal to flick its tail in mild protest.
Draven adjusted his hold.
We wait.
The moment the sun disappears—
We move.
No delay.
No hesitation.
He resumed walking toward the living area, his mind already mapping routes.
Alternate paths.
Blind spots.
Exits.
If word had spread, watchers might already be inside the city.
Perhaps closer than expected.
He stepped into the living room.
Calm exterior.
Cold calculation beneath.
Until sunset—
They remain.
The instant darkness claims the sky—
They leave.
Immediately.
---
Vaelith stood near the window, posture composed, golden eyes shifting toward him the moment he entered. Lyriana leaned against the wall nearby, arms folded, watching in quiet thought.
The atmosphere was calm.
Too calm.
Draven walked further in and released the cat. The creature landed softly and padded away without complaint.
Vaelith's gaze moved over him once.
"The clothes fit properly, my lord."
"They're fine," Draven replied evenly.
Lyriana tilted her head slightly. "You look less like you just crawled out of a battlefield, Your Highness."
Vaelith stepped forward, carefully placing Lucifer into Draven's arms, then Elenya.
The moment the babies settled against him, something in his expression shifted.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Lucifer blinked up at him with wide crimson eyes. Elenya immediately reached for him, tiny fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt.
Draven lowered his head slightly.
"Well," he muttered, his voice losing its edge, "you two look comfortable."
Lucifer made a small sound—half babble, half declaration.
"Oh?" Draven replied, utterly serious. "Is that so?"
Elenya responded by grabbing a lock of his hair.
Draven stared at her tiny fist.
"…Bold."
Vaelith watched quietly, the faintest warmth softening her composed expression.
Lyriana raised a brow.
"This is… unexpected."
Draven adjusted his hold, settling Lucifer more securely on his arm while Elenya rested against his chest.
He lowered his voice further.
"You caused no trouble, I assume?"
Lucifer gurgled.
"Good."
Elenya squealed softly.
"Yes, yes. I heard you."
He lightly tapped Lucifer's nose.
"You're supposed to be the responsible one."
Lucifer blinked.
Lyriana looked mildly amused. "Responsible."
"He's older by minutes," Draven replied without hesitation.
"That qualifies."
Vaelith covered a faint smile with her sleeve.
Elenya tugged harder at his hair.
Draven narrowed his eyes at her.
"You're already rebellious."
She answered with a delighted sound.
Draven exhaled softly—almost a laugh, but not quite.
For a brief moment, the weight in his mind—the border, the recognition, the spreading rumors—faded beneath the warmth of tiny hands gripping his clothes.
He adjusted them both carefully.
"Just a little longer," he murmured, more to himself than to them.
Lucifer yawned.
Elenya leaned into his chest.
Vaelith stepped closer. "We will be ready the moment you give the word."
Draven nodded once.
"Sunset."
Lyriana glanced toward the window, where the light had begun to dim.
"Then we wait."
Draven looked down at the two infants in his arms.
His voice softened again.
"You hear that?"
Lucifer blinked lazily.
"We move when the sky turns dark."
Elenya babbled in agreement.
Draven gave the faintest smirk.
"Good. At least someone here listens."
---
Draven moved to the couch and sat carefully, keeping Lucifer resting along his arm while Elenya lay against his chest.
The slime adjusted slightly on his head.
The cat leapt onto the armrest.
For a brief moment—
Peace.
Then the front door opened.
Aldric walked in first, holding a plastic case of drinks over one shoulder like a trophy. Behind him, the cultist followed, a small store bag in one hand while casually eating from a wrapped slice of cake in the other.
Aldric kicked the door shut with his heel.
"Well, look at that," he said. "Family gathering."
He lifted the case slightly. "Want one?"
Draven glanced at the drinks.
Aldric snorted. "Of course not."
He dropped the case onto the table and pulled one free, cracking it open. The sharp hiss broke the quiet.
The cultist walked past them and dropped into a chair, still chewing.
Lyriana stared at her.
"You're comfortable."
The cultist swallowed. "You told me to clean up afterward. I did. I deserve cake."
Aldric flopped onto the opposite couch. "She made me carry everything."
"You told me to shut up and follow you," she replied calmly, taking another bite. "I followed."
Draven's gaze shifted between them. "You went shopping."
Aldric pointed his drink toward her. "This bastard had nothing edible in his house. So yes. I fixed the problem."
Lyriana looked toward him. "You used his money."
"Obviously."
The cultist lifted the bag slightly. "Technically, I paid."
Aldric frowned. "With his card."
She blinked. "Yes."
"That still counts as me paying. I used my own money first because we couldn't access the card yet."
Lyriana sighed softly.
Draven adjusted Lucifer as the baby shifted.
Aldric noticed and leaned forward. "They good?"
"They're fine."
Lucifer made a small noise.
Aldric raised a brow. "That one looks like he's judging me."
"He is," Draven replied flatly.
The cultist tilted her head, watching Draven with the infants. "It's strange."
Aldric glanced at her. "What is?"
"The lord doesn't look like someone who'd hold babies."
Draven's eyes shifted to her.
"And what does someone who holds babies look like?"
She paused.
"…Not you, my lord."
Aldric burst into laughter.
Lyriana covered her mouth, hiding a smile.
Vaelith remained composed, though amusement flickered in her eyes.
Draven simply looked down at Elenya, who had wrapped her tiny fingers around his shirt again.
"Your observational skills need work," he said calmly.
The cultist shrugged and returned to her cake.
Aldric took a long sip from his drink. "Sun's still up. Streets were normal. No unusual movement."
Lyriana nodded. "I checked earlier. No one lingering near the house."
Vaelith added, "The ghoul remains compliant."
"Because you threatened him with instant death," Aldric muttered.
"It is efficient," Vaelith replied.