Silence lingered around the lakeshore.
Aldric suddenly turned toward Pythia.
"...And tell me something."
He folded his arms.
"...Why the hell didn't you think about that back then?"
Pythia remained composed.
"...Because I made an assumption."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"I believed..."
"...that the one controlling the puppet was not significantly stronger than myself."
Aldric stared at her.
Then barked a short laugh.
"...Like hell."
He pointed at her.
"You're only a Third-Star Mage."
"What exactly gave you the confidence to make that assumption?"
Pythia simply ignored the jab.
Her voice remained calm.
"...Had the caster merely been one realm above me..."
"...I would've noticed."
She paused.
"...But I underestimated the possibility."
A faint sigh escaped her.
She stepped forward.
Then bowed deeply toward Draven.
"...My Lord."
"The fault is mine."
"I failed to consider someone beyond my ability to perceive."
She lowered her head even further.
"...I am willing to accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate."
"As long as it is your will..."
"...I shall comply without hesitation."
Silence.
Aldric slowly looked at her.
Then his expression became strange.
"...Yeah..."
A grin spread across his face.
"...You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
Pythia froze.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She said nothing.
Aldric pointed at her.
"...Freak."
Pythia quietly looked away.
"..."
She offered no defense.
Vaelith stepped forward before Aldric could continue.
Her voice remained as calm as ever.
"...I'll verify it myself."
She raised one hand.
Crimson mana spread outward.
Four intricate magic circles unfolded in the air.
One above Draven.
One above Aldric.
One above Pythia.
One above Nia.
Ancient runes rotated slowly.
Soft crimson light descended over each of them.
Vaelith closed her eyes.
Her senses expanded.
One by one—
she examined every strand of mana.
Every trace of spiritual energy.
Every hidden fluctuation.
Several moments passed.
The runes slowly dimmed.
Then vanished.
Vaelith opened her eyes.
"...Nothing."
She looked first at Draven.
Then Aldric.
Then the others.
"I found no tracking curse."
"No hidden mark."
"No lingering spiritual imprint."
She paused.
"...Nothing capable of allowing someone to locate any of you."
Silence settled over the group once again.
Aldric clicked his tongue.
"...That's just fantastic."
He threw both hands into the air.
"So we've confirmed..."
"...that we still don't know a damn thing."
Silence settled over the lakeshore once more.
Draven lowered his gaze.
His crimson eyes rested upon the black bow in his hand.
For a long moment—
he said nothing.
Then—
"...It doesn't matter."
Everyone looked toward him.
"If he's able to track us..."
"...so be it."
His fingers slowly tightened around the bow.
"...We'll simply get rid of the problem entirely."
His voice remained calm.
Without the slightest hesitation.
"...If he appears again..."
"...we'll kill him."
A brief silence followed.
Draven looked toward Lyriana.
Then Aldric.
"...With the three of us..."
"...it'll be enough."
"...We'll kill him."
Lyriana gave a small nod.
"I agree."
Her expression remained composed.
"...If he intends to continue pursuing us..."
"...it's better to eliminate him now rather than allow the threat to remain."
She looked toward the dark forest beyond the lake.
"...The longer he lives..."
"...the more opportunities he'll have to attack."
Aldric's grin slowly returned.
"...Heh."
He cracked his neck.
A dangerous smile spread across his face.
"...Then it's settled."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"...Next time..."
"...we're killing that bastard elf."
Nearby—
Kaelira folded her arms.
She let out an exaggerated sigh.
"...Looks like I won't be joining the fun."
Her wolf ears drooped slightly.
"...It really pisses me off knowing I can't do anything."
Ryke glanced sideways at her.
"...It's probably for the best."
He shrugged.
"If you jumped into that fight..."
"...you'd probably just be throwing your life away."
He looked toward the devastated horizon where the battle had taken place.
"...People like us..."
"...should know our limits."
"...There's nothing shameful about admitting you're too weak."
Kaelira slowly turned her head.
Her eyes locked onto him.
An unmistakable killing intent washed over the lakeshore.
"...Weak?"
Ryke stiffened.
"...Uh..."
She took one step closer.
"...I'm not weak."
Another step.
"...Don't compare me..."
"...to yourself."
Ryke immediately raised both hands.
Cold sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Alright!"
"Alright!"
"I apologize!"
He forced out an awkward laugh.
"...No need for all that."
He cautiously took half a step backward.
"I was talking about myself too."
Kaelira continued staring at him for several long seconds.
Then clicked her tongue.
"...Hmph."
Only after the killing intent faded did Ryke finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
"...Scary woman."
Kaelira heard him.
"...What was that?"
Ryke's eyes widened.
"...Nothing."
"...Absolutely nothing."
Aldric snorted.
Then looked toward Kaelira.
"...Little argument aside..."
"...at least you aren't completely useless."
Kaelira blinked.
"...Huh?"
Aldric shrugged.
"...Because of you..."
"...we found the portal almost immediately."
He pointed a thumb toward her.
"...So at least you actually did something useful."
Then—
his gaze slowly shifted.
Landing on Ryke.
A dangerous smile spread across his face.
"...You."
Ryke immediately stiffened.
"...Me?"
Aldric nodded.
"...Yeah."
He slowly began walking toward him.
"...Why the hell are you still here again?"
Ryke instinctively took a step backward.
"...I..."
Aldric spread his hands.
"The ship's gone."
"So tell me..."
"...what exactly do we need a pilot for now?"
Another step.
"...You can't even do the one thing you were useful for anymore."
He tilted his head.
"...Seems pretty pointless keeping you around."
His smile widened.
"...Especially since..."
"...you already know far too much."
Ryke's face immediately turned pale.
Cold sweat rolled down his forehead.
"...I guess..."
"...I should've just kept running."
"...Yeah."
Aldric nodded.
"...Too bad for you."
He continued walking forward.
Ryke hurriedly raised both hands.
"Will you calm down for a second?!"
Aldric laughed.
"...Who said I'm not calm?"
His smile never disappeared.
"If that's the only thing you've got to say..."
"...then you're dying here."
Ryke swallowed hard.
"W-Wait!"
"What do you want?"
"I'll become your servant!"
"I'll do anything!"
"I just don't want to die!"
Aldric answered immediately.
"...Not interested."
Ryke's breathing became even more frantic.
"I can still pilot another airship!"
"The moment we find one!"
"What about money?"
"Wait!"
He hurriedly reached into his pocket.
Pulling out a crystal credit card.
He stretched it toward Aldric with trembling hands.
"There's a thousand gold coins on it!"
"I'll give it all to you!"
"And I'll earn more!"
"I'll give you ten thousand more!"
"I'll do whatever you want!"
"Just don't kill me!"
Silence.
Aldric stared at the card.
Then at Ryke.
"...What?"
He looked genuinely confused.
"...Damn."
"...To think you're carrying that much."
"...Seems trafficking really was paying well."
He tilted his head.
"...But I don't understand why you think that'll be enough."
A brief pause.
"...Once I kill you..."
"...it'll be mine anyway."
Ryke immediately interrupted.
"I'll hand everything over willingly!"
"I'll work for you!"
"I'll pay you more!"
"I'll do anything if you don't kill me!"
A long pause followed.
Then—
Aldric burst out laughing.
"...Pfft."
"...Alright."
He waved one hand dismissively.
"...Enough already."
"You look like you're about to piss yourself."
He wrinkled his nose.
"...Disgusting."
Ryke blinked.
"...S-So..."
"...you won't kill me?"
Aldric shrugged.
"...Don't know."
"...Might change my mind."
Ryke instantly froze again.
Aldric ignored him.
Instead—
he turned toward Lyriana.
She looked at him calmly.
"...What are you doing?"
Aldric stared back blankly.
"...Nothing."
"...So quit looking at me like that."
He folded his arms.
"You can just ignore him."
"If he tries anything..."
"...I'll kill him immediately."
A brief pause.
"And I've got my reasons."
"I don't have to explain them."
"Just know..."
"...I'm not letting him go."
Ryke hurriedly nodded.
"Don't worry!"
"I honestly don't care what job you give me."
"As long as I'm alive."
Pythia spoke quietly.
"...There is another option."
Everyone looked toward her.
"...I could simply cast a memory spell."
"It would erase everything he knows about us."
Silence.
Aldric's expression immediately flattened.
"...Shut up."
Pythia blinked.
"...Listen."
He pointed at Ryke.
"I said I'm keeping him."
Pythia's gaze remained steady.
"...I don't believe that is the correct decision."
Ryke immediately raised a hand.
"...Either way..."
"...I don't mind."
"As long as I'm alive."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"...Just..."
"...please don't turn me into an idiot."
Aldric slowly turned his head.
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"...The hell did you just say?"
Ryke's entire body shook.
"...N-Nothing!"
"I mean..."
"I'll do whatever you tell me!"
Aldric stared at him for another long moment.
Then clicked his tongue.
"...Good."
"...Remember that."
Ryke nodded so quickly it looked as though his head might fall off.
"...Y-Yes."
"...Sorry."