Morning gradually spread across the forest.
Golden sunlight filtered through the dense canopy.
Birdsong echoed faintly in the distance.
Deep within the mountain—
inside what had once been a goblin den—
silence prevailed.
The foul smell of blood still lingered.
Broken weapons and shattered wooden furniture lay scattered across the cavern floor.
Goblin corpses were piled against one wall.
At the center of the cave—
Draven bent over.
A pile of mana crystals rested before him.
One after another—
they crumbled into ash.
Mana surged through his body.
Dark veins slowly spread beneath his ebony skin.
They crawled across his neck.
His arms.
His temples.
The surrounding mana trembled violently as he forcefully compressed everything into the growing mass within his body—
not allowing even the slightest trace to escape.
Several long moments passed.
Then—
the veins slowly receded.
The pressure surrounding him disappeared.
Draven opened his eyes.
He rose to his feet.
His crimson gaze swept across the cave.
"...Alright."
His eyes settled upon Vaelith first.
"...Vaelith."
She immediately inclined her head.
"My Lord."
Draven looked toward the two infants sleeping peacefully nearby.
"...Stay here."
"Look after Lucifer and Elenya."
Without hesitation—
"...As you command."
He turned toward Lyriana.
"...Stay with her."
She nodded once.
"Understood, Your Highness."
Draven's gaze shifted again.
Landing on Nia.
"...You too."
She straightened immediately.
"...Yes."
Her answer was quiet.
Yet firm.
Draven gave a small nod.
Then looked toward another corner of the cave.
Pythia was calmly placing the last goblin corpse into her storage ring.
The body disappeared in a flash of spatial light.
She looked up.
"...My Lord?"
"...Let's go."
She closed the ring.
"...Yes, My Lord."
Before they could leave—
Kaelira immediately stepped forward.
Her wolf ears perked up.
"...I'm coming too, Master."
Draven offered no reply.
He had already turned away—
walking toward the cave entrance.
Kaelira simply smiled.
"...I'll take that as a yes."
Aldric chuckled as he followed behind.
Halfway to the entrance—
he glanced over his shoulder.
Ryke still stood near the back of the cave.
"...Oi."
Ryke looked up.
"...Yeah?"
Aldric jerked his thumb toward the exit.
"...Get your ass moving."
Ryke sighed.
"...Yeah."
"...I get it."
He hurried after them.
Though inwardly—
his thoughts were considerably less enthusiastic.
*...I'm honestly starting to wonder...*
*...if letting him kill me would've been the less stressful option.*
His eyes drifted toward Aldric's back.
The vampire walked casually.
Hands in his pockets.
Whistling as though they weren't traveling with one of the most dangerous groups on the continent.
*...No...*
*...Too late to think about that now.*
Ryke let out another quiet sigh.
*...My life's in the hands of this lunatic.*
*May whatever gods are listening have mercy on me.*
Ahead—
sunlight poured through the cave entrance.
The group stepped outside.
Warm rays fell across the forest.
Morning mist drifted lazily between the trees.
After traveling only during the night for the past two days—
the daylight felt almost foreign.
Without slowing—
Draven led the group deeper into the forest.
The cave gradually disappeared behind them.
The group continued through the forest.
Morning sunlight filtered through the dense canopy overhead.
Leaves rustled softly beneath the passing breeze.
To anyone watching—
they appeared no different from an ordinary group of travelers.
Draven's appearance had changed once again.
His white hair was now dark brown.
His crimson eyes had become an unremarkable blue.
Even the sharpness of his features had softened.
Beside him—
Aldric had also abandoned his true appearance.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
Nothing about him stood out anymore.
Only their pace remained unusually steady.
After several minutes—
Aldric let out an exaggerated groan.
"...I hate the sun."
He raised one hand to shield his eyes.
"...Seriously."
"Who thought daylight was a good idea?"
No one answered.
Aldric looked toward Pythia instead.
"...Oi."
She glanced at him.
"...What?"
"Where's your cloak?"
He held out a hand.
"...Hand it over."
Pythia blinked once.
"...Hmm."
"Why?"
A faint smile appeared beneath her hood.
"...Do you suddenly wish to wear the cloak of a Dark Rat?"
Aldric's eyebrow twitched.
"...Shut up."
"And hand it over already."
Pythia calmly shook her head.
"...I can't."
"I'll need it."
She looked ahead while walking.
"...It's necessary to get us inside the ruins."
Aldric tilted his head.
"...Is that so?"
His eyes slowly drifted over her.
"...Then is there a reason..."
"...you aren't wearing it now?"
Pythia answered without missing a beat.
"...Yes."
"There is."
Aldric immediately waved one hand.
"...Just forget it."
"I don't want to hear it."
Pythia smiled faintly.
"...Hmm."
"I'm sorry..."
"...but I never intended to explain."
Aldric clicked his tongue.
"...And I never intended to listen."
Silence returned.
Behind them—
Ryke watched the exchange with a tired expression.
*...Damn.*
*You people have problems that can't even be explained.*
*And somehow...*
*everyone just accepts that.*
He seriously questioned whether this was normal for them.
Ahead—
Kaelira tilted her head.
Her wolf ears twitched.
"...Huh."
She looked toward Draven.
"...So we're going to some ruins?"
"I thought we were heading to Dresvalle."
She frowned slightly.
"...Isn't that what Master said?"
No one answered immediately.
Kaelira looked between them.
"...Or..."
"...are the ruins inside the city?"
Ryke scratched his cheek.
"...Seems like that's the case."
He looked toward Draven.
"...I've heard stories."
"There are ancient ruins beneath parts of Dresvalle."
"Though I always thought they were just rumors."
Aldric glanced sideways.
"...Rumors usually start somewhere."
Pythia's smile deepened ever so slightly.
"...In this case..."
"...they happen to be true."
She gently adjusted the hood of her dark cloak.
"...And they're considerably older..."
"...than most people realize."
Draven continued walking at the front.
His gaze never left the forest ahead.
The group pressed onward beneath the trees.
Toward Dresvalle.
Toward the ancient ruins hidden beneath it.