The argument continued behind him.
Aldric was still glaring at Ryke.
Ryke was nodding so fast it seemed his neck might snap.
Pythia remained unconvinced.
Kaelira watched the entire exchange with open amusement.
Draven ignored every word.
His attention had already shifted elsewhere.
A small triangular artifact rested in his palm.
With a faint hum—
it activated.
A blue holographic map unfolded above his hand.
Several glowing points appeared across its surface.
One of them blinked steadily.
Their current location.
Draven silently traced the terrain with one finger.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
*...We drifted south.*
The portal hadn't brought them exactly where intended.
Still—
they hadn't been displaced by much.
His finger continued moving eastward across the projection.
Following forests.
Mountain ranges.
Roads.
Then finally—
toward another distant region.
*...Not too far.*
Without looking up—
he spoke.
"...Lyriana."
She immediately stepped closer.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Draven gestured toward the map.
"...Using the spatial artifact..."
"...you should be able to open two."
A brief pause.
"...Possibly three portals before it reaches its limit?"
Lyriana looked down at the dim artifact resting in her hands.
Her fingers gently brushed across its engraved rings.
She remained silent for several moments while examining the fading runes.
Then she answered.
"...Judging from the previous portal I opened..."
She lifted her gaze.
"...it will require a considerable amount of mana..."
"...but it is still within my capabilities."
Draven gave a slight nod.
"...Good."
His finger stopped upon a distant point on the holographic map.
"...We'll continue using it."
"...Each portal brings us closer to our destination."
His crimson eyes remained fixed upon the projection.
"...Dresvalle."
Silence followed.
Nearby—
Ryke unconsciously muttered under his breath.
"...Dresvalle..."
His eyes widened slightly.
"...So that's where you're heading."
Everyone glanced toward him.
Ryke immediately stiffened.
"...S-Sorry."
"I wasn't trying to eavesdrop."
"It just..."
"...slipped out."
Draven paid him no attention.
He continued studying the map.
"...The sooner we arrive..."
"...the better."
His fingers slowly closed, causing the holographic projection to disappear.
The triangular artifact fell silent once more.
Only then did he continue.
"...I need mana."
His voice was calm.
Matter-of-fact.
"...Enough to finally create a mana pool."
Lyriana inclined her head.
"...Yes, Your Highness."
She looked down at the spatial artifact once more.
"...The consumption is significant..."
"...but as you predicted..."
"...I should still be capable of opening another two portals."
She paused briefly.
"...Perhaps even a third, if necessary."
She closed her fingers around the artifact.
"...Provided I have sufficient time to recover between each use."
Draven nodded once.
"...Then we'll leave as soon as you're ready."
The lakeside fell quiet once again.
Their destination had been decided.
Dresvalle awaited them.
Silence gradually settled over the shore.
No one spoke again.
Only the gentle sound of rippling water echoed beneath the moonlight.
Lyriana lowered her gaze toward the spatial artifact resting in her hands.
The interlocking rings were dim.
Almost dormant.
She slowly exhaled.
Then placed one hand over its center.
Blue mana flowed from her palm.
The engraved runes gradually lit up once more.
**Click.**
**Click.**
**Click.**
The outer rings began rotating.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
The surrounding space started trembling.
Tiny blue ripples spread outward.
The air distorted.
A faint humming filled the clearing.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the artifact.
Lyriana's expression remained calm.
More mana poured into it.
The glow intensified.
Until—
**FWOOM.**
A circular tear appeared in midair.
Its black interior rippled gently.
Blue spatial currents spiraled endlessly around its edge.
The portal steadily expanded.
One meter.
Two.
Three.
Only after it became large enough for everyone to pass through did Lyriana stop channeling mana.
The rotating rings slowed slightly.
"...The portal is stable."
She looked toward Draven.
"We may proceed."
Draven gave a small nod.
Without hesitation—
he stepped forward.
The black cat leaped onto his shoulder.
The blue slime slipped quietly beneath his cloak.
He crossed the portal first.
**WHOOSH.**
His figure vanished.
Vaelith followed immediately after.
Lucifer and Elenya remained asleep in her arms.
Nia stayed close behind.
One after another—
they disappeared into the darkness beyond the portal.
Pythia stepped through next.
Kaelira followed without a word.
As she reached the portal—
she glanced back toward Ryke.
"...Don't get lost."
Ryke forced a weak smile.
"...I'll try not to."
She rolled her eyes.
Then disappeared.
**WHOOSH.**
Only Aldric and Ryke remained.
Aldric looked sideways.
"...Well?"
Ryke scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"...Ladies first?"
Aldric stared at him.
"...There's not a single lady standing here."
Ryke coughed.
"...Right..."
"...Bad choice of words."
Aldric snorted.
"...Move."
Ryke nodded so quickly it was almost comical.
"...Y-Yes!"
He hurried through the portal without another word.
Aldric remained behind for a brief moment.
His crimson eyes swept across the quiet lake.
The moon reflected peacefully upon its surface.
As though the battle that had nearly claimed all their lives had never happened.
"...Heh."
A faint grin crossed his face.
"...Guess we survived another one."
With that—
his black wings folded behind him.
He stepped into the portal.
**WHOOSH.**
His figure disappeared.
The clearing fell silent.
Only Lyriana remained.
She looked around the empty lakeshore one final time.
Then raised the spatial artifact slightly.
Its rings rotated in reverse.
The blue currents surrounding the portal began shrinking.
Smaller.
Smaller.
Until—
**FWOOM.**
The black circle collapsed into a single point of light.
Then vanished completely.
Lyriana stepped through at the very last instant.
The forest returned to complete silence.
Only the moonlight remained—
shining upon the undisturbed waters of the lake.