A week later found them rattling along a rugged mountain road in a reinforced carriage, the scent of ozone and damp stone heavy in the air. Alfraed sat opposite Mikaela, her crimson eyes watching the passing landscape with familiar anticipation. Between them, Movis occupied the entire opposite bench, his healed arm resting across the seatback as he stared out at the jagged peaks.
"Still sulking?" Mikaela asked her brother, her tone light.
"Contemplating the structural integrity of dimensional magic," Movis corrected without turning from the window. "And whether your human is secretly part titan."
Mikaela's lips curved into a smile. "The old capital of Anspia still stands because of him. The titan that attacked it doesn't."
Movis's brow furrowed, his crimson eyes widening slightly. "A titan?"
"Would we be having this conversation if he'd lost?" Mikaela's voice carried a hint of pride beneath her casual tone.
