The trace beneath Thepes's chest weakened before Vesa heard Alucard's voice break.
She flew closer to the wall and settled her small clawed feet on a broken brick, keeping outside the runes around the restrained body. The ice still held his joints, and his blood remained inside the boundary Alex had left.
"Master?"
The answer came as a faint sound without clear words.
Vesa stopped pulling at the connection. She had kept it open through the exchange and the fleet's withdrawal, afraid of losing him if it faded too far. Now every attempt to hear more made his voice less stable.
She reduced the contact until only the familiar presence remained.
Thepes turned his head toward her.
"Who are you calling?"
Vesa looked at the blood gathering slowly around his damaged left wrist.
"My master. The reason his artifact is still inside your chest."
His expression hardened.
"You mean someone who helped them put me here."
"Yes," she said.
