As the carriage rolled along the winding path back to Ilis, Galen lounged across the opposite seat like some overfed noble, limbs sprawled carelessly as if the entire thing belonged to him. Serah, meanwhile, sat upright with one leg elegantly crossed over the other, her eyes distant and fixed on the passing scenery beyond the windowpane.
"So, how's that raid you were planning on the Bleeding Smile coming along?" Galen asked, glancing lazily at his sister.
"The raid's already over," Serah replied, voice calm, almost too casual.
"Oh? Since when?" he asked, brows arching.
"Last night."
"Was it successful?"
"Yeah… in a way," Serah said, her tone shaded with a hint of something unspoken.
"Hm? What's that supposed to mean?" he pressed.
Serah exhaled softly, then turned her gaze toward him. "We were betrayed by Blan… and we lost Pete, Elene, and Aiden," she said, voice flat.
Galen's crimson eyes flared open just a bit. "Damn. Aiden's gone? And Elene too?"
"And Pete," Serah added.
