Aldric straightened fully, the blood-forged weapon dissolving into mist as he rolled his shoulder once.
"That's exactly why," he said, his voice firm—final. "Now that **she's here**, we hand them over."
He cast a measured glance at the maid—acknowledging what she was without naming it—then turned back to Lyriana.
"You and I both know this isn't the place for them anymore," Aldric continued. "We still have unfinished business. That bastard is still out there."
He angled his body toward the forest, jaw tightening as old irritation surfaced.
"So we entrust their safety to her."
Then he faced Lyriana fully.
"Lyriana."
She looked at him.
"Give her the babies," Aldric said. "Our time here is over. We go back and **continue the fight**."
His eyes hardened.
"Hand them over. Let's go."
Silence followed.
Lyriana didn't move.
Her wings drew in subtly around her body, instinctively shielding the children. Elenya's tiny fingers reached weakly against Lyriana's chest, brushing her robes, while Lucifer slept on—peaceful, unaware.
Then Lyriana spoke.
"No."
The word was soft.
But absolute.
Aldric blinked.
"…Huh?"
Lyriana lifted her gaze, eyes sharp and unyielding.
"No, Aldric," she repeated evenly. "I'm not handing them over."
A flicker of irritation crossed his face. "Lyria, this isn't—"
"They are **children**," she cut in, her wings flaring just enough to cast long shadows. "Not cargo. Not something you hand off because it's inconvenient."
The maid remained silent, hands folded neatly before her, expression unchanged.
Lyriana drew a steadying breath.
"You want to rush back into another battle?" she said. "Fine. That's what you do."
Her eyes locked onto Aldric's.
"But I'm not letting them out of my sight."
Aldric's jaw tightened, his voice sharpening despite himself.
"Lyriana—this isn't—" He stopped, then forced the words through clenched teeth. "This is about **revenge**. For our parents. If we miss this chance, who knows when that bastard will surface again—"
"Enough."
Her voice cut through him like a blade.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just **unyielding**.
Her wings spread wider now, shadows curling across the ground as her stance shifted—protective, immovable. She adjusted the children without breaking eye contact, one hand cradling Lucifer's head, the other steadying Elenya as the baby's fingers curled weakly into her sleeve.
"You think I don't know that?" she asked quietly. "You think I don't feel it every time I breathe?"
Aldric took a step forward.
The maid didn't move—but the air changed, pressure tightening as if an invisible line had been drawn.
Lyriana noticed.
She didn't care.
"You chase that bastard because it's all you know," she continued. "Because if you stop moving, you'll have to feel everything you lost."
Aldric's fists clenched.
"That's rich coming from you," he snapped. "You think hiding would—"
"I'm not hiding," Lyriana said sharply. "I'm **choosing**."
She stepped forward instead, closing the distance until Aldric could feel the heat of her mana—power restrained, barely contained beneath her calm.
"They come first," she said. "Not revenge. Not unfinished grudges."
Aldric shook his head, frustration boiling over.
"And what happens when they're used against us?" he demanded. "Do you have any idea what will happen if even a scratch appears on them? What the King, the Queen—what *that brat*—would do to us? We'd be dead before we realized it. You think keeping them with you makes them safer?"
Lyriana didn't answer immediately.
She looked down first.
At Lucifer—still asleep, small chest rising and falling steadily, unaware of the weight pressing in on the world.
At Elenya—wide-eyed and alert, fingers clutching weakly at Lyriana's clothing as if anchoring herself.
Then she looked back up at Aldric.
Her gaze didn't waver.
"You're right," she said quietly.
Aldric froze.
"…What?"
"You're right," she repeated. "If anything happens to them—if even a scratch appears—the King, the Queen, the young master… all of them will come down on us like a storm."
Her jaw tightened.
"I know that."
She stepped closer, close enough that Aldric could hear the faint tremor in her breath—not fear, but restraint.
"But listen to yourself," she continued. "You're talking like danger exists only *later*. Like it isn't already everywhere."
She lifted Elenya slightly as the child shifted, soothing her with a gentle brush of her wing.
"You think handing them over makes them safe?" Lyriana asked. "You think separating them from someone willing to burn the world to protect them is safer?"
Aldric opened his mouth.
She didn't let him.
"You and I both know what this world does to those who can't protect themselves," she said, her voice sharpening. "Promises are kept only until they become inconvenient."
Her gaze flicked briefly to the maid.
Not accusing.
Not hostile.
Just honest.
"I'm not questioning *her* ability," Lyriana said. "I'm questioning the world she moves through."
Aldric dragged a hand through his hair.
"Lyria, I'm not saying abandon them," he snapped. "I'm saying don't drag them through hell with us."
"And I'm saying hell will find them either way," Lyriana replied calmly.
She straightened, wings settling—not flared, not aggressive, but resolute.
"You want to know the difference?" she asked. "If they're with me, I see it coming. If they're not—I don't."
Aldric stared at her.
The forest seemed to hold its breath.
"…You're being reckless," he said at last, quieter.
Lyriana shook her head.
"No," she said. "I'm keeping a promise."
The word landed heavier than any blow.
Aldric stiffened.
"I won't hand them over because it's convenient for the next fight," she continued. "I won't trade their safety for your closure."
Her voice softened—just slightly.
"But don't mistake that for weakness."
Mana stirred around her, subtle yet vast, like a tide beneath still water.
"If you go chasing that bastard," Lyriana said quietly, "make sure you don't die."
Her eyes hardened.
"But if you do… I'll make sure to **avenge you**."
The words hung in the air—quiet, steady, **final**.
Aldric stared at her.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
The forest lay unnaturally still, as if even the night knew better than to interrupt. Blood-soaked leaves rustled faintly beneath a cooling breeze, carrying the fading scent of iron and ash.
Aldric exhaled slowly.
Then he laughed.
Not loud.
Not amused.
Just a short, breathless huff.
"…Tch."
He turned away, jaw tight, eyes narrowing as if staring at something far beyond the trees. His hand flexed once, blood magic stirring instinctively before settling again.
"Damn it, Lyria," he muttered. "You always do this."
He looked back at her—really looked.
At the way her wings curved protectively.
At the way her arms never loosened around the children.
At the unyielding resolve in her eyes—the same resolve she'd always had.
"…You haven't changed at all," he said quietly.
Lyriana didn't respond.
She didn't need to.
Aldric rubbed a hand down his face, irritation bleeding away into something heavier—resignation, perhaps, or understanding he didn't want to voice.
"Fine," he said at last. "Do it your way."
Her eyes flickered—just slightly.
"But don't misunderstand me," Aldric added, straightening. His tone hardened, sharp with intent. "If this turns bad—if even a whisper of danger comes near you—"
He looked past Lyriana, toward the maid.
His gaze was steady.
Measuring.
"—then *no one* gets in my way."
Lyriana finally spoke again.
"Then we're clear," she said. "I'm not handing them over. Not today."
Aldric nodded once.
"…Yeah. Clear."
He stepped back, rolling his shoulders as if shedding lingering tension.
"Well," he said with a crooked grin, "guess that means I'll just have to finish this fast enough that it doesn't become a problem."
He turned toward the forest, eyes sharpening as the hunger for battle resurfaced.
"That bastard's trail hasn't gone cold yet."
Lyriana watched him.
Then said softly, firmly, "Don't die."
Aldric paused—just for a second.
He glanced back over his shoulder, flashing a sharp-toothed grin.
"Heh. With you watching my back?"
His eyes gleamed.
"Not a chance."
Mana stirred as he stepped forward, blood magic coiling once more—controlled, lethal, ready.
The maid's voice cut through the moment, soft and unhurried.
"If you are going after **Ivan**," she said calmly, "then you should know…"
She lifted her gaze to Aldric.
"…he is long gone."
The words struck like a blade between the ribs.
The forest seemed to **freeze**.
Aldric stopped mid-step.
The blood magic faltered—then stilled completely.
"…What?" he said slowly.
Lyriana's wings tightened, her eyes narrowing.
"Gone?" Aldric repeated, turning fully. His grin vanished as if it had never existed. "What do you mean *gone*?"
The maid met his gaze without flinching.
"I mean exactly that," she replied. "The one you pursue is no longer in this region. His presence vanished some time ago—well before you finished here."
Aldric stared at her.
One heartbeat.
Then another.
His jaw clenched so hard it creaked.
"…You're telling me," he said quietly, dangerously, "that after all this—"
Blood stirred again, violent this time.
"—he slipped away?"
Lyriana stepped forward, her voice controlled but tight. "How far?"
"Far enough that chasing him now would be meaningless," the maid said. "He did not flee blindly. His departure was deliberate."
A pause.
"He planned for this."
Aldric exhaled sharply through his teeth.
"Tch."
He paced once, then stopped, shoulders rising and falling as he forced himself to calm down—failed—then forced it again.
"That son of a—" He cut himself off, eyes burning. "So all that time… all that blood…"
His fist clenched.
"…He was already gone."
The maid inclined her head. "Yes."
Silence followed.
Lyriana looked down at the children, then back up.
"Then this ends here," she said. "For now."
Aldric shot her a look. "You're too calm about this."
"I'm being realistic," Lyriana replied. "You can't fight what isn't here."
Aldric scoffed.
"Doesn't mean I'm done with him."