His voice carried exhaustion, real, bone-deep exhaustion. The battle with the young witch earlier had drained him more than he wanted to admit. Even standing upright required effort.
Rex bowed his head. "Understood, Your Highness."
Kaiser didn't respond. He merely lifted a hand in dismissal and walked out, as if he no longer had the will to involve himself in the chaos of the night.
His shoulders slumped slightly, burdened both by his duty as crown prince and by watching Demian's madness firsthand, all for a single woman.
Demian arrived just in time barely before the Emperor's main forces launched their final assault. His lungs burned from the relentless ride that had nearly killed his horse, but he still dismounted with steady steps. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee before Emperor Agilos.
"I want to take the witch clan," Demian said, voice low but unwavering.
