Silence settled over the border.
Everyone stared toward the eastern horizon.
The two figures had already vanished into the darkness.
Not even their mana remained.
Only the fading echoes of explosions lingered in the night air.
Atop the border wall—
Xiomara watched the empty horizon for several more seconds.
Then, a slow smile spread across her face.
"...Heh."
She flicked the ash from her cigarette.
"...Coming here wasn't such a waste of time after all."
Her eyes remained fixed on the empty sky.
"...Nice play, kid."
Below—
the stunned silence finally broke.
"They crossed!"
"After them!"
"Move!"
Dozens of people rushed across the border.
Others launched into the air.
But after only a few moments—
their speed began to slow.
The distance between them continued to widen.
No matter how hard they chased—
they couldn't even catch sight of the two figures.
One by one—
they came to a stop.
Their expressions twisted with frustration.
"...Damn it."
"...They're gone."
"...We can't catch them."
Then—
a laugh echoed through the ruined border gate.
"Hahaha..."
The sound was bright.
Almost cheerful.
Everyone turned.
From the shattered remains of the watchtower—
a figure climbed free.
Loose stones tumbled from the rubble.
The leopard demi-human stepped into the moonlight.
One arm hung limply at her side.
Blood dripped steadily from the shredded flesh.
Her clothes were torn.
Her body was covered in dust.
Yet—
a wide grin stretched across her face.
As though she had just experienced something wonderful.
She looked toward the distant forests of Eirundor.
"...I've found him."
Her smile widened even further.
"...My Lord."
The surrounding soldiers and hunters stared at her as though she were insane.
Then—
the shadows behind her rippled.
One figure appeared.
Then another.
Then several more.
Dark cloaks.
Silent footsteps.
The unmistakable insignia of **Crossfall**.
One of the cloaked figures glanced at her injured arm.
"...Guild Master."
"You don't look so good."
Without another word—
he tossed a small glass vial toward her.
She caught it effortlessly.
A healing potion.
Faelyn pulled the cork free with her teeth.
Then drank it in one smooth motion.
The potion's magic spread through her body immediately.
A soft green glow enveloped her injured arm.
The bleeding slowed.
The torn flesh gradually knitted itself back together.
Bone shifted into place.
Though the wound wasn't completely healed—
it stabilized rapidly.
Faelyn flexed her fingers once.
"...Better."
Another member of Crossfall looked toward the distant horizon.
"...Should we continue the pursuit?"
Faelyn remained silent for a long moment.
Then she slowly shook her head.
"...No."
Her golden eyes never left the forests beyond the border.
"They've already escaped."
A faint chuckle escaped her lips.
"...Besides."
She rolled her newly healed shoulder.
"...This was never about capturing him."
Another Crossfall member tilted his head.
"...Then why come personally?"
Faelyn's grin slowly returned.
"To see him."
She recalled the impossible twist.
The point-blank arrow.
The absolute calm in those crimson eyes when death had been less than an inch away.
"...Now I understand."
She turned away from the border.
Her cloak fluttered behind her.
"...He's exactly the kind of monster the reports described."
A brief pause.
"...Maybe even worse."
Without another word—
the Guild Master of Crossfall walked into the darkness.
Her followers silently fell in behind her.
Within moments—
they disappeared as though they had never been there at all.
The hunt was over.
The border gradually fell quiet.
Disappointed bounty hunters lowered their weapons.
Mercenaries cursed beneath their breath.
Many simply turned around and began the long journey back toward Felhaven.
Others, however, weren't ready to give up.
Without another word—
they crossed into Eirundor.
If the Dark One had escaped into the kingdom—
then the hunt would simply continue there.
---
Far ahead—
beneath the cover of night—
Aldric cut through the sky.
The forests of Eirundor stretched endlessly below.
Only after putting dozens of kilometers between themselves and the border did he finally slow.
"...This should be far enough."
His grip loosened.
Draven dropped.
He fell silently through the branches.
Rustling leaves.
Snapping twigs.
Then—
**THUD.**
He landed lightly on a thick branch, as though he hadn't just been dropped from the sky.
Aldric descended beside him.
Landing effortlessly on another branch with an easy grin.
"So..."
He folded his arms.
"It worked perfectly."
His grin widened.
"For someone you keep calling stupid..."
"...don't you think my plan turned out pretty well?"
Draven looked at him.
"...It did."
A brief pause.
"...Except for that demi-human."
"And the swordswoman from Blackwater."
"They were variables."
Aldric shrugged.
"Yeah."
"The cat almost got us."
He scratched the back of his head.
"...Though the sword woman never made a move."
"I still don't really understand that one."
Draven remained silent for a moment.
Then he asked,
"...I didn't know you could turn into a bat."
Aldric blinked.
"...Huh?"
He pointed at his own black wings.
"...After seeing these?"
"Wasn't it obvious?"
A laugh escaped him.
"I can become more than just a bat."
He held up one finger.
"A wolf."
Then another.
"A rat."
His body suddenly dissolved.
Crimson mist drifted lazily through the air before gathering atop another branch several meters away.
Within seconds—
Aldric reformed completely.
He spread his arms.
"And this."
"Shapeshifting."
He snorted.
"...Though those last two aren't exactly useful."
"Who the hell wants to be a rat?"
He rolled his eyes.
"And that mist form?"
"You'd get bored to death using it."
A brief pause.
"...Not to mention it's practically suicide against a Holy Knight."
Draven watched quietly.
*...There's still a lot I don't know.*
Before becoming a vampire—
he had never cared about vampire society.
Or vampire abilities.
If something wasn't immediately useful—
he simply ignored it.
Aldric noticed the look in his eyes.
Then chuckled.
"...Yeah."
"A lot."
He leaned casually against the trunk.
"You've got plenty to learn."
A grin appeared on his face once more.
"...Maybe you should find an old vampire willing to sit you down for a few minutes."
"And actually teach you what your race is capable of."
Draven looked away, his gaze settling on the dark forest stretching endlessly ahead.