Hermione stepped away from Airam and Esther, giving her elder sister room. Esther remained behind Airam, holding tightly to the back of her nightgown. She watched Hermione with wide, wet eyes.
Hermione raised her hand.
A Formula Ring appeared above her palm.
It was small.
Only two rings.
The first held a pure mana formation. The second contained simple control and release patterns. Hermione did not add elemental runes. She did not build a projectile or a barrier. Instead, she prepared a compact force spell, light enough that it could be formed quickly and directed without striking the Rubenhart knights.
The ring turned once.
Then it split.
Three smaller circles appeared around it.
Hermione controlled each one separately.
Airam glanced toward her.
"You can manage three."
"Obviously. I do not need them to be strong," Hermione said. "I only need them to interfere."
The first small Formula Ring released.
