The magic reacted instantly.
Mana surged upward around Seryna's body.
Tighter than before.
Stronger somehow.
A subtle ripple spread through the air itself.
The cultist noticed it immediately.
The binding completed a moment later.
The light collapsed inward.
Gone.
Seryna exhaled softly before stepping back out of the circle.
Only one person remained now.
Kaelira.
The wolf girl grinned the moment everyone looked at her.
"What?"
She gave a small shrug.
"I'm not leaving."
Aldric immediately pointed toward the exit.
"And I'm still telling you to get out."
Kaelira ignored him completely.
Instead, she walked directly past the glowing circle.
Past the cultist.
Then stopped beside Draven near the open side entrance.
The wind moved softly through her hair and tail as she folded her arms.
"See?"
She looked entirely satisfied with herself.
"I don't need it."
Aldric already looked exhausted.
"You absolutely do."
Kaelira tilted her head innocently.
"Why?"
Aldric stared at her for a second before muttering under his breath.
"Because you're annoying enough to become a problem later."
Kaelira's grin widened even further.
The cultist quietly glanced toward Draven.
Waiting.
Because ultimately—
it was his decision.
And once again—
everyone's attention shifted toward him.
Draven stood near the open exit, silent as always.
The wind drifted through the corridor, brushing lightly against the edges of his cloak as it flowed in from the outside world.
Beside him, Kaelira remained completely relaxed—arms folded, tail flicking once in idle amusement despite the fact that everyone's attention was still locked on her.
The cultist waited quietly, composed and patient.
Lucien and the others stood further back, already bound by the contract that had been placed upon them.
And Aldric—
Aldric looked like he was one sentence away from snapping entirely.
"Well?"
His crimson eyes shifted back toward Draven.
"Say something already."
Kaelira smirked faintly.
"Master already decided."
Aldric immediately snapped his attention to her.
"Stop calling him that every damn second."
Kaelira didn't even glance at him.
Draven finally moved.
Slowly.
His gaze shifted toward the cultist.
Then—
"Do it."
Simple.
Flat.
Kaelira blinked once.
Aldric froze for half a second.
"…Wait."
Then he let out a sharp laugh.
"You're seriously making her stay under contract too?"
Kaelira's expression twisted slightly.
"Hey."
She looked toward Draven.
"That's unfair."
No response.
The cultist stepped forward calmly.
"Please stand inside the circle."
Kaelira clicked her tongue softly, clearly annoyed now, but after a brief pause she walked forward anyway.
"…Fine."
She stepped into the glowing circle.
The crimson magic reignited beneath her feet immediately.
The air tightened.
The cultist raised her hand.
"State the vow."
Kaelira rolled her eyes, then spoke.
"I vow not to reveal anything about this ship…"
The symbols pulsed.
"…or the people on it…"
Another pulse.
"…unless Master says I can."
Aldric groaned instantly.
"She actually forced 'Master' into it…"
The contract activated immediately.
Mana surged upward around Kaelira violently—far more intense than before.
Her grin vanished.
"Woah—"
The symbols brightened sharply.
A wave of energy burst outward as her beast blood instinctively reacted against the binding.
The corridor trembled faintly.
Lucien stiffened.
Tharic stepped back on instinct.
But the contract held.
The mana tightened around Kaelira, compressing her resistance, forcing itself into place with absolute authority.
Then—
everything stopped.
The light vanished.
Silence returned.
Kaelira blinked twice.
Then frowned.
"…Ow."
Aldric snorted.
"Good."
Kaelira immediately pointed at him.
"I hate you."
"The feeling's mutual."
The cultist exhaled softly.
"The contract is complete."
A heavy silence followed.
Not because of confusion anymore.
But because it was finished.
All of them bound.
All of them still alive.
All standing at the edge of departure.
Draven turned toward the open exit once more, facing the vast unknown beyond the ship.
Then he spoke without looking back.
"Leave."
The word carried no emotion.
No hesitation.
Only finality.
"Leave."
This time, no one argued.
Lucien was the first to move.
He stepped down through the side exit onto the unfamiliar ground below.
Tharic followed after him, still glancing back once or twice as if expecting something to change at the last second.
Seryna came next, her gaze lingering briefly on the ship before turning away.
Lucien's sister descended without hesitation, practical and composed to the end.
Only Kaelira remained inside.
Completely still.
Lucien stopped below and looked back up.
"Kaelira."
She raised a hand lazily.
"Try not to die."
Tharic frowned immediately.
"You're seriously staying?"
Kaelira shrugged.
"Yep."
A small flick of her tail.
"Have fun surviving out there."
Seryna looked at her for a moment longer than the others.
Then quietly said,
"Take care of yourself."
Kaelira blinked once, then her smirk softened slightly.
"You too."
And then she turned away.
Following after Draven, who had already begun walking deeper into the ship without waiting for anyone.
Aldric stared at her in disbelief.
"What the hell is she doing?"
He pointed sharply toward the exit.
"Get over here, you damn brat!"
Kaelira didn't even turn around.
"Sorry."
Completely casual.
"Master already accepted me."
Aldric nearly choked.
"HE DIDN'T—"
But before he could finish, the side entrance began to close.
Slowly sealing off the corridor from the outside world.
The cultist stood near the doorway, watching Lucien and the others one final time as the gap narrowed.
Seryna's gaze lifted briefly toward the ship one last time.
Then the entrance sealed completely.
Cutting them off.
Aldric spun immediately toward the wall.
"What the hell is the pilot doing?!"
He slammed a hand against the panel nearby.
"Bastard, open it back up!"
But the ship had already begun to rise again.
Lifting steadily into the skies of Arkvareth.
Above them, inside the control deck, the pilot remained completely unaware of the chaos below—still focused on the controls, still humming along happily to the music echoing through the room.
"WOAHHHH~ THROUGH THE SKIES WE GOOOO—"
Completely oblivious.
The airship ascended higher into the skies of Arkvareth, leaving four figures standing below in a widening silence—
while one remained behind entirely by choice.