A few more steps passed.
Then—
"And you?" she asked.
Another pause.
The ship hummed softly beneath them.
"I'm alright," Draven said.
Lyriana studied him for a moment—not the words, but the lack of weight behind them.
Like "alright" was simply the most efficient answer available.
Still, she said nothing.
They continued forward in quiet unison while, somewhere deeper within the ship, the mana core pulsed faintly beneath their feet.
The corridor eventually opened into a massive circular chamber buried deep within the ship.
Heat rolled outward immediately—
not enough to burn, but enough to make the air feel heavy, thick in the lungs.
Mana flowed through enormous channels embedded in the walls: glowing veins of blue light that pulsed rhythmically through the structure like a living system.
And at the center of it all—
the core.
Kaelira slowed instinctively the moment she saw it.
"…That's the engine?"
The massive mana core hovered within a ring of rotating metal structures and layered stabilization runes. Blue light pulsed slowly from within the enormous crystalline mass suspended above the abyss-like center of the chamber.
It looked less like machinery—
and more like something imprisoned.
Every pulse sent a low vibration through the floor beneath their feet.
A heavy, steady rhythm.
Several intake pillars surrounded the outer ring, exactly as Rowan had described earlier.
Aldric floated casually toward one side of the chamber before lowering the metal crate onto the floor nearby.
The wooden crate remained suspended briefly before settling fully.
Priorities.
He stayed hovering a few inches above the ground as crimson light reflected faintly in his eyes.
Then he looked toward Kaelira.
"Move."
She glanced at him.
"Start refueling it like you were told."
His tone remained flat.
"And don't act stupid. Just do exactly as the pilot explained."
Kaelira immediately frowned.
"You really should stop talking to people like they're idiots."
Aldric took a drink.
"Most people disappointingly are."
"That sounds like a personal issue."
"It is."
Kaelira clicked her tongue softly before carrying the heavy crate toward one of the intake pillars surrounding the core chamber.
The closer she got, the stronger the pressure became.
Mana saturation—dense enough that even breathing felt slightly heavier.
The glowing stabilizer runes around the intake structure pulsed softly as she approached.
"Alright," she muttered to herself.
"I understand what I'm supposed to do."
She set the crate down beside the pillar with a heavy metallic thud.
Then crouched and unsealed the reinforced locks again.
Blue light spilled outward from the opened container.
Inside, the mana ore glowed intensely beneath the chamber lights.
Kaelira carefully reached down and picked up the first piece.
The moment her fingers touched it, she felt the energy inside immediately.
Condensed.
Dense.
Barely contained, held only through refinement.
"…Okay," she whispered.
"That's definitely dangerous."
Behind her, Aldric lazily leaned back midair while opening another bottle from the alcohol crate.
"You figuring that out now is exactly why I called you stupid."
Kaelira shot him an irritated look over her shoulder.
"I haven't even done anything wrong yet."
"Give it time."
"How encouraging."
Ignoring him, she turned back to the intake pillar and slowly inserted the first mana crystal into the glowing slot exactly as instructed.
The pillar immediately reacted.
Runes flared bright blue.
A deep pulse echoed throughout the chamber.
Then—
far above them—
the ship itself vibrated faintly as fresh mana surged back into the circulation system.
---
The corridor remained quiet except for the steady hum of mana flowing through the ship.
Draven and Lyriana continued walking side by side through the dimly lit passageways without urgency.
Then—
Draven stopped.
Lyriana halted immediately beside him.
Silence settled.
Ahead of them—
a small figure stood motionless in the corridor.
Pink hair fell loosely around her shoulders.
And piercing, almost violent eyes stared directly back at them without blinking.
The half-demon girl.
For a brief moment, no one spoke.
Lyriana's gaze sharpened slightly as she studied her carefully.
So this is the half-demon His Highness brought back.
The girl looked young.
Barefoot.
Still dressed in the unfamiliar clothes she had been given earlier.
And despite being a half-demon, there was nothing overtly threatening about her appearance. She looked no different from any human child.
Just confused.
Cautious.
Silent.
The stillness stretched another second.
Then Draven began walking again.
Slow.
Calm.
Unhurried.
The black cat perched atop his head lifted one eye lazily before settling again, as if deciding none of this warranted attention.
Draven stopped once he stood directly in front of the girl.
She looked down at him silently.
Even standing close, Draven barely reached her chest height.
A child.
Or something very close to one.
The girl remained still, staring at the one beneath her gaze—watching him carefully, unmoving.
Behind them, Lyriana observed quietly without interrupting.
The corridor lights flickered faintly overhead while the distant pulse of the ship's core thrummed through the floor beneath their feet.