The girl did not move immediately.
She simply stared down at him.
Silent.
Unreadable.
Those sharp eyes remained fixed on Draven's face, as though searching for something even she did not understand.
Then Draven spoke calmly.
"So you're awake."
No reaction.
No reply.
Only silence.
The black cat resting atop his head opened its eyes once more, briefly studying the girl before dismissing her existence for a second time and lowering its head again.
Draven watched her for another moment before speaking with the same quiet certainty as always.
"Good."
He turned.
"Follow."
And just like that, he walked past her.
No caution.
No threats.
No attempt to force obedience.
Only expectation.
Lyriana lingered just long enough to glance at the girl once more before following after Draven without question.
The corridor lights flickered softly overhead as the two continued forward.
For a moment, the girl remained standing alone.
Still staring after them.
The ship pulsed faintly beneath her bare feet.
Somewhere deep within the vessel, the mana core throbbed with a slow, heavy rhythm.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
That feeling again.
That pull.
And somehow—
it felt strongest around him.
Her gaze remained fixed on Draven's back as he walked away without once looking to see whether she obeyed.
As though he already knew she would.
Several long seconds passed.
Then—
slowly—
the girl moved.
One cautious step forward.
Then another.
Her silent footsteps echoed faintly through the corridor as she followed behind them.
Lyriana noticed immediately.
Her sharp eyes shifted briefly toward the girl before returning forward once more.
Interesting.
No resistance.
No hostility.
Only quiet curiosity.
Or perhaps something deeper than curiosity.
Draven continued walking at the same unhurried pace, his hands resting inside his sleeves while the black cat balanced effortlessly atop his head.
"You have a name?" he asked casually, without turning around.
The girl hesitated.
Her lips parted slightly, as though the question itself felt unfamiliar.
Several seconds passed before a quiet voice finally emerged.
"…Nia."
Soft.
Hoarse from disuse.
Draven nodded once.
"Nia."
Silence returned briefly.
Draven glanced back slightly at the sound of her footsteps resuming behind them.
The corridor lights pulsed softly overhead while the distant vibration of the mana core echoed through the ship.
After several more quiet steps, Draven spoke again without looking at her.
"How are you feeling now, Nia?"
The girl blinked.
The question seemed to catch her off guard.
Slowly, her gaze lowered toward herself as she walked barefoot along the cold metal floor.
Her hands flexed slightly at her sides.
She could still remember the weakness from before.
The emptiness.
That unbearable exhaustion that had wrapped around her body like chains.
But now—
Her fingers curled softly.
The pain was gone.
The dizziness too.
Even her breathing felt easier.
"…Better," she said quietly.
Her voice remained soft and rough from disuse.
"Much better than before."
Draven gave a small nod.
"Good."
Nia looked down at herself again, as though trying to understand why that was true.
Then suddenly—
Grrrrrrr.
The sound echoed embarrassingly loudly through the quiet corridor.
Nia froze instantly.
Silence.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then lowered.
"…But," she admitted softly after a painful pause,
"I'm hungry."
Lyriana's expression remained perfectly composed.
The black cat atop Draven's head lazily opened one eye toward Nia, as if personally judging her stomach for interrupting the silence.
Draven spoke calmly.
"Lyriana."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Take Nia and get her something to eat."
Lyriana nodded immediately.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Draven continued walking forward without slowing.
"Come to the control deck afterward."
Another nod.
"Understood."
Draven raised one hand absently in acknowledgment without turning around.
Then he disappeared farther down the corridor, the black cat still resting atop his head like dark royalty being carried through the ship.
Silence settled once more.
Lyriana turned toward Nia.
The half-demon girl stood quietly where she was, watching Draven disappear into the distance.
Her sharp eyes remained fixed on him long after he vanished from sight.
Lyriana observed her briefly.
Then she spoke in her usual calm tone.
"Come with me."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and began walking down a different corridor.
For several seconds—
Nia did not move.
She remained standing there silently, staring at the empty hallway where Draven had disappeared.
The strange pull inside her chest still lingered faintly.
Quiet.
Warm.
Unfamiliar.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
Then slowly—
she turned.
And followed after Lyriana.
Lyriana walked through the upper corridors at a measured pace while Nia followed several quiet steps behind her.
The ship continued humming around them.
Steady.
Strained.
Alive.
For a time, neither of them spoke.
Lyriana's thoughts remained occupied elsewhere.
Specifically—
with Draven.
Her eyes narrowed faintly as she walked.
His Highness continues carrying that girl.
Even inside the control deck.
The thought lingered longer than she expected.
Lyriana glanced briefly behind her.
Nia continued following quietly, her eyes wandering cautiously across the corridor walls and glowing mana lights.
Silent.
Observant.
Lyriana looked forward again.
Perhaps His Highness has his reasons. Or perhaps he simply does not distinguish such things.
The thought felt strangely accurate.
Status.
Distance.
Awkwardness.
Social expectations.
Draven often seemed entirely detached from such things unless they directly interfered with what he considered important.