The thousands of people continued evacuating through the city gates.
The streets were packed.
Soldiers shouted directions while civilians hurried past them, carrying whatever belongings they could manage.
Amid the chaos—
a figure suddenly slipped into a narrow alley.
She moved quickly.
Quietly.
Her cloak concealed most of her appearance, while a disguise artifact concealed her true identity and presence.
It was Lyriana.
She continued deeper into the alley—
then suddenly stopped.
Her gaze lifted.
She stared toward the rooftops above.
Two figures stood there.
Their cloaks fluttered gently in the wind.
Illyria and Hannah.
Both were watching her.
Illyria's eyes narrowed.
She looked toward the direction Lyriana had come from.
Then—
toward the city gates, where thousands of civilians were still evacuating.
Her expression became slightly more suspicious.
"...Everyone is trying to get out of the city."
Her gaze returned to Lyriana.
"...Yet you're going in."
Illyria's eyes shifted toward the spatial artifact Lyriana carried.
"...You don't need anyone to tell you how suspicious that looks."
A brief silence followed.
Illyria continued.
"And whatever you're planning to do with that artifact..."
She paused.
"...Can you do me a favor?"
"...Wait until the civilians have been evacuated before you proceed."
Lyriana remained silent.
She simply stared at the two women.
For several seconds—
neither side moved.
Then—
Lyriana turned away.
She began walking again.
Her voice was calm.
"It's best you mind your own business."
She continued forward.
"...And don't interfere with things you aren't supposed to."
Illyria's eyes narrowed.
"Trust me..."
She sighed.
"...I would love to."
**SHHHK!**
Blood suddenly erupted from Lyriana's arm.
Several crimson spears formed in an instant.
They shot toward the rooftop.
**BOOM!**
The spears slammed into an invisible barrier.
A translucent wall of water rippled across the air.
The blood spears were stopped completely.
Hannah stared at the attack.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"...Blood magic."
Illyria's expression changed.
She studied the crimson mana surrounding Lyriana.
"...A vampire."
Her eyes narrowed.
"So that's it."
Illyria's gaze became sharper.
"...This is your doing."
Her eyes shifted toward the spatial artifact in Lyriana's possession.
"...It seems we came to the right place after all."
Lyriana slowly turned around.
Her eyes had become noticeably colder.
Illyria continued.
"Tell me something."
A pause.
"...Do you have any connection to Draven?"
Lyriana's eyes narrowed sharply.
Illyria's voice remained calm.
"The son of the Vampire King."
The moment those words left her mouth—
Lyriana's expression changed.
Her mana began leaking from her body.
**WHOOM!**
Crimson energy spread through the alley.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Hannah immediately shifted her stance.
Lyriana raised her arm.
Blood began gathering around it.
The crimson mana twisted.
Condensed.
Then—
**SHIIING!**
A massive blood spear formed along her arm.
Its razor-sharp tip pointed directly toward the rooftop.
Lyriana stared at Illyria.
Her voice was cold.
"I don't know what made you ask such a question."
Her grip tightened.
"But now..."
The blood spear grew longer.
"...you'll die because of your ignorance."
The pressure of her mana surged through the alley.
Illyria's expression hardened.
Hannah's eyes remained fixed on Lyriana.
Neither woman moved.
For a brief moment—
the entire city seemed distant.
The screams of fleeing civilians.
The shouts of soldiers.
The distant sounds of battle.
Everything seemed to fade into the background.
All that remained between them—
was the crimson spear pointed toward their hearts.
Illyria's barrier slowly disappeared.
She looked directly at Lyriana.
"...Is that so?"
Her expression remained calm.
"You're really going to kill someone simply for asking a question?"
She gave a small shrug.
"I suppose I shouldn't blame you."
"If you're trying to hide something, I can understand why you'd be irritated."
She paused.
"But you could at least answer the question."
"...That's all I was asking."
Before she could finish—
Hannah suddenly moved.
She jumped from the rooftop.
Her cloak fluttered behind her as she descended.
**THUD.**
She landed only a few feet away from Lyriana.
Lyriana's eyes immediately shifted toward her.
Hannah looked directly at her.
"...Are you with him?"
Lyriana's grip tightened around the blood spear.
Hannah continued.
"You see..."
"I've been looking for him."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Lyriana's eyes narrowed.
Her mana surged.
The blood spear in her hand suddenly shot forward.
**SHHHK!**
Hannah didn't move.
The spear stopped—
only inches from her face.
Lyriana froze.
"..."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Hannah calmly raised her hand and pushed back her hood.
Her identity was revealed.
Then—
she spoke.
"...He's my fiancé."
Silence.
Lyriana's expression changed.
The blood spear remained suspended in front of Hannah.
Behind her—
Illyria's eyes widened slightly.
At the same time, water had already begun gathering around Lyriana from every direction.
Thin streams of water wrapped around her body.
Then—
**WHOOSH!**
A watery barrier formed around Lyriana.
Illyria's gaze sharpened.
"...Hmm."
She stared at the suspended blood spear.
"...You stopped."
Lyriana didn't answer.
Her eyes remained fixed on Hannah.
"...His Highness..."
She slowly repeated the words.
"...Your fiancé?"
Hannah nodded.
"Yes."
Lyriana's gaze sharpened.
Illyria immediately understood.
"...Then you're the Princess of the Elves."
Hannah nodded again.
"...Yes."
Illyria's expression became thoughtful.
"So you know about the engagement."
She glanced between Hannah and Lyriana.
"...That means you're close to him."
Lyriana remained silent.
Illyria took a small step toward Hannah.
"So..."
"Don't you think it's about time you lowered your weapon?"
For several seconds—
Lyriana didn't move.
Her gaze remained locked onto Hannah.
The blood spear slowly trembled.
Then—
**SHHHH...**
It began to dissolve.
The blood returned to Lyriana's arm.
Her mana gradually settled.
Illyria watched carefully.
Once Lyriana lowered her weapon—
Illyria also relaxed.
The water surrounding Lyriana dispersed.
She stepped back toward Hannah's side.
The two stood together.
Lyriana continued staring at Hannah.
Her expression remained difficult to read.
"...His Highness's fiancé."
She quietly repeated the words.
Hannah met her gaze without fear.
"...Yes."
Another brief silence followed.
Lyriana's eyes moved over Hannah carefully, as though trying to determine whether she was telling the truth.
Hannah didn't avert her gaze.
For the first time since their encounter—
the hostility between them began to fade.
The tension still remained.
But for the moment—
neither side attacked.