Selene blinked once. Slowly.
Even Yue, who was usually the first to feed Kael's nonsense, just gave a sideways glance as if to say: Really?
Kael coughed into his fist.
"Alright. That was a bit… much."
"So," he said, tone casual, "what's the plan?"
Elara exhaled through her nose—controlled, but unmistakably weary.
Her gaze moved first to Selene, then back to Kael.
"She's coming too," Kael added, gesturing toward Selene with a small nod.
Elara gave a brief, reluctant nod, but there was a flicker in her eyes—something edged with irritation.
She didn't argue.
Just reached into her robe and pulled out a silver, rune-marked artifact.
Without a word, she activated it.
A dome of shimmering mana spread out around them with a low hum, sealing them in.
The world outside dimmed slightly, and the sounds faded into silence.
Kael's eyes flicked up to the curve of the dome above them.
Soundproof, he thought. Smart. Paranoid. I'd do the same.
