Chapter 94……………………

The wind hitting her as she lay flat atop the train was as harsh as the early winter chill.

But thinking that the Kingdom of Altareon was growing farther away made it bearable.

As the scenery rushed past, Sierra’s heart gradually swelled with joy.

“[You’ve all worked so hard until now.]”

“[Sierra, it must have been tough for you too, right? Ugh, it must’ve felt so suffocating.]”

At Kadiya’s comforting words, Sierra suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

She quietly looked at Ashur beside her.

“[Ashur had it much worse… more than I can even put into words.]”

Being so close, she could feel his warmth.

Relieved once again that he was safe, she gently leaned her head against his shoulder.

“[I’m fine.]”

“[Ugh. He’s always saying he’s fine, that guy. Anyway, everyone did great—let’s go back and get some proper rest!]”

Their brief conversation ended with cheerful laughter.

It was when that laughter slowly faded that Ashur noticed something.

“[Shh.]”

Everyone’s gaze followed the direction of his subtle gesture.

“[No way…]”

A group that had been hidden in the distant dust gradually came into view—about a dozen knights and mages, and Derek.

They were the very people who had mercilessly invaded the sanctuary that day.

Sierra froze in shock as she spotted them.

“This can’t be…”

Had they even predicted that she would pass by on this train?

‘Right… there’s no way we could escape this easily.’

Sierra prepared a defensive spell.

A shield powerful enough to cover everyone here—strong enough to block any attack.

But just before she could complete it, something shot toward her.

From the moment she saw it, time seemed to slow.

A chain of mana writhed as if alive, rushing toward her.

“Sierra!”

Clang!

Ashur struck it down in fury with his sword, but the chain did not break.

Instead, it smoothly curved back and wrapped around Sierra’s waist.

‘Damn it…’

In the instant her body lifted off the ground, she clearly saw the shocked faces of her companions.

And she realized—

There was no going back now.

The strange chain began draining the mana from her body in an instant.

She could see Ashur, ready to leap out at any moment to grab her.

‘No… I can’t let Ashur suffer again.’

Sierra squeezed out the last of her mana.

—“Ashur, I’ll be okay. Please… stay there…”

From her desperate fingertips, mana burst forth and instantly formed a binding magic circle beneath Ashur’s feet.

Even if only for a moment.

The train sped farther away.

“Sierra—!!”

In an instant, Sierra was pulled far away along with Derek’s group.

Kadiya, forcing Ashur down, clenched her teeth and said,

“[It’s too late. We regroup and wait for another chance.]”

A heavy silence fell over the train.

After waiting so long and finally managing to rescue her—only for this to happen again.

Ashur said nothing.

He simply watched Sierra and Derek grow smaller in the distance, his eyes burning with a fierce blue flame.

Meanwhile, Derek safely caught Sierra as she was dragged in by the chain.

“Sierra, you didn’t think I’d let you go, did you?”

“……”

His voice, cruelly gentle, settled into her ears.

Click—

“Owen seems to be doing just fine, completely unaware.”

The restraints left at Owen’s estate were now locked onto Sierra’s arms.

It meant everything had been discovered—hiding her companions in the safe house, even removing Ashur’s restraints.

Finally, a cold piece of metal clasped around her slender neck.

The chill brushing beneath her hair sent shivers down her spine.

“Hmm… it doesn’t quite suit the neck of a noble lady. I’ll have to get you something to cover it later.”

His tone was just as casual as when he had first kidnapped her from the sanctuary.

Sierra tried to steady her fading mind.

‘Somehow… I have to escape, and then…’

But how?

Unable to find hope, her green eyes darkened.

Derek held her as if she were something precious, gently soothing her.

“It’ll be okay soon, Sierra.”

The mages gathered nearby began chanting.

“We’re returning.”

His cold command fell over her.

Sierra’s gaze remained fixed on where the train had disappeared.

Vast mana scattered—and no one remained in that place.

Sierra was completely stripped of her freedom.

As if they no longer even cared to hide their connection to dark magic, the window outside the annex where she was imprisoned was covered by a pitch-black veil.

“I’ll let you out when the war is over. Just endure a little longer, Sierra.”

Derek’s gentle face was unbearably hateful.

If there was any small mercy, it was that she was alone.

If Ashur or the others had been captured with her and made to suffer like before, she wouldn’t have been able to endure it.

Unlike before, Derek came to check on her frequently.

What was making him so uneasy?

For a while, Sierra lived quietly, without strength.

She didn’t even need to do anything.

Servants, as skilled as trained dolls, came at regular intervals to feed her, bathe her, and dress her.

Whenever she faced Derek, Sierra appeared as the perfect noble lady.

Only her light green eyes were hollow.

Trapped in suffocating silence, her days passed with nothing but opening and closing her eyes.

The only thing that grated on her nerves was the sound of the door.

Click—

‘Derek was here just a moment ago… or was it long ago?’

With the outside always shrouded in darkness, she couldn’t tell how time was passing.

“Sierra Kleshard.”

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came from the door.

“Elaina…?”

Golden eyes gleamed as they pierced through her.

The same oppressive presence she had felt at the banquet pressed down on her again.

‘So this is the real her. Everything before was just an act.’

Her cold demeanor matched that pressure perfectly.

“My lady… you know a fair bit about sorcery, don’t you?”

Elaina sat comfortably on the sofa as if she were an invited guest, then spoke unexpectedly.

“If you grant me what I want, I’ll set you free. And I’ll never chase you again. I won’t invade the sanctuary either.”

“What… kind of sorcery are you talking about?”

Sierra’s heart began to race.

She had learned sorcery from Ashur in the sanctuary—but could she really fulfill what this woman wanted?

“It’s not just sorcery. Combined with your genius-level magic… I think you could create what I want.”

“So… what is it?”

Elaina crossed her legs and covered her mouth with a fan.

The corners of her hidden lips seemed to curl upward.

“Hmm… I want to completely control a person.”

“…What?”

“I want to manipulate them—make them follow my commands exactly as I wish.”

“That’s…”

It was absurd.

‘Even if it were possible, it’s a magic that should never exist.’

Elaina slowly approached, watching Sierra’s trembling green eyes.

“You’re not saying it’s absolutely impossible, are you?”

Sierra unconsciously took a step back.

A sorcery that clouds the mind. A spell that transmits commands.

‘If those were combined…’

In an instant, complex formulas formed in her mind.

It might not be impossible.

“No.”

But she couldn’t do it.

Such a horrific magic must never be created.

She couldn’t make someone suffer to stop a war, nor could she trust this woman.

‘Who knows what she’d do with such a terrifying spell?’

At Sierra’s firm answer, Elaina’s lips curved into a wide smile.

“Ahaha, I knew it. You didn’t say ‘impossible,’ did you? Truly amazing, Sierra Kleshard. A once-in-a-generation genius… how fascinating.”

Sierra’s hands grew damp with sweat.

“Hmm… well, if you’d rather everyone die in a war than do it, I suppose it can’t be helped. Honestly, I don’t really care. Whatever happens… I’ll get what I want. Hehe…”

With a deep laugh, she turned and left.

Finally freed from the pressure, Sierra collapsed onto the bed.

In the silence that returned, she tried to gather her tangled thoughts.

Her heart pounded as if she had just witnessed something terrifying.

‘That kind of impossible magic… what does Elaina really want?’

As Sierra clutched her aching head—

A faint sound came from the window.

Riiip—

The sound of someone forcibly tearing through the black veil.