"Alright... done.. So now... are you satisfied?" Riven’s voice came out quieter than before, not weak, but restrained, as if something within him had been forced back into place, and as he spoke, he slowly withdrew his hand the same hand that had been extended toward Nancy just moments ago.. its divine golden glow fading gradually, dissolving into the air like embers dying out, and with that fading light, the change in Nancy became undeniable.

The wounds that had ravaged her body the broken ribs, the internal damage, the poison that had been eating away at her strength, the fatigue that had hollowed her out everything was gone, erased as if it had never existed, her breathing stabilizing, her posture steadying as she slowly pushed herself up from the ground, her movements cautious at first, almost disbelieving, as if expecting pain to return at any moment, but it didn’t, and that absence...

And that sudden, complete relief, made her lips press together tightly as emotion flickered across her face, something raw and restrained, but she forced it down, shaking her head slightly as if refusing to let herself linger in it.

Razeal watched her rise, his gaze steady, and once he confirmed she was fully healed, he gave a small, almost absent nod, as if acknowledging that part of the situation was resolved, but before anything else could be said

"Don’t ever threaten me like that again," Riven’s voice cut in again, sharper this time, carrying a warning that was no longer masked by humor or curiosity

His eyes fixed on Razeal, his expression serious in a way that felt entirely different from before, grounded, deliberate, "...or I’ll make sure you understand the consequences," and there was no exaggeration in his tone, no theatrics.. just a clear boundary drawn.

Razeal turned his head slightly at that, finally looking at him again, and for a moment, he studied that expression, the seriousness, the shift in demeanor... and then he scoffed lightly, a faint smile forming as he shook his head, "Sure," he replied, almost casually, the chuckle that followed soft but dismissive, as if the warning itself didn’t carry the weight it was meant to.

Riven didn’t respond to that, his gaze lingering for a second longer before shifting away, the tension between them not gone but contained, for now.

"You alright?" Razeal asked then, turning his attention back to Nancy, his tone noticeably different.. calmer, more grounded as if the confrontation that had just happened didn’t linger on him the same way it did on everyone else.

Nancy took a moment before answering, her hand instinctively moving to her ribcage, pressing lightly against the area that had once been shattered, as if confirming again that the pain was truly gone, that she was... whole.

"Yes... I’m fine," she said slowly, her voice still carrying a faint trace of exhaustion, but steadier now, stronger than before, and as she lifted her head to meet his gaze, there was something else in her eyes something more complicated than relief..

"I heard... everything that happened to me was because of my brother?" she asked her tone quieter now and more measured and there was a pause, a hesitation, as if the words themselves were difficult to say.

"That it was... a lesson for him... wasn’t it?" and the question lingered between them, heavy and unresolved.

Razeal exhaled softly at that, a faint sigh escaping him as his eyes flickered briefly toward Riven from the corner, So he told her... almost everything haa? he thought, not particularly surprised, but not entirely pleased either, and yet... he didn’t answer her immediately, because what could he say?

That it was intentional.. Yeah she knows that..?

Then? Yeah what she said is true? That it wasn’t even entirely her brother’s fault? Maybe she knows that also.. atleast can understand that right? And actually.. None of those answers would sit right for him to say so.. As none of them would ease what she had gone through, and so he stayed silent, his gaze returning to her without offering a direct response.

Nancy watched him for a few seconds, reading that silence for what it was, and then she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, "I see..." she murmured, her eyes lowering to the ground as she absorbed it, not fully understanding, not fully accepting.. but acknowledging it nonetheless.

The quiet stretched for a moment before she spoke again, lifting her gaze slightly as something else surfaced in her mind.

"What about the empire?" she asked, her tone shifting, concern threading through it now, "I heard... from him... that something happened," her eyes flickered briefly toward Riven before returning to Razeal, "is everything alright?"

And there it was.. the underlying worry, not just for herself but others also because again.. She thinks it was because of her if that happened also.

Razeal nodded slowly at her question, "Yeah... about that," he began, but as he looked at her more closely, he noticed the subtle change in her expressionzz the way her eyes dimmed slightly, the way her shoulders tensed just a fraction, as if she was already blaming herself, already assuming responsibility for something she didn’t fully understand, and that made him pause for a brief moment before continuing, "Well... don’t worry about it," he said, his tone lightening just slightly, not dismissive, but intentionally easing.

"I don’t think you’re the reason behind what he did" he added, giving a small shrug, "maybe a little," he admitted as his gaze shifted briefly toward Riven again.

"But I doubt he’d go that far just to make you regret something," and though the words carried a hint of humor, there was a layer beneath them something more observant, more aware of Riven’s nature..

Nancy watched him as he spoke, her expression softening slightly, though the weight didn’t fully leave her, and after a moment, she gave a small nod, accepting his words for now, even if they didn’t completely settle her thoughts.

The moment lingered for a second longer before Razeal shifted again, his attention moving back toward Riven, his expression returning to something more neutral, more composed, as if resetting the dynamic between them entirely.

"So..." he said, his voice steady, "What do you want?" and this time, the question wasn’t a challenge, wasn’t a provocation it was direct, intentional, as if he was finally ready to address whatever had brought Riven here in the first place.

"Oh, nothing much, really. You don’t need to know anything." Riven spoke lightly, almost dismissively, as though the tension that had filled the space moments ago had never existed. And then just as effortlessly his old smile returned. That same smooth, almost charming expression, as if everything that had transpired had already been set aside, forgotten, buried beneath layers of ease and casual indifference. The shift in him was unsettling in its precision.

"Well... though, one thing." He added it almost as an afterthought, his tone regaining that familiar, almost playful cadence. Then he lifted his hand slightly, pointing his thumb over his shoulder casual, unbothered, as though what he was referring to was of little consequence.

"Here. Take your belongings." His gesture indicated the object suspended behind him the strange, unnatural presence that had remained hovering in the air throughout everything, quietly existing like a tear in reality itself.

"Just reminding you... in case if you forgot," Riven added, his eyes settling back on Razeal with that same easy smile, as if an old acquaintance was simply returning something misplaced.

At that, Razeal’s gaze finally moved slowly, deliberately toward that eerie floating eye, the one he had been ignoring all this time, even though its presence was impossible to overlook.

The moment his eyes settled on it, the information surfaced clearly in his mind.

[Dimension Eye (EX Rank)]

And for the first time, something actually shook him internally.

EX rank...? Reallyyyy? he thought seriously, his mind tightening. He knew it was strong... but not at this level... Actually not even close as what he had thought.. Seems like he had really underestimated the powers for him. This was just beyond normal scale, something that shouldn’t even be easily accessible. This was the first time he was actually seeing an EX-ranked artifact afterall..

But outwardly nothing changed. His expression remained calm, controlled. "Nah... that thing doesn’t belong to me," he said simply, shaking his head. "So no thanks."

And it wasn’t just refusal it was calculated. Inside, his thoughts were already clear. Too good to be true. And more importantly.. when your enemy wants you to take something this powerful... you don’t. He didn’t want it before even when he was desperate, and now? When he could actually choose? It would be stupid to take it. Yes, Even if it was EX rank.

Riven’s smile didn’t drop. If anything, it deepened slightly, like he had expected this.

"Now now.. don’t lie... I know you know what this is, and what it can do," he said, looking at him carefully. "So why not... come and take it?" His tone shifted slightly not forceful, but tempting.

"Dont be shy.. I’m sure... somewhere inside you... you desire power like this. Power beyond anything... the kind that can make the whole world kneel in front of you." He gestured again toward the eye. "Here... take it."

"I said... I don’t want it," Razeal replied again, this time firmer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So stop playing these stupid games. I know you’re aware I’m not that easy to fool." Then he added clearly, "And it doesn’t belong to me."

"But it does," Riven replied immediately, his tone now carrying a strange certainty. "It’s destined for you... so it belongs to you. You can’t keep running from this now.. I mean for how long you can?"

"Hey..." Nancy’s voice came softly from the side as she stepped closer to Razeal, still a bit weak but now stable. She leaned slightly toward him, lowering her voice so others wouldn’t clearly hear. "You should take this," she whispered. "It’s something really strong... he said it himself." Her eyes briefly moved toward Riven before coming back to Razeal.

"You can control the world’s portals... and rifts. I don’t know why you don’t want it... but I think you should have it. Even if not for yourself... at least take it from him." Her tone became a bit more serious. "You can’t just leave something like that in his hands... right?"

Razeal looked down at her this time actually surprised. And then suddenly... everything started connecting.

"Ohh..." he let out slowly, lifting his gaze back to Riven. "Let me guess..." His tone shifted.. calm, but sharp now. "That attack on the empire... you didn’t really do it for her." His eyes locked onto Riven’s. "You did it... to make me hesitate. To make me afraid... that I would take this away from you too? Ahh Right. Now thats more like you.."

He gave a slow nod.

"And... nice plan."

And this time, there was a faint smile on his face but not friendly. Understanding. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Because now he could see it. Not fully... but enough. And knowing Riven.. this didn’t feel far-fetched at all.

Though even then... Razeal knew one thing clearly.. this wouldn’t be the only and final reason..

But it was definitely one of them.

"Maybe..." and Riven just smiled, nodding lightly, not giving any real answer, as if that reaction alone was enough. "So... here, take it," he said again, extending his arm slightly, gesturing toward the floating eye with an almost casual insistence, like he was offering something simple rather than something that could reshape the entire world.

But Razeal didn’t move. Not yet. Because now... he was thinking about something else entirely.

"Well... maybe I would," Razeal said suddenly, his voice calm but carrying intent as he looked straight at Riven, "if you do something for me." He tilted his head slightly. "How does that sound?"

And as he said that, even his own thoughts began aligning. Because honestly... maybe he should take it. Not to use it.. but to remove it. Letting something like that remain in your enemy’s hands? That’s stupidity really. He had already seen what Riven could do what he had done to the empire. And if he could do that once... then he could do it again. Maybe worse next time. Razeal didn’t know what price Riven had paid to use the Dimension Eye.. but that didn’t matter. If it was possible once, it was possible again. And that alone made it dangerous. Too dangerous when knowing what his future plan is.

So take it... and bury it somewhere even gods can’t reach.

That thought settled quietly inside him. Gods having access to EX-ranked power... was not something he was willing to tolerate.

"Ohhh... really?" Riven’s expression shifted instantly, genuine surprise flickering across his face before that familiar excitement crept back in. He hadn’t expected this not this easily. Of course, this was what he wanted all along... but he had assumed Razeal would resist far more. After all, Razeal knew things. He had seen enough to understand destiny, to run from it. And yet now... he was stepping toward it.

Even if it was just to take the eye away from him.

Still... that was enough.

Because Riven knew something Razeal might not fully accept yet.. no one walks away from power like that forever.

No one.

"So..." Riven leaned forward slightly, interest clear in his voice now, "what’s your condition?" he asked, watching him closely, curiosity mixed with anticipation.

"Portal... to Denvaar," Razeal answered directly.

Riven blinked. "...What?"

"I want you to open a portal to the Kingdom of Denvaar," Razeal repeated, his tone unchanged.

There was a pause.

"...That’s it?" Riven frowned slightly, confusion replacing his earlier excitement. The condition felt... small. Too small. Suspiciously small.

Razeal simply nodded.

Now Riven’s eyes narrowed, the shift immediate. Suspicion crept in as his gaze moved not just over Razeal, but over everyone behind him. Sofia. Maria. Levy. Aurora. Yograj.

"You’re all going there?" he asked, his tone losing that lightness entirely. "Why? For what exactly?" His eyes locked back onto Razeal. "What are you planning?"

Razeal just shrugged.

A small smile with no answer.

And that silence... said more than words ever could.

Riven’s eyes narrowed further. His mind was already moving, connecting pieces rapidly. First... he disrupts the world order... fills it with that opposing energy...? forces new laws, new concepts into existence... his thoughts sharpened, and one of his people has already embodied one of those newborn concepts... his gaze flicked, briefly but precisely, toward Maria.

Then back to Razeal.

And now... Denvaar. Something for sure wasn’t right.

Something was building.

Riven could feel it his instincts, his divine perception, everything within him reacting. A quiet alarm ringing beneath the surface.

What are you planning...? His thoughts raced faster now. Why that kingdom specifically ? Why now exactly? Did he returned from Atlantis for this kingdom?

Because Riven knew one thing for certain Razeal didn’t move without purpose.

If he was going to Denvaar... Then there was something there.

Something important. And whatever it was Riven very much needed to know.

Still even though Riven’s mind was spinning calculations overlapping, possibilities branching endlessly, every instinct warning him that something about this was off none of it showed on his face. Outwardly, he simply smiled. Calm and Controlled.. As if nothing had shifted at all. He gave a small nod.

"Alright... condition accepted," he said, his tone smooth, almost casual, as though he hadn’t just agreed to something he didn’t fully understand.

"Ohhh, wonderful," Razeal spread his arms slightly, turning back toward his group with a faint, satisfied smile. "Job done, guys. Straight portal to another kingdom no complications and no delays." His tone was light, almost mocking in its ease.

His tone carried a faint humor, as though he were summarizing a routine arrangement rather than a negotiation with someone he had, moments ago, openly threatened.

The others exchanged brief glances before offering small nods in response.

But the confusion lingered.

Because this this dynamic between Razeal and Riven did not align at all.

Moments ago, there had been hostility so sharp it bordered on lethal intent. Like Razeals literally threatened Rivens to kill his family.. And now... this? Casual cooperation? Agreements struck with ease? A strange, almost cordial rhythm between two individuals who clearly stood on opposing sides of something far larger?

It did not make sense.

Yet no one voiced it.

Silence, in this case, felt safer than inquiry.

Nancy, however, had not been observing passively.

She had listened to everything. Every word, every implication, every shift in tone. And now, standing there, her mind moved through it all with quiet intensity. Her expression remained neutral, but beneath it, something was settling. A decision, forming piece by piec

Then, suddenly, she turned her head toward Razeal.

"You’re leaving the empire?" she asked.

The question came without hesitation, but her gaze carried weight focused, deliberate, searching.

"Yes," Razeal replied simply, slipping both hands into his pockets once more. "I am."

There was no elaboration. No explanation.

Just confirmation.

Nancy held his gaze for a moment longer.

Then

"Take me with you." The words came cleanly. Decisively. As if she had already resolved the internal conflict long before speaking them aloud.

And at that Razeal paused.

"Huh..."

It wasn’t rejection just a moment of genuine interruption, as though the request had arrived faster than anticipated.

Nancy continued, her voice steady but quieter now.

"I’m in the same position as you," she said. "And I have a feeling... you’re the only one here who actually understands what’s happening and who can help me."

She hesitated briefly, her expression tightening just slightly before she continued.

"And I can’t go back..."

The sentence lingered, incomplete for a fraction of a second.

"...to my family."

Razeal studied her for a moment.

"Because of your brother," he said, finishing it for her, "And now you’re afraid."

Nancy nodded.

There was no denial no attempt to reframe it.

Just quiet acknowledgment.

But her eyes when they lifted to meet his again held something more than fear.

Expectation.

A silent request, grounded not in desperation, but in choice.

Razeal exhaled faintly, his gaze shifting as he considered her briefly, but thoroughly.

Then, without much outward indication of deliberation, he nodded.

"Alright," he said.

A simple answer but not without condition.

"But you’ll follow my instructions," he continued, his tone sharpening just slightly. "And in return... I’ll make sure you don’t end up at the mercy of people like him."

As he said it, his eyes moved deliberately to Riven.

The implication was clear.

Protection.. At a cost.

Nancy didn’t hesitate.

She nodded immediately, relief flickering across her expression subtle, but unmistakable.

"Thank you," she said. "I’ll be useful. I promise."

There was sincerity in her voice. Gratitude but also resolve.

She meant it.

Razeal gave a small nod in return.

But as he did

He noticed it.

Riven smile suddenly widening.

Not mockingly. Not dismissively.

But... approvingly. As though this outcome aligned perfectly with something he had anticipated.

Razeal’s eyes lingered on him for a fraction longer.

As I thought...

The realization settled quickly.

He wants this too..?

Breaking Nancy away from her brother maybe? Isolating her? Creating distance, tension fracture. And from there... manipulation. A slow redirection of perspective. Turning perception into resentment.

Make him believe I? The Villain took his sister away... that I’m the one responsible.

Yeah.. A classic angle.

Predictable.

Almost... disappointingly so.

How cliché, Razeal noted internally, though his outward expression remained unchanged.. calm, faintly amused, entirely unbothered.

Because whether or not that was Riven’s intention..

It didn’t matter not to him.

If anything, this arrangement worked in his favor.

Nancy was no longer just collateral in someone else’s plan.

Now

She was within his line of sight.

And more importantly...

She was like him.

Caught in something larger. Pulled into forces not entirely of her own making.

That alone made her relevant.

Razeal offered her a small, reassuring nod.

And just like that

The decision was made.

But just as things seemed settled, Nancy’s expression shifted something tightening in her gaze as if a thought had suddenly struck her mid-breath. Her brows furrowed slightly, and without hesitation, she turned her head toward Riven.

"You..." she began, her tone edged with reluctance, "inform my family that I’m leaving... with him." Her eyes flicked briefly toward Razeal before returning to Riven, her expression hardening. "Tell them I chose this."

It clearly wasn’t something she wanted to ask of him. If anything, there was visible distaste in the way she looked at him. But logic left her no alternatives. Everyone else here was leaving with her. There was no messenger. No time. And traveling back just to deliver a message? That wasn’t an option not now. Not when everything had already spiraled this far.

Gods can at least do something this basic... right?

But instead of answering directly, Riven smiled.

A strange weird smile.. One that didn’t quite sit right.

"Why don’t you tell them yourself?" he said, tilting his head slightly, his tone almost playful. "If you want... I can bring someone from your family here. You can say it directly."

The words hung there.

Nancy’s instincts immediately reacted. Something about it felt... off. That smile. That tone.

"...Really?" she asked, though the question came out slower than intended, suspicion already seeping into her voice.

Why would he offer that?

Her mind raced for a moment trying to catch the angle, the trap, the intention behind it.

And then almost reflexively she turned toward Razeal.

"Can I?" she asked him, her voice quieter now, but serious. It wasn’t just about permission.

It was trust.

If Riven was planning something... Razeal would know.. Right? Or at least, he would see it coming.

Razeal didn’t answer immediately. He watched her for a second, then shifted his gaze toward Riven, his expression flattening slightly as his thoughts moved quickly behind his eyes.

A second later, he nodded.

"Alright. You can."

Nancy exhaled faintly.

But then

"Don’t bring her mother," Razeal added, his voice turning sharp as his eyes locked onto Riven. "Or anyone near supreme rank." Giving him a warning if that is what he might be planning.

Clear and Direct.

No room for interpretation.

Nancy nodded immediately. "Of course." She understood. This wasn’t just caution it was survival. One wrong move, one powerful presence appearing here, and everything whatever he had planned could collapse instantly.

Riven, however, only smiled again.

"That wasn’t in my plans anyway.. You can trust me.. Bestfriend.." he said, his tone smooth almost amused as his eyes lingered on Razeal for a moment longer than necessary.

Razeal didn’t respond.

Because he already knew that It’s going to be Areon.

Of course it was.

What better choice?

The perfect emotional lever. The perfect scene. The sister... saying goodbye. The brother... watching her walk away. And standing there? The one taking her away.

Villain? Protagonist? Savior? Same faces.

Razeal could already see it play out.

A slow, painful fracture.

How predictable.

Before anyone could say anything else

Riven snapped his fingers.

A soft poof echoed through the air, followed by a ripple of white mist and in an instant, his entire appearance shifted.

Gone were the white hair and young teenager presence.

In his place stood an old man. Wrinkled face. Slightly hunched posture. Ordinary and Completely unremarkable.

"What?" Riven said casually, now in that new form, noticing Razeal’s blank, unimpressed stare. "I wouldn’t want to reveal who I am... would I?"

Razeal just looked at him for a second.

Deadpan.

Then just sighed as nodded

"Go on."

He wasn’t interested.. So gave no reaction.

Because he already understood what was coming. And Riven... was about to make it happen.

But just before Riven acted he paused.

Turning his head slightly, he looked at Nancy again.

The smile on his face didn’t change but something in his eyes did.

"Don’t try to say too much," he said quietly. "You know what I mean... don’t you?"

There was weight behind those words.

Not a suggestion but a boundary.

And more importantly.. A reminder.

Nancy’s expression tightened she understood perfectly what he meant.

Whether it was fear... restriction... or something deeper tied to whatever Riven had done

The limitation was real.

So she didn’t argue.

So she didn’t evenrespond. She simply looked at him coldly

Finally, Riven moved. Without another word, he lifted his hand and slowly traced a circular motion in the air, his fingers gliding through empty space as if it were something tangible, something that could be bent and shaped. His gaze tilted upward, unfocused yet precise, while under his breath a low, almost inaudible chant slipped past his lips ancient, rhythmic, carrying a weight that didn’t belong to this world. With each syllable, the air itself began to react. A faint hum vibrated through the surroundings, subtle at first, then growing heavier, denser, until even the space around them felt... strained. His hands started to glow, not brightly, but with a deep, divine radiance like compressed light struggling to stay contained.

And then

Suddenly a distortion formed above them.

It wasn’t immediate. It started as a ripple, like the surface of water trembling without cause, then slowly tore open into a circular fracture in space itself. A portal. Not wild or unstable like the ones scattered across the world but controlled. Precise and Intentional.

And.. Before anyone could react.

Two figures dropped out of it.

Not stepped or descended.

But.. Dropped.

As if the ground beneath their feet had been ripped away and replaced with this portal.

The first figure a dude with long red hair had no time to react at all. He fell straight down, completely unprepared for the sudden shift, and hit the stone floor with a sharp thud, landing awkwardly on his ass before instinctively pushing himself up with a startled, half-angry gasp.

The second figure, however

Was different.

The moment she appeared, her body reacted. No hesitation. No confusion. Her reflexes were immediate, almost unnatural in their sharpness. She twisted mid-air, adjusting her balance in a fraction of a second, and landed lightly on her feet.. her boots touching the ground without making even the slightest sound.

Graceful. Controlled and quiet Dangerous.

Her long, deep royal-purple hair fell behind her back in a slow cascade, settling naturally as if even gravity obeyed her discipline. Her posture straightened instantly, her presence tightening, sharpening.. and her eyes...

Those sharp, deadly purple eyes scanned the surroundings in a single sweeping motion.

Fast and extremely Precise.

Like a trained assassin or fighter dropped into unknown territory.

Her hand had already moved resting on the hilt of the sword at her waist, fingers ready, prepared to draw at the smallest hint of danger. Every muscle in her body was alert, coiled, calculating.

Though prideful enough to just looking down at this situation.. as if which idiot dared to mess with her? More like she was excited about this.

She had a wild.. unrestrained smile on her face.. as if thirsty for blood.

But suddenly her excitement and all just paused..

Because it seems her gaze had found something.

Or

Someone

And the moment it did.

Everything stopped.

Her eyes locked.

Her breath hitched.. just so slightly.

Razeal.

The tension in her body didn’t disappear... but it changed. Shifted. That cold, lethal awareness faltered.. not into weakness, but into something else entirely. Something deeper. Something... personal.

Her lips parted faintly, as if the name had already reached her throat before she even realized it.

And in that same moment

Razeal turned his head.

Slowly.

His gaze moved from the portal... to the two figures... his face becoming very ugly just seieng who the second uninvited guest was.. and then immediately turned his gaze.. to Riven.

And the look in his eyes

Was no longer neutral.

It was Dangerously bad..

Cold enough to cut.

There was no confusion there. No surprise.

Only understanding as why would he do that.

And anger.

A quiet, controlled anger that didn’t need to be expressed loudly to be felt.

Because he knew.. This wasn’t an accident.

Not even close.

"...Off," Riven said casually from the side, still in the form of that old man, glancing down at his own hand as if mildly inconvenienced. "My hand slipped."

The tone. The timing. The expression.

Everything about it made it worse.

Because it was so obviously a lie and yet delivered so effortlessly.

Razeal’s eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw tightening just enough to show the edge beneath his calm.

You piece of...

There was nothing accidental about it.

And both of them knew it.

The air between them shifted again.. tense, volatile, unspoken conflict pressing against the edges of restraint.

But before anything could escalate

Suddenly a familiar female voice broke through.

Soft and very Uncertain.

"Razeal..."

——