The spacing between cells.
The placement of guards.
The rhythm of the mana lights.
The hum of the suppressing field.
Observing.
Measuring.
Calculating.
Planning.
Draven kept his gaze fixed on the corridor as he spoke.
Low.
Cold.
Controlled.
"I thought you actually wanted to save someone."
His eyes shifted slightly, not even fully turning toward the boy.
"But the moment you got caught…"
A faint pause.
"…you forgot everything you needed to do."
The words landed heavy.
Unforgiving.
"You expect to save anyone like that?"
Now he turned.
Fully.
His eyes locked onto the boy.
"Get your head in the game."
The pressure in his voice sharpened instantly.
"If you keep acting like a damn idiot…"
He stepped closer to the bars.
"…I'll just kill you."
The boy froze.
His glowing blue eyes widened slightly.
Draven didn't stop.
"Don't think for a second I'm doing this with you just because you know where an airship is."
His tone remained flat.
Indifferent.
"Others know too."
Another step.
"I just need to find the right one."
A faint tilt of his head.
"…Or I can rip the memories out of you."
Silence.
The words hung in the air like a blade pressed against the throat.
The boy stared at him.
No fear.
But something else crept in.
Pressure.
Reality.
His claws clenched tighter.
His ears slowly lifted again.
Then—
"…She's not here."
His voice was low.
But this time—
There was no hesitation.
"I didn't see her here."
He stepped forward slightly, urgency bleeding into his tone.
"I know where they keep the—"
"Shut the hell up."
Draven cut him off instantly.
His voice dropped.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Don't start making things up now."
His eyes narrowed.
"You didn't look."
Another step.
"Then you look again."
The boy froze.
Draven stopped in front of the cell bars.
For a brief moment—
Nothing happened.
Then his hand rose.
He grabbed the iron bars.
The faint glow of mana reinforcement pulsed across them.
Strong.
Layered.
Unyielding.
And yet—
Draven pulled.
**CREAK**
The sound echoed through the corridor.
Slow.
Heavy.
The bars began to bend.
Metal groaned under impossible pressure.
**CRRRAAAK**
They warped outward, the reinforced structure deforming as if it were nothing more than soft steel.
The boy's eyes widened.
Shock flashed across his face.
*That's impossible…*
His thoughts spiraled.
*Those bars are reinforced with mana—*
*And he's wearing a mana collar—*
Draven didn't stop.
With one final pull—
**SNAP**
The bars gave way.
A gap opened wide enough to pass through.
Draven stepped out as if nothing had happened.
The broken metal hung twisted behind him.
He didn't even glance back.
The boy just stared.
Ears stiff.
Mind reeling.
*What… is he?*
Draven rolled his shoulder once, then looked down the corridor.
"Move."
His voice was calm again.
Casual.
As if bending reinforced prison bars while wearing a mana-suppressing collar meant nothing at all.
He glanced over his shoulder.
"…Why the hell are you just standing there?"
The words snapped the boy out of it.
His ears twitched sharply.
"—Right."
No hesitation this time.
He slipped through the bent bars and dropped low, moving on all fours as he darted down the corridor.
Fast.
Focused.
His glowing blue eyes scanned each cell as he passed.
One after another.
Faces turned toward him.
Prisoners who had long since abandoned hope—
Now watching.
Confused.
Shocked.
*He's out…?*
Some pressed closer to the bars.
Others simply stared.
Silent.
Disbelieving.
The boy didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
*Find her.*
His breathing steadied.
*Focus.*
Cell after cell blurred past—
Until—
He paused for half a second.
No.
Not her.
He moved again.
Behind him—
Draven stepped fully into the corridor, his pace far slower.
Measured.
Deliberate.
His eyes moved across everything.
The layout.
The spacing between cells.
Possible guard routes.
Structural weaknesses.
Every detail etched into memory.
Then—
A voice called out from one of the cells.
"…Hey—!"
Weak.
Desperate.
"Get me out too—!"
Another voice followed.
"Please—!"
Then more.
Voices rising.
Hope spreading like wildfire through dry grass.
Draven didn't even look at them.
He kept walking.
Cold.
Unmoved.
Because right now—
Only one target mattered.
Ahead—
The boy suddenly stopped.
His entire body froze.
His ears shot upright.
His claws pressed against the stone floor.
"…Found you."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
Inside the cell—
A figure sat chained to the wall.
Head lowered.
Still.
Barely breathing.
Draven kept his gaze fixed on the corridor as he spoke.
Low.
Cold.
Controlled.
"I thought you actually wanted to save someone."
His eyes shifted slightly, not even fully turning toward the boy.
"But the moment you got caught…"
A faint pause.
"…you forgot everything you needed to do."
The words landed heavy.
Unforgiving.
"You expect to save anyone like that?"
Now he turned.
Fully.
His eyes locked onto the boy.
"Get your head in the game."
The pressure in his voice sharpened instantly.
"If you keep acting like a damn idiot…"
He stepped closer to the bars.
"…I'll just kill you."
The boy froze.
His glowing blue eyes widened slightly.
Draven didn't stop.
"Don't think for a second I'm doing this with you just because you know where an airship is."
His tone remained flat.
Indifferent.
"Others know too."
Another step.
"I just need to find the right one."
A faint tilt of his head.
"…Or I can rip the memories out of you."
Silence.
The words hung in the air like a blade pressed against the throat.