The sun was slowly sinking beyond the horizon.
The sky was painted in shades of orange, red, and purple as a lone vehicle traveled along the road.
Its wheels rolled steadily over the uneven path.
**RUMBLE... RUMBLE...**
The road stretched far ahead.
There were no other vehicles nearby.
Only the fading light of the setting sun followed them.
Inside—
the atmosphere was surprisingly quiet.
At the front of the vehicle, Ryke remained behind the wheel.
His hands rested firmly on the steering wheel as his eyes stayed focused on the road ahead.
Beside him—
Nia sat quietly.
Kaelira, however, had already fallen asleep.
Her head leaned against the side of the seat, her breathing slow and steady.
Ryke glanced toward her for a moment.
Then he looked back at the road.
*She's sleeping through this?*
He sighed quietly.
*I'm so tired as well... I wouldn't mind getting some shut-eye.*
He continued driving.
---
In the back of the vehicle—
Pythia was also asleep.
Her body had relaxed completely as she rested against Lyriana.
The artifact remained safely held within her arms.
Her eyes were closed, and for once, she wasn't speaking.
Lyriana remained still, allowing Pythia to sleep against her.
Beside her—
Aldric sat with his arms crossed.
His eyes were closed.
He wasn't asleep.
At least—
he didn't appear to be.
He simply sat there in silence, occasionally listening to the sound of the wheels rolling along the road.
For several minutes—
nobody spoke.
---
Across from them—
Vaelith sat beside Draven.
The black cat rested comfortably on top of Draven's head.
The small slime remained there as well, sitting beside the cat as though it had already decided that was its rightful place.
Draven held Lucifer in his arms.
The small vampire child looked up at him while Draven carefully fed him.
"Here."
Draven brought the container closer.
"Drink."
Lucifer quietly drank from it.
Beside him, Vaelith was doing the same with Elenya.
The little girl happily accepted the blood as Vaelith fed her.
For a while—
the only sounds inside the vehicle were the quiet movements of the babies.
Then—
time passed.
The sun disappeared completely beyond the horizon.
The orange light outside gradually faded.
Darkness slowly covered the road.
The vehicle continued forward.
**RUMBLE... RUMBLE...**
Eventually—
Draven finished feeding Lucifer.
He placed the container aside.
Lucifer looked at him.
Then—
Draven reached over and lightly poked his forehead.
Lucifer blinked.
Draven did it again.
*Poke.*
Lucifer stared at him.
Then his small face scrunched up.
Draven smiled.
"Haha."
Lucifer reached toward Draven's hand.
Draven pulled it away.
Lucifer tried again.
Draven moved his hand away once more.
The little boy began letting out baby sounds.
The sound immediately caught Elenya's attention.
She looked toward them.
Draven noticed.
"You wanna join in on this too, Elya?"
Elenya's eyes brightened.
She reached toward him.
Draven smiled.
"Come here."
Vaelith carefully handed Elenya over.
Draven now had both of his younger siblings in his arms.
Lucifer immediately grabbed at his hair.
Draven frowned.
"Hey."
The black cat lifted its head.
Lucifer's tiny hand reached toward it.
The cat stared at him.
Lucifer grabbed the cat's tail.
The cat's ears immediately flattened.
"Meow."
Draven burst out laughing.
"Don't pull its tail."
Lucifer giggled.
The slime suddenly bounced on Draven's head.
*Boing.*
Draven glanced upward.
"Don't encourage him."
The slime wobbled happily.
The cat looked at it.
Then looked back at Lucifer.
Draven sighed.
"You two are already teaming up."
Elenya began giggling.
Draven looked between the two babies.
Then—
he smiled.
For the first time since they had left Dresvalle—
the long journey felt almost peaceful.
Outside—
the road continued beneath the darkening sky.
And the lone vehicle continued onward toward Veylora.
---
The cat continued playing with Lucifer.
Then—
its voice suddenly echoed inside Draven's mind.
*"No. You don't. Take this."*
The cat quickly moved closer to Draven.
*"Okay. Now it's me and you, Papa."*
It looked toward Lucifer and Elenya.
*"Let's both go against brother and sister..."*
Then it glanced toward the slime.
*"And slime too."*
Draven stared at the cat for a moment.
Then—
he smiled.
"Yeah."
He reached over and lightly rubbed the cat's head.
"Don't let any of them off."
"You hear me?"
The cat's ears perked up.
*"Yes, Papa!"*
Draven chuckled.
"Good."
The vehicle continued down the dark road.
**RUMBLE... RUMBLE...**
Time passed.
The darkness outside grew deeper.
The road remained quiet.
And eventually—
the playful sounds inside the vehicle disappeared.
Both Lucifer and Elenya had fallen asleep.
Lucifer rested peacefully.
Elenya slept beside him.
The black cat curled up near them.
The little slime had settled down as well.
Draven sat quietly, staring at his younger siblings.
For several moments—
he said nothing.
He simply watched them sleep.
There was something peaceful about seeing them like this.
No fighting.
No enemies.
No blood.
Just silence.
Then—
**LURCH!**
The vehicle suddenly jerked violently.
Draven's eyes snapped toward Lucifer and Elenya.
Both babies stirred awake from the sudden movement.
The cat immediately lifted its head.
Kaelira's eyes shot open.
Her ears stood straight upward.
"What the hell?"
She looked around, still half asleep.
"Are we under attack?"
From the back—
Aldric's voice immediately followed.
"Goddamn bastard."
His eyes opened as he glared toward the front.
"Do you really want to die?"
His voice became colder.
"I'll put you to sleep forever if you want to sleep that badly."
Ryke's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
His face looked exhausted.
Dark circles surrounded his eyes.
His breathing was heavier than usual.
He had been driving for far too long.
And he was reaching his limit.
*I can't fucking do this anymore.*
His eyes struggled to remain open.
*I've barely slept for days.*
*At this point...*
*Even if nobody kills me, I'm probably going to die from exhaustion.*
The vehicle began drifting slightly again.
Draven immediately looked toward the front.
"Just pull over before you crush us, damnit."
Ryke clenched his teeth.
"Yeah..."
He slowly guided the vehicle toward the side of the road.
The vehicle finally came to a stop.
**SCREEECH—**
Everyone inside went silent.
Pythia slowly opened her eyes.
She rubbed them with one hand.
Then she looked toward Ryke.
"And when I thought you were useful..."
Ryke glanced back at her.
"Yeah."
He gave a tired sigh.
"It's not like you were ever hiding the fact that you don't like me."
Pythia stared at him.
Then—
she blinked.
"...Fair."
Aldric let out a quiet scoff.
"You're both idiots."
Kaelira yawned and leaned back into her seat.
"I was having a good dream too."
Ryke rested his forehead against the steering wheel.
"I don't care anymore."
"I just want to sleep."
Draven looked toward him.
For once—
he didn't say anything sarcastic.
He simply stared at Ryke for a moment.
The man had clearly pushed himself too far.
Draven glanced toward the road outside.
Then back toward Ryke.
"Alright."
"Get some rest."
Ryke slowly lifted his head.
"...What?"
Draven leaned back into his seat.
"We'll stay here for a while."
Ryke stared at him.
Then—
his exhausted expression softened slightly.
"Yeah..."
"Thanks."
He finally released his grip on the steering wheel.
For the first time in days—
Ryke could finally close his eyes without worrying about keeping the vehicle on the road.