He turned and trudged toward the stairs, movements sluggish, heavy—like his body had dropped into power-saving mode and refused to climb out.
Sylene watched him go, eyes betraying him again before he could stop himself.
Iris exhaled softly, then turned back to the guests with a composed smile, elegance snapping back into place as if nothing had happened.
"Sorry," she said, inclining her head politely. "It's the time to brumate. My dad isn't like this normally…"
Behind her, the two resistance hybrids who had escorted them looked as though they'd just witnessed divinity. Awe hung openly on their faces, undisguised, unashamed.
Idol-struck.
A large snake slithered out from another corridor, following Zephyr upstairs with unhurried devotion.
Sylene noticed the looks on Millia and Ilfa's faces—pure adoration, reverent and intense.
So this resistance is actually a den of Zephyr fans…
Then realization settled in.
