The moment the orcs' jagged teeth inched closer to the panicked servant's throat, Xion knew he was too late.
Even as his mana blast tore through the beast, sending chunks of flesh and bone scattering into the mud, the damage was already done.
A sickening gurgle escaped Joy's throat as blood spilled from his neck, pooling beneath him. His fingers twitched once … then went still.
Those lifeless eyes stared right at him as if silently accusing him.
Xion staggered from the sheer pressure weighing on his chest.
If only I had acted faster... If only…
But there was no medicine for regret, especially not for regret.
He needed to get away. Not to his lab — no, not really. He just needed to escape, even if only for a moment.
The archduke's presence was suffocating.
So, when they set up camp at the valley's edge, Xion took his chance to slip away.
Under normal circumstances, slipping away alone was near impossible.
