Aesa's gaze swept once more over the sealed golden cocoon the soldiers were pushing away. Her expression didn't change, but a small breath escaped her lips.
"But it seems you all don't need my help," she said, her tone calm and expression cold, unreadable.
Adrius shook his head lightly. "Yeah… we were able to stop the creature." Then his brows pulled together, concern tightening his face. "But… what happened? You look like something far worse took place."
There were too many things burning in his mind at once. The presence she emitted, the stiffness in her shoulders, the slight dullness in her aura he sensed even without touching Magic. None of those belonged to someone returning from victory.
Adrius had seen enough battles and losses to recognize when someone carried the weight of catastrophe. And Aesa was carrying far more than she allowed to show. Even with her cold attitude.
