Noel crouched down beside Laziel and hooked an arm under his shoulders, lifting him without much effort. The mage was completely limp, his staff slipping from his fingers and clattering softly against the stone. Noel caught it before it could roll too far and leaned it against the steps.

"Still breathing," he muttered, more out of habit than concern.

Noir shifted beside him, her body expanding as shadows rippled across her fur. She didn't grow to her full size, just enough to be sturdy and wide-backed, a living platform rather than a looming presence. Noel gently placed Laziel across her back, adjusting his position until he was balanced and secure.

They moved back toward the steps where Noel had been sitting earlier. Noir lowered herself carefully and curled up, her large body forming a natural cradle. Laziel rested on top of her, unconscious but clearly safe, rising and falling with slow, steady breaths.

Noel straightened and crossed his arms, studying the scene.

He wouldn't wake up immediately. A few minutes, maybe more.

Plenty of time.

'He revenge,' Noel thought, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Elyra's gaze slid toward him.

It was that look. The one she used when she already knew the answer but wanted to hear it anyway.

"Was that really necessary?" she asked.

Noel blinked, genuinely surprised.

It wasn't often Elyra scolded him outright. She wasn't gentle about things, but this was different. Given where they were and what they were dealing with, the timing hadn't been great. He realized that much the moment the words left her mouth.

"…Maybe not," he admitted.

He glanced down at Noir, trying to lighten the mood. "But it was irresistible, right, Noir?"

Noir didn't answer out loud.

Her voice slipped into his mind instead, amused but honest.

'It was very funny,' she said. 'Also very frightening for Laziel. And… Mum might be right. We could have chosen a better moment.'

Noel exhaled slowly.

"Yeah," he said. "You're right. My fault."

Elyra studied his face for a second longer, then nodded once. A small smile followed, sharp but satisfied.

"Good," she said. "At least you understand."

Noel glanced back at Laziel, sprawled across Noir's back like nothing in the world could disturb him now.

He shook his head lightly.

"Guess I owe him one apology," he murmured.

Noir flicked her tail once, clearly unconvinced.

Elena stepped forward before the moment could settle.

Her hands clenched briefly at her sides, worry clear in her expression as she looked from Laziel to Noel. "What if something had attacked while he was unconscious?" she asked. "He couldn't defend himself at all."

She took a breath, steadying herself. "I got scared."

The words landed heavier than Noel expected.

He felt the guilt immediately. Not for Laziel. Laziel would complain, laugh it off, exaggerate it for weeks. That part didn't bother him. What did was the tension in Elena's voice, and the quiet agreement in Elyra's eyes.

"I'm sorry," Noel said, without hesitation. "Really."

He ran a hand through his hair and glanced aside. "I wanted payback. For something Marcus and Garron and him did to me back in the Holy Capital. I thought… I don't know. I thought it would be harmless." He shook his head once. "Bad timing. That one's on me."

Elena's shoulders eased slightly, though she still watched him closely.

"And if something had happened," Noel added, "Noir and I would've handled it."

Before either of them could respond, Noir's voice slid smoothly into all three of their minds.

'That part is true,' she said calmly. 'Dad and I would've taken care of it without any trouble.'

There was a brief pause.

'We're Archmages now,' Noir added, almost as an afterthought.

Elyra and Elena both froze.

They looked at each other, then back at Noel.

Elyra's expression shifted first. Genuine surprise crossed her face, sharp and unfiltered. Elena's reaction was softer, but no less stunned.

"Archmage?" Elyra asked immediately. "When, Noel?"

Noel didn't dodge the question. He never did with them.

"A few hours ago," he replied. "Right after we got separated by that magic. I got one of those sudden missions. Short. Straight to the point." He shrugged slightly. "The reward pushed me through."

He knelt beside Laziel again, more out of instinct than concern, placing two fingers lightly near his neck. His breathing was steady. No irregularities. No lingering mana distortion.

"He's just asleep," Noel muttered.

Elyra exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing as she processed the information.

Elena let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"That… helps," she said at last. "It really does."

Noel nodded once.

Noel remained standing for a moment, then shifted his weight slightly, his gaze moving from Laziel back to Elyra and Elena.

"The important part," he said, "isn't the system itself."

Both of them listened without interrupting.

"What matters is what's coming next," Noel continued. "The Second Pillar isn't going to be like the others we've dealt with so far. Everything I've seen here points in the same direction."

He glanced briefly toward the ruined city around them.

"Control on a massive scale. Chains. Bound creatures. Bound people." His voice stayed calm, measured. "That kind of control doesn't come from brute strength. It comes from authority enforced through mana."

Elyra's eyes sharpened. "Meaning?"

"Meaning she isn't just fighting," Noel replied. "She's ruling. Or trying to."

Elena frowned slightly. "So this place wasn't taken by force."

"No," Noel said. "It was repurposed. Slowly. From the inside."

He let that settle before continuing.

"That's why the system gave me so much time," he added. "This isn't meant to be rushed. If we charge straight at her without understanding how deep her influence goes, we risk turning every island into a battlefield."

Elyra crossed her arms. "So we prepare."

"We gather information," Noel agreed. "We find the others. We see how far her reach actually extends."

Elena nodded. "And then we move."

"Yes," Noel said. "On our terms."

Another small sound broke the quiet.

Laziel shifted again, more noticeably this time. His shoulders tensed, and his brow furrowed as if he were surfacing from a bad dream.

All three of them went silent at once.

Noel turned fully toward him, watching closely.

Laziel let out a low groan, fingers tightening around his staff as his breathing changed rhythm.

Noel raised a hand slightly, signaling the others to wait.

"This is where the explanations start," he murmured under his breath.

They didn't interrupt the moment.

They waited for Laziel to wake up on his own.

Laziel's eyes fluttered open.

For a brief moment, he didn't move. He stared up at the broken sky, breathing slowly, as if unsure whether what he was seeing was real or just the remains of a nightmare.

Then everything hit him at once.

He jolted upright with a sharp gasp, nearly slipping off Noir's back before instinct made him grab onto his staff.

"W–What happened?" he blurted out. "Where is it?" His head snapped from side to side. "The beast. Where's the giant monster?"

No one answered immediately.

Laziel's gaze finally dropped.

He realized he was sitting on something warm. Something solid. Something very much alive.

Slowly, hesitantly, he looked down.

Black fur.

His eyes widened.

"…No," he whispered.

Noir lifted her head just enough to look at him, ears twitching.

Recognition dawned.

There was a beat of stunned silence.

Then Elyra laughed. Not loudly, but openly, the sound sharp and unrestrained. Elena followed a moment later, covering her mouth as she tried and failed to suppress it. Even Noel's lips curved upward despite himself.

Laziel stared at all of them, mortified.

"You're kidding me," he said flatly. "That was her?"

Noir's tail flicked.

'Yes,' she replied calmly.

Laziel slid off her back, face flushing as his legs wobbled slightly. "Do you have any idea how terrifying that was?" he snapped, pointing vaguely behind him. "Something breathing down my neck, no sunlight, something dripping on my head—"

He shuddered.

"Why would you do that to me?"

Noel shrugged, hands in his pockets, expression far too relaxed for someone being accused of psychological warfare.

"An eye for an eye," he said. "Remember the Holy Capital?"

Laziel froze.

His jaw dropped. "You're serious?" He stared at Noel in disbelief. "That was months ago. Are you really that resentful?"

Noel tilted his head slightly.

"Maybe," he admitted.

Laziel groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Unbelievable."

Noel's expression shifted then, the amusement fading just enough to signal a change in focus.

"Alright," he said, clapping his hands once, softly. "Jokes aside. There are things you need to know."

The laughter died down.

Laziel looked between them, sensing the shift in tone.

"…That doesn't sound good," he muttered.

Noel let the silence settle for a moment, making sure he had everyone's attention.

"Alright," he said, voice steady now. "Here's what actually happened."

Laziel straightened slightly, leaning on his staff. Elyra crossed her arms, already focused. Elena stayed close, eyes fixed on Noel.

"We didn't all land in the same place," Noel began. "These islands are split. Scattered. I ended up on a different one than you."

Laziel frowned. "Figures."

"No coincidence," Noel continued. "I met someone there. A local. His name is Theo."

That name made Elyra's attention sharpen.

"He told me what happened," Noel said. "A woman arrived here a long time ago. Not recently. Long enough for things to rot properly." His tone remained controlled. "And the Circle did what they always do. They didn't attack from the outside. They worked their way in."

"Infiltration," Elena said quietly.

Noel nodded. "From within."

He reached into his dimensional pouch and pulled out a compact device, its surface etched with faint, glowing lines. It didn't look magical at first glance.

"This lets us talk," Noel said. "He can hear us. And he's listening."

Elyra's eyes widened slightly. "Our family has started trading devices like that recently," she said. "We expect them to spread fast."

Noel wasn't surprised. "Of course you do."

Estermont influence moved faster than most armies.

Noel tilted his head upward and pointed toward the sky. "Theo also has an artifact linked to his island," he said. "It's what allows him to guide ships from afar. The northern routes, especially. I was the only one who saw it in action."

Elyra hummed thoughtfully. "Then our transporters have probably crossed paths with him already," she said. "Even if we didn't know it was him."

She straightened slightly. "Pleased to meet you, Theo."

A voice answered through the device, calm and polite.

"Please don't make a vow for someone as humble as me," Theo said. "Your family has already helped enough. The supplies you send every year have kept many of us alive."

Laziel blinked. "Huh."

He scratched the side of his head. "So… what now?"

Noel didn't hesitate.

"We move island by island," he said. "We find the others. We regroup."

His gaze hardened just a little.

"And once we're together," he finished, "we go after the Second Pillar."

The plan settled into place.

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