Chapter 181: The Escape
"Jump!" Baron barked, already scooping up three unconscious guards in his arms.
Lumin didn’t hesitate; he grabbed the remaining two figures and leapt backward through the portal just as the baron charged after him.
Crunch!
The baron hit the ground back-first, his body curling protectively around the guards as the portal sealed with a snap—the first tendril of pursuing snow severed mid-air.
For a heartbeat, there was only the sound of ragged breathing and the faint drip of melting snow in his hair.
Thud-! x2
One by one, two more figures collapsed onto the marble floor—Aeron landing hard on his knees, his golden eyes dull with exhaustion, while Lumin sank down more gracefully, though his shoulders trembled slightly. Sweat and melting snow dripped from their hair and forehead, forming small puddles on the polished floor.
Only Zephyr remained upright, lowering himself into a cross-legged position with deliberate control. His lashes fluttered shut as he began circulating his loci to restore his aura.
The baron carefully arranged the unconscious guards beside him before sitting up, brushing snow from his coat with methodical strokes. His gaze swept the grand hall, the same one where he’d welcomed these very guests not so long ago.
Of course, he realized.
The shelter’s spatial wards would have blocked teleportation. This was the next safest place... and gave them precious minutes before the storm reached the upper keep.