Devon DeGlann stood on the balcony of his father's mansion, looking down at the township below him. He casually turned his head to see his sister rushing up the steps, the fringe of her skirts stained with mud. 

"Thalayna?" He frowned, confused. "What brings you here at this hour? Shouldn't you be at home?"

"Oh, Devon," Thalayna squeezed her hands into fists. "It's Airel and his friends. They're trying to leave Glaisse-Altair! You have to stop them!" 

"I am overjoyed to hear that," Devon grinned. "I have been waiting for years for a chance to put an axe in that heretic's head!"

"Please, avoid killing him if you can," Thalayna begged. 

"...Oh, fine," The heir conceded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Anything for you, Thalayna." 

................................

Airel, Crescel, and Lianna had gathered all necessary supplies for their journey in a wagon, prepared to take off as soon as possible. As Crescel used his Aura to create an opening in the crumbling, stone wall that separated the township from the rest of the world, Airel noticed the glimmer of torches a few yards away. 

"There they go! Attack!" Airel almost immediately recognized the savage cry of Devon DeGlann as he rode down to the lake on his wild horse, followed by his small band of fellow criminals. 

As Devon approached, Airel was shocked to see Thalayna behind him with Sakarus in her arms, her eyes blazing with determination. 

How could she betray him like this?

Filled with equal drive, Airel mounted his own horse, following Crescel, who was already steering the wagon through the gap in the wall. However, Devon's steed was much faster than his, and the Magistrate-to-be rode past him, cutting off his path just seconds after Crescel and Lianna escaped into the unknown. 

"You're going to die tonight, Arystenn!" Devon snarled, unsheathing his sword. "I don't care what my sister says!" 

Trepidation took control of the baker's heart as his horse backed away, slowly pressing up against a tree. And then, from the fear stemmed a feeling that Airel had never experienced before. It was a powerful sensation, starting in his head and spreading down through his limbs and to his toes. 

His Aura ballooned to twice its size, and his violet eyes began to shine a radiant blue. 

"Sorcery!" Devon shrieked as his horse reared, galloping away despite his best efforts to control it. "Evil sorcery! You shall be cursed by Lumys! You shall suffer forever!" 

As the murderer raced past, clinging desperately to the mane of his mount, Airel used his empowered Aura to gently lift his wife and his son off the back of Devon's horse, placing them on his own as he triumphantly sailed through the hole in the wall. 

Ignoring Thalayna's frightened cries, he let go of the reins and allowed his horse run as it wished through the endless plains. Finally, he caught sight of Crescel's wagon, and approached it. As he neared his friend, he looked up at the breathtaking mountains that stretched forever across the horizon and the stars that peppered the endless expanse of night sky. 

That was when it hit him. 

He had done it. 

He was free.