In the quiet meditation chamber, the magic formation flickered faintly as an inexplicably oppressive atmosphere slowly spread.
After a long silence, Alazan's voice broke the stillness.
"It seems your concerns weren't unfounded. How do you plan to handle this?"
Dago considered briefly before saying, "There are too many unknowns here. I can't be completely certain."
"Then what do you have in mind?"
"Find a way to leave early."
Dago said calmly, "I've tested it. The protective formation outside this airship is sturdy, but I have a way to break through it quickly. Still, I may need your help if I'm to avoid alerting them."
Alazan remained silent for a few breaths before slowly answering, "All right."
Dago nodded and closed his eyes again.
He resumed his interrupted meditation.
Not the slightest ripple disturbed his thoughts, as though nothing had happened.
On the first floor of the garden villa, a shapely maid carried steaming dishes briskly toward the second floor.
As she rounded a turn in the staircase, time seemed to stop.
A tall, slender figure slowly emerged from the wall.
Kubo reached out and lightly passed his hand over a steaming bowl of thick soup on the maid's tray. Powder almost invisible to the naked eye drifted from beneath his fingernails into the soup.
The white steam rising from the soup instantly turned a mysterious, exquisite purple, like violets in full bloom. In the blink of an eye, the purple faded completely, and "frozen time" began to flow again.
Completely unaware, the maid continued upstairs and soon reached a room at the far end of the second floor.
After a soft knock, the door opened from within, and a handsome, white-haired young man in black robes edged with silver stepped out.
The maid carefully presented the tray. His gaze swept