The week flew by in a joyful blur, filled withughter, captivating stories, and yful banter, with Reynold''s presence livening up the Dwight mansion.


    He brought stories of adventures inside ruins, alchemical discoveries, and travels across the empire.


    For a fleeting moment, everything felt right, as though time itself had slowed. But, as all good things do, the week reached its inevitable end. Reynold began to prepare for his return to the Alchemist Association in the capital.


    The decision was brought up casually over dinner. Reynold had just mentioned that he would be departing the next morning when Sophia, gently set her cup down.


    Her gaze drifted thoughtfully beforending on Spark, who was seated across from her. The air around the table seemed to be still.


    "I think," Sophia began, her voice calm yet firm, "that it would be best if Spark apanies Reynold to the capital."


    Spark, who had been absently pushing his food around his te, froze mid-bite. Slowly, he lifted his head, blinking as though he hadn''t heard her correctly.


    "Come again, mother?"


    Sophia, everposed, gave a calm nod as if this decision had been long in the making. "The capital is far safer than here, especially after... recent events."


    Spark raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair with a dramatic sigh.


    "Oh, I see. This is how it ends, then? You''re casting away your poor son? Have I truly be such a burden that you''d toss me out into a world that reeks of herbs and dusty old tomes?"


    Reynold couldn''t help but chuckle at Spark''s antics, but Sophia remained unflinching. Her lips curved into a knowing smile as she leveled a steady look at her son. "Let''s not be so melodramatic. You''ll be perfectly fine. Besides, Reynold could use thepany, and I trust you to stay out of mischief while you''re there."


    Spark grumbled, eyes narrowing as he gave his mother a skeptical nce.


    "Mischief? Me?" His hand waved dismissively toward Reynold. "I''ll be bored senseless before the week is out."


    Reynoldughed, shaking his head. "Oh,e now. It''s not all that bad. You might even surprise yourself and learn something if you give it a chance."


    Spark scoffed. "The day I willingly take an interest in alchemy is the day the sun rises in the west."


    Sophia''s expression softened slightly, but her resolve did not waver. "You''ll go. No matter how much you argue. Your safety is more important than your whims. The capital will keep you out of harm''s way, at least until this matter with the assant is resolved."


    Spark slumped in defeat, his voice slipping into a pleading tone. "Mother, please, reconsider. I''ll do anything. I''ll even meditate for hours withoutint!"


    But Sophia only shook her head, her decision as firm as iron. "It''s been decided, Spark. You''re going with your brother, and that''s final."


    Spark turned to his father, but he only averted his gaze, unable to meet his son''s pleading eyes.


    No amount of pleading or protest changed her mind. By the time morning came, Spark was begrudgingly packed and ready to leave, his expression somewhere between resigned and mildly annoyed.


    The family made their way to the teleportation altar, located near the city square, a towering stone building that loomed over them with an aura of ancient power.


    The air hummed with the dense energy of the ce, the ancient runes carved into the walls glowing faintly with restrained magic. The cost of activating such a powerful teleportation altar was no small matter—it was a privilege reserved only for the wealthy and the influential.


    Sophia and Duke Renard apanied them to the altar, their expressions calm but tinged with a touch of mncholy.


    Alice stood by Spark''s side, her eyes wide with curiosity as she clutched his sleeve. Zhao Shi was just behind them, quietly attentive as always.


    As they approached the altar, Spark nced back at his parents, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips. "Mother, Father, Try not to cry too much while I''m gone."


    Sophia smiled, shaking her head. "We''ll be just fine, Spark. You, on the other hand, behave yourself in the capital, understood?"


    Duke Renard chuckled, cing a hand on his wife''s shoulder. "Take care of yourself, son. And try not to cause Reynold too much trouble."


    Spark sighed dramatically. "No promises, Father. Trouble tends to follow me, you know."


    Then, under his breath, he muttered, "Did I just jinxed myself?"


    He nced down at Alice, who still clutched his sleeve with wide, hopeful eyes, eager to see the world beyond their city. His expression softened as he patted her head gently before stepping onto the glowing altar beside Reynold.


    The air shimmered as the ascendant mages gathered around, their hands glowing with power as they channeled energy into the ancient runes. The stone tform beneath Spark''s feet began to hum, the runes spiraling outward inplex patterns as the magic surged.


    At first, everything seemed to proceed as expected—the runes glowing in their familiar rhythm, the magic growing thicker in the air. But then Spark''s sharp eyes caught something peculiar. The runes—something about the way they moved, the way they glowed—it wasn''t quite right.


    Then, something clicked in his mind, and his eyes widened slightly, the surprise breaking through his usual aloof demeanor.


    He murmured under his breath, "Oh… someone''s tampered with the formation."


    Reynold looked over sharply. "What did you say?"


    Spark didn''t answer immediately, his gaze still fixed on the runes. His expression turned from surprise to something more calcting.


    "When did they n all this?" Spark muttered, more to himself than anyone else.


    Reynold''s gaze followed his brother''s, and his brow furrowed as he swiftly assessed the formation. His face went slightly pale.


    "A… threeyered teleportation rune!?" His voice was filled with disbelief. As someone who frequently used such teleportation altars, he was familiar with their functions.


    Before him floated threerge, circr runes, each indicating a substantial teleportation distance. A singleyer would suffice for a journey to the capital, but this threeyered rune would send them far beyond the Jul Empire''s borders.


    Reynold''s expression darkened as the realization hit him. This wasn''t just a mistake—this was sabotage.


    "It''s toote," he said, his voice heavy with foreboding. The surrounding energy surged, leaving no time to react.


    In an instant, the world around them seemed to copse, the city square, their parents, everything fading into a swirl of light and shadow. The sensation of falling—no, hurtling—through an endless void gripped them all.


    And then they disappeared.