Hundred and sixty-nine

Arabella struggled against the chains that bound her, wincing as her skin burned – a sensation reminiscent of when Alessia had bound her.

Now, facing Sandro, she observed him being restrained, not by Astralys herself, but by skeletal beings emerging from the ground, conjured by Astralys.

"What do you want?" Arabella inquired as Astralys approached a presumed spell book.

Astralys flipped through its pages, wrinkling her nose, then tossed it toward Sandro, who narrowly dodged the incoming book.

"Stupid witch!" Astralys growled, advancing toward Arabella. "I will end her bloodline."

"What do you want with me?" Arabella asked again.

"Be cautious, or I'll be forced to eradicate those little demons within you. But I need them; I need you." Astralys loosened Arabella's restraints, dragging her toward a podium, then turned to Sandro.

"Bring him."

The skeletal beings that held Sandro maneuvered him like a ragdoll. Though he struggled to break free, their grip remained firm as they brought him