Seeing that they weren't making much progress, Adrian came up with an idea. "Lilith, take the reins," he ordered, shifting slightly on the horse's back.

With a quick, agile movement, he stood up, balancing on the horse's back as it galloped at full speed. Doing a mind countdown, he did a back flip, landing behind Lilith on the horse's back. The world rushed past him in a blur, but Adrian's focus was laser-sharp.

"What are you planning?" Lilith asked curiously.

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he began to stand on the horse's back, balancing himself with practiced ease. "Keep it steady," he instructed as he straightened, his hands resting on Lilith's shoulders for balance.

"Pull back the reins and stop the horse when I give the signal." Adrian instructed.

Lilith's eyes widened as she realized what he was about to do. "You're crazy, you know that?" she muttered, her focus shifting back to the path ahead.

"Just keep the horse steady," Adrian repeated firmly.

The gap between them and their target was closing, but not fast enough.

Adrian summoned four fiery chains from his back, the heat radiating from them as they coiled around him like serpents, ready to strike.

"Now!" Adrian shouted.

Lilith pulled back on the reins, bringing the horse to an abrupt halt. The sudden stop caused the horse to stretch its legs forward, and its momentum lifted its back off the ground.

With precise timing, Adrian pushed himself off the horse's back. The impact launched him into the air, the wind rushing past his ears as he soared high above the ground.

He twisted his body mid-air, his eyes locking onto the rider below. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he slammed the chains into the earth, using the force to propel himself forward.

The burst of energy sent him flying again, this time landing squarely on the back of the rider's horse.

The sudden weight caused the horse to veer off course, but Adrian held on tightly, his legs clamping down on the horse's sides to maintain his balance. "Stop the horse!" he commanded in a sharp and demanding voice.

The rider struggled, trying to regain control, but Adrian was relentless. He wrapped the fiery chains around the rider's torso, pulling him back and forcing him to halt the horse.

The horse skidded to a stop, its hooves kicking up dust as it reared slightly. The rider grunted in pain, his movements restrained by the burning chains that bound him.

Lilith caught up moments later, pulling their horse alongside them. She watched with a mix of awe and amusement as Adrian kept the rider immobilized.

"Got him," Adrian said, his voice low and dangerous. "Now let's see who's been running from us."

The rider panted heavily, his hood falling back to reveal a weathered face etched with fear and defiance. He spat on the ground, glaring up at Adrian with eyes full of hatred.

"Go to hell," the rider snarled, but his defiance was met with a cold, unyielding stare from Adrian.

"Too late for that," Adrian replied, tightening the chains slightly. "You're going to tell me everything I want to know, or you'll wish you had stopped running sooner. Now tell me," he growled, his eyes burning with fury. "Who are you working for? Why did you attack my kingdom?"

The rider groaned, struggling to push himself up. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, and his breathing was labored. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered weakly.

Adrian's patience snapped. He grabbed the man by the clothes, yanking him to his feet. "Don't lie to me. You're the one who paid the Draegonians. You're the one who led them to my home."

The rider's eyes widened in fear, but he shook his head frantically. "I'm just a messenger!" he pleaded. "I was hired to deliver something, nothing more. Please, you have to believe me!"

Lilith, who had dismounted and joined them, stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied the man. "He's telling the truth," she said quietly and thoughtfully. "He doesn't have the look of someone who orchestrates an invasion."

Adrian's grip loosened slightly, his anger cooling as he considered her words. "Then who hired you?" he demanded, his voice still hard but less aggressive.

The rider swallowed hard. "I don't know their names," he confessed. "They always wore masks, and they paid well to keep their identities hidden. But they gave me something to deliver to a wealthy man in the city, someone with power and connections. That's all I know."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "And how do you plan on delivering it?"

The rider hesitated. "I... I need an escort from the barracks first. They won't let me through without the soldiers' protection."

Adrian exchanged a glance with Lilith, his mind working quickly. "Then we're going to the barracks together," he decided. "But first, we have a stop to make."

Lilith raised an eyebrow, curious. "Where?"

Adrian turned his gaze toward the distant mountains, his voice firm with resolve. "A ruined temple hidden in the forest," he replied. "There's something there we need to find."

After securing the rider, who had identified himself as Zack, Adrian and Lilith prepared for their next move. The revelation that Zack was merely a messenger had not entirely dissipated Adrian's anger, but it had shifted his focus.

There were bigger questions now—who was behind the attack on his kingdom, and why? For now, though, those questions would have to wait. Their immediate goal was to find the hidden temple in the forest, which housed another goddess.

After a quick breakfast of dried bread and wine, Adrian, Lilith, and Zack started out. The morning light shone through the thick forest canopy. The forest was dense, with old trees towering over them and their twisted roots crossing the forest floor like earth's veins.

The air was cool and damp, smelling of moss and rich soil. In the distance, birds chirped, their songs echoing through the trees, creating a melodic backdrop to their journey.

Lilith had woven a cuff using her energy, a shimmering band of light that encircled Zack's wrists, keeping him restrained but not incapacitated.

As they rode, Lilith occasionally glanced at Adrian, her eyes filled with curiosity and gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly after a while, breaking the silence that had settled over them. "For helping me find my sisters."

Adrian glanced at her, his expression softening. "It's not just about revenge," he replied. "We're in this together, and freeing your sisters is part of the plan."

Lilith smiled back, a hint of relief in her eyes. "Yes, it is. And once my sisters are free, we'll have more strength to face what's coming."

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