Once Xara took the blood from every child, Victor called their mothers back and returned the children to them, one by one, with a silent nod.
"We will wait for hopeful words," They said, their voices steady with conviction. Their tone carried complete faith—as if they trusted him more than anyone else in this world.
As if he alone could make the impossible... possible.
Victor nodded, his face unreadable, offering no words in response.
They understood. Their Emperor wasn't someone who offered empty hope. He wasn't doing this to soothe them—he was doing it because he believed, deep down, that there was a chance. But if he failed... if this one attempt ended in disaster... he would shatter the fragile hope they still clung to... And so, he remained silent.
They understood that perfectly.
And yet... they believed in him. Completely.
With that silent trust in their hearts, they carried their unconscious children and quietly left the palace yard, not looking back even once.
