Aetheria's piercing gaze was unwavering as it locked onto Alex, who skillfully sidestepped her question by countering with one of his own.
He took a steady breath, his voice calm yet firm, "Before we delve into that, I have something I'd like to ask you first.
It appears you were aware of our arrival long before we set foot on this mountain… perhaps even from the moment we entered Europe."
The air thrummed with tension as Aetheria remained silent, her stillness strikingly cold and calculated. Her lack of response, laden with palpable weight, was all the confirmation Alex needed.
He continued, eyes locked on hers. "We weren't exactly hiding, but your mana perception doesn't reach that far. Not across regions. So I'm curious—how exactly did you know where we were?"
A flicker of heat danced behind Aetheria's golden eyes. Her face remained composed, carved from discipline and regality, but inside, her fury simmered.
How dare he?
