Layla?

Hibiki silently stepped closer, raising her hand and a dark pink mist flowed from her palm, slipping into the bird's mouth.

As the mist took effect, the bird's frantic struggling ceased, its body going limp in Arthur's grasp.

But Hibiki's expression darkened.

"It's been deprived of its ability to speak."

She knew the type—this bird should have been capable of speech, but its owner had cleverly removed that ability, rendering it useless, even under her control. They couldn't force it to spill anything now.

Before she could say more, the bird began convulsing again. Its beak opened, a thin foam trickling out before its body went still.

"It's dead."

Arthur sighed, tossing the bird's lifeless body to the ground. It bounced once and then disintegrated into dust before it could hit the ground again.

Whoever was on the other end had realized their familiar had been caught and severed the connection—killing it remotely.