Richard didn't expect Ethan to appear on the battlefield all of a sudden.
From what he expected from Eleanor, she wouldn't bring out her strongest soldier until the demon general appeared.
However, he was wrong.
"Step back, Bellarine," Richard spoke as he levitated and stood beside his mother.
Bellarine, despite being seemingly unwounded, was still quite exhausted because of the exchange. Rose might not be a seasoned warrior, but her unfairly huge reserve of ether and the ability to weave spells make her one of the strongest foes Bellarine has ever come across.
That's why, hearing her son's words, she didn't resist and with a nod, she walked back—reuniting with other forces.
Richard had his eyes affixed on the silver-haired boy who once held innocence and purity in his eyes.
However, all Richard could gaze at at the moment was indifference and disconnection.
He didn't seem the same person as before...nowhere, near it.