Grace stood in the middle of the street with a deadly look in her eyes. Around her, several men lay on the ground groaning in pain, unable to stand after the beating she had given them.
Only then did she realize her hood had fallen.
Her face was exposed.
A spark of panic flashed through her eyes. She quickly pulled the cloak back over her head and covered her face.
One injured man noticed her before she could hide it completely.
Grace narrowed her eyes and started walking away.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Her fist tightened instantly.
Without hesitation, she spun around and threw a punch, thinking another thug had come after her.
The attack missed.
Kael casually dodged it.
Grace froze.
"Kael?"
Before he could speak, she grabbed his collar.
"Why did you leave me there?!"
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"I totally forgot you were with me."
Grace stared at him in disbelief.
"You what?!"
People nearby hurried away after seeing Kael. Nobody seemed interested in staying close to him.
Grace pointed toward the direction where the men had been.
"They were flirting with me and following me. I had to fight them."
Kael looked around.
The street was empty.
"Where are they?"
Grace blinked.
"They were just here!"
Kael folded his arms.
"Are you drunk?"
Grace immediately smelled alcohol.
A strong scent of wine surrounded him.
She frowned.
"You're the one who's drunk."
Kael nodded proudly.
"Yeah. I am."
Grace looked ready to punch him again.
"Let's just go back to the laboratory," Kael said.
The sun was already disappearing behind the old stone buildings.
Slowly, evening gave way to night.
The two walked through the ancient city.
Tall stone houses lined the streets. Old lanterns hung from walls carved with centuries-old patterns. The entire city felt frozen in time, like a forgotten kingdom hidden from the rest of the world.
Soon they left the city behind and entered the forest.
Cold wind moved through the trees.
Moonlight slipped between branches.
The deeper they walked, the quieter the world became.
Grace made an annoyed face.
"Why does everyone here hate my mother?"
Kael immediately looked around.
"Shh. Don't say that in public."
"Fine," Grace muttered. "But at least tell me something."
Kael sighed.
"You ask too many questions."
"Then answer one."
After a moment of silence, Grace spoke again.
"Why are you training me? You're not much older than me."
Kael shrugged.
"Because I have the same power as you."
Grace looked surprised.
"You do?"
"I learned how to control it. That's why Emily wants me to teach you."
Grace thought for a moment.
"Then if you're so strong, why don't you fight the Monster?"
Kael's expression became serious.
"We're strong... but not strong enough."
The playful attitude disappeared from his face.
"We need powerful warriors. That's why clans are gathering people and building armies. The barrier protecting our world is becoming weaker every year."
Grace lowered her eyes.
"I see..."
After a short silence, she asked another question.
"What do you actually do in the laboratory?"
"Experiments."
"I already know that."
Kael rolled his eyes.
"Everyone there works according to their abilities. Most belong to Kryzheon."
He paused.
"But there's one girl from another clan."
Grace looked curious.
"Different how?"
Kael smiled slightly.
"She's kind. Caring. Everyone respects her."
As they continued deeper into the forest, neither noticed the eyes watching them from the shadows.
Elsewhere...
The men Grace had beaten knelt before a large chair.
One of them could barely stand.
A muscular man sat calmly on the chair, listening.
"Who did this?"
"A girl, Big Brother."
"A girl?"
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Was it Emily?"
"No."
"Then Larissa?"
The injured man shook his head.
"No..."
His voice trembled.
"She looked exactly like Isabella."
Silence filled the room.
The man's eyes widened.
"Isabella?"
The name alone changed the atmosphere.
"But Isabella died two years ago."
"I know what I saw."
The room grew quiet.
The man slowly stood from his chair.
"Bring her to me."
The injured men lowered their heads.
"Yes, Big Brother."
"If she's traveling with Kael, she's probably returning to their territory."
His eyes darkened.
"Find her."
At the castle...
Warm yellow light filled a wooden room.
Three beds stood against the walls.
A large window overlooked the dark forest outside.
Eyrx and Nick sat at a small table playing cards while Darven slept nearby.
Eyrx threw a card.
"Your turn."
Nick played his own card but glanced toward Darven.
"Have you noticed he's acting strange today?"
Eyrx followed his gaze.
"Yeah."
Nick frowned.
"And you're not worried?"
"It's happened before."
Eyrx leaned back.
"Sometimes he starts shaking. Sometimes he goes quiet. Sometimes he looks like he's seeing something."
Nick's expression became thoughtful.
"And?"
"Grace used to handle it."
The room became silent for a moment.
Nick looked toward the sleeping Darven.
"Still doesn't feel normal."
Eyrx nodded.
"I know."
He threw another card.
"But whenever I ask him, he never tells me anything."
Nick sighed and placed his final card on the table.
A moment later, Eyrx won.
"Looks like I win."
Nick rolled his eyes.
"Congratulations."
Eyrx stretched.
"I'm tired."
"Me too."
The card game ended.
Eyrx climbed into bed.
Nick switched off the lights.
Darkness filled the room.
Meanwhile...
Grace and Kael continued through the forest.
Moonlight painted silver patterns across the ground.
The distant sounds of birds echoed through the trees.
Kael suddenly stumbled.
"I feel dizzy."
Grace glanced at him.
"That's because you're drunk."
"No."
Kael pointed dramatically at himself.
"I'm a professional."
Grace stared at him.
"Professional idiot."
Kael laughed.
"I'll feel better after sleeping."
Grace shook her head.
"You still haven't answered my question."
"Which one?"
"Why people hate my mother."
Kael opened his mouth.
"Because she was—"
Before he could finish—
Figures dropped from the trees.
One after another.
Surrounding them.
Kael instantly recognized what was happening.
His eyes sharpened.
"Grace."
"What?"
"Run."
The attackers moved.
A shadow appeared behind Grace.
Before she could react—
CRACK!
A heavy strike hit the back of her head.
Her vision blurred.
Darkness swallowed her consciousness.
Grace collapsed.
"GRACE!"
Kael rushed forward.
The forest exploded into chaos.
Despite being drunk, Kael fought fiercely.
Punches.
Kicks.
Bodies crashed into trees.
Several attackers fell.
But his movements weren't as sharp as usual.
One mistake.
One moment of carelessness.
That was enough.
A masked man grabbed the unconscious Grace and disappeared into the darkness.
Kael froze.
His eyes widened.
"No..."
The attackers retreated.
At that exact moment, Emily's furious voice echoed in his mind.
A chill ran down his spine.
"Oh no..."
Before he could chase them, a glowing blue sphere suddenly formed around him.
The barrier sealed shut.
Kael slammed his fist against it.
Nothing happened.
Moments later, the alcohol, exhaustion, and injuries finally caught up with him.
His vision darkened.
The last thing he saw was the empty forest where Grace had vanished.
Then everything went black.
Above him, the moon continued shining peacefully as if nothing had happened at all.