The noise faded as they moved farther away.
Behind them—
the festival was still loud.
Music. Laughter. Voices everywhere.
But ahead—
it grew quiet.
"…It's too empty," Jude muttered.
Lunivara glanced around.
"…Most people are still up there," she said.
"…That's why it's quiet here."
"…Yeah," Jude said. "…I don't like it."
Leontius slowed his steps.
"…Stay alert."
"…I am," Jude replied. "…That's the problem."
They reached the lower grounds.
Closer to the edge of the academy.
Closer to the docks beyond.
The air felt different.
Still.
"…There," Leontius said.
A man stood ahead.
Back turned.
Not moving.
Lunivara narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Same as earlier."
Jude leaned a bit.
"…He's just standing."
"…Too long," Lunivara said.
"…And doing nothing," Leontius added.
Jude frowned.
"…Okay. That's weird."
The man suddenly moved—
and ran.
"…Hey—!"
Leontius stepped forward immediately.
"…Move."
Jude followed.
"…We're actually chasing him now?!"
"…Just watch him," Leontius said.
Lunivara didn't rush ahead.
She watched carefully.
"…He's not running away," she said.
"…He's leading us."
Leontius shifted direction at once.
"…Cut him off."
"…Got it!" Jude said, changing course.
The path narrowed.
Stone walls on both sides.
Their footsteps echoed.
Then—
The man stopped.
Too suddenly.
Leontius halted.
"…Careful."
A second passed—
Then—
movement.
From the sides.
More people stepped out.
Quiet.
Jude stiffened.
"…Okay. I really don't like this now."
They didn't attack.
They just stood there.
Watching.
Lunivara's gaze sharpened.
"…This isn't random."
"…Yeah," Jude said. "…clearly."
Leontius stepped slightly forward.
"…What do you want?" he said.
No answer.
Then—
one of them moved.
Fast.
Jude turned—
"…Behind—!"
A strike came—
quick—
but not aimed to hurt.
Leontius blocked it cleanly.
The attacker stepped back right away.
No follow-up.
No fight.
Just distance.
Lunivara's eyes widened a little.
"…They're not attacking."
"…No," Leontius said.
"…They're testing."
The figures stepped back—
then disappeared into the shadows.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Jude let out a breath.
"…I hate this kind of thing."
"…They got what they wanted," Lunivara said.
"…Which is?" Jude asked.
Leontius answered.
"…To see how we react."
A loud sound echoed—
"—BOOM—"
Fireworks.
Jude blinked.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Light filled the sky above.
Bright colors spread across the darkness.
The festival continued—
like nothing happened.
"…We should go back," Lunivara said.
"…Yes," Leontius replied.
Jude ran a hand through his hair.
"…Yeah… before something else happens."
They walked back.
The noise slowly returned.
The lights. The crowd. The warmth.
Everything felt normal again.
But it wasn't.
They stopped near the edge of the crowd.
Fireworks bloomed overhead.
Gold. Red. White.
For a moment—
they just watched.
Then—
"…Even after all that," Jude said,
"…we still get to watch this."
Leontius looked up.
"…Yes."
Simple.
Lunivara's gaze followed the light.
"…For now."
Jude glanced at her.
"…You really can't just enjoy it, huh?"
A small pause.
"…I am," she said.
"…Just not forgetting everything else."
Jude exhaled—
then smiled a little.
"…Yeah. Fair enough."
Leontius said nothing.
But he stayed.
Watching the sky—
and everything beyond it.
Because even under the light—
something had already begun moving in the dark.
End of Chapter 28