"A Good Day for Work"
Under a sky heavy with gray clouds, Aaron stood at the capital's gates, his gaze fixed on the grand carriage adorned with intricate royal engravings. The emblem of the Lumiera Empire gleamed on a golden plaque, catching what little daylight pierced through the clouds. Around it, soldiers moved with strict discipline—securing horses, loading supply crates, and circling the departure zone like a well-trained swarm.
One of the carriage officers approached, bowing slightly.
— "This way, sir. The carriage is ready."
Aaron stepped forward, his sharp, calculating eyes scanning every detail.
— "Did you prepare everything I requested? This journey will be a long one."
The quartermaster replied with a confident smile.
— "Of course, sir. Supplies, maps, provisions… our elite knights will want for nothing."
Aaron turned his head. Karl was leaning silently against a stone wall, arms crossed as usual. A short distance away, Elisa sat on a raised edge, swinging her legs as she watched the military district with quiet amusement.
Aaron allowed a faint, cold smile.
— "I see you're both ready."
Another soldier approached, adjusting his armor.
— "Sir, the carriage is fully prepared."
Aaron nodded.
— "Good. Then, let's get to work."
He gestured to Karl and Elisa, and together they boarded the royal carriage.
---
On the Road South
The carriage rumbled as it left the capital, rolling south toward the city of Kalishko. At first, silence filled the cabin, broken only by the creak of wheels and the rhythmic beat of hooves. Then, laughter and light banter began to stir the cold air—except for Karl, who had remained unusually quiet. His eyes were locked on the passing scenery, his jaw tense.
Elisa tilted her head.
— "What's wrong, Karl? Feeling nervous?"
Aaron raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips.
— "Nervous? Hard to believe. I've seen you fight like a one-man army. What could possibly rattle someone like you?"
Karl's voice was calm, distant.
— "Nothing in particular. Just… a natural feeling. We're all human, after all."
No one argued. The silence that followed felt like an unspoken agreement—fear, or at least unease, had its place, even in the hearts of elite knights.
---
Arrival in Kalishko
As dusk fell, Kalishko's outline appeared. The small city, resting close to the ravaged colony, was disturbingly still. No crowds, no merchants' voices, no children playing in the alleys—only a cold breeze brushing the walls, as if the town itself was holding its breath.
The team stopped at a modest inn arranged beforehand. Aaron stood on the threshold, looking at the dimming sky.
— "We'll spend the night here. At dawn, we head to the colony."
He paused, his voice dropping slightly.
— "Let's hope that lunatic hasn't moved again…"
---
Zarkwan Colony
With the first rays of the sun, the three knights set out, following a dirt road toward Zarkwan Colony—a place that had turned into a bloody mystery within just two days, shocking the empire and terrifying everyone who heard of it.
Their carriage stopped at the colony's broken gates. Soldiers in dark Lumiera uniforms were still at work, while a few elves quietly examined the ruins, collecting traces of the massacre. The sight of elves here was rare… and unsettling.
Karl's eyes locked on the elves, his face tightening like someone seeing a ghost from the past.
Aaron approached the commanding soldier.
— "Greetings. I take it this mission is now under our jurisdiction?"
The soldier nodded, holding a file.
— "Yes, sir. We're finishing the last of the body transfers and evidence gathering."
Aaron's gaze flicked to the elves.
— "So, the elves were called in to help?"
The soldier seemed puzzled.
— "Yes, their support was necessary given the chaos here. Why?"
— "No reason. Just not used to seeing them in places like this."
Aaron's tone was cool.
— "Wrap it up quickly. We have work to do."
He returned to Karl and Elisa, who were resting beneath the shadow of a half-collapsed tower.
— "What's the status?" Elisa asked, rolling a small stone between her fingers.
— "No new developments. They're still cleaning up—and the elves are helping."
Karl muttered, his voice sharp.
— "If I'd known they'd be here, I wouldn't have come this morning."
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
— "You clearly don't like them. Why?"
Karl's tone was blunt.
— "I hate those creatures."
Elisa smirked.
— "I'm with him on that."
---
Soon, the soldier returned.
— "Sir, we're done here. The site is now yours. Everything we've gathered is stored in the main depot. The backfields and houses remain untouched."
Aaron nodded.
— "Good. Leave one body for our examination."
— "Understood," the soldier replied before leaving.
The sounds of soldiers faded, leaving behind a suffocating silence. The slanted sunlight painted eerie shadows on blood-stained walls.
Aaron looked at his companions.
— "Alright… how do we proceed?"
Karl scanned the horizon.
— "This place is massive, and time's short. I suggest we split up to investigate before nightfall."
Aaron turned to Elisa.
— "Thoughts?"
She shrugged.
— "Fine by me. Just watch your back, Karl. This place has bad energy."
Karl smirked faintly.
— "I'll manage. As long as I have my sword, I'm fine."
Aaron gave a firm nod.
— "Alright, Karl's plan it is. Let's move."
---
The Main Hall
The main doors groaned open, and a stench of rot mixed with dried blood hit them like a physical blow. Cracked walls, black stains, and deep red smears told the story of a massacre. Sword marks carved the wood, the doors, even the stone steps.
Aaron crouched near a trail of blood.
— "I'll take the hall. There might be clues here. But first, this body…"
He uncovered the white sheet, revealing a corpse with a deep cut running from face to abdomen.
— "Karl, can you handle the inspection?"
— "I'm no expert. Maybe Elisa?"
The three exchanged looks. Elisa sighed.
— "Fine. Useless men. I'll do it."
Aaron chuckled briefly.
— "Check the wound—see if it's from a skilled fighter. There's a medical room with tools. Karl, inspect the outer walls and entry points."
Elisa muttered as she stood up.
— "Don't expect me to carry this body. It's disgusting."
— "I'll carry it," Karl replied.
Aaron's hand hovered near his sword.
— "Then we split. Stay alert."
Their footsteps faded as each disappeared into the ruins.
---
Aaron's Investigation
The hall was silent, except for the whisper of wind through shattered windows. Aaron extended his hand, summoning a faint white glow that revealed thin, clean cuts on the wood and stone.
— "Strikes this sharp… not from an ordinary fighter."
He touched a broken table.
— "This is the work of a master duelist."
His gaze moved to a metal column, split with surgical precision.
— "Trained soldiers, skilled mages… slaughtered in a single night. Whoever did this is fast—inhumanly fast."
He glanced at the blood on the floor.
— "No signs of fire, water, or ice magic. There's only one possibility…"
A pause, his voice barely a whisper.
— "Light."
His expression darkened.
— "But that's impossible. Only a few imperial knights can wield the Light Arts—and I'm one of them. So who…?"
A strange pressure filled his chest, the unmistakable sensation of being watched.
---
The Shadow
Aaron's instincts flared. Something was outside. He moved silently to the door and pushed it open. Cold night air rushed in. The courtyard was empty—soldiers were gone. Yet the feeling persisted.
His grip tightened on his sword.
— "Hey! Who's there? This area is restricted!" he shouted, his voice echoing.
No response.
Then, faint footsteps emerged from the forest ahead—slow, deliberate.
Aaron drew his blade, the steel glowing faintly.
A figure emerged from the dark, walking steadily, ignoring him. Its form was blurred by shadow.
— "You! Stop!"
No reaction.
Aaron closed the distance and grabbed the figure's shoulder.
— "I said—"
His hand passed through it.
Not flesh. Not armor. Mist.
He staggered back as the figure turned its head. A humanoid shape made of black fog, with only two glowing white eyes staring from the void.
Then—it vanished.
Before Aaron could react, a sharp pain lanced through his abdomen. A clean stab, from an angle he never saw coming.
— "Gh—ahh…"
Another strike came. His head was severed in an instant.
His body collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath. The last thing Aaron sensed was the figure fading into the darkness—leaving no witness.
---
Elisa's Encounter
Elsewhere, inside a dim annex of the colony, Elisa examined a soldier's corpse under the flickering light of an oil lantern. The body was split from face to chest, the metal armor cut clean as if it were clay.
She traced the cut with a gloved finger.
— "This angle… and the depth. This wasn't random."
Her brow furrowed.
— "This is the work of a master swordsman… but what technique? I've never seen a cut like this."
A memory stirred.
— "It almost feels like… him…"
A metallic flash cut through her thoughts!
She spun instinctively, her blade clashing with an unseen strike. The force sent her sliding back several meters.
She rose, sword ready.
— "Who's there? Show yourself!"
From the darkness emerged a figure: a knight clad in black armor, a steel mask concealing his face, strands of hair spilling out from the top. He wielded a strange, slightly elongated sword.
His stance alone promised blood.