Minz dropped to his knees, his chest tightening with questions that refused to leave his mind.
Who is this Ren? And why does he need Itho?
Falcelor leaned closer, pressing Minz's face into her chest, suffocating him with her presence. Her towering frame, her heavy breathing—it was as if she wished to drown him in silence.
"I'm a woman, Minz," she whispered coldly, "and yet I endure all of this with ease. Why do you suffer so much?"
Her words stabbed deeper than any blade. For a moment, Minz thought of Eliza.
Perhaps this is how her death must have felt… crushing, merciless.
How could Falcelor, his once dearest comrade, sound so empty? So cruel?
Had she truly forgotten Eliza already?
---
Thirteen Years Ago
Memories surged back.
Thirteen years earlier, the city of Abis had chosen three knights to serve as Continental Knights: Minz, Falcelor, and Eliza.
Back then, Minz and Falcelor were inseparable. Not just comrades—family. They had been like brother and sister. Eliza, the elf, was different. Distant. Neither of them had welcomed her at first.
But time had changed everything. Through endless battles and trials, Minz and Eliza had grown close. Closer than either had expected.
He remembered the Veinberg Event, the day of their promotion to Captains.
Eliza had stood radiant—long crimson hair flowing to her waist, eyes shining like those of a deer, lips marked by a tiny mole at the corner, her nose sharp and elegant. Her beauty alone was enough to shatter reason.
But what drew Minz in the most… were her ears. Her elven heritage, her grace. That day, he had been captivated beyond return.
He had promised himself—on her birthday, he would propose. He would tell her everything.
But fate had other plans.
"Bo hen taiol, ne Fo'selŌR."
(Rise, Sir Minz. Falcelor commands it.)
The words of the knight dragged Minz back from his memories. Normally such disrespect would ignite his fury. But the moment Falcelor's name was spoken, his anger faded into silence.
Without protest, he rose and entered the carriage.
Inside, Falcelor was waiting. She pulled his head gently onto her lap, her voice carrying a hollow softness.
"I know you despise my choices, Minz. But what else could I have done? Everyone is breaking apart. You can't keep clinging to Eliza alone—you must think of the others too."
Minz said nothing. He stared blankly, her words echoing without weight.
In the Cave
Far away, a portal flared open inside a hidden cave.
From it stepped Ren and Itho—Ren carrying Eliza's lifeless body across his shoulder.
Ito froze in shock. "Ren! Why did you bring her? This girl… she was—"
Ren silenced him with a finger. Without a word, he lowered Eliza gently to the ground and whispered an incantation.
A surge of magic washed over her. The wounds vanished. Her breathing returned. Her eyes flickered open.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, bowed deeply to Ren, and spoke with calm grace.
"Master, how was my performance?"
Ito stumbled backward, trembling. "P-performance? What are you saying?!"
A new voice echoed from the shadows, mocking and amused.
"Magnificent, Miss Eliza. Your play was flawless."
Ito spun around. A figure emerged—a man with shifting colors, his skin flickering like a chameleon.
"Arre…" Ren muttered, frowning. "Why are you here?"
Arre chuckled as his body stabilized into human form. His face—familiar, haunting. Itho had seen him before, the day the knights dragged him away.
"Relax," Arre said with a sly grin. "I was simply enjoying the show. What a marvelous scene it was."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "So. Did you find it?"
Arre smirked, eyes glinting with secrets. "I did. But the right moment has yet to come."
---
Morning at Catherine's House
Elsewhere, life moved on as if nothing had happened.
Morning sunlight spilled through the windows of Catherine's home. Michael awoke, stretched, and wandered into the living room.
Catherine was in the kitchen, cooking like a homemaker. Kelina sat at the table, her eyes sharp, focused on the newspaper.
For a moment, Michael's heart ached. If only… if only I had a wife like this.
Then Kelina spoke, her tone urgent.
"A new organization has appeared. They call themselves Black Eye."
Catherine paused. "Black Eye? What do you mean?"
Kelina's voice rose with excitement. "A masked man named Ren freed the criminal Ito. He slaughtered over two hundred knights, a knight commander, even a judge. And here's the terrifying part—he severed their heads cleanly, without resistance, without mercy. Even Knight Commander Eliza…"
Catherine froze. Her hands trembled. "What about her?"
Kelina's eyes darkened. "He killed her too. And escaped with her body—along with Itho."
The pot slipped from Catherine's hands. She dropped everything and rushed away, fear gripping her heart.
Michael watched in silence, confusion stirring inside him. He knew better than to ask. Sometimes silence was safer.
Instead, he turned to Kelina. "What do you mean by five-star criminal?"
Kelina lowered her newspaper. "It's a title. A rank given to the most dangerous criminals with government bounties. Itho carries a bounty of 1.2 billion CR. But Ren…"
She leaned closer.
"…Ren's bounty is already 1.9 billion."
Michael's breath caught. His chest tightened.
1.9 billion…? Who exactly is this Ren?