When the bus doors opened, the mist of the Holberg Valley poured inside. The students descended slowly, their eyes fixed on the rocky silhouettes beyond the fog and the forests looming in shadow. The air carried a sharp pulse of mana—reminding them all that this was no ordinary field trip. This place was a trial.
In the stone-paved courtyard, a blonde woman in a gray uniform awaited them at the reception. As the students lined up, Donna stepped forward.
Woman:
"Welcome!" she said politely.
Donna:
"This is the Holberg Beast Processing Facility. What you see here will go far beyond what you've read in books."
At the back of the crowd, Arthur watched silently. Behind his mask, his eyes glimmered with an icy light. After a moment, he turned to Donna.
Arthur:
"I'll be gone for a while. See to the students."
Donna glanced at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes, but she said nothing. Arthur quietly took the keys to his quarters and walked away.
The lodging halls were heavy with silence. Holberg's stone walls seemed to bleed an oppressive weight into every room. Arthur set his pack down, then a thought struck him.
A suit… the ball. And Ren. That boy would never care for such things. But I won't let him stand alone among the crowd.
He left swiftly, heading for the nearest boutique. Amid the crooked streets of the old town, he found a refined shop and chose the most expensive suit of black silk embroidered with silver threads. He bought one for himself—and another for Ren.
Hours later, the sky had darkened. In his room, by candlelight, he opened the box. The white mask gleamed in the flickering glow. When he donned the tailored suit and placed the mask upon his face, the reflection staring back at him in the mirror was almost unrecognizable.
Blue eyes shone like frozen stars from behind the mask's narrow slits. The black coat sat perfectly on his shoulders, the sharp shirt and slim tie completing his silhouette. He looked less like an instructor… and more like a lord of shadows.
When the ballroom doors opened, the hum of conversation was silenced at once. Hundreds of students and staff turned their eyes toward the man in the white mask, walking with heavy steps.
The crystal chandeliers fractured light across his mask, and the blue gleam of his eyes seemed to pierce through the entire hall. His silk suit flowed with each stride, his shadow melding with the floor, making him seem more vision than man.
Whispers rippled through the hall:
"It's him… the masked instructor…""Gods, who is this man?""That aura… he can't be human."
Arthur said nothing. His steps echoed against the stone floor. When he stopped at the center, the air itself seemed to shift. His gaze swept across the crowd—measuring, weighing, seeing weakness in each of them.
From a corner, Donna bit her lip unconsciously.
"This is why he's dangerous… not just his strength. His very presence dominates. Masked man… who are you, truly?"
Arthur:
"The night is long. We have much to witness."
The hall exhaled as if released from his grip, but none would forget the cold weight he had just pressed into their hearts.
Arthur's presence silenced the room again as he crossed toward the right side of the hall. There, clad in a deep violet dress, sat Donna Lonberg. Students and staff clustered near her, but she paid them no mind, sipping her wine.
Arthur halted before her table. Donna tilted her head up, her gaze locking with the icy blue glow in his mask. A faint smirk curved her lips.
Donna:
"What a coincidence… or perhaps not at all. The masked instructor, keeping away from the students even here. Have you come to seek refuge at my side?"
Arthur (cold, steady):
"Crowds are distractions. Beside you… it is quieter."
Donna set her glass down, her eyes lingering on the way his suit and mask melded perfectly.
Donna's thoughts:
"Gods… even his presence alone shakes the hall. And still, I don't know his name. Douglas never told me. Is he someone else entirely? What truth do you hide behind that mask, mysterious man?"
Donna:
"Interesting. You choose silence, yet even your silence makes the entire hall whisper. Do you realize? The students cannot stop watching you."
Arthur (his eyes flashing coldly):
"People always talk about what they do not understand. The true art… is making them forget what they think they know."
Donna fell quiet, then let out a soft, amused laugh.
Donna:
"You are fascinating. But tell me—how should I address you? 'Masked Instructor' sounds rather crude."
Arthur's voice dropped to a near whisper:
Arthur:
"Names… are only for the weak, who fear being forgotten. For now, let them call me whatever they wish."
Donna's smile widened, though behind her eyes flickered unease and curiosity.
Donna's thoughts:
"He refuses a name… which means his secret truly matters. What are you hiding, masked one? And why choose to stand so close to me?"
Arthur's eyes swept briefly over the crowd—then settled, if only for a moment, on Ren. The glint from his mask passed like a burden laid unseen upon his brother's shoulders.
Donna stood, drawing every eye in the hall.
Donna:
"There are two reasons I gathered you here tonight. First, of course, to eat and regain some of the energy we've spent traveling."
She gestured toward the tables laden with food.
Donna:
"Unfortunately, as seniors, we'll wait for the younger years to eat first… but before that—"
Her expression sharpened, voice turning serious.
Donna:
"Second, each of you will be receiving an individual assignment."
Murmurs erupted instantly. The word "individual" echoed like a curse—meaning no assistance, no teamwork.
Donna:
"You will have three days to complete your tasks. Fail, and your year-end report will lose credits automatically."
Students trembled, the weight of her words sinking in. Donna nodded lightly.
Donna:
"Don't worry. Each assignment has been tailored to your reported level. You should be… relatively safe."
Clap!
She clapped her hands, pulling their attention back from panic.
Donna (smiling):
"Enough talk. Your missions will be delivered to your phones. Enjoy your meal—and do try not to fail."
A beat later, every phone buzzed with a message.
Donna:
"Oh… one more thing. We will not intervene. If you die… then you die."
The room froze. Several students trembled as they read their screens, dread plain on their faces.
Donna:
"Forgive me for dampening the mood. But it is better you learn now—do not rely on us to save you."
She turned, wine in hand, and walked back toward Arthur.
Arthur's Perspective
The hall swelled with whispers as students scrolled through their assignments, fear and curiosity twisting their faces.
Arthur stood in silence at the rear, his eyes narrowing faintly behind the mask. He had heard every word—but gave no outward sign.
Only once did his gaze pause—on Ren. Blue light flickered, an unspoken weight passed from brother to brother.
Then he turned away, sweeping the crowd once more. He said nothing. His silence carried more weight than a hundred words.