Two Days Later in Holberg
Two days had passed since the night of the ball. The students had already been sent on their individual missions. The grand hall of the facility was no longer as crowded as before; only a few students who had returned from missions sat tired in the corners, while the others risked their lives in the depths of the misty valley.
Arthur quietly stepped out onto the hall's open balcony. Leaning against the stone balustrade, he looked down; the mist rippled through the valley, breaking the moonlight and blending shadows with light. The icy blue eyes shining through the slits of his white mask seemed to pierce through the night.
Behind him, the sharp sound of shoe heels echoed. Donna appeared, holding a delicate glass. Her purple dress caught the moonlight, and the curls of her hair swayed lightly with the breeze.
Donna:
"Interesting… while the students sweat blood in missions at the cost of their lives, you stand here alone, watching shadows. Tell me, Arthur, why are you really here?"
Arthur replied without taking his eyes off the valley.
Arthur:
"Shadows often tell more than what the light reveals. Sometimes watching is far more valuable than interfering."
Donna stepped closer and leaned on the balustrade. She swirled her glass, the red wine leaving thin rings on the crystal.
Donna:
"Such cold answers… As if nothing can touch you. In the eyes of the students, you're a wall of ice. But I wonder, what lies behind that wall?"
Arthur remained silent. He kept watching the misty valley.
At that moment, the thin metal bracelet on his wrist trembled. First a faint light, then a sharp echo of mana… Arthur's whole body tensed. In his usually unshakable eyes, a spark of panic flashed for the first time.
Donna immediately noticed the change. It was the first time she had seen such a thing on a man like him.
Donna:
"What happened? This is the first time I've caught you like this… Was that a warning?"
Arthur gripped his wrist, trying to suppress the glow. But Donna had already seen it.
Arthur:
"…I can't stay here."
Though his voice was cold, it carried a hidden urgency. His ice-blue eyes flashed once more, then Arthur abruptly left the balcony. His cloak rippled in the dark, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor until they faded.
Donna was left alone. She clutched her glass tightly, the crystal trembling, a few drops of wine falling onto the stone ground.
Donna (inner thought):
"Something shook him… No, not something, someone. As if an invisible bond pulled him like a chain. A man this powerful… if he panicked, it could only be because of someone who binds his heart."
She stared for a long time in the direction Arthur had disappeared. In her eyes, along with curiosity, a flicker of unnoticed excitement gleamed.
Donna (inner thought):
"So… he has a weakness too. If I can find the crack behind that mask, I can truly uncover the Masked Man."
When Karl Zar's car swerved and crashed into a pole, the midnight silence was torn apart by the scream of metal. Glass shards danced in the air and scattered onto the stones. Ren gripped the hilt of his sword tighter, his breath dispersing like steam in the mist.
The car doors opened. First three guards got out, then Edmund appeared. Finally, Karl Zar stepped out. He had taken off his golden mask; fear and arrogance mixed on his face.
Karl:
"You… you're a student, aren't you? Has the Academy grown so desperate as to send even its children here?"
Ren said nothing. His silence was as sharp and threatening as his sword. The aura of the guards filled the street, cracks spreading across the stone pavement.
Suddenly, a white light burst forth.
Keiki Style – Horizon-Cutting Line.
The three guards' heads rolled onto the stones at the same time.
Karl's face turned pale as chalk.
"E… Edmund! Kill him!"
Edmund smiled. He licked his dagger and lunged forward. His aura slithered like a snake across the street.
The clash lasted long; Edmund's dagger pierced Ren's shoulder, blood gushing out. But Ren did not fall. He drew rings, bought time with the Ring of Vengeance. Despite the blood loss, a mad glint burned in his eyes.
At last, he used Keiki Style – Swift Flash.
Edmund, shocked, saw the sword pierce his chest before collapsing to the ground.
Karl staggered back, his knees trembling.
"Wait! I can give you money, women, whatever you want! Just don't kill me!"
Ren, drenched in blood, raised his sword.
"My mission… is you."
The sword fell. Karl's life ended.
(...…)
Arthur dashed like lightning through the narrow alleys, carrying Shinkai no Yari on his back. The bracelet's vibration rang in his heart like an alarm bell, screaming, "Don't be late!"
As he turned a corner, the sight struck his eyes. Under the dim glow of a streetlamp, corpses lay in a pool of blood. And against the wall leaned a figure, sword in hand but fingers trembling: Ren. His shoulder was torn apart, his shirt dyed red with blood.
Arthur's eyes glowed with icy blue light. His heart clenched for a brief moment.
"I wasn't too late…" he whispered.
When he reached him, Ren lifted his head. His blurry eyes locked onto the blue light behind the mask.
Ren (hoarse voice):
"Brother… I… I did it. The mission… is finished."
Arthur knelt, taking his brother into his arms.
Arthur:
"Foolish child… Do you want to succeed by throwing your life away? If you do this again, I'll punish you myself."
Ren weakly smiled, his eyelids heavy.
Ren:
"I knew… you'd be angry…"
Arthur quickly pulled a high-grade potion from his bag, touching it to Ren's lips. The wound began to close rapidly.
As Arthur lifted his brother onto his back, he screamed inside:
Arthur (inner voice):
"If I had been just a few minutes later… I could have lost him."
Arthur's footsteps echoed through the misty streets of Holberg. He carried his brother, his eyes fixed on the darkness.
"You are no longer alone, Ren. No matter what, I will protect you."
When Arthur touched the potion to Ren's lips, the light spread into the torn tissue. The deep cut closed swiftly, the flowing blood slowly stopping. The pallor on Ren's face faded slightly, his breathing steadied.
Arthur drew a deep breath behind his mask.
Arthur:
"That's it… you're safe now. I must take you back to your lodging immediately. It's dangerous to stay here."
Ren straightened with the support of his sword. The pain in his shoulder had lessened, but the fatigue still lingered in his eyes. He shook his head.
Ren:
"No, brother… there's no need. I'm fine."
Arthur frowned. His icy blue eyes shone with frozen authority.
Arthur:
"You're not fine. You just brushed against death. I must take you away from here."
Ren bit his lip, speaking without averting his gaze from his brother's mask.
Ren:
"You can't. If we both return to my lodging together… your identity could be exposed. If any of the students or teachers notice, your secrets will be in danger. Your very presence here already draws too much attention."
Arthur fell silent. His brother's words were reasonable, but the protective instinct inside him surged. He couldn't hide his worry as he looked at Ren's shoulder.
Arthur:
"Your safety is more important than my secrets."
Ren shook his head with a weak smile.
Ren:
"No. For me to stay safe, you must remain hidden. You need to understand that. I can return alone. Besides…"
He paused for a moment, his eyes glinting.
Ren:
"I can stand on my own now. You must learn to trust me, brother."
Arthur sank into deep silence. His icy blue eyes weighed Ren's determination. At last, he let out a heavy breath.
Arthur:
"Very well. But promise me this. If you ever face such a deadly danger again… you will find me by your side. No matter what."
Under the weight of his brother's gaze, Ren nodded.
Ren:
"I promise."
Arthur kept his cold expression behind the mask, but in the depths of his heart, he felt a flicker of relief. He studied Ren carefully, then slung Shinkai no Yari onto his shoulder and stepped back.
Arthur (inner voice):
"I don't want to leave him… but he's right. My identity could affect both our fates. Still… if I ever see him drenched in blood again, nothing will be able to stop me."
Ren began to walk slowly but firmly toward his lodging. Arthur, meanwhile, slipped into the shadows, following unseen, his eyes fixed on his brother's steps.
Author Note:
If you don't understand something or there's a misunderstanding, you can reach me in the comments section. You can also motivate me by giving me strength.