Ren's Return
Ren returned to the mansion with heavy steps. His wound had healed, but he was still tired. As he walked down the corridor, the mocking glances and whispers of the students struck his ears.
"Is that him?"
"Did he really get injured over such a simple mission?"
"Weak… incompetent…"
Ren did not lift his head. He answered none of them, walking silently as if he hadn't heard a thing.
But there was someone watching him from the shadows: Arthur.
Behind his white mask, his icy blue eyes followed his brother. He too heard the students' words and their scornful laughter. His fists were clenched, but he did not reveal himself.
Arthur (inner voice):
"Let them talk. Their contempt won't weaken you—it will make you stronger. The truth is known only to you and me."
When Ren headed toward his room, Arthur silently watched from behind for a long time. Then he withdrew into the shadows.
Arthur's Observations
Some time later, he was once again alone at the high balcony of the mansion. He was gazing out over the misty valley. Holberg looked quiet, but Arthur knew it was nothing more than the calm before the storm.
Arthur (whispering):
"The massacre is coming…"
He touched the thin bracelet on his wrist. Though it had settled, the feeling inside him confirmed the coming disaster.
When the image of Ren trembling and drenched in blood resurfaced in his mind, his heart clenched. He couldn't bear to see him like that ever again.
Arthur (inner voice):
"Ren… you asked me to trust you. But I will still watch over you. Because you may be my only weakness."
Just then, the balcony door opened. With quiet footsteps, Donna appeared. She held an empty glass, her face still weary but filled with curiosity.
Donna:
"Alone again… Do you always do this? While everyone else risks their lives in missions, you just stand here watching shadows."
Arthur did not turn his head; his gaze remained in the mist.
"Shadows show what light conceals. Sometimes watching is far more valuable than interfering."
Donna studied him for a few seconds. Then, with an ambiguous smile, she nodded.
"Your icy answers… As if nothing can touch you. But just a moment ago… I saw the panic in your eyes."
Arthur's eyes flashed for a brief moment. He didn't answer. He gave one last glance at Donna holding her glass, then pulled his cloak over his shoulders and walked away from the balcony.
Donna gripped her glass. Her thoughts didn't reach her voice, but a hidden curiosity glimmered in her eyes.
Donna (inner thought):
"Something shook him… No, not something, someone. If he truly has a crack, I can uncover the man behind that mask."
Ren's Inner Reckoning
When he retreated to his room, Ren could still hear the students' words echoing in his mind.
"Weak."
"Trash."
Normally, he wouldn't care, but when he looked at his hands, he remembered the moment his sword had cut down four lives at once. Karl Zar's face, begging in fear, wouldn't leave his mind.
Ren (inner voice):
"I killed. There is no turning back… This path only means more blood. And I must take responsibility for that."
But what truly weighed on his mind was bigger: the Holberg Massacre.
Tomorrow night, at 21:45, a major attack would take place. The targets were Kevin and the others, but many students would also become victims.
Ren laid out his plan in his mind:
He would memorize the mansion's layout and find a hidden spot from which he could observe.He would never part with the mysterious book.He had to recover from his injuries; his shoulder especially still hurt.And most importantly, he had to strengthen his mind.
Ren (inner voice):
"Even the thought of killing again makes my hands tremble. But I must overcome it… To survive the massacre, I'll use [The Monarch's Indifference]."
Jin's Shadow
In another room, a shirtless young man was throwing punches at training dummies. He was drenched in sweat, his breath ragged.
"Die! Die! Die!"
The thought of Kevin's success in his first mission drove him mad. No matter how hard he trained, he couldn't close the gap. He continued until his fists were covered in blood, chugging potion after potion.
Jin (inner voice):
"I won't accept this! No matter what, I will surpass you, Kevin!"
But when he collapsed to the floor, breathless, the young man could see nothing but his own helplessness.
Gossip at the Café
In a small café in town, Emma and Amanda sat together. Emma took a sip of her coffee.
"Haven't you noticed something strange lately?"
Amanda shook her head. Emma said she felt like she was being watched by someone, but since she couldn't prove it, she thought it was just her paranoia. Then she changed the subject.
"That weird kid sitting on the left side of the class… they're calling him 'the weakest first-year.'"
Amanda's eyebrows lifted slightly. That kid was Ren. Emma continued:
"He came back from a mission all beaten up. And it was only against someone without a rank."
Amanda remained silent. It didn't make sense to her that the same boy who had killed Elijah could be so easily beaten. Either he was hiding his wounds, or something else had happened that no one knew about.
Emma:
"Not interesting, but the students are mocking him with that nickname."
As Amanda left the café, she muttered to herself:
"Ren, the one who saved me after the party… what is he really after?"
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.