Kural walked toward Mao's door.
The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
He stopped in front of it and looked down at the plate of food in his hands.
It was the same as yesterday.
And the day before that.
And the day before that.
He raised his hand.
Knock. Knock.
"Mao?"
Nothing.
Kural waited.
He glanced toward Nexus, who remained several feet behind him.
Nexus said nothing.
Kural looked back at the door.
He knocked again.
Knock. Knock.
Still nothing.
Kural saying.
"Alright."
He lowered his hand.
"I'll come back later."
He turned around.
Then—
Click.
Kural froze.
Slowly, he turned his head.
The door behind him had opened.
Just slightly.
Kural stared.
The door continued moving.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Until the opening was wide enough for someone to step through.
Mao stood there.
Kural's eyes widened.
The food slipped from his hands.
Crash.
The plate shattered against the floor.
"Mao."
He immediately rushed toward her.
"Mao, are you okay?"
She looked at him.
Her expression was completely blank.
Not sad.
Not angry.
Not tired.
Just—
Empty.
"Yes?"
She tilted her head.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Kural stopped.
He stared at her.
Mao looked down at the broken plate.
"Oh."
She stepped around it.
"I'll clean that later."
She walked past him.
Kural slowly turned to follow her.
"Mao?"
She didn't answer.
She simply continued walking.
Kural looked toward the open doorway.
Then back toward Mao.
Something was different.
Very different.
Mao entered the throne room.
Nexus was standing beside the throne as usual.
The moment he saw her, he froze.
His eyes widened.
He had been waiting for this moment for nine years.
But now that it had finally arrived—
He wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
"Mao."
She looked at him.
"Yes?"
Nexus studied her face.
He was searching for something.
Anything.
The sadness.
The exhaustion.
The attachment.
The person who had once waited endlessly for Sasaki.
But he couldn't find it.
Instead, he saw someone who seemed almost peaceful.
Nexus slowly lowered his gaze.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay."
Mao paused.
She looked around the throne room.
"It felt like I was sleeping for a very long time."
Nexus closed his eyes.
His hand tightened around his staff.
He already knew.
Still—
He had to ask.
"Mao."
She looked back at him.
"Do you know who Sasaki is?"
Mao remained silent.
She thought about the question.
For a few seconds, she genuinely tried.
Nothing came.
No face.
No voice.
No name.
Nothing.
Finally, she shook her head.
"No."
She tilted her head.
"Is he important to my task?"
Nexus didn't answer immediately.
Kural stood behind him.
He already understood.
Nexus opened his eyes.
"No."
His voice was quiet.
"Not at all."
Mao nodded.
"Alright."
She looked toward the throne.
"What is my task for today?"
"The same as usual."
Nexus looked away.
"Search for the other Architects."
"Alright."
Mao opened her umbrella.
The familiar motion was almost comforting.
She turned toward the exit.
Then stopped.
She looked back at Nexus.
"Will you be here when I return?"
Nexus paused.
"Yes."
Mao smiled faintly.
"Okay."
She walked away.
The sound of her footsteps slowly disappeared down the hallway.
Kural remained completely silent.
Eventually, he looked toward Nexus.
"What happened to her?"
Nexus continued staring at the doorway.
His expression was difficult to read.
Then—
"She has forgotten."
Kural's face fell.
"...Sasaki?"
Nexus nodded.
"He no longer exists to her."
Kural looked toward the hallway.
"Is that good or bad?"
Nexus shook his head.
"Neither."
He turned toward the empty throne.
"It's simply what happened."
His expression darkened.
Then he whispered—
"She is a ticking time bomb..."
He closed his eyes.
"...waiting to be used."
Nexus sighed.
"Curse this troubled fate I have been placed upon."
A few hours passed.
The Architects' Domain remained quiet.
Kural worked through several documents.
Nexus stood beside the throne.
As always.
Neither spoke much.
Then—
BOOM!
The doors to the throne room flew open.
Kural immediately looked up.
"What the—"
Something came flying through the doorway.
"Mao?!"
Mao crashed against the throne.
Kural stood so quickly that his chair fell backward.
Nexus rushed forward.
"Mao!"
Dust slowly settled around her.
Mao groaned.
"I..."
She raised a hand.
"I'm fine."
Kural stared at her.
"Then why did you just fly through the door?"
Mao slowly sat up.
"I found them."
Nexus froze.
His expression changed instantly.
"The other Architects?"
Mao nodded.
"Yes."
She took a breath.
"They're here."
Nexus stared at her.
For a moment, he couldn't move.
Then—
Footsteps echoed from beyond the doorway.
One.
Then another.
Then another.
Kural slowly turned toward the entrance.
Figures began appearing.
One after another.
Architects who had been missing for years.
They entered the throne room quietly.
Nexus stared.
His eyes moved from one familiar face to another.
His breathing became unsteady.
Then—
A final figure stepped through the doorway.
Nexus's eyes widened.
His entire body froze.
Standing among the returning Architects was—
Ryu.
For several seconds, Nexus couldn't speak.
Then tears slowly formed in his eyes.
After all these years...
His Leader had returned.
"Sir Ryu..."
His voice trembled.
Ryu looked toward him.
A familiar smile appeared on his face.
"Long time no see, Overture."
Nexus swallowed.
He took a step forward.
"Is it really you?"
Ryu chuckled.
"Of course."
He walked toward Nexus.
"Sorry for being away for so long."
When he reached him, Ryu placed a hand on Nexus's shoulder.
"Thank you."
Nexus looked up.
"For what?"
"For taking care of the others while I was gone."
Nexus lowered his head.
"It's an honor, Sir Ryu."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Nexus remembered something.
His expression became slightly more serious.
"But..."
Ryu raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Nexus glanced toward Mao.
"Why did you attack Mao?"
Ryu followed his gaze.
"Her?"
He chuckled.
"She made a cruel joke about how you're weak."
Nexus blinked.
Kural stared at Ryu.
"...Seriously?"
Ryu shrugged.
"I knocked some sense into her."
Nexus looked toward Mao.
She was sitting against the throne, rubbing her head.
Nexus sighed.
"Thank you for defending my reputation, Sir."
Ryu smiled.
"But Mao is very fragile."
He walked toward her.
Mao looked up.
Ryu stopped in front of her.
"I'm sorry, Architect."
Mao blinked.
"For what?"
Ryu bowed his head.
"Please forgive me."
Mao stared at him for a moment.
Then smiled.
"It's fine."
Ryu nodded.
Using telekinesis, he carefully lifted her from the floor and placed her back onto the throne.
"There."
Mao looked at him.
"Thank you."
Ryu smiled.
Nexus watched the exchange.
Something about it felt strange.
He couldn't explain why.
Maybe it was simply because Ryu had been gone for so long.
Maybe he was just being paranoid.
After all—
His Leader had finally returned.
Nexus looked at Ryu again.
"Sir Ryu."
"Hm?"
"Where have you been all this time?"
Ryu's smile faded.
For a moment—
He said nothing.
The room became strangely quiet.
Then he chuckled.
"I've been watching over things in my other job."
Nexus's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The Association?"
"Yes."
Ryu looked down at his hand.
"I was needed to fix a few things."
He looked back up.
"But now I'm back."
His smile returned.
Ryu spread his arms.
"Let us celebrate."
Within a few hours, the castle had completely changed.
Decorations covered the walls.
Tables were brought into the great hall.
Food was prepared.
Music filled the corridors.
The Architects gathered together.
Some had not seen each other in years.
Old conversations were brought back.
Stories were exchanged.
Laughter echoed through the castle.
For the first time in a very long time—
The Domain felt alive.
Kural sat at one of the tables, listening to two Architects argue about something completely meaningless.
Mao sat nearby, quietly eating.
Nexus stood toward the back of the room.
He watched everyone.
A small smile rested on his face.
He had spent years standing in an empty throne room.
Years watching the same empty seat.
Years wondering if any of them would ever return.
And now—
They were all here.
Nexus looked toward Ryu.
For a moment, his eyes softened.
Maybe everything was finally going to be alright.
Ryu suddenly stepped onto the platform beneath the throne.
The conversations gradually stopped.
Ryu looked around the room.
"Everyone."
The room became silent.
Ryu raised his cup.
A smile spread across his face.
"I, the Founder of the Architects..."
He paused.
"...have returned."
The room erupted.
Cheers filled the hall.
Kural raised his cup.
Mao smiled.
Nexus laughed quietly.
For one brief moment—
Everything felt right.
Later that evening—
Nexus stepped away from the celebration.
He walked through one of the quieter corridors.
He needed a moment alone.
"Nexus."
He stopped.
A familiar voice.
Nexus turned.
His eyes widened.
"The lore."
An old comrade stood behind him.
Lorele smiled.
"Hello, Nexus."
Nexus smiled back.
"Welcome back."
He shook his head.
"It's been quite a while."
"Indeed."
Lorele looked toward the celebration.
"Everyone seems happy."
"They are."
Nexus smiled.
"Sir Ryu had his reasons for being away."
Lorele's smile widened.
"Thank you for understanding."
She raised her cup.
"So you wouldn't mind what happens next, right?"
Nexus's smile disappeared.
He stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
Lorele didn't answer.
She simply smiled.
Across the hall—
Ryu raised his cup.
His eyes briefly met Nexus's.
"Cheers."
The room erupted into another round of laughter.
Ryu's smile remained.
Then he quietly added—
"And farewell."
Nexus froze.
The sound around him seemed to fade.
His eyes narrowed.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
He immediately turned.
"Kura;."
Kural looked over from the table.
"Hm?"
Nexus walked toward him.
"We need to leave."
Kural blinked.
"What?"
"Now."
The seriousness in Nexus's voice made Kural immediately put down his cup.
"What happened?"
Nexus looked toward Lorele.
"She's acting strangely."
Then he looked toward Ryu.
"And whatever Sir Ryu just did..."
His eyes narrowed.
"...doesn't feel right."
Kural slowly stood.
"You think something's going to happen?"
"I don't know."
Nexus looked around the room.
"But we shouldn't stay here."
They found Mao in the library.
She was sitting peacefully in a chair.
A book rested in her hands.
Mao looked up when they entered.
"Hm?"
Nexus walked toward her.
"Mao."
She closed the book.
"What is it?"
"We must leave."
Mao blinked.
"Why?"
Kural glanced at Nexus.
Nexus hesitated.
"I have a feeling something bad is about to happen."
Mao looked between them.
She seemed confused.
Then she slowly stood.
"...Alright."
She placed the book down.
The three began walking toward the castle's exit.
The celebration continued behind them.
Laughter echoed through the halls.
Music played.
Nobody seemed to notice them leaving.
They reached the corridor leading toward the entrance.
They were almost there.
Then—
A scream.
Nexus stopped.
Kural froze.
Mao looked toward the sound.
Another scream followed.
Then another.
The music abruptly stopped.
Nexus's face changed.
"No..."
He turned around.
"Nexus!"
Kural shouted.
But Nexus was already running.
He sprinted back through the castle.
Kural and Mao followed.
The screams continued.
Then—
Silence.
Nexus reached the throne room.
He stopped outside the doors.
His breathing was heavy.
His hand slowly reached for the handle.
He pushed the doors open.
The celebration was gone.
The music had stopped.
Tables were overturned.
Cups and plates were scattered across the floor.
The decorations hung motionless from the walls.
And across the room—
The returning Architects lay motionless.
Nexus stood completely still.
His breath caught.
His eyes trembled.
For a moment, he couldn't understand what he was seeing.
Only hours ago—
They had been laughing.
Talking.
Celebrating.
Alive.
Now the room was silent.
Nexus slowly looked around.
His eyes moved from one fallen figure to another.
"No..."
His voice barely escaped his throat.
Kural arrived behind him.
He stopped.
His expression changed.
"Mao..."
Mao stood behind them.
She said nothing.
Nexus's hands began to shake.
Then—
He looked toward the throne.
One figure stood alone.
Ryu.
He stood among the fallen Architects.
His clothes were almost untouched.
His expression was calm.
Almost peaceful.
Nexus stared at him.
His voice trembled.
"...Sir Ryu?"
Ryu slowly turned his head.
For a few seconds—
Neither of them moved.
Then Ryu smiled.
A quiet, almost gentle smile.
And somehow—
That smile was worse than anything Nexus could have imagined.