Reeve, Tsukiyra, and the Vampire Queen moved through the broken lands in silence.
The air of Grimfang Wastes was the same—ashen wind, cracked ground, distant howls—but something felt wrong.
Too wrong.
Reeve stopped.
"…There's no trace," he said quietly.
No camps.
No mana residue.
No signs of battle.
"They should've been here," Reeve muttered. "If not here… then Eldmere."
Tsukiyra nodded and opened a gate. The world folded.
---
The Eldmere Guild Hall stood tall, banners swaying gently.
It was… peaceful.
Too peaceful.
As they entered, a woman at the counter looked up and frowned.
"…Where are your teammates?"
Reeve blinked. "They should be here. We got separated near Grimfang Wastes."
Her expression shifted to confusion.
"…Separated? You mean a year ago?"
Reeve's breath stopped.
"…What?"
She leaned forward.
"The Eclipse Collectors left Eldmere one year ago. They took a long-term mission to explore the Demon Lands."
Reeve's head rang.
"One… year?"
Another adventurer nearby overheard them and spoke up.
"Yeah. Everyone thought you were with them. They never came back, so we assumed you all chose to stay in demon territory."
Reeve's fists clenched.
"No," he said slowly. "I separated from them the moment we reached Grimfang Wastes."
Silence fell.
The Vampire Queen narrowed her eyes.
"A year vanished… without you knowing."
Tsukiyra looked at Reeve, her voice low.
"Master… this isn't normal."
Reeve stared at the floor.
A year passed… while I was moving forward.
His jaw tightened.
"…Then they're still alive," he said firmly. "And they're deep in demon land."
His eyes lifted—calm, cold, resolved.
"And that means we're going to bring them back."
Outside the guild hall, the wind shifted.
Somewhere far away—
Eclipse Collectors walked in enemy territory.
And Heaven was already watching.