——!
Margaret felt the situation off.
All around her, the bodies of slain monsters lay in heaps. Her blade dripped with their blood. And yet, it wasn’t the violence that unsettled her.
It was the familiarity.
This scene… it was just like before.
The Kingdom of Illenia.
On the day of its destruction, the situation was eerily similar. Illenia had only been the size of a large village, but it was her home. The demons had overrun it completely. Their native knights had fought bravely, but in the end, it hadn’t been enough.
And in the massacre, she had lost her mother.
Her people were forced to migrate and flee to Aetherion with nothing even bordering their pride as natives of Illenia.
And now, this sense of déjà vu didn’t come from the attack on the Silver University Tower months ago.
It was that day again.
She couldn’t explain why, maybe it was her instincts telling her. Or maybe it was her trauma. The sounds, the stench, even the claw marks on the bark of the trees. They were the same.
Back then, she had investigated the tragedy obsessively as she grew up. The surviving knights of Illenia had told her what they could.
At first, there were sightings.
Then, came the wave.
“….”
Margaret looked ahead.
Every nerve in her body screamed that something was about to happen.
Without hesitation, she sat back up on her horse.
“Go!”
The horse neighed, and was ready to move, when all of a sudden, it froze.
“What’s wrong—”
Spurt——!
A streak of silver flashed past her peripheral vision. In the next instant, something heavy hit the ground with a heavy thud.
“….”
Margaret’s breath caught in her throat as blood sprayed into the air.
….Her horse’s head was gone.
The body crumpled beneath her, dropping like a stone. Before she could react, something slammed into her abdomen.
Bang!
She was thrown forward and felt like her world was spinning.
It was all too fast to process.
But adrenaline kicked in.
Gnashing her jaw, Margaret straightened mid-fall. Her hand shot to her waist as she unsheathed her sword in one clean motion, landing on one knee.
“….!”
After that, everything became a blur.
* * *
“Lord Vanitas!”
Vanitas, who had just returned home, came to a halt as two knights appeared before him while he made his way toward the mansion.
“What is it?”
“There’s a request for reinforcements in the Astrea Domain,” one of them reported. “The Grand Knight is already there, but… it seems there’s a commotion.”
“A commotion?” Vanitas raised a brow. “Why would you need to deploy more forces when Margaret is already there?”
“It’s… for security, sir,” the knight replied. “There’s been a monster sighting in the northern ridge. The Grand Knight is investigating it.”
“Is that so?”
Vanitas pinched his chin, deep in thought.
There were already enough knights stationed in the domain to handle something like that. Realistically, there was no urgent need to pull knights from the estate.
Still…
“Wait for word back. But just in case there’s a need for deployment, I’ll have someone sent. Wait for him.”
“Yes, sir!”
The two knights bowed and walked off.
Vanitas entered his study, moving straight to his desk. He reached into a drawer and retrieved his communication crystal.
A soft glow pulsed in his hand.
——Hello?
A voice flowed from the crystal.
“Ezra,” Vanitas responded.
It was none other than Ezra Kaelus.
——Professor? What is it?
“Come to the estate.”
* * *
This wasn’t Ezra’s first time visiting the Astrea Estate. But every time he did, it still left him in awe.
The knights stationed at the gates were already familiar with his face. As always, they welcomed him respectfully since they were all aware that he was a guest of the Lord.
“Ezra?”
As he stepped into the mansion, a familiar voice called out. A woman seated in the living room had noticed him.
While formalities weren’t necessary back at the university tower, especially since they were classmates, things were different outside of campus.
Ezra bowed his head politely. “Lady Charlotte.”
“Huh?” Charlotte raised a brow.
Ezra Kaelus worked under the Astrea name. In practical terms, he was considered something of an intern.
“No, wait. What are you doing here?” Charlotte asked, standing up. “And ‘Lady Charlotte?’ What? What’s that about?”
While it wasn’t his first time visiting the estate, this was the first time he and Charlotte had crossed paths there.
“It is exactly what it looks like,” Ezra replied calmly.
“Wait, wait—what?” Charlotte’s brow furrowed. “Don’t tell me…”
“If you’ll excuse me.”
Without waiting for her to finish, Ezra made his way toward the grand staircase and approached the door to the Head’s office.
To— Tok.
“I’m here, Lord Astrea.”
——Enter.
The familiar sight of Professor Vanitas stood before him, a man Ezra deeply respected. The one person who had never abandoned him, even when his future looked bleak.
….Even when the voices called out to him.
“Ezra,” Vanitas began. “You’re here for your first assignment.”
“Yes.”
Ezra Kaelus, the man whose potential could one day surpass all others. The reason Vanitas had never seen him in a negative light was simple.
Ezra Kaelus was already standing on the edge of grey.
In every route of the game, Ezra had never been a sane man. But this time was different.
Because Vanitas had the chance to lead him down a better path.
In simpler terms, Ezra Kaelus was a weapon meant to be controlled and wielded.
The first and only Chaser of the Astrea Marquess Family.
A hunting dog of a hunting dog.
“There were reported sightings of monsters in the Astrea Domain. Possibly demons,” Vanitas said.
Ezra listened intently.
“They were spotted near the northern ridge,” Vanitas continued. “The Grand Knight, Margaret Illenia is stationed there already. But there’s a call for urgency.”
Vanitas turned toward the crystal map on his desk. He tapped a point, causing a glowing marker to pulse on the display.
“This area. That’s where I want you to investigate.”
Ezra’s eyes followed the flicker of light.
“Yes.”
“If it’s just monsters, then you can handle it alone,” Vanitas said. “If it’s demons, observe and report. Do not engage unless it’s absolutely necessary. Be sure to cooperate with the knights.”
Ezra gave a slight nod. “Understood.”
Vanitas studied him for a moment, then leaned back in his chair.
“Dismissed. Prepare and depart immediately. I’ll expect your report by nightfall.”
Ezra gave a nod and turned to leave, but just as his hand touched the doorknob, the door slammed opened.
Bang!
“Vanitas!”
Standing in the doorway was Charlotte. Pausing, her gaze alternated between the two men. She didn’t ask why Ezra was here. She already had a good idea.
“Charlotte?” Vanitas asked, brows furrowing.
“A report just came in!” she said breathlessly. “Margaret… she’s been reported missing.”
“….”
Vanitas’s eyes widened.
Immediately, he stood and reached for his coat. The sudden motion shocked even Ezra. The urgency in Vanitas’s expression left no room for doubt that the situation was now serious.
Vanitas hadn’t planned to intervene personally. But if Margaret was missing… the situation had turned critical.
“Forget the solo mission, Ezra. I’m coming with you.”
“Yes, Lord Astrea.”
“Lord Astrea… wait,” Charlotte stepped forward. “Vanitas, I’ll come with you too.”
“No.”
Charlotte blinked, caught off guard by the cold refusal.
“Why not?” she demanded, her brows furrowing. “I’m an Astrea too. Why are you being so overprotective? They’re my people as well.”
Vanitas didn’t so much as give her a glance. “Ezra, contact Silas as well. Have him prepare immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Vanitas!” Charlotte snapped, stepping forward.
That made him pause.
Slowly, Vanitas turned to face her and gave a long sigh. “If I’m gone, then who’s going to replace me?”
“That’s exactly why I should go instead of you!”
“And that’s exactly why you should stay and hold down the fort,” Vanitas shot back, his tone firm.
“You’re always like this,” she said, voice rising with frustration. “At first, it was touching. But now…”
She clenched her fists, shaking her head.
“Now, it just feels suffocating!”
Vanitas didn’t respond immediately and the silence seemed to stretch between them as Ezra’s gaze alternated between the two.
“I’m not doing this to control you, Charlotte,” he said finally. “Yes, call it overprotective, but I’m doing this because I can’t protect everyone at once. And I need to know someone I trust is still standing if I don’t come back.”
Charlotte’s expression faltered. “….Then trust me to stand with you.”
“I already do.” Vanitas looked away. “That’s why I’m asking you to stay.”
“Then what about Ezra? Silas?” Charlotte snapped. “You’re bringing them with you instead of your own sister who actually wants to help? Ezra’s one thing, but you’ll need to protect Silas too! I’m much stronger than him!”
Vanitas raised an eyebrow. “Protect him? Why would I need to do that? Silas can handle himself.”
“You trust him that much,” Charlotte pressed. “Then why can’t you trust me? I can protect myself too!”
“Until you can’t,” Vanitas said calmly. “And then I’ll have to protect you.”
“So you’re saying you’ll abandon them, but not me?”
“I’m saying I only have one sister,” he replied. “What then? If something happened to you because I brought you with me….”
Vanitas stepped forward and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
“Don’t disappoint me too,” he said.
“….”
….Charlotte couldn’t refute the fear in his eyes.
* * *
A man who couldn’t even protect his own Domain had no right to be considered a high noble.
While the appearance of chimeras in the Astrea Domain may have been mere coincidence, Lance Abelton saw it as the perfect opportunity.
An opportunity to assess Vanitas Astrea.
——Great Power or not, I don’t treat my enemies kindly.
Vanitas’s words still echoed in his mind.
Was he all bark and no bite?
Or was he truly as competent as the rumors claimed?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Emperor,” Lance said.
Lance Abelton, one of the Great Powers and known as the Scholar of Wisdom, knelt and prostrated himself before the Emperor, Franz Barielle Aetherion.
“It’s great to see you again, Lance,” Franz replied warmly. “I’m glad to see you’re in good health.”
“As for your offer, I must apologize… but I’ll have to refuse the position of Advisor.”
Franz’s smile remained unchanged, though a faint hint of disappointment touched his eyes.
“Is that so?” he said. “That’s a shame.”
He leaned back in his seat, fingers steepled before him.
“Someone with your intellect would’ve been a tremendous asset to the Empire.”
“I’m honored by the offer, Your Majesty,” Lance said, bowing his head once more. “But I still have unfinished business elsewhere. Accepting the position now would only lead to divided loyalties.”
Franz nodded slowly, thoughtful.
“Very well. I won’t press you further. But should you ever change your mind, know that the Empire will always have a place for you.”
Lance offered a faint smile.
“I will keep that in mind.”
* * *
“…I can’t reach him.”
“Can’t reach who?”
“N-No one,” Irene stammered, caught off guard by Astrid’s sudden question.
It had taken quite a bit of effort, but somehow, Astrid was now on speaking terms with Irene again.
“Is it the professor?” Astrid asked, tilting her head slightly.
“….”
“So it is.”
As always, Astrid was sharp when it came to Vanitas Astrea.
Irene didn’t quite understand why she felt like she had to walk on eggshells around her own sister whenever Vanitas Astrea came up. But for some reason, it felt like their relationship would strain if she didn’t.
“Don’t worry about it, sister,” Astrid said casually. “Just help me.”
“….Are we not done yet?”
“Nope,” Astrid replied without missing a beat. “I need about two liters of blood.”
“….”
….It seemed Astrid really did enjoy using Irene as her personal test subject for whatever new medical theory or procedure she was working on.
* * *
Margaret had fought them all off, one by one, as she pushed herself to return to the village. The final slash had been the decisive one. It should’ve been over for now.
And yet, she now found herself wandering aimlessly through the forest.
Her breathing was uneven. Her limbs were heavy. Blood stained her armor in places she didn’t remember being struck. But she pressed forward, dragging her boots across the leaf-covered ground.
Something was wrong.
“….”
She was lost.
Margaret’s sense of direction had always been sharp. She could read terrain like a map.
But for some reason, today… it wasn’t working.
No… was this even the right forest?
The trees around her felt familiar, but also somehow not. There was a sense of recognition in the branches and undergrowth, but nothing solid she could place.
It was like walking through a dream she could half remember.
She pressed her palm against a tree to steady herself, feeling her vision starting to dim at the edges.
Still, she kept walking.
Even as the sun dipped low and shadows began to stretch across the forest floor, Margaret didn’t stop.
She had managed to stop the bleeding, but the northern cold would only make things worse. Without proper treatment, infection was inevitable.
By the time night fully fell, her strength had begun to falter.
It was then.
“Ah…!”
Her eyes widened. In the distance, past the thinning trees, she saw structures, smoke rising, and warm light.
Finally, a village.
Relief surged in her chest, and Margaret pressed forward.
But as she drew closer, a strange unease settled in her gut.
“….”
It was familiar.
“….”
But it wasn’t the village.
“This….”
She took a step closer.
“Stop.”
Two guards stepped out from the shadows of the gate.
First of all, the village residing in the Astrea Domain never had gates because it didn’t have another settlement beyond the one she was stationed at.
This wasn’t right.
One of the guards stepped forward with his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.
“State your name, origin, occupation, and the reason for your visit.”
“….What?”
Margaret blinked.
How old-fashioned.
No, seriously, where was she?
But then she saw it.
Her gaze dropped to the crest on the knight’s armor.
“….”
Her breath stopped.
“….”
It was the Illenia Knight’s crest.
Her voice came low as she felt the blood rising on her chest. “You… why do you have that?”
The guard raised an eyebrow. “This? Are you really asking that now, Lady? This is the pride of the Illenia Knights.”
Margaret’s eyes narrowed. “….Don’t joke with me right now.”
The shift in her tone didn’t go unnoticed. The guards subtly lowered their hands to their swords, sensing the bloodlust emanating from Margaret.
“Why do you have that? Tell me!” she snapped.
The second guard scoffed.
“That’s like asking why Aetherion soldiers wear the Aetherion crest.”
“….”
“Why else would we wear this, unless we were in the Kingdom of Illenia?”
In that moment, it felt as though all the oxygen had been sucked from Margaret’s lungs.