Several Days Later — Zi Family Estate, Sien Domain
Several days had passed since Shadow returned to the Zi Family estate.
Inside Raven's private chamber, the Shade stood before his lord and recounted everything that had happened to the village.
He left nothing out.
Cain's betrayal.
The Silent Torment Poison.
The attempt on Lucia and Silva's lives.
The mysterious individual who had appeared without warning and completely incapacitated him.
And finally...
The disappearance of the entire village.
Raven stood beside the window, his hands clasped behind his back, listening without interruption.
Shadow's voice lowered as he reached the end.
"When I regained control of my body... everything was gone."
Raven glanced toward him.
"Bodies?"
"None."
"Battle?"
"No signs of one."
Shadow shook his head.
"The village simply vanished."
Silence settled over the chamber.
Raven turned back toward the window.
Cain's betrayal was certain.
The poison was certain.
Zara's involvement was also difficult to dispute. Cain himself had admitted that she had bribed him.
But what happened afterward made little sense.
If Zara's objective had been Lucia and Silva's deaths, Cain had already carried out the plan.
So who had subdued Shadow?
And why remove an entire village afterward?
Knock. Knock.
"Enter."
A servant stepped inside and bowed.
"Lord Raven. Lady Zara of the Sei Family requests an audience."
Shadow's expression hardened immediately.
Raven remained composed.
"Take her to the reception hall."
"Yes, my Lord."
The servant departed.
Shadow waited until the door closed.
"You're seeing her?"
"Yes."
"After what she did?"
Raven glanced at him.
"I'm not seeing her to argue."
"Then why?"
"To watch her."
Shadow frowned.
Raven walked through the door.
"Come."
They entered the corridor together.
As they walked, Raven spoke.
"You said whoever appeared completely suppressed you."
Shadow nodded.
"Correct."
"You sensed nothing beforehand?"
"Nothing."
"And you couldn't resist?"
"...No."
Raven's expression grew thoughtful.
Shadow had already reached the Ninth Level of the Master Aura Stage.
He stood at the very peak of that realm.
Anyone capable of completely immobilizing him without allowing even the slightest resistance was no ordinary powerhouse.
"Supreme Aura Stage," Raven said.
"At minimum," Shadow replied.
"Possibly higher."
Shadow nodded.
"Within the Sei Family, only Lord Sei possesses that kind of strength."
"Exactly."
Shadow looked at him.
"You don't suspect him?"
"No."
Raven's answer came immediately.
"Lord Sei is proud. If he wanted someone dead, he wouldn't need Cain."
Shadow fell silent.
"And kidnapping Lucia and Silva isn't his style," Raven added. "Especially over a rejected marriage arrangement."
"Then the person who appeared..."
"Was likely acting independently."
Shadow's eyes narrowed.
Raven continued.
"There's another problem. Cain had already poisoned the water. If Lucia and Silva drank it, death was only a matter of time."
Shadow understood.
"So why intervene?"
"Exactly."
Raven stopped.
"Someone strong enough to suppress you could've killed everyone there."
"But they didn't."
"No."
Raven's gaze hardened.
"They removed them."
The distinction hung between them.
Shadow slowly frowned.
"So you think the village may still exist somewhere."
"I think whoever did this wanted it gone without destroying it."
"And Zara?"
"I want to know whether she expected this."
Understanding finally crossed Shadow's face.
"If she knows something, she'll react."
"And if she doesn't..."
"Someone else is involved."
Raven nodded.
"Someone powerful."
They arrived before the reception hall.
Raven placed a hand on the door.
"Wait here."
Shadow bowed.
"Understood."
Raven entered alone.
...
Lady Zara sat within the Zi Family reception hall, dressed in elegant dark-blue robes embroidered with subtle serpent patterns.
The moment Raven appeared, she rose.
"Raven!"
Her face brightened immediately.
She hurried toward him, unable to conceal her excitement.
"It's really you."
Raven stopped several paces away.
Zara studied his face as though confirming that he was truly standing before her.
"When Father told me you'd returned, I came immediately."
She smiled.
"After all these years... aren't you happy to see me?"
Raven studied her expression.
Her excitement seemed genuine.
So did the affection in her eyes.
But affection wasn't the only thing he was searching for.
"Why would I be?"
Zara's smile faltered.
Raven continued calmly.
"What brings Lady Zara of the Sei Family here?"
She stiffened at the formality.
"Lady Zara?"
Her brows drew together.
"We're engaged."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Are we?"
"Our fathers arranged it."
"They did."
Zara relaxed slightly.
Then Raven finished.
"I didn't."
Her expression froze.
"Raven—"
"I never accepted the arrangement."
"But our families—"
"Our fathers agreed. Not me."
Zara stared at him.
"I waited for you."
Raven remained silent.
"All these years, I rejected everyone else because I knew you'd return."
Still, Raven gave her nothing.
Finally, he changed the subject.
"My brother."
The warmth vanished from Zara's expression.
Raven noticed immediately.
"What about him?"
"I heard what happened."
Zara looked aside.
"He proposed."
"And you refused."
"Of course."
Her eyes returned to Raven.
"I never loved him."
Raven waited.
"I loved you."
Her voice softened.
"I still do."
She stepped closer.
"Your brother knew that, yet he kept pursuing me."
Raven regarded her quietly.
Then he sighed.
"Then rejecting him was the right thing to do."
Zara blinked.
"What?"
"He needed to understand that affection isn't owed."
Relief briefly crossed her face.
Then Raven's eyes hardened.
"But you blinded him."
The relief disappeared.
"He wouldn't stop."
"So you took his sight?"
"I was angry."
"That isn't an excuse."
Zara clenched her hands.
"He refused to accept my answer."
"Then you involve the elders."
Raven stepped closer.
"You were entitled to reject him. You weren't entitled to cripple him."
Zara's gaze lowered.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then Raven made his decision.
"The relationship between our families ends here."
Zara's head snapped upward.
"What?"
"The marriage arrangement. The friendship. All of it."
Her face paled.
"Raven..."
"The Zi Family will stay out of Sei Family affairs. I expect the same from you."
"You can't simply decide that."
"I can."
"Our fathers wanted—"
"My father is dead."
Zara fell silent.
"And I never agreed to marry you."
Tears began gathering in her eyes.
"So that's it?"
"Yes."
Her lips trembled.
Raven gestured toward the doors.
"Leave."
"Raven..."
"Don't return."
For several seconds, Zara remained rooted in place.
She looked at him as though waiting for his expression to soften.
It didn't.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Then another.
Eventually, she turned and walked toward the doors.
Raven watched closely.
Her steps were unsteady.
Her shoulders trembled.
Her sadness appeared genuine.
So did the disbelief.
But Raven searched for something else.
Fear.
There was none.
The doors opened.
Zara left.
They closed behind her.
Raven remained still.
A short while later, Shadow entered.
"Well?"
Raven looked toward the distant mountains beyond the window.
"She knew nothing."
Shadow frowned.
"You're sure?"
"Enough."
Raven's gaze remained outside.
"She's jealous. Obsessive. Selfish."
Shadow waited.
"But she wasn't afraid."
Shadow's expression changed.
Raven continued.
"She expected me to accept the engagement. She believed there was still a future between us."
"If she knew Lucia and Silva survived..."
"Her reaction would've been different."
Shadow nodded slowly.
"So Cain was telling the truth about Zara wanting them dead."
"I believe so."
Raven turned.
"She wanted them removed. She bribed Cain. She bears responsibility for that."
His expression darkened.
"But whoever made the village disappear wasn't working for her."
Silence followed.
That conclusion created a far greater problem.
An unknown cultivator had interfered.
Someone powerful enough to suppress Shadow at the peak of the Master Aura Stage without resistance.
Someone who had prevented Cain's plan from ending as intended.
Shadow finally spoke.
"Then who took them?"
"I don't know."
Raven looked toward the horizon.
"That's what concerns me."
"What now?"
For once, Raven had no immediate answer.
"If they could overwhelm you that easily, I can't force them into the open."
His hand slowly tightened.
"If they want to remain hidden, they'll remain hidden."
Shadow lowered his eyes.
Raven became quiet.
"When I left Lucia and Silva, I thought I'd be gone briefly."
He stared toward the sky beyond the estate.
"Return here. Settle the family's affairs. Finish my responsibilities."
A faint, bitter smile appeared.
"Then go home."
His expression softened.
"I thought Lucia would be furious that I'd taken so long."
His gaze lowered.
"And Silva..."
Raven slowly closed his eyes.
"I wondered how much he'd grow before I returned."
When his eyes opened again, the softness was gone.
Now there was only uncertainty.
"I don't know where they are."
His fist tightened.
"Or who took them."
A pause.
"But until I see proof..."
Raven's gaze sharpened.
"...I won't believe they're dead."
Shadow raised his head.
Raven continued staring toward the horizon.
"For now, I can only hope they're alive."
His voice became quieter.
"And safe."
Several Years LaterHoly Empire Academy
Clack!
Clack!
Clack!
The sharp rhythm of colliding staffs echoed across one of the Holy Empire Academy's training grounds.
A young boy rushed forward.
His staff swept toward his opponent's shoulder.
Clack!
Blocked.
He twisted his wrists and spun, redirecting the opposite end toward the man's ribs.
Clack!
Blocked again.
Thrust.
Sweep.
Strike.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Every attack failed.
Standing opposite him, Cornelius barely seemed to move.
His staff shifted only as much as necessary, redirecting each blow with practiced precision.
The boy gritted his teeth.
Sweat ran down his temple, but his eyes remained focused.
He attacked again.
Cornelius knocked the staff aside.
Before the boy could recover, the tip of Cornelius's weapon stopped against his chest.
"Dead."
The boy frowned.
"You always say that."
"You keep earning it."
The boy's eyebrow twitched.
Cornelius lowered his staff.
"Better, though."
The boy looked up.
"Really?"
"Faster feet. Cleaner strikes."
A slight smile appeared on the boy's face.
"Still obvious."
The smile vanished.
"What?"
"You look where you're about to hit."
"I don't."
"Three times."
The boy stared at him.
Cornelius chuckled.
"Finished?"
The boy already knew the answer.
Cornelius raised his staff.
"Again."
The boy sighed.
"Of course."
"Enemies don't care that you're tired."
The boy tightened his grip.
Cornelius settled into position.
"Come."
The young boy inhaled slowly.
Several years had passed.
Years of training.
Years of growing stronger.
Years since his life had changed forever.
He lowered his stance.
His fingers tightened around the wooden staff.
Cornelius watched him closely.
Then the boy charged again.