"Crazy…"
The word slipped out of Rodeo's mouth before he realized it had escaped too loudly. He quickly slapped a hand over his lips.
"The dead can come back to life? What is he, a ghoul?" Bandi muttered.
"I just heard something valuable," Derelia whispered to Oscar.
"In that case, I'll take my leave," Orcha said casually, striding out. She was followed by Derelia, who gave Kael a deliberate wink on the way.Then Oscar and Tivulin exited as well, until only Bandi, Rodeo, Terasvari, Alisa, Terwy, and of course Lumino, Kael, and Alira remained in the meeting room, their footsteps' echoes fading into silence.
"At least my question's been answered," Terasvari remarked, while casting a sidelong glance at Alira. "So… are you still coming to my place?"
"Uh… y-yeah. Alright," Alira stammered.
"Never thought that cunning woman would put the Orb in someone else's hands," Terasvari muttered.
Lumino's head dipped lower. He had been honest—blatantly so—about what happened before. He had died. It's possible he didn't make it back at all. Alira had once said that he had a hole in his body that could have killed someone.
He still didn't know how he'd survived. All he knew was that in that moment, he'd chosen to listen to Lady Seraphine's whisper, telling him to intercept Caroline's fatal strike.
Have I been walking in the palm of her hand from the very start?
Kael's eyes flicked toward him, and the sadness in his expression was hard to mask. He'd suspected Lumino's return was because of the Orb, but he hadn't truly believed it—until now. And to find out it had been inside Lumino all this time… When had that happened?
Lumino… did you know all along?
Negative thoughts gnawed at him, the same ones that had plagued him since Lumino's return. His jaw tightened, and his gaze lingered on Lumino, who still kept his head bowed.
"You coming with me, brat?" Terasvari's voice cut through the air, her eyes landing on Kael.
"Why the hell would I go with you?!" he snapped.
That's when he realized Alira was already standing next to Terasvari, staring at him. She leaned closer and whispered in his ear.
"Come with me… I'm scared of this woman."
"That's your problem. Besides, I'm not leaving Lumino alone," Kael muttered back.
"Please! She keeps glancing at my white coat—I swear she's creepy. What if she's a pervert?" Alira hissed, tugging on his sleeve.
"Just go!"
But Alira clung to his arm."Come on."
"Go with her, Kael."The voice wasn't Alira's—it was Lumino's. Kael turned, catching Lumino's gentle smile.
"Besides… Bandi's here."
Kael glanced at Bandi, who, sensing the look, offered an awkward grin. Bandi felt deeply guilty for the chaos Terasvari had caused.
"You promised you'd always stay by my side," Kael said softly.
"I'm… not sure I can." Lumino's smile, fragile and forced, wavered. Kael recognized it wasn't genuine, but instead cloaked in fear and sadness.
"I…" Kael faltered. His eyes darted between Alira in front of him and Terasvari behind her, tapping her fingers impatiently, gaze sharp as a blade.
"Well? Are you coming or not?!" Terasvari barked.
With a clenched jaw, Kael finally exhaled.
"Fine…"
"Good choice, boy. I'll teach you my knowledge."
"I'm only going with Alira. I'm not your damn pupil." Kael's tone was curt.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Terasvari turned and strode out. Alira followed, giving a small tilt of her head in silent farewell.
Kael turned, the crunch of gravel under his boots a sharp sound in the air, and glanced back. Lumino's smile, bright and warm, seemed to fill the space. Kael felt a sudden, chilling fear. Not knowing this decision would have devastating consequences.
-----
After Kael disappeared from the meeting hall, Lumino lowered his head again, his posture collapsing as if his bones had lost all strength. He no longer knew what to do. Piece by piece, the realization crept in—Kael must already suspect him.
I'd suspect myself too, he thought grimly.
He didn't even know if his own memories were accurate anymore. For all he knew, he really was one of Lady Seraphine's people without even realizing it. Maybe he really did reek of that foul, dangerous scent.
"Lumino…"
Bandi's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Is there anything you want to do?" Bandi asked hesitantly.
"Rodeo and I plan to stay here and watch over Ronovan. What about you?"
Bandi still treated him like nothing had changed—even after all the suspicion surrounding him—while the werewolf beside him, Rodeo, stared at him like he was something strange, something he couldn't quite comprehend.
Lumino looked at Bandi and managed a faint smile.
"I think… I'll take a bath."
Bandi and Rodeo both blinked once. Then twice. Finally, Bandi spoke.
"Ah… right, Blood has covered your clothes. We have an open-air hot spring here. Right, Rodeo?"
"Y-yeah, that's right," Rodeo replied, his voice slightly uneasy. He turned toward the corner of the room.
"Alisa… come here."
Alisa, who had been standing quietly in the shadows, hurried over to Rodeo.
"Take our guest to the bathhouse."
Alisa hesitated, then finally spoke to Lumino, her cheeks faintly red.
"This way, sir… please follow me."
Lumino followed her. Before stepping out, he caught, from the corner of his eye, the way Bandi and Rodeo both exhaled in relief the moment he left.
They walked in silence. Lumino stole a glance at her and spoke softly.
"You don't have to be afraid."
"Ah—no, I… I'm not afraid," she stammered, darting a quick glance at his face before lowering her gaze.
Is that scent coming off me again? He wondered.
Maybe she wanted to cover her nose—but he didn't even know what Lady Seraphine's scent smelled like.
Eventually, they arrived at the open-air bath. Lumino began removing his clothes, and Alisa immediately spun around with a sharp movement.
"S-sorry!"
"Erm… you're not bathing?" Lumino asked. From what he'd read, this was a mixed bath. Wrapping a towel around his lower half, he stepped forward.
"N-no need… Sir Lumino. I'll wait outside," she answered nervously.
"Ah… I see."
A hint of disappointment crossed his face. In the end, he stepped into the bath alone while Alisa waited behind the hanging door curtain.
Will bathing wash the scent off?
Lumino tilted his head back, eyes tracing the misty ceiling above. The sky outside was overcast—it had probably been that way the whole time while he'd been stuck in the meeting hall.
"Alisa."
"Yes, Sir Lumino?" her voice called from beyond the curtain.
"How many of your kind are there?"
"Fifty werewolf warriors."
"Oh… so if you add the vampires here, that makes fifty-five."
"That's right…"
"If you count Bandi, it should be fifty-six," Lumino said casually.
"No, that's correct as it is. I… don't need to be counted."
There was a trace of sadness in her tone.
Lumino paused suddenly, feeling uneasy.
"Alisa… why would you say that?"
"Because I'm not like the others. I have no talent. I can't even awaken a werewolf's true power."
True power… Lumino echoed inwardly.
"I've always been curious about how your kind's power system works," he said, genuine interest in his voice.
Alisa stayed silent for a moment, as if debating whether to answer.
"I—maybe I don't belong in the pack."
Her voice softened. "If it weren't for Rodeo, I likely wouldn't even have a place here." She let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"How pathetic, right? Why am I even telling you this, especially since you just arrived?" She glanced to her right, only to freeze.
Lumino was already there, water still dripping from his body. "S-sir Lumino!" Her face flushed as her thoughts raced. It's big...
"Let's go," Lumino said firmly.
"What a—about to put on some clothes first?!"
----
He wasn't exactly curious—he just needed something to distract him. Maybe a walk would help.
Alisa offered to show him around the werewolf den, then invited him to try the various meats and snacks they had. During the tour, she chatted with him more freely. Though she was shy at first, it seemed she was starting to feel comfortable around Lumino.
She explained that she never really fit in with the pack, since she couldn't awaken her true werewolf powers. Most werewolves could shift into a hybrid form with ears and a tail, or even into a full beast form. But the full transformation was considered dangerous. Intelligence dropped, instincts surged—so much that they couldn't tell friend from foe.
Alisa admitted she had a knack for sculpting. And though she was shy, she eventually asked:
"Would you mind modeling for me, Lord Lumino?"
"Huh? What do you see in me? I don't think I meet the standards to be anyone's model…"
"You're absolutely perfect! With your long upper and lower lashes, shining white hair, and eyes as blue as gemstones, you are truly captivating. Your face is perfectly symmetrical. At first, I thought you were skinny, but you're actually well-toned. You're seriously underestimating yourself!"
Lumino blinked a few times, caught off guard by the flood of praise. "Well… okay then."
"Yay! Thank you! Then let's go to my house!" Alisa beamed and pulled him along.
When they arrived, Lumino saw a room filled with statues and carvings. Some of the sculptures even resembled people he recognized.
'There are a lot of statues of this one guy,' Lumino thought, touching an unfinished bust of Rodeo. Alisa looked flustered when she noticed.
"That one's not done yet…! Come inside, Lord Lumino." She hurriedly pushed him forward, clearly trying to change the subject.
"Can you make me a small statue? Something portable?" Lumino asked with sparkling eyes.
"Y-Yes! Whose statue would you like?" Alisa replied.
"My friend—Kael!" Lumino smiled brightly.
"Lord Kael? I could do that… though to get the best likeness, it'd help if he modeled in person…"
"I see…" Lumino's smile faded. Kael was still at Terasvari's house, and that woman hated him. No way he'd come here.
"Don't worry, Lord Lumino. I'll do my best! I've seen Lord Kael enough that I think I've memorized his face," Alisa said reassuringly.
You remembered his face… Lumino thought.
"But if you're asking me to sculpt you, I'll need you to model in person. I don't trust my memory to capture your face right."
"Isn't that a bit unfair?" Lumino raised an eyebrow.
"No, no! Your face is like… the definition of divine! There's no way I could rely on memory alone. I need to look at you as I work!" she insisted, eyes shining.
'She looks so excited…' Lumino thought, a bit exhausted by her enthusiasm.
"Alright then…" he sighed.
He sat down on the couch Alisa had set up, and she began preparing her tools. As she started carving, Lumino held still. After about an hour, staying in the same position started to wear on him. He was getting drowsy.
But seeing Alisa's focused expression kept him from speaking up. His eyelids grew heavier—and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
When he woke, it was sudden. He had no idea how long he'd been out. No sound had stirred him. No nightmares. No disturbances.
But Alisa was gone.
He stood, calling her name.
"Alisa…"
"Alisa!"
"…Alisa."
No answer.
He emerged from the room, the stale air of the display area hitting him. Broken sculptures lay scattered, the glint of fractured stone catching the dim light.
Dread, cold and heavy, slammed into him. He fled the house, his boots crunching on disturbed gravel. Fresh, muddy footprints stained the display room's floor. Narrowing his eyes, he activated his divine sight. The thermal trail pulsed, leading him deep into the woods. He reached a patch of damp earth beneath the towering trees.
There, slumped against a tree, was Alisa, her head a crimson mess, the metallic scent of blood heavy in the air.
"Alisa!!" Lumino cried out hoarsely, sprinting to her side. "What happened to you?!"
Her eyes fluttered open. "Lord Lumino… I'm sorry I left you back there alone… You were sleeping so peacefully… I couldn't wake you…"
"Don't talk. Just stay still—I'll heal you."
He summoned his divine power, light glowing at his fingertips—but it flickered and died.
His nose started bleeding.
'No… Please… Come on… Divine power… don't do this now.'
'Please just work… please…!'
Tears, salty and warm, mingled with the coppery scent of blood as it trickled down his face.
His vision swam, the world dissolving into hazy reds and greens. A relentless pulse hammered behind his eyes.
Then, a chilling whisper snaked into his ears, a voice he dreaded. "Poor Lumino… but you mustn't. You can't use your divine power."
"How many times must I say it before you understand…?"
"No! Let me use it! Let me save her! It's my power—my divine power!" Lumino pleaded desperately, but the woman's voice was gone.
And so was Alisa's.
"Alisa…" he whispered.
"Ali…sa…"
"Hu…hu… Alisa…"
His sobs poured out, raw and painful. Her body had gone still. Lifeless.
"Aaagh…" Lumino clutched his head, blood still running down his face.
Rain began to fall—hard. Soaking him and the body of the girl he couldn't save.
"ARGHHH!!" Lumino screamed. But the howling storm completely overwhelmed his voice.
"Whoa, look at this guy…"
A voice rang out behind him.
Ozrik stood there, amused, gazing down at the broken young man.
He tilted his head.
"Was this your doing?" he asked.
Lumino stared back with empty eyes.
"Did you kill her?" Ozrik grinned.