The world blurred into streaks of stone and shadow as Luca sprinted through the streets — faster, faster, each heartbeat pounding like thunder against his ribs. Wind clawed at his coat, the ground cracked beneath his accelerating steps. Shopkeepers and pedestrians barely registered as colors — startled voices chasing after him:
"W-What was that?! Did someone just—?"
He didn't stop.
He couldn't stop.
The familiar outer walls of Valentine Estate came into view — towering, proud, unmoved by time. Luca skidded to a halt, his shoes burning against the cobbled path as sparks flickered under him.
He gasped.
The mansion stood perfectly still.
No smoke.
No destruction.
Not even a single cracked window.
Luca's chest heaved as confusion swallowed him whole.
How…? I clearly saw lightning strike… The sky darkened for a reason!
His heartbeat rattled in his ears.
A sudden gust — and golden light shimmered beside him.
