Chapter Fifty-Five
The world had changed while Yuta wasn't looking.
He stood confused in the castle courtyard, staring up at a sky that had turned the color of old blood. Thick, unnatural clouds churned overhead like smoke from some massive fire, blocking out what should have been late afternoon sunlight.
The air itself felt wrong—heavy and oppressive, pressing against Yuta's skin like invisible hands.
It couldn't be night already.
Could it?
Yuta's heart hammered against his ribs with worry as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.
He'd been searching for Shadow for what felt like an hour, maybe two at most. But the darkness above him spoke of something far more sinister than the simple passage of time.
Or maybe it was already truly night time? He bit his lip, still confused. Had he really been wandering the castle grounds for several hours without realizing it?
The thought made his stomach lurch with panic.
Lord Elrien had given him only two hours to search.
