Anazitis stepped into the dimly lit hotel, his mind heavy with the revelations he had just uncovered. Every step felt weighted, as if the secrets themselves pressed against his chest. He turned to thank the old man who had guided him here—but a sudden gust of wind swept past, and the man was gone. Vanished. No trace. No scent of his presence.
Anazitis froze. The hallway stretched empty and silent. It was as though the man had never existed.
Who… was he? Where have I seen him before?
He shook off the chilling thought and pushed open the door to his room, shutting it with a muted click behind him. He let out a slow, weary breath, rubbing his temples.
"This is far more complicated than I imagined," he muttered under his breath.
The door creaked open again. Lion stepped in, his sharp gaze cutting through the dimness, scanning Anazitis's face as if he could read the thoughts hidden there.
"What happened? Did it go as planned?" he asked, his voice low but tense.
Before Anazitis could answer, Halfy strolled in, grinning like mischief itself had taken shape.
"Of course it did," Halfy said, flopping onto the couch with dramatic ease. "If it hadn't… he wouldn't be standing here, would he?"
Anazitis shot him a glare and sank into a chair, fighting to steady his thoughts.
"I'll explain everything," he said, his voice edged with exhaustion.
The room fell silent as Anazitis recounted the meeting with the sages—their cryptic words, the tension that clung to the air, and the crushing weight of the truths he had unearthed.
Halfy leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"I thought it would be ordinary secrets… hidden but harmless," he admitted. "But this… this is beyond anything I expected."
Lion's expression remained unreadable, though his eyes flickered with concern.
"It's not just surprising—it's dangerous," he said, exhaling sharply. "And that knight, Dinatos… something was wrong with him. He wasn't distracted—he was wary, cautious, expecting disaster. He didn't trust what was happening."
Halfy frowned.
"That's true. I saw a girl from the academy with him… she wasn't normal either. There was a sharpness in her eyes, like she already knew more than she should."
Lion tapped his fingers rhythmically against the table, his expression hardening.
"Their behavior… it's not the way of people who truly believe. They're calculating—too careful, too controlled."
Anazitis let out a bitter scoff, his patience fraying.
"I risked my life to gather this information, and you two were casually chatting with the knight and that girl?"
Halfy smirked, unapologetic.
"That's why I don't like how you operate. You always overreact."
Anazitis glared.
"And you? You were enjoying yourself too much."
Lion chuckled darkly.
"Honestly… I expected chaos. When the knight saw the black fire in the forest, I thought he'd attack immediately. I braced for battle… but then nothing happened. The fire seemed… meaningless. Something else occurred."
Anazitis leaned forward, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"That's because they used a barrier spell. The fight did happen—it just wasn't in your sight. Skotadi, a Chaos Seeker, clashed with Igetis."
A heavy silence fell. Halfy and Lion exchanged stunned glances.
"Wait… what?" Halfy's voice faltered, eyes wide.
"A Chaos Seeker fought Igetis?" Lion's fists clenched. "That changes everything!"
Anazitis nodded grimly, the shadows of his expression deepening. I wonder what happened in the forest after I left…
Halfy's smirk vanished, replaced with a dark shadow.
"That's why the Ring turned to ash… and they fled…"
A chill crept into the room, curling around their bones.
Lion's eyes flickered with dawning comprehension.
We talked about someone fighting Igetis… but I didn't realize it was a Chaos Seeker. This… this is far more serious than I thought.
Anazitis's voice barely rose above a whisper, but every word carried weight.
"A Chaos Seeker… he was strong. My luck… he was there when he needed to be. Now he's the one responsible for the black fire."
Then, almost urgently, Anazitis and Lion spoke louder, determination lacing their tones.
"Who won? Did you see the whole fight? Even a single detail could fetch a fortune."
"Keep it down. We don't need unnecessary attention," Anazitis warned.
Unseen by them, two hotel maids lingered near the counter, whispering quietly.
"Those guests are… unusual," one said with a small, knowing smile.
The other watched with sharp eyes.
"They're planning something. Look at their clothes… they could stay anywhere, yet they chose here. They didn't come just to rest."
The first shrugged.
"They tipped well. I won't complain."
Anazitis ignored them, but made a mental note. He rose, turning to his companions.
"We leave now. Remember the forest incident. If it reaches the news, we avoid the knights. If it doesn't, we meet them and report everything."
Halfy grinned.
"And we'll get a nice reward, right?"
Anazitis rolled his eyes.
"First, the magic shop. We need supplies… and materials."
As they moved toward the exit, Anazitis caught sight of the maid who had whispered earlier. Hesitating, he placed two gold coins on the counter.
She looked up, startled.
"Thank you," she murmured. "Come again."
Anazitis merely nodded, ignoring their curiosity.
Lion and Halfy exchanged amused glances.
"Looks like someone has a soft spot," Lion teased.
"I saw nothing," Halfy said with a sly grin.
Stepping into the cool night, the trio felt the city's stillness envelop them.
From the shadows, a figure watched. The old man—the one who had carried Anazitis—stood silently. His voice, calm yet heavy with unspoken meaning, drifted into the night.
"So, it has begun," he murmured. "I can only hope this city can be saved… and restored to its former glory."
Not far away, the maid sipped a steaming cup of coffee, her gaze drifting to the scene.
"Night shifts again," she muttered. "I'll need plenty of coffee to survive this… but with these two gold coins, I won't have to work so hard. My cleverness earns more than any fancy hotel ever could."
Other workers glanced at her, whispering. One raised an eyebrow.
"She's… strange," a coworker said, curiosity and wariness in their voice.