Hours passed.
The blue flames in the corridors burned lower and lower as the night deepened. Rain whispered against the castle windows, and the distant roar of the sea echoed through the stone halls.
Junyu rubbed his eyes.
"We've searched half the castle."
Salim let out a tired sigh.
"And found almost nothing."
Their footsteps slowed. Exhaustion had begun to replace adrenaline.
"I think it's time to head back," Junyu said quietly.
They turned toward their chamber.
Then Junyu suddenly froze.
At the far end of the opposite corridor stood a figure dressed entirely in black.
A hood covered his face.
The blue flames around him dimmed unnaturally.
Junyu's eyes widened.
"Salim—run!"
The two sprinted forward, boots hammering against the marble floor. Their shadows stretched wildly along the walls.
The man in black moved quickly, but he had not noticed them yet.
As he turned a corner, something slipped from his hand.
A small glass vial.
It struck the floor with a soft clink.
The figure vanished into the darkness.
Junyu and Salim skidded to a stop.
"Huh? Where did he go?" Salim whispered.
Junyu crouched beside the fallen object.
"Come here. He dropped something."
Salim picked it up carefully.
Inside the vial swirled a thick purple liquid that seemed to glow faintly under the blue firelight.
"What is this?"
Junyu took the vial and held it close to the flame.
"Another clue."
The liquid moved strangely, almost as if it were alive.
Salim glanced around nervously.
"This castle keeps getting worse."
Junyu slipped the vial into his coat.
"Give me the blue stone too. I'll keep both."
Salim handed over the glowing stone.
Junyu stared at the two objects in his palm.
"They're waiting."
"For what?"
"For the right moment."
A cold wind drifted through the corridor.
Junyu's expression darkened.
"And if there's going to be a killing tonight, it won't be someone insignificant."
Salim swallowed.
"Who do you think is the target?"
Junyu answered immediately.
"Veer Rajput."
Salim stopped walking.
"What?! Why him?"
"Think about it. The blue glow, the servant's death, the suspicious activity—it's all happening near his wing."
Junyu's voice became colder.
"And Veer voted green."
"They're killing the people who opposed Bellini?"
"No. Not all of them."
Junyu looked toward the upper floors.
"They'll kill the most important one."
Salim's third eye twitched.
"So what do we do?"
Junyu turned sharply.
"We guard him."
THE RETURN
As they hurried through the corridors, they passed a servant carrying a silver tray filled with wine cups.
"Wait," Junyu whispered.
Salim frowned.
"What now?"
"Count the cups."
Salim blinked.
"Why?"
Junyu smirked.
"Professionals do that."
Salim counted quickly.
"Ten."
"A meeting room, then."
The servant disappeared around a corner.
Junyu filed the detail away.
Every small thing mattered now.
VEER'S WING
The corridor outside Veer Rajput's chamber was silent.
Tall windows overlooked the black ocean, where lightning occasionally flashed across the waves.
Junyu and Salim positioned themselves in the shadows near the door.
They had already been seen by so many castle cameras that neither of them cared anymore.
Minutes passed.
Then Junyu noticed a faint blue flash outside the window.
At the same instant, the blue stone in his pocket began to glow.
The light pulsed like a heartbeat.
A wave of cold energy spread through the corridor.
Salim suddenly grabbed his forehead.
His third eye forced itself open.
"Ah—!"
Dark veins spread across his temple.
This time he forced the eye shut through sheer will, but the effort drained him completely.
His body gave out.
Salim collapsed onto the floor.
"Salim!"
Junyu caught him before his head struck the stone.
He carried his friend through the silent halls and returned to the Devil Horns' chamber.
Inside, the room was peaceful.
Mil slept with one hand resting on his sword.
Katsa lay curled beneath a blanket.
Ton snored loudly from an upper bunk.
Michael and Ikiro slept back to back.
Junyu placed Salim gently onto a bed.
For a brief moment, he smiled.
They looked like ordinary people.
Not warriors preparing for a world war.
He pulled a blanket over Salim and quietly stepped back into the corridor.
THE ELEVEN CUPS
The castle was even quieter now.
As Junyu walked away, he saw a waitress carrying a tray of wine.
Eleven cups.
"She left with 10… and came back with eleven."
His eyes narrowed.
"That means one cup was delivered to someone nearby and it was picked".
He looked toward the heavy black door at the end of the corridor.
Aurex Valdren's chamber.
"So he's still awake."
Junyu remembered the way Aurex had stared at him during the debate.
"I need answers."
He walked toward the chamber.
With every step, the blue stone in his pocket glowed brighter.
It pulsed against his chest.
Warning him.
Junyu ignored it.
He stopped before the massive door and knocked.
The corridor seemed to hold its breath.
A moment later, the door opened.
Golden light spilled into the darkness.
Aurex Valdren stood in the doorway, his eyes calm and unreadable.
He smiled faintly.
"Lacod Junyu."
The blue stone flared brightly in Junyu's pocket.
"So," Aurex said softly, stepping aside, "you've finally come."
His voice lowered.
"There is a secret I need to tell you."