Evelyn's POV (through Arthur)
That night felt like any other. Arthur, my copy, sat by the fire with Alice, listening to her complain about how her mother kept nagging her to get married.
Adam surprised everyone when he admitted he had a wife and son waiting for him. None of us had known. Jenny followed with her own secret — she was from a noble family, and Alex had been sent by her father to protect her. After James retired, Jenny simply made Alex the group's new assassin, and no one questioned it.
It was a rare, peaceful moment. But then, my chest tightened. A warning surged through me — not a thought, but a certainty.
"Arthur?" Alice looked up at me, worried.
I stood, gripping the greatsword. "Something's happening. South. I need to go… now."
I couldn't explain it to them — only that if I ignored this pull, something precious would be lost. Thankfully, they trusted me enough not to ask more.
---
Hours later, I saw him.
A boy, maybe five years old, stumbling through the dark forest. Behind him, smoke rose into the night sky.
I ran to him. "Hey, what are you running from?"
Before he could answer, a shadow streaked above us. I reacted on instinct, hurling a fireball. It hit, and the thing crashed into the dirt.
Moonlight revealed its pale skin, red eyes, and fangs. Vampire.
It lunged. I swung my greatsword, healing magic coating the blade. The vampire turned to ash in a single cut.
"Vampires!" Alice called out. She and the others fell into formation as three more appeared — weak, Stage Three at most. We cut them down quickly, but I didn't waste time. I lifted the boy onto Arthur's shoulder and rushed toward the burning village.
---
The orphanage was ablaze. Inside, a man stood alone, shielding children with a trembling barrier. His body shook, his strength nearly gone.
"Please… help them!" he cried when he saw us.
"You've done enough," I told him. "We'll take care of the rest."
Adam and Jenny carried the children out one by one. Alice smothered the flames with water magic. Alex dispatched the last of the stragglers.
When the children were safe, the caretaker collapsed, thanking us through tears. But I shook my head.
"Don't thank us," I said softly. "If this boy hadn't run into the forest, we would've never found you in time."
The boy looked up at me, his small hands still clutching Arthur's shoulder. His eyes were wide, haunted.
"…I just ran because a voice told me to," he whispered.
A voice.
My pulse quickened. That wasn't normal — not at all. Whatever guided him here… it wasn't chance.
And I knew, deep down, that this boy was the reason I felt that pull. He wasn't just a survivor. He was meant for something far greater.