Ingrid snapped her eyes open.
The first thing she noticed was the darkness. Not the dimness of twilight, but a deep, full darkness of night.
She sat up in bed, confused, her heart suddenly racing.
Wait… when did I fall asleep?
She glanced around. The room she'd chosen was spacious and elegantly furnished. The bed was as plush as she'd imagined. Too plush, apparently.
I only meant to test it…
Her gaze shifted to the large window. Through the parted curtains, she could see the moon high in the night sky, bathing the garden below in silvery light.
Then realization hit her like a bucket of ice water.
"Cassian!"
Panic surged through her like a wave. She threw back the covers and rushed out of bed, her bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor.
How long has it been…?! Oh no, oh no, oh no!
She bolted to the door and flung it open.
A cold wind rushed in, making her shiver. She was still in her maid uniform, not designed for the chilly night.
The corridor before her was dark. Unnaturally dark.
The chandeliers that should have been lit were extinguished. Only the moonlight filtering through the tall gothic windows offered any visibility, casting long, distorted shadows that danced on the walls.
The corridor felt… eerie. Almost menacing.
Ingrid hesitated at the threshold, wrapping her arms around herself.
Come on, move. You're an adult. There's nothing to fear.
She took a step forward.
Then another.
That's when she noticed the mist.
A faint, whitish mist crept along the floor, curling around her ankles like spectral fingers.
What the heck is this?
"Cassian?" she called softly, her voice echoing strangely in the oppressive silence.
No response.
Where could he be?
She moved down the corridor, passing several closed doors. Each step seemed to heighten her anxiety.
I was way too careless. There's no way he's still outside… at least, I hope not.
Searching indoors seemed the best option. He had to have gone to bed, right? He was a kid. Kids needed sleep.
She ventured deeper into the palace, trying to recall the layout Patrice had shown her. Cassian's room had to be around here somewhere, but where exactly?
Why didn't I pay better attention?!
Then she heard something.
CLANG.
Metal clashing against metal.
Ingrid froze, all her senses on high alert.
CLANG. CLANG.
The sounds came from farther down the corridor, around a corner.
The clash of swords.
What?!
Without thinking, she pressed herself against the wall and hid behind a large stone pillar, holding her breath.
She heard footsteps. Light and quick.
Then, emerging from a blind spot, two figures appeared in the moonlit corridor.
Cassian.
And a man.
Ingrid's eyes widened, and she instinctively covered her mouth to stifle a gasp.
Cassian held a short sword in his hands, his white tunic billowing as he lunged forward with an attack. The man, an unknown figure with short black hair and dark leather armor, parried the blow with his own blade.
CLANG.
Cassian's in danger!
The man looked… dangerous. Professional. His movements were fluid, calculated. Every parry was precise, every dodge minimal yet effective.
Cassian, on the other hand, attacked with enthusiasm but no real technique. He charged, struck, retreated, spun, struck again.
The man parried or dodged each attack with apparent ease.
How did this intruder get into the Wing of Honor?!
Fear surged through Ingrid, but so did something else. Guilt. Responsibility.
This kid's in danger, and it's my fault. I left him alone. I fell asleep like an idiot.
She had to do something.
But what?
I've never fought in my life. And this man… he looks like a seasoned warrior. I'd get killed.
She hesitated, her hands trembling.
But I can't just stand here doing nothing!
Suddenly, the man went on the offensive. He pivoted gracefully and unleashed a series of rapid strikes that put Cassian on the defensive. The boy retreated hastily, parrying clumsily.
Now or never!
Ingrid took a deep breath and started to rise, ready to run toward Cassian to… what, exactly? Shield him with her body? Scream for help?
She didn't get the chance to find out.
Before she could fully stand, someone grabbed her from behind.
A firm hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her startled cry. A strong arm pinned her against a solid chest.
"Don't make a sound," a male voice whispered in her ear. "The situation's under control."
Ingrid struggled instinctively, but the grip was too strong.
"I'm with the Silent Circle," the voice continued calmly. "Name's Nathan. Stop moving, or you'll get us spotted."
The Silent Circle?
Ingrid had never heard of it, but she tried not to show it. She gradually stopped struggling, though her heart still raced.
Nathan loosened his grip slightly but kept a hand on her shoulder to keep her crouched behind the pillar.
He was a young man in his twenties, with short brown hair and piercing gray eyes. He wore dark clothing that seemed to blend into the shadows, his face partially concealed by a black scarf.
"Listen carefully," he whispered, looking her in the eyes. "I'm currently assigned to monitor Cassian. And what you're seeing over there…"
He made a subtle gesture toward the ongoing fight.
"It's not a threat. Cassian's playing."
Ingrid stared at him, bewildered.
"What?" she whispered. "But that man—"
"Isn't a person," Nathan cut in. "It looks human, but it wasn't born naturally. Cassian made it appear."
Ingrid blinked, completely lost.
"That makes no sense—"
"You clearly didn't get the full briefing on Cassian," Nathan said with a soft sigh. "Listen, you only need to know two things."
He held up two fingers.
"One: Cassian is very playful. He loves inventing games, often dangerous or weird by normal standards."
He raised a second finger.
"Two: his magical abilities defy all understanding. He can summon living creatures, objects, even… human copies from that sphere floating around him."
Ingrid opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again.
"But… but that's…"
"Unrealistic? Impossible?" Nathan shrugged. "Welcome to your new job. You'll get to know Cassian better in the coming days. Trust me, it's going to be… an experience."
He gave her a stern look.
"And by the way, you were terrible today. Falling asleep and leaving the kid alone? Really?"
Ingrid looked down, ashamed.
"I… I'm sorry, I—"
"It better not happen again," Nathan said firmly. "Now, stay here and watch."
The fight between Cassian and his phantom opponent moved farther down the corridor, the two figures gradually disappearing around the corner.
Nathan stood with impressive agility.
"I've got to go. Don't move from here."
And before Ingrid could respond, he was gone.
Literally gone.
One moment he was there, the next there was nothing. No sound of footsteps, no visible movement.
His stealth skills were impeccable.
Ingrid stayed frozen behind the pillar for a long moment, trying to process everything she'd just learned.
There could be multiple people watching me right now…
The thought was deeply unsettling.
She stood slowly, glancing around with newfound wariness. How many invisible eyes were on her at this moment?
And Cassian…
She replayed Nathan's words, the scene she'd just witnessed.
Now that I think about it, leaving a kid alone in such a huge section of the royal palace was weird from the start.
She sighed, rubbing her face wearily.
There's probably no point expecting anything normal with this job.
She thought back to the man fighting Cassian. He'd seemed so human. His movements, his expressions, the way he parried attacks…
How can something not real seem so… alive?
In the shadows of a distant alcove, Nathan watched Cassian continue his "training" with the man.
He's probably playing at swordfighting because of what happened during his meeting with the king, Nathan mused. That day was a real battle. It must've left an impression.
He observed Cassian's movements for a few seconds.
Then he sighed deeply, shaking his head.
"He's absolutely awful," he muttered to himself.
Cassian charged without strategy, his strikes sloppy, his guard constantly open. Any fighter with minimal training could've disarmed him in seconds.
The only remarkable thing about this kid is his ability to pull all sorts of stuff out of that water sphere following him.
Cassian laughed gleefully as he clumsily dodged a strike from his training partner.
"Again! Again!" he shouted with enthusiasm.
Nathan sighed again.
It's gonna be a long night.