The Duke leaned forward slightly, his presence filling the room in a way that made the space itself feel smaller. His gaze moved across both of them with quiet precision before he spoke.
"Good. Now that you're both here, let's talk about your mission."
Aurelia's expression sharpened almost immediately, the shift subtle but unmistakable. Ezekiel, on the other hand, remained relaxed, though the slight narrowing of his mismatched eyes made it clear that he was paying closer attention than he let on.
"The situation across Gregoria has stabilized over the past few months," the Duke continued, his tone even and controlled. "Not peace, and certainly not safety, but control. Most Ascension Zones and Incursions have been cleared. The Nobles handled the majority, while the newly established Adventurers Guild took care of the rest."
Aurelia's eyes flickered with interest. "The Guild is already operational?"
"It is," the Duke replied, glancing briefly toward the vast estate beyond the window. "Faster than expected. Society has begun to recover. Trade routes are reopening, cities are regaining structure, and order is slowly returning, piece by piece."
Ezekiel let out a quiet breath, sounding faintly amused. "Sounds boring already."
The Duke ignored him without so much as a glance. "However, not everything has been resolved. Certain wildlife exposed to prolonged Spirit Energy has evolved beyond its natural state. Beasts, monsters, and unstable variants have begun to emerge."
Aurelia straightened slightly. "Localized threats."
"Yes," the Duke said, tapping his finger once against the desk. "There is a forest on the outskirts of the Bane Dukedom."
Aurelia did not hesitate. "The Onyx Veil."
"The same," he confirmed.
Ezekiel's posture did not change, but his attention was now fully engaged.
"Over the past few weeks, the land surrounding that forest has begun to deteriorate," the Duke continued. "Crops are failing, the soil is losing vitality, and Spirit density has become unstable. Areas closest to the forest are no longer habitable."
A brief silence settled in the room as the weight of his words sank in.
"That alone would not warrant your involvement," he added. "Adventurers were sent to investigate."
Ezekiel's lips curved into a faint smirk. "And they didn't come back."
"No," the Duke said calmly. "They didn't."
Aurelia's eyes narrowed. "How many?"
"Enough," he replied, his answer measured and deliberate. "Multiple teams of increasing rank. None returned."
Even Ezekiel's amusement faded slightly at that.
"So it isn't just the environment," Aurelia said.
"No, it isn't," the Duke confirmed, finally letting his gaze settle directly on them. "Your mission is to investigate the cause."
Ezekiel tilted his head slightly. "And if the cause doesn't want to be found?"
"Then you eliminate it," the Duke answered without hesitation.
Aurelia exhaled softly, grounding herself. "And you're assigning this to us."
"Yes. Either one of you may take it."
Ezekiel pushed himself off the wall, his gaze sliding briefly toward Aurelia. "Either? That's generous."
"It's efficient," she replied without looking at him.
A quiet pause passed between them before Ezekiel stretched lightly, rolling his shoulder as if the entire briefing had been little more than a mild inconvenience.
"A forest, disappearing adventurers, unstable land…" he muttered before shrugging. "Yeah, I'll take it."
The words were casual, but final.
The Duke did not question his decision. "Very well. Prepare and leave when ready."
"Got it," Ezekiel said with a small, dismissive wave.
"Understood," Aurelia added with a slight inclination of her head.
The Duke's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer before he spoke again.
"Dismissed."
Neither of them said anything further. They turned and left, the doors closing behind them with a quiet, final click.
Silence settled back into the office, heavy and unmoving. The Duke remained seated, his gaze fixed on the space they had just occupied.
"Khaorax," he called.
The air shifted in response, not violently or visibly, but in a way that made the room feel watched. Something ancient stirred, its presence pressing faintly against reality itself.
"I barely sensed him at first," the Duke said calmly. "I did eventually, but only just. He's strong."
"Not merely strong," a deep, layered voice answered, echoing as though from somewhere far beneath the world. "There is something else within him. Something ancient."
The Duke's fingers tapped lightly against the desk. "His Spirit bond."
"Yes," Khaorax replied. "It is not like me, but it is… close. Similar, yet fundamentally different."
The Duke's eyes narrowed slightly. "So it isn't a chaos beast."
"No," the voice answered, stretching the word with quiet certainty. "But it is powerful."
A faint distortion rippled through the air, as though something immense had leaned closer.
"I could look deeper," Khaorax offered. "If you wish."
The Duke remained silent for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon beyond the estate.
"No," he said at last. "Not yet."
The presence receded slightly.
"You are cautious," Khaorax observed. "And interested."
"Yes," the Duke admitted.
A brief silence followed before his voice grew quieter.
"He could match me in a fight."
Khaorax did not deny it.
"Perhaps," it said.
A faint smile appeared on the Duke's face, brief and fleeting.
"Finally... something interesting"
"Yes, it's either that or we start fighting those High noble Ancient breeds I sense."
"No, that will piss off the purple-eyed snake and he'll probably give me a stupid task to do….just to annoy me"
"Hmm that's true….well something interesting better happen soon" Khaorax muttered. Already bored.
"Patience old friend, all in due time."
The corridor outside felt lighter, the oppressive weight of the Duke's presence fading the moment the doors closed behind them. Aurelia walked beside Ezekiel at an unhurried pace, and for a while, neither of them spoke.
"You left without a word," she said eventually, her voice calm but direct.
"I did," Ezekiel replied.
"That's all you have to say?"
A faint smirk touched his lips. "Were you expecting more?"
"I was expecting something."
He was quiet for a moment before answering. "It wasn't the right time."
"For what?"
"To stay."
The answer came easily, and that seemed to bother her more than anything else.
"You always do that," she said.
"Do what?"
"Leave. You just got back, and now you're going on another mission."
Ezekiel exhaled softly, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I always come back."
A brief pause followed.
"Eventually," he added.
Silence settled again, softer this time.
"Things changed," Aurelia said after a few steps.
"I can see that."
She hesitated briefly before continuing. "Ishmael hasn't returned."
"I know," Ezekiel said.
That made her glance at him. "You know?"
"He's alive."
There was no hesitation in his voice, no doubt.
Aurelia studied him for a moment. "You're sure."
"Mm."
They walked a few more steps.
"He's been gone too long," she said quietly.
Ezekiel shrugged slightly. "Relax. He'll be back."
Aurelia frowned faintly. "You sound certain."
He smirked. "Let's just say I have a feeling."
Before she could respond, he reached over and lightly ruffled her hair.
"Don't mess up my hair, Zeke," she said immediately, glaring at him.
"I don't want it looking like yours."
Ezekiel stopped walking altogether, staring at her in disbelief.
"Excuse me? What does that mean?"
Aurelia didn't answer. She simply kept walking.
"Wait, come back, you don't like my hair?" he called, quickly moving to catch up with her.
She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop the small smile that formed on her face.
'He still hasn't changed'