Far away from the Dancing Hollows' territory, Black ViSage stood alone in the shadows.
In his hand was the photograph given by Handersson.
He didn't smile.
He didn't react.
His eyes remained empty—like a frozen lake hiding an abyss beneath.
Using the faint residual trace connected to the image, he focused.
The world around him seemed to quiet down.
Moments passed.
Then—
He opened his eyes.
"Found you," he said flatly.
No emotion.
No satisfaction.
No joy.
Only certainty.
The location appeared clearly in his mind.
Dancing Hollows' base.
Black ViSage lowered the photograph and slipped it back into his coat.
"If they're involved," he muttered, "this will end quickly."
Without another word, his presence faded into the darkness—
not with haste,
not with excitement,
but with absolute resolve.
The Nightglass Covenant was not listed in any public registry.
flags.
headquarters.
No official recognition.
Yet when something disappeared without leaving a trace, their name always surfaced—quietly.
Black ViSage stood alone beneath dim candlelight.
The room was silent.
In his mind, Halex's image overlapped with the structure he had already mapped:
The House of Dancing Hollows.
"A direct assault is inefficient," he thought.
"Too many eyes. Too many variables."
He analyzed calmly.
Dancing Hollows specialized in deception and social masks
Seha was emotionally involved
Halex was not restrained like a normal captive
That made the rescue… complicated
If he moved too early, Halex could be relocated.
If he waited too long, Halex's will might waver.
Black ViSage closed his eyes.
"Tomorrow," he decided.
Not tonight.
Not in anger.
Not impulsively.
Tomorrow—
when routines repeat,
when guards grow careless,
when confidence turns into weakness.
He reached for his coat.
"No witnesses," he thought.
"No unnecessary blood."
"Only extraction."
The Nightglass Covenant did not announce its actions.
And Black ViSage did not fail.
The candle went out.
Darkness reclaimed the room.
Tomorrow,
the House of Dancing Hollows would learn something important—
Some shadows don't dance.
They erase.
Halex enjoyed his time with Seha.
Sometimes she smiled with him.
Sometimes she got angry with him.
Sometimes she scolded him for small things.
Without realizing it, all of Seha's emotions had begun to revolve around Halex.
To her, he was no longer just someone she owned.
One day—
Halex witnessed something he had never seen before.
Seha and the others were torturing a young slave.
There was no reason.
No mistake.
No crime.
Only laughter.
Halex froze.
Then he stepped forward.
"Hey… Seha," Halex said, his voice trembling.
"Why are you torturing this innocent kid?"
Seha looked at him calmly.
"This?" she said.
"It's just for fun."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Do you want to join?"
Halex shook his head immediately.
"No. I don't want to," he said.
"Please… release the slave."
The air changed.
Tiana's expression twisted with anger.
"I don't like it," she said coldly,
"when a slave orders me."
She took a step forward.
"He should be punished."
Seha turned sharply.
"Hey, Tiana," she said, her voice firm.
"Don't be rude to my friend."
Tiana clenched her fists.
"He is a friend to you," she snapped.
"Not to me."
Her eyes locked onto Halex.
"So tell him to shut up."
"Otherwise—"
Her voice dropped.
"He will regret it."
Silence fell.
Halex realized something at that moment—
Seha was standing between him and danger.
But the world she belonged to…
was never going to forgive his kindness.
The Next Day
The Dancing Hollows departed for a mission.
Their objective was collecting Giant Weapons—ancient relics made from materials stronger than high-grade steel, often reforged into elite weapons.
Halex looked at Seha.
"I want to go with you too," he said.
Tiana laughed mockingly.
"Wow. Nice joke," she said.
"A freaking crybaby wants to go on a mission like this?"
Silvana crossed her arms.
"This isn't a game."
Latina added seriously,
"There are many types of Marrowbane in that area. They can attack at any moment."
She looked straight at Halex.
"So you're not coming. Understand?"
Halex clenched his fists.
"Please," he said.
"I won't become a burden."
Seha shook her head.
"No. We're saying this for your safety."
Halex lowered his head.
"Please… please… please…"
Then—
He pretended to cry.
"Seha!"
Seha sighed.
"Huh… okay, okay," she said.
"Stop crying."
Vanisa snapped instantly.
"Are you mad, Seha?
We don't need someone who can't fight."
Remi scoffed.
"He's useless."
Kasy added coldly,
"And who's going to protect him during battle?"
Fera said harshly,
"Don't think only about yourself and your slave.
Think about the group."
Halex looked up sharply.
"I am not a slave."
Seha's eyes narrowed.
"Hey, Fera," she said firmly.
"Don't call him a slave."
She stepped closer to Halex.
"He is my friend.
If you call him a slave again, he'll get angry."
Fera laughed.
"So what if he gets angry?"
Halex spoke again, desperate.
"Please… I just want to come.
I feel bored staying at home."
He pointed to their equipment.
"I can carry your bags. Please."
Seha thought for a moment.
"I'll protect Halex," she said.
"So he's coming with us."
Tiana exhaled loudly.
"Okay. Okay. Hell."
Halex smiled—relieved and happy.
The mission began.
Meanwhile — The Dancing Hollows' House
Black ViSage arrived.
The house was empty.
"No presence," he muttered.
He turned his head slowly.
"Where did they go?"
Then his cold gaze fell upon a maid.
"Tell me," he said.
"Where are the Dancing Hollows?
And where is Halex?"
The maid's name was Lelisa.
She glared at him.
"What makes you think I'll tell you my master's location?"
Black ViSage replied calmly,
"It would be better for you if you do."
Lelisa sneered.
"Fool. I'll never tell you."
Black ViSage tilted his head slightly.
"Then tell me where Halex is.
The new slave."
Lelisa's expression changed instantly.
"You—!" she shouted.
"How dare you call him a slave?"
She stepped forward.
"He is my master."
Black ViSage paused.
"…Master?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Handersson told me Halex was innocent.
Kidnapped as a slave."
Slavery had increased rapidly in free villages.
So how—
"How does a slave become a master?"
Lelisa suddenly attacked.
Black ViSage dodged effortlessly.
"You say he became a master," Black ViSage said.
"Explain."
Lelisa answered through clenched teeth.
"Because he is Lady Seha's friend."
"…I see."
Black ViSage raised his hand.
Gravity twisted.
Lelisa slammed into the floor, unable to move.
"Tell me everything," he said coldly.
"And where they went."
A massive, ghost-like aura filled the room.
Lelisa's mind screamed.
This… isn't a human aura.
"Who… are you?" she whispered.
"I am Black ViSage."
Silence.
"Now speak."
Butlers rushed in and attacked.
They were crushed instantly—pinned to the floor without effort.
"If you don't want to suffer," Black ViSage said,
"talk."
When Lelisa heard the name Black ViSage, her face went pale.
The Dancing Hollows had spoken about him days ago.
"O-Okay," she said.
"I'll tell you."
"Good."
"They went on a mission," she said.
"To find Giant Weapons."
Her consciousness faded.
Black ViSage released a sleeping gas.
Every maid, butler, and slave collapsed.
Then he used a spell.
When they woke up—
They would remember nothing.
Black ViSage looked at the slaves.
Bruised. Broken. Silent.
"…Cruel," he muttered.
He carried them all out of the house.
His destination—
His destroyed home.
Underground.
He placed them carefully in a hidden safe chamber.
Only then did he turn back toward the surface.
First, secure them.
Then…
"I will retrieve Halex."