Morning arrived quietly.
Rain still tapped softly against the windows.
The house remained peaceful.
For the first time in days, Eyrx was sleeping without waking every few minutes.
Hazel slowly opened his bedroom door.
She peeked inside.
Eyrx was asleep.
The dark circles under his eyes were still visible even in his sleep.
For a moment, Hazel stood there silently.
Then she closed the door without making a sound.
"He needs rest..."
She whispered.
---
Downstairs, her grandmother was already drinking tea.
The old woman glanced up.
"Where are you going so early?"
Hazel grabbed her car keys.
"Today is Darven's court hearing."
Her grandmother nodded.
"I know."
Hazel continued.
"After everything that happened, I hired a lawyer too. The case is partly connected to me now."
The grandmother watched her carefully.
"And Eyrx?"
"He stays home."
"He needs rest."
The old woman narrowed her eyes.
"Then why are you leaving at eight in the morning when the hearing isn't until later?"
Hazel froze.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
The grandmother noticed.
A suspicious smile appeared on her face.
"You're hiding something."
Hazel immediately looked away.
"No."
"You know I don't hide things from you."
"Hmm."
The grandmother didn't look convinced.
But she let it go.
"Be careful."
Hazel nodded.
Then quickly left the house.
The moment she sat inside her car—
She released a long breath.
"That was close..."
The engine started.
Soon she was driving through the rainy streets.
---
A few minutes later, she called the lawyer.
The call connected immediately.
"What time is the hearing?"
"One o'clock."
Jack's voice came through the phone.
Hazel glanced at the clock.
Still plenty of time.
"Anything else?"
Jack hesitated.
"Actually, yes."
Hazel's grip tightened on the steering wheel.
"What?"
"I'm going to Darven's house first."
Hazel's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"The contract."
"What contract?"
"The agreement between Darven and Grace."
Jack continued.
"If I can find it, it proves Darven wasn't responsible for Grace's death."
Silence.
Hazel's expression changed instantly.
"Is it still inside his house?"
"Most likely."
Hazel looked out the window.
Rain slid down the glass.
"Okay."
Then she ended the call.
Her thoughts immediately raced.
If that contract appeared in court...
If Darven was proven innocent...
Then he would eventually talk.
And if he talked...
Eyrx would learn things he wasn't supposed to know yet.
Hazel's jaw tightened.
"I need to do something."
---
Far away...
Deep within the hidden laboratory.
Grace sat on the edge of her bed.
"So this is Kryzheon..."
She looked around.
A faint smile appeared.
"I finally reached it."
Then she looked toward the masked girl.
"Thank you for saving my life."
The girl shook her head.
"You don't need to thank us."
Grace stood up.
Removing the last medical wire connected to her arm.
"I feel fine."
The girl immediately frowned.
"You should rest."
"I'm hungry."
That answer made the girl sigh.
A few minutes later, Grace was eating.
And eating fast.
The masked girl watched in silence.
"You were almost dead yesterday."
Grace swallowed another bite.
"And now you're eating like nothing happened."
"I'm hungry."
The girl couldn't argue with that.
---
After finishing her meal, Grace stood up again.
"Can I go outside?"
The girl looked at her carefully.
"Why?"
"I want fresh air."
After a moment, the girl nodded.
But her voice became serious.
"Someone will accompany you."
Grace raised an eyebrow.
"Am I a prisoner?"
"No."
The girl looked away.
"Just protected."
Grace immediately noticed something strange.
"Tell me something."
"What?"
"Do you know about the past?"
The masked girl's body stiffened.
"A little."
Grace looked directly at her.
"You know more than you're saying."
Silence.
Then the girl spoke quietly.
"You look exactly like your mother."
Grace froze.
The girl continued.
"So cover your face when you're outside."
"Why?"
"Because many people in this clan hated her."
Those words hit harder than Grace expected.
"Hated... my mother?"
The girl nodded.
"Now go outside."
Then she added:
"When you come back, we'll test your abilities."
Grace blinked.
"My abilities?"
"Your power."
The girl crossed her arms.
"You awakened recently."
Grace frowned.
"I don't know how to use any power."
The masked girl let out a long sigh.
"I can tell."
She looked away.
"You were defeated by a clone."
Grace's eye twitched.
"That hurts."
"Good."
The girl pointed toward a chair.
"Sit there and wait."
Then she turned and left.
---
The laboratory corridors were dark.
Cold.
Silent.
Warning signs covered many doors.
Some doors looked as if they hadn't been opened for years.
The masked girl walked through them all.
Eventually reaching the massive gate leading outside.
The gate opened.
Beyond it stretched a dense forest.
She pulled a black cloak over herself and disappeared among the trees.
---
An hour later.
A hidden town appeared between the forest paths.
The girl walked straight through it.
Ignoring the stares.
Ignoring the whispers.
Until she reached a crowded club.
Then—
BOOM!
She kicked the door open.
The entire club fell silent.
Everyone turned toward her.
The bartender nearly dropped a glass.
One man muttered,
"Oh no..."
"He must be dead today."
The masked girl scanned the room.
Her anger was obvious.
"Where is Rokan?"
The bartender immediately pointed toward the back.
"He left."
"When?"
"An hour ago."
The girl's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I called him one hour ago."
The bartender nervously laughed.
"Exactly."
Silence.
Then—
"He ran away."
The room suddenly felt colder.
The masked girl clenched her fist.
"Where did he go?"
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew.
And somewhere deep inside the forest...
A frightened man was already running for his life.