Morning came quietly.
Too quietly. Rin hadn't slept again. Not really.
His body had rested. His mind hadn't. The dream...
No. The memory. It lingered.
"You came earlier this time."
The words refused to leave him.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the folded note resting in his palm.
Five words.
Do not trust the System.
Simple. Terrifying. He unfolded it again.
The handwriting was elegant. Almost familiar. Was his handwriting...
Not Ji-ho's. Not anyone inside the fortress.
At least... Not that he recognized.
His fingers traced the ink. Dry. Real.
Not a System window. Not magic. Just ordinary ink on ordinary paper.
"...How?"
He glanced toward the window.
Locked.
Still frozen shut from the night's cold. No footprints decorated the snow outside. No broken enchantments.
No signs that anyone had entered. Yet the feather... The note... They were here.
Someone had been inside his room. Someone who wanted him to know. A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
Three precise taps. Before Rin could react—
The System appeared. The blue screen flickered violently. Half of it failed to render. Letters appeared one at a time.
Good morning.
...
You appear tired.
Rin stared at it.
"...Seriously?"
The System waited.
"..."
"...You're pretending nothing happened?"
Processing...
...
Clarification requested.
Rin slowly raised the folded note.
"...This."
Nothing. The System remained perfectly still. No error. No warning. No recognition. Almost experimentally...
Rin held the note directly in front of the floating window. The blue interface overlapped the paper.
Yet... It reacted to nothing.
"...Can you see this?"
Several seconds passed.
See what?
Rin's heartbeat quickened.
"...The paper."
There is no paper.
Cold spread through his stomach.
"...You're lying."
Negative.
"...Then you're blind."
The System froze. One small loading circle spun.
That possibility has not been evaluated.
Another knock. More impatient this time.
"Rin?"
Kaelith was there wainting.
Rin's eyes widened. Without thinking, he folded the note and slipped it beneath his pillow. The black feather followed. The moment both disappeared—
The System spoke again.
Heart rate elevated.
Stress levels increasing.
Recommendation: Speak honestly with trusted companions.
"...You're making this incredibly difficult."
The blue window flickered.
That has been statistically confirmed.
Then it vanished. The knock came again.
Rin exhaled slowly.
"...Coming."
He opened the door. Kaelith stood outside. Already dressed in full uniform.
Silver armor reflected the pale morning light spilling through the corridor windows.
He studied Rin for only a second.
"...You did not sleep."
It wasn't a question.
"...Was it that obvious?"
"You have shadows beneath your eyes."
Rin laughed weakly.
"I thought they made me look mysterious."
"They make you look exhausted."
"...Harsh."
"Accurate."
"...Fair."
For a brief moment... Neither moved. Then Kaelith's gaze drifted past Rin. Toward the room. His expression remained unreadable.
"...Is something wrong?"
Rin felt his pulse jump. Did he know? Could he somehow sense the note?
"...No."
The lie came too quickly. Kaelith noticed. Of course he noticed. The General missed very little. Yet...
He simply nodded.
"If you wish to speak later..."
His voice remained calm.
"...I will listen."
No pressure. No suspicion. Just... An offer. Somehow...That made Rin feel even worse.
"...Thanks."
Kaelith inclined his head.
"Elder Veyron has requested everyone's presence."
"I figured."
"The council begins shortly."
As they walked through the fortress... The atmosphere felt different. Word of last night's darkness had spread. Soldiers spoke in hushed voices. Some glanced toward Rin before quickly looking away.
Others saluted Kaelith. Conversations stopped whenever they passed.
"...They're talking about us."
Kaelith answered without looking around.
"They usually do."
"...That's not comforting."
"It should not be."
"...You're terrible at reassurance."
"I have been told."
Rin smiled despite himself. At least something still felt normal. Until—
A young soldier hurried past carrying a stack of reports. He stopped abruptly upon seeing them.
"...General!"
Kaelith nodded.
The soldier saluted. Then looked toward Rin. His expression became strangely excited.
"...Good morning, Sir Rin."
"...Sir?"
The young man blinked.
"...Should I not—"
"No. I mean..."
Rin rubbed his forehead.
"...Why am I 'Sir'?"
The soldier looked genuinely confused.
"...Because..."
He lowered his voice.
"...the General personally escorted you back to your quarters."
"..."
"...Once."
Another soldier walking by added,
"...Twice."
A third joined without slowing.
"...And he brought him bread."
Rin froze.
"...How do all of you know about the bread?"
The third soldier looked offended.
"...The kitchens have eyes."
"The kitchens...have eyes?"
"...Metaphorically."
"I hope."
"...Probably."
Kaelith continued walking as though none of this concerned him. Rin hurried after him.
"...General."
"Yes?"
"...Did you know the fortress has an underground information network?"
"I suspected."
"And you're not worried?"
"I stopped trying to understand soldiers years ago."
"...Understandable."
As they rounded the final corner... The doors to the council chamber came into view. Two elite guards stood outside.
Both looked unusually tense. One of them opened the heavy doors.
Inside... Everyone was already waiting.
Elder Veyron.
Selara.
Lucien.
Vorak.
Several commanders. Maps covered the central table. Dozens of reports lay scattered across the wood.
Nobody looked rested. Elder Veyron spoke first.
"...We have another problem."
Rin's stomach sank.
"...Please tell me it isn't another timeline."
"...No."
"...Good."
"It's worse."
The old mage slid a crystal across the table. Its light had almost completely faded.
"This is one of the northern barrier crystals."
Lucien frowned immediately.
"...Impossible."
"It was fully charged yesterday."
Elder Veyron nodded grimly.
"It should have remained active for another twelve years."
Silence filled the room. Then Veyron uttered the words none of them wanted to hear.
"...Every protective barrier surrounding the fortress lost exactly twelve percent of its power during last night's darkness."
Rin's breath caught. Twelve percent.
His mind immediately returned to the System.
Timeline Synchronization: 12%.
The same number.
The exact same number.
Coincidence?
His instincts screamed—
No.