"Nice to have you back, Rio. I'm guessing the academy finally sent you out on a mission?"
Elena leaned slightly back against her chair as she spoke, crimson eyes resting calmly on him from across the office.
Rio sighed softly before taking a seat.
"Yes, ma'am."
He placed the mission report onto the table.
"Apparently there was a demon spotted near an orphanage north of Solmere."
The moment the word demon left his mouth—
Her expression changed.
The relaxed atmosphere inside the office vanished instantly.
"A demon…?"
Her eyes narrowed sharply.
"We did receive several reports regarding strange sightings around that district."
A faint sigh escaped her afterward.
"But the guild's been too busy to properly investigate."
Rio noticed the subtle exhaustion beneath her eyes.
"…Something wrong?"
Elena remained silent briefly before eventually speaking.
"Roy's gone missing."
Rio blinked.
"Roy… as in the Vice Guild Master?"
"Yeah."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the pen in her hand.
"Apparently after attending a meeting with the council, he vanished completely."
"No traces."
"No witnesses."
"Nothing."
Rio's expression sharpened immediately.
"I already sent Emma to investigate," she continued quietly, "but we still haven't found anything."
Then—
CRACK.
The pen inside her hand shattered instantly.
A heavy pressure spread faintly through the office.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"If Oblivion or the council had anything to do with this…"
Her voice lowered dangerously.
"…we won't let them walk away."
Silence lingered briefly afterward.
Then she exhaled slowly before rubbing her forehead.
"…Haah. Sorry for dragging you into this."
Rio shook his head lightly.
"No. It's fine."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'll look into Roy as well while handling the mission."
Elena glanced at him briefly before nodding.
"…That would help."
Soon her gaze shifted toward the black cat resting lazily on Rio's shoulder.
"…Is that your spirit beast?"
Rio stiffened slightly.
"A-ah… yes."
He awkwardly scratched his cheek.
"He's apparently a Monarch-class dragon."
For the first time since the conversation began—
genuine curiosity appeared in the Elena's eyes.
"A Monarch-class dragon spirit?"
"H-haha… yeah."
The black cat lazily opened one golden eye before sneering arrogantly.
Elena stared at it quietly.
"…It seems oddly fond of you."
Rio twitched slightly.
"A-ah?"
His eyes shifted toward Astravax.
"I… guess so?"
Astravax immediately looked away in disgust.
[Do not misunderstand, mortal.]
Rio ignored him completely.
Soon afterward, Rio left the Guild Master's office and headed toward the guild's lower training grounds.
The moment he stepped inside—
BOOOOOOM.
A loud impact shook the entire area.
"…Hm."
Rio sighed.
"About what I expected."
Several guild members nearby looked terrified while dust filled part of the arena.
Rio turned his head slightly.
Silver Ryker was currently embedded halfway into a broken wall.
"…Cough."
The black-haired swordsman slowly pushed himself out from the crater while dust fell from his shoulders.
Standing opposite him—
laughing loudly—
was a massive bald man carrying a gigantic greatsword over one shoulder.
Sir Ogram.
The moment Ogram noticed Rio—
his face lit up instantly.
"OH?!"
He pointed dramatically.
"Brat! You're back already?!"
Rio barely had time to react.
Ogram instantly appeared before him.
"…Wha—"
GRAB.
Rio's eyes widened.
Then—
BOOOOM.
Ogram casually threw him straight into the same wall Silver had crashed into moments earlier.
Dust exploded everywhere.
Rio coughed violently while slowly pulling himself out of the crater beside Silver.
"…The hell was that for?!"
Ogram laughed loudly.
"That's for disappearing without saying goodbye, brat!"
Silver silently glanced sideways toward Rio.
"…Welcome."
Rio sighed painfully.
Ogram swung the gigantic sword onto his shoulder before grinning widely.
"Now then!"
A heavy pressure erupted from his body.
"Both of you."
He pointed toward them excitedly.
"Come at me."
His grin widened further.
"Let's see what the academy's taught you monsters."
…
"H-hah…"
Rio panted heavily while lying flat against the shattered training ground.
Every muscle in his body screamed painfully from exhaustion.
Beside him, Silver Ryker looked even worse. His usually calm appearance had completely collapsed as he sat against broken stone breathing heavily, several tears visible across his uniform.
Meanwhile—
Sir Ogram stood perfectly fine in the center of the arena.
Not even sweating.
"Hahaha!"
The giant swordsman laughed loudly while resting his massive blade against his shoulder.
"Now that was entertaining!"
Rio stared blankly upward.
Entertaining my ass…
Ogram pointed toward him with a grin.
"Hm… Noctis brat."
His eyes narrowed slightly in approval.
"You've definitely gotten stronger."
Rio slowly pushed himself upward.
The difference compared to two months ago was obvious even to him. Back then Ogram could overwhelm him casually with pure physical strength alone.
Now—
at the very least—
Rio could actually keep up for short periods.
Then Ogram glanced toward Silver.
"And you too, Ryker brat."
Silver silently looked up.
"You aren't bad at all."
Ogram grinned wider.
"I honestly didn't think anyone among the first years would come remotely close to Noctis…"
A faint dangerous pressure radiated around him briefly.
"…but you aren't that far behind."
Silver slowly stood up afterward.
Then unexpectedly—
he bowed his head respectfully.
"Thank you for the spar."
Rio blinked slightly.
Even Ogram looked surprised.
"Hm? A noble with actual manners?"
Silver calmly adjusted the silver blade resting at his waist.
"It isn't every day I get the opportunity to spar against an SS-Rank warrior."
His expression remained calm.
"I'd be a fool not to appreciate it."
For a moment—
silence lingered.
Then Ogram burst out laughing loudly once more.
"HAHAHA!"
"I like you, Ryker brat!"
He slammed a large hand against Silver's shoulder hard enough to nearly send him back into the wall.
Silver somehow remained standing.
Barely.
Rio honestly respected that.
Soon afterward, the two finally left the guild headquarters after cleaning themselves up slightly.
Night had already deepened over Solmere while glowing lanterns illuminated the city streets. The distant sounds of merchants and adventurers still echoed faintly throughout the bustling city despite the late hour.
Eventually Rio and Silver arrived at the designated meeting point near the northern district gates.
The remaining members of their team were already waiting there.
Fiora Grimwald stood quietly near the roadside while checking the string of her bow carefully.
Nearby Tristan Vaelthorn leaned lazily against a wall with his arms crossed, looking visibly impatient.
And Reina Emberheart—
stood calmly beneath the moonlight wearing that same perfect smile.
Too perfect.
Her crimson eyes briefly shifted toward Rio before returning forward again.
"Finally," Tristan muttered. "You two took forever."
Silver ignored him completely.
Fiora glanced toward Rio nervously.
"U-Um… are we leaving now?"
Rio looked toward the distant northern outskirts of Solmere.
Beyond those walls—
somewhere in the darkness—
a demon waited.
And for some reason—
Astravax had been unusually silent this entire time.
Rio slowly adjusted Nocturne Veil against his back.
"…Yeah."
His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"Let's move."
…
After taking the late-night train toward the northern outskirts of Solmere, the group eventually arrived before a lonely orphanage standing near the edge of a dark forest.
The building itself looked old.
Worn down by time.
Several lanterns dimly illuminated the front yard while cold wind brushed through the nearby trees. The atmosphere felt strangely quiet.
Too quiet.
The moment Rio stepped out of the transport—
Astravax slowly opened one eye atop his shoulder.
[Something reeks.]
Rio's eyes narrowed slightly.
A woman washing clothes outside suddenly noticed the group standing near the entrance.
"A-ah!"
She quickly stood up nervously.
"S-sorry for making you wait!"
Her gaze soon fell toward their academy uniforms.
"…W-Wow."
Disbelief spread across her face.
"We never expected Nexus Academy to actually send students here…"
Rio stepped forward calmly.
"A-ah… my name is Lily," the woman spoke nervously while brushing hair behind her ear. "I oversee this orphanage."
Behind her stood several children peeking from behind the doorway.
Some looked excited.
Others curious.
And a few—
looked strangely hostile.
Rio smiled faintly.
"May we speak inside?"
"Ah— yes of course!"
Lily quickly guided them inside the orphanage.
The interior felt warm despite the unsettling atmosphere outside. Old wooden floors creaked softly beneath their footsteps while several candles illuminated the hallway dimly.
Soon they entered a small office room.
Rio sat down quietly.
"So," he began calmly, "can you explain the situation from the beginning?"
Lily nodded nervously.
"Yes…"
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"This started around a week ago."
She swallowed hard before continuing.
"A group of mercenaries arrived at the orphanage during heavy rain. One of their companions had apparently been injured during a mission nearby."
"I allowed them to stay the night."
Her voice began shaking afterward.
"That was a mistake."
The room grew quieter.
Silver's expression hardened slightly.
Lily lowered her head.
"The next morning…"
Her breathing grew uneven.
"…all of them were dead."
Fiora visibly stiffened.
"Their bodies were hanging from the trees outside."
Her eyes trembled violently now.
"Their heads had been torn off."
"Limbs scattered everywhere."
"One of them was split open from the chest downward like…" her voice cracked slightly, "…like an animal had played with them."
Rio immediately raised a hand calmly.
"You can stop there."
Lily nodded shakily.
"Y-Yes…"
She hugged herself slightly.
"I contacted anyone I could afterward."
"These past few days…"
Her voice lowered to almost a whisper.
"…whatever evil followed those mercenaries never left."
The room suddenly felt colder.
"Children have been disappearing one after another."
"Every single night."
Fiora's face paled slightly.
Tristan frowned.
Silver remained silent.
And Reina—
continued smiling softly.
"I-I think…"
Lily's eyes slowly shifted toward the dark windows.
"…it can even hear us now."
Rio narrowed his eyes.
"Have you actually seen this demon?"
"N-No…"
Lily pointed nervously outside the office.
"…but she has."
The group turned.
A small girl sat alone near the far corner of the orphanage hallway.
While the other children played together quietly—
she remained isolated.
Watching nothing.
Feeling nothing.
Rio slowly approached her.
The wooden floor creaked softly beneath his footsteps.
Eventually he crouched down slightly near her.
"…Hi."
No response.
Her dull eyes remained fixed forward.
"Why aren't you playing with the others?"
Still—
nothing.
Lily slowly approached from behind nervously.
"Anaya…"
Her voice softened slightly.
"Do you want to tell them what you saw?"
For the first time—
the little girl spoke.
Her voice was emotionless.
"It was tall."
Everyone stilled.
"Very tall."
Her empty eyes slowly shifted upward.
"The hands touched the ground."
"It had too many fingers."
"Long fingers."
"They dragged across the dirt."
Fiora unconsciously stepped backward slightly.
"The neck was wrong."
Anaya's gaze remained hollow.
"Too long."
"It bent sideways."
"Like broken bones."
"The face…"
She paused.
"…didn't have skin."
Rio's eyes narrowed.
"It smiled without lips."
A heavy silence filled the hallway.
"It killed the mercenaries slowly."
Silver's expression darkened slightly.
"It ripped one apart while the others watched."
"Another tried running."
"The thing caught him with its hands."
Her tiny fingers slowly mimicked the motion.
"…and folded him backward."
Fiora gasped softly.
"There was blood everywhere."
Anaya's expression never changed once while speaking.
No fear.
No trembling.
Nothing.
And somehow—
that was far more disturbing.
Rio quietly stared at her eyes.
Empty.
Completely empty.
He slowly stood afterward before walking back toward Lily.
"…Has she always been like this?"
Lily immediately shook her head.
"N-No."
Her voice trembled.
"It happened after her brother disappeared."
A pause.
Then softly—
"…he was the first one taken."