That night, a thin veil of mist still clung to the land as the ground of Farlios trembled under the clash of two opposing auras.
White light from Mireya and dense black waves from Zeydan shattered the forest's silence. The night wind was dragged along by their energy, sweeping leaves into the air like shards of fragile glass.
Mireya moved first.
Her foot slammed into the ground, and her body launched forward as if hurled by a colossal slingshot. The twin pistols in her hands vibrated softly before she pulled the triggers—short, sharp gunshots exploding in unison.
Zeydan did not dodge.
Shadow energy coiled around his body, forming a pulsing black layer over his skin. Every bullet that approached was swallowed by the darkness, evaporating into tiny fragments of light. His eyes glowed pure white, his gaze cold and unwavering.
"Don't expect this to be enough," Zeydan muttered hoarsely—yet the voice was not quite his own.
He stamped the ground.
The shadows around him sharpened into black lines, stretching like spears. In an instant, three shadow lances shot toward Mireya.
Mireya twisted her body, one arm lifting as she flipped a pistol sideways and slammed it outward—clang!
The karambit at her waist flashed as she drew it and slashed through another shadow. Black fragments burst apart like dust.
"You're slow, Zeydan," she said flatly.
Zeydan growled low and surged forward. His left hand clenched the air, shadows forming into a massive claw. He swung it down from above.
Mireya raised her arm, Atharlez's white aura coating it as she blocked the strike. The ground beneath her feet cracked.
Ardelle, standing some distance away, leaned on her sword, breathing fast.
"Those two Wardens… even I can't follow their movements," she whispered.
Nearby, Lina knelt beside Victor's body, her hands trembling, eyes red.
"Brother… I couldn't… do anything…"
Lina's cry was nearly swallowed by the thunderous impact as Zeydan slammed Mireya backward. She crashed into a tree trunk that splintered halfway through—but she stood again without hesitation. Her white aura flared brighter, her blond hair lifting in the energy.
She reappeared directly in front of Zeydan, karambit streaking toward his neck.
Zeydan tilted his head and caught Mireya's wrist with a hand wrapped in darkness.
"If you want to defeat me… you'll have to do more than that."
He pulled her in, twisted her body, and slammed her toward the ground. But before she hit, Mireya twisted midair, snatched her pistol with her left hand, rebounded upward, and fired twice at point-blank range.
The bullets pierced Zeydan's shoulder—his shadow energy burst apart like black smoke.
Yet Zeydan did not retreat.
Instead, he smiled—a smile that was not his own, wild and cold.
"Finally," he murmured, "you're getting interesting."
A wave of darkness exploded from his body. Mireya raised her arms to shield her face as she was pushed back several steps. Ardelle felt the pressure all the way to her ribs, as if they were being pulled inward.
"That energy… it's not ordinary Shadow power," Ardelle said, her voice shaking.
From within the darkness, a black figure shot forward like an arrow. Zeydan lunged, his right arm solidifying into a shadow spear aimed at Mireya's heart.
But before it could strike—
Someone was already standing between them.
Someone who arrived without a sound.
A black robe fluttered lightly.
A green turban reflected the moonlight.
Round black sunglasses covered his eyes.
Abdullah.
His right hand was open, holding Zeydan's shadow spear between two fingers.
"Stop," he said calmly, his voice deep—like water flowing far inside a cave.
Zeydan froze, the white glow in his eyes trembling.
Mireya, still under Atharlez's influence, did not wait. She leapt sideways, raised her pistol, and fired a white energy shot straight at Abdullah's face.
Ardelle screamed, "Watch out!"
But Abdullah merely turned his neck slightly.
The shot halted before touching his skin, as if suspended by an invisible force. He raised his left hand and gently pressed the air.
Mireya's pistol was forced upward, as though crushed by gravity.
Mireya snarled, flipped her karambit, and lunged to slash Abdullah.
But Abdullah shifted half a step—his movement too simple, yet far too fast to read.
Mireya's karambit stopped in midair, caught by Abdullah's bare palm.
"I don't want to hurt you," he said softly.
At that moment, Abdullah looked directly into Mireya's eyes. His sunglasses lifted slightly, revealing a glimpse of his right eye—a glowing white X-shaped mark.
His energy surged, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
A gentle—but overwhelming—wave struck Mireya, not from outside, but from within her own body. The white light around her abruptly vanished. Her breath hitched, her knees weakened.
She slumped forward, the glowing X in her eyes dimming.
Abdullah then turned his gaze to Zeydan.
"Now," he said quietly but firmly, "please regain control of yourself."
Zeydan stared at him. For a moment, the darkness around him seemed to argue with itself. Then he chuckled softly—the voice shifting back to his normal tone.
"It seems…" he inhaled deeply, the black aura fading, "…my role here is finished."
His eyes returned to their bluish-gray color. He looked around, confused.
"I… what just happened?"
Ardelle rushed toward Zeydan, sword raised, ready to strike.
Her eyes were sharp.
"You're cursed now."
Zeydan clenched his fists, backing away.
"Wait—what do you mean?!"
But Abdullah raised his hand.
"Ardelle," he said. "Don't kill him."
Ardelle froze. Her sword trembled before she slowly lowered it.
Zeydan looked at Abdullah, tension etched across his face.
"Who… are you?"
Abdullah adjusted his turban.
"I'm a specialist agent of the Wardens. I came because there was a highly unstable aura here."
Mireya groaned softly, sitting up and holding her neck.
"What… happened? My bones feel sore…"
Zeydan looked at Mireya's eyes—the X symbol in her left eye had vanished, but her right eye still bore the mark, faintly pulsing.
"Uh… why hasn't the X in your eye disappeared?" Zeydan asked.
Mireya frowned.
"What are you talking about? I don't have—"
Abdullah raised his hand, forming a thin mirror of transparent energy and handed it to her.
Mireya looked at her reflection.
She froze. Her mouth parted slightly.
"What… is this…?"
Ardelle stepped closer, looking at Abdullah with softened eyes.
"It's been a long time… my savior."
Abdullah smiled faintly.
"Now isn't the time. Look—one of your friends has fallen."
His words made the world feel unbearably quiet.
They approached Lina.
She sat motionless on the ground, hands clutching Victor's dust-covered clothes. Her shoulders trembled. Her eyes were empty, as if her mind refused to accept reality.
Abdullah knelt in front of her.
"Hey."
His voice was gentle, carrying a calm rarely found in a night like this.
"You're not alone. Your grief is not wrong. But don't let your loss make you fall."
Lina bit her lip.
"But… why did Brother Victor have to die?"
Abdullah placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Because he protected something that mattered to him. And now… you live to honor his courage."
Tears streamed down. Lina lowered her head, her sobs small but controlled. Abdullah gently patted her shoulder, then stood and lifted Victor's body with both arms. His movements were slow and respectful, as if carrying a hero.
"Come," Abdullah said, looking at them all.
"We're going to Nightrune Village."
Lina stood, wiping her face.
Ardelle picked up her sword, glancing at Abdullah briefly before walking beside him.
Zeydan exhaled deeply, his face still pale. Mireya walked slowly, one hand holding her waist, her right eye still faintly glowing.
The Farlios Forest felt quieter as the five of them left, following Abdullah, who carried Victor's body calmly beneath the moonlight.
And for the first time, the forest did not feel frightening—
but like a place where someone was being escorted home.
A few minutes later…
Green lanterns hung from every corner of the wooden fence, swaying gently in the Farlios wind. Large leaves shimmered with a faint blue glow under the moon.
Ardelle walked at the front, her steps light but tense.
Zeydan followed behind, gripping the hilt of his Photon Edge sword—nervous but trying to stay strong.
Mireya walked stiffly, shoulders tight.
Lina looked exhausted, her eyes swollen from crying.
Abdullah walked last, carrying Victor's body with calm strength, though his expression was heavy.
As they approached, two Furniy guards rushed down from the wooden tower. One of them—a wolf-eared man—immediately leveled his spear at Mireya.
Guard (firm, eyes narrowed):
"I'm sorry… but you must die now."
Mireya stopped. Her body stiffened, her breath caught.
Mireya (trembling softly):
"…What? Why? I didn't break any rules."
(Why is this happening all of a sudden…?) she screamed inside.
The guard stepped forward, fear filling his face as he stared at the X symbol in Mireya's eye.
But Abdullah leaned forward slightly, his voice low and commanding.
Abdullah:
"Let her be. Without her, your village would have been destroyed earlier."
(then sharply)
"And discard that thought. Understood?"
The guard swallowed hard. His wolf ears, once standing tall, drooped.
Guard:
"S-sorry… sir. And my apologies to you as well, miss."
He bowed deeply, then stepped back.
As the threat faded, villagers who had been hiding emerged one by one. Furniy children ran about, adults nodded respectfully. The tension dissolved into a warm welcome.
Blue lantern lights wrapped around them like fairy glow.
Yet despite the warm reception, Mireya tightly shut her right eye.
Mireya (softly, to Ardelle):
"Why did they want to kill me…? Was it because of the X symbol in my right eye?"
Ardelle glanced aside, her expression uneasy and hesitant.
Ardelle:
"…Yes. Because that symbol is a curse that must be—"
Abdullah cut in sharply:
"That's enough, Ardelle."
Ardelle fell silent immediately, lips pressed shut.
Mireya lowered her head—her chest aching.
From the crowd, Rinna appeared, holding Neri's hand. She approached quietly and whispered into Abdullah's ear.
Rinna (quick whisper, anxious):
"You should leave the village… or our kind will kill you if they learn who you really are."
Abdullah smiled faintly, completely unthreatened.
Abdullah:
"Don't worry. They don't know who I truly am yet. Thank you for the warning."
Rinna nodded nervously. Neri waved softly at Abdullah, unaware of the tension.
Eventually, the five of them arrived at Ardelle's house.
As soon as they entered, Zeydan slowly sat down, his shoulders sagging from exhaustion.
Lina stood stiffly.
Abdullah looked at Lina gently.
Abdullah:
"According to Warden law… bodies that die in the world of Santara must be buried here.
Do you object?"
Lina bit her lip, then nodded slowly.
Tears fell without a sound.
Abdullah then stepped outside, carrying Victor's body.
Not long after, he returned—without it.
Abdullah:
"I've entrusted him to the villagers who specialize in handling the dead. They'll treat him with proper respect."
He let out a long breath.
Abdullah:
"For now… get some rest.
Ardelle, come with me for a moment. There's something important we need to discuss."
Ardelle stood, her expression turning serious.
The two of them stepped outside, the wooden door closing softly behind them—leaving only the silence of the night.