The night fell heavy over the ruined temple. The moonlight spilled in through the cracks, painting silver patterns across the dusty floor. Ren sat against a broken pillar, eyes half-closed, but his shadows were wide awake.
Somewhere in the darkness, a faint scrape echoed — soft, deliberate.
He spoke without opening his eyes.
— "If you're going to watch me all night, at least say hello."
From the shadows near the collapsed altar, a figure emerged — a slender young man in dark leather armor, face partially masked. His dagger glimmered faintly.
— "You… saw me?" the spy whispered.
Ren slowly opened his eyes.
— "I see everything in the dark."
The spy's eyes darted around. Before he could move, a coil of black shadow shot out, wrapping around his arm and yanking the blade away. The man froze, breath sharp.
Lyra stirred from her blanket.
— "Ren…? What's going on?"
Ren smiled faintly.
— "Just a rat in the wrong house."
Seris got up, crossing the short distance to the spy. She crouched down, tilting her head in mock curiosity.
— "Cute little rat. Should we keep him, or cut him?"
The spy's expression flickered between fear and defiance.
— "My lord will know—"
Ren's shadows tightened around his throat, not enough to kill, but enough to silence.
— "Your lord already knows I exist. Now he'll know fear."
Veyra appeared, stepping out from a dark corner as if she'd been watching the whole time. Her arms crossed, eyes locked on Ren.
— "Efficient… but loud. You'll draw more attention if you keep making scenes like this."
Ren's grin widened.
— "Maybe I want them to come. Shadows aren't scary unless they move."
Veyra smirked.
— "Careful, boy. Play with the darkness too long and it might play with you."
Before anyone could answer, the spy coughed out a laugh.
— "You think you're safe? The hunt has already begun…"
A sudden gust swept through the temple, extinguishing the lantern. When the light returned, the spy's body slumped lifeless, a black dagger protruding from his chest — thrown from somewhere outside.
Lyra's eyes went wide.
— "Ren… there's more than one."
Ren's voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone.
— "I know. And now, they've made it personal."
As silence fell over the room, Ren's shadows twisted and coiled along the walls — as if the time to hunt had come.