I stood beside Sebastian as he spoke again, voice low and urgent.
"Back up further… If you can, get to the far corner of the hall!!"
I stared at him.
"That's the stupidest thing possible…"
Sebastian turned his head slightly toward me.
"I don't think protecting you is stupid…"
I gave a small, crooked smirk.
"I need you for espionage…"
He raised the lantern a little higher.
"I believe I already told you—I'm not a traitor…"
I took one short, careful step closer.
"Four thousand pounds per week…"
He stepped forward in response.
"Stop talking so much in the middle of a crisis…"
I only smirked wider, took one step back, and said,
"So where are the other Night Keepers? Didn't you say they'd be here soon?"
But he only tightened his grip on the spear behind him and answered,
"They're never on time…"
I opened my mouth to reply—when the lantern in Sebastian's hand suddenly flared bright red.
His hand—the one holding the lantern—trembled violently. In one swift motion he drew the spear from his back and slammed its butt against the floor.
I looked at him in shock.
He clipped the lantern to his belt and gripped the spear with both hands.
I was about to speak when he said,
"You've read about Spells in noble books, haven't you?"
My lips pressed together. I stayed silent.
I had once seen a book on spells and curses in the Montagu library in Manchester—but I hadn't read it. I hadn't thought it important.
Now, in this moment, with Sebastian's words, I realized just how wrong I had been.
I gave a small, helpless smile.
"No…"
Sebastian turned toward me with an expression that was almost mocking.
"Then if the Night Keepers don't arrive in time… we die together!!"
I retreated several more steps. The distance between us had grown.
I was about to shout something—when the aristocrat suddenly exploded.
Blood sprayed across the entire hall.
My clothes were soaked. Sebastian—being closer—was probably drenched.
Sebastian spoke in disbelief.
"That's it? I was so cautious for nothing…"
I took several more steps back—when suddenly every drop of blood in the hall, from the floor, from our clothes, from our faces—lifted into the air and rushed toward the centre.
They gathered, forming the vague outline of a human shape.
For a moment it remained liquid—then it solidified.
A skinless, fleshy body stood atop one of the tables.
Skin began to grow—from the feet upward—until it covered the entire form. Hair sprouted last.
Sebastian and I stared at the newly formed creature with wide eyes.
Whatever it was… it was no longer human.
The torn clothing—shredded by the explosion—flew back toward it and wrapped around the body like new fabric.
Sebastian spun his spear once, gripping it firmly with his left hand while raising the lantern with his right—pointing it toward the creature.
I began edging toward the nearest wall—hoping the thing would forget about me.
But my eyes caught the lantern again.
Its flame had turned a deep, bloody crimson—so intense that the glass cracked.
Fear and alarm were clear in Sebastian's eyes.
My own eyes trembled with dread.
What was this thing?
Sebastian let out several short, tense laughs—perhaps from anger, perhaps just buying time until the other Night Keepers arrived.
I was still moving along the wall when the creature suddenly snapped its fingers.
The wall behind me exploded outward—throwing me toward the centre of the hall.
The creature—smiling again—said,
"I… see you!!"
But Sebastian instantly stepped in front of me.
"No… you don't see him!!"
The creature's smile widened—until its teeth were fully exposed.
Sebastian hurled the lantern at it.
The creature vanished from the centre of the hall—reappearing beside Sebastian—and delivered a powerful kick toward his neck.
Sebastian blocked with his arm—but the force sent him skidding across the floor toward the wall.
Before he could recover, the creature drove a knee into his jaw.
Sebastian crashed into the ceiling—then fell.
The creature appeared beneath him mid-fall—slamming a foot into his back as he hit the ground.
It stood over him, staring straight at me.
I could do nothing.
I lacked the power.
Perhaps I was simply waiting for death.
Then the doors to the dining hall burst open.
Geoffrey stepped out.
When he saw the state of the banquet hall, his eyes widened.
The creature turned toward him at the sound.
Its face was no longer recognisable to me.
Geoffrey took a single step forward.
The creature lifted its foot from Sebastian's back and started toward him—when I raised my revolver and fired.
As expected, it dodged.
I had almost forgotten I had brought the revolver—for safety.
The creature bared its teeth in fury and lunged toward me—when the banquet hall doors flew open again.
At last, the other Night Keepers arrived.
Two carried lanterns and spears—like Sebastian.
Three wore gear-embroidered top hats.
But one stood apart—his clothing resembled the black assassin garb I had seen in games in my previous life. Completely black. High boots.
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth—the result of being thrown against the wall.
I started toward Sebastian to check on him—but he was too close to the creature.
I waited to see what the Night Keepers would do.
The two lantern-bearers raised their lanterns—perhaps activating something.
The creature glanced at all of them—perhaps confused, perhaps afraid.
Then suddenly—half the bodies of those two lantern-bearers turned black, dissolving into smoke.
Their eyes glowed violet.
Black vapour poured from their lanterns.
I didn't pay much attention—I was hurrying toward Sebastian.
I didn't understand what was happening.
But as I moved, I noticed the shadows of those two lantern-bearers stretching across the floor—reaching toward the creature and binding its legs.
I reached Sebastian, rolled him over.
His eyes were closed. His face and body were covered in blood.
I placed both hands on his chest and began compressions—hard.
Perhaps it would help.
I hoped it would.
He had nearly died because of me.
I had to help him.
I kept pressing—when suddenly he gasped violently, drawing in a long, ragged breath.
Then he began coughing.
When he pulled his hand away from his mouth, it was bloody.
A tooth lay in his palm.
I almost wanted to mock him—but the creature was still there.
Suddenly the two lantern-bearers were hurled toward the far walls.
I glanced at them briefly—then back toward the creature.
Its nails had grown long and razor-sharp.
When it saw me, its eyes flared a deep, unnatural red.
The man in black assassin-like clothing drew a long dagger from the sheath on his back.
I gripped my revolver tighter.
Then the creature vanished.
Geoffrey—still near the dining hall doors—slammed them shut behind it.
I looked toward the doors in shock—only to see something even more astonishing.
Geoffrey had sliced open his own palm with a knife.
Blood dripped from the wound.
He held the bleeding hand toward the creature.
A spinning red circle appeared in front of his palm—etched with strange symbols.
The only thing I recognised was a five-pointed star at its centre.
The creature rushed past us.
Geoffrey whispered something under his breath.
The blood dripping from his hand gathered before the circle—forming a single arrow of crimson.
The creature was directly in front of Geoffrey.
I thought he would be killed.
A few minutes later…
Parts of the banquet hall were cracked, lightly damaged, or stained with blood.
Geoffrey and I stood side by side.
The Night Keepers were speaking quietly with Sebastian.
I looked at Geoffrey.
"How did you know something was happening in the hall? Why did you come out? Why didn't the others?"
He gave a quiet laugh.
"You seem to have forgotten… The walls and doors of Buckingham Palace are soundproofed. I'm certain everyone still inside the dining hall thinks you and I simply came here to eat fruit."
I gave a faint smile.
"By the way… what was that?"
Geoffrey looked at me with quiet pride.
"A Spell… Its name is Blood Arrow!!"
I raised an eyebrow.
"And it requires blood…"
He laughed shortly—as he always did.
"Yes, well… my palm still burns. I think I cut deeper than the Spell actually needed."
I laughed softly too.
"I was waiting for death… Good thing you showed up."
Geoffrey sighed.
"I always told you to read the Spell books… but you never listened. This is the result."
He gently patted my back and laughed again.
I only smiled and looked around the half-ruined banquet hall.
A short while later, the nobles, the Ming delegation, and the King emerged from the dining hall.
Geoffrey and I—along with the Night Keepers—were casually eating fruit.
The King's face was a sight to behold. You could practically see him calculating the financial damage and nearly having a stroke on the spot.
But after some explanation, he calmed down.
Of course—Geoffrey and I were now responsible for £10,000 in damages.
Fortunately, no one had died.
Even Sebastian had only been gravely wounded. Something—perhaps his clothing or an item—had protected him. Otherwise, no ordinary human could have survived those blows.
At last, this cursed day—which had begun in misery—was finally over.
After returning home, the Montagu family physician examined me.
Frederick reminded me of at least ten new items on tomorrow's schedule.
In any case, I was just glad I hadn't died there.
And it seemed I would need to start reading about Spells after all.
But that night—I simply slept.
To think of nothing at all.
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A man with an indistinct face stood in London's underworld—in a place known as the black market—searching for a vial of pure blood.
Blood…
What did he need it for?