Skeletons clad in old, rusted armor advanced toward the mansion with heavy, disciplined steps—
as if they were following precise orders.
Behind them stood a man dressed entirely in black, from head to toe. A repulsive, dark aura poured from him, making it painfully clear that he was the one controlling the skeletons.
***
After leaving the girls behind, Aster hurried back to his room. He began stuffing his belongings into his bag as fast as he could.
By accident, his hand brushed against the sword leaning against the edge of the bed.
Clang!
The sword fell loudly to the floor.
'This always happens when I rush…'
He bent down to pick it up.
As he leaned forward and reached for the sword, the pendant slipped out from beneath his clothes and dangled from his neck. After lifting the sword, he pressed the pendant against his chest with his palm, gripping it tightly.
'My chest feels heavy.'
Hanging both swords at his waist, Aster grabbed his bag and rushed back into the corridor—the one leading to the room where he had left the others.
When he arrived, everyone was gathered by the window at the far end of the hall.
Suddenly, Suna asked,
"Where were you?"
"I was packing my things—"
Before he could finish, his master cut in.
"That's not important right now."
Gustav spoke in a trembling voice.
"What do we do?!"
Aster still didn't fully understand the situation. Sensing this at a glance, Valorant spoke to Aster.
"Look."
He pointed out the window.
Aster stepped closer and slowly looked down.
'Skeletons?!'
He stared at the figures moving across the snow.
But then—something else caught his attention.
The man dressed in black standing behind them.
Who was he?
Aster didn't know the answer. Yet something deep inside him screamed, urging him to shout at the top of his lungs.
'This feeling… it's familiar.'
Suddenly, an unbearable pain exploded in both sides of his head. He clutched his skull with both hands, struggling to endure it.
'Who is he?!'
As Aster squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, fragmented scenes began flashing before his vision.
In an endless void of darkness, a faceless being stared at him—
a monster with no visible features, save for its burning eyes.
Behind him, Valorant was already speaking with the estate's steward, laying out their plan.
"Aster and I will hold the front of the mansion. You—"
Mid-sentence, he turned to look at his disciple.
Something was clearly wrong.
Valorant quickly stepped over to Aster.
"Are you alright?"
Aster weakly nodded, unable to say anything coherent.
Valorant raised his head and scanned the surroundings.
"We can't escape from here right now. So we'll use the mansion as a trap. The priority is distracting the skeletons and eliminating the necromancer controlling them."
Valorant's gaze shifted to the steward.
"Gustav. Do you know how to use a sword?"
"Yes, Sir Valorant."
Turning to his disciple, Valorant said,
"Then give me your sword. You don't look like you can fight right now."
"I can fight," Aster said, lifting his head.
"Just give me the sword," Valorant insisted, extending his hand.
Aster looked into his master's eyes—and felt as if he could see what Valorant was thinking of him.
Fearful.
Weak.
Useless.
In truth, that wasn't entirely wrong.
The memories from a past life that had surfaced were making his entire body tremble uncontrollably.
Understanding his own condition, Aster said nothing and handed over the new sword hanging at his waist. He could have kept it—but the sword Hans had given him was something he would never entrust to anyone else.
Valorant took the sword and passed it to Gustav.
The steward accepted it carefully.
"I'll do my best to keep your sword safe."
Then, Valorant quickly assigned roles.
Valorant and Gustav would remain at the front of the mansion to fight the skeletons.
Aster and the girls were ordered to retreat to the room farthest from the entrance and hide. Only if the skeletons broke through would Aster be permitted to fight.
"No matter what, do everything you can to survive," Valorant concluded.
"I'll protect them—no matter what," Aster added quietly.
Valorant spoke as if he hadn't heard him.
"Now go. Immediately."
Aster clenched his teeth hard.
This feeling…
He had never felt it before.
Someone tugged on his sleeve.
"We need to hurry."
It was Suna, holding Anna's hand as she looked at him.
Aster looked at the two girls for a moment, thinking, then spoke in a low voice.
"Let's go."
The maid ran ahead, guiding them through the mansion.
They soon reached a door. Suna pulled out a set of keys and unlocked it.
The room looked as though no one had entered it for a very long time. Everything was covered in dust, white cloth draped over the furniture. There was a single window—and beside it, a large wardrobe.
Once everyone was inside, Aster took the key from Suna and locked the door from the inside. Then he turned to face the girls.
"Get inside the wardrobe."
The maid stiffened.
"You think skeletons won't notice a wardrobe if they come in here?"
Aster pushed them toward it.
"So you won't interfere when I have to fight."
Suna didn't argue. She simply did as he said.
When the wardrobe doors opened, they revealed rows of old clothes. Without hesitation, the maid threw them out, clearing space for themselves.
After helping both girls inside, Aster grabbed whatever he could find and dragged it in front of the door, blocking the entrance.
'That should stop anyone from getting in.'
Lifting his sword, Aster took a deep breath and prepared himself for battle.
No matter what came through that door—
He would face it.