The night inside Kael's house was calm, almost deceptively so.
Outside, the mysterious city remained silent—no wind, no distant cries, no movement. Just broken streets and ancient ruins watching quietly.
Vicky sat near the window, staring at the dark skyline.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then—
"…What exactly is this place?"
Everyone looked at him.
Vicky turned around slowly, his expression serious.
"This city feels wrong. Like it doesn't belong anywhere. So tell me—what is it really? And how did all of you end up here?"
Kael exhaled deeply and leaned back against the wall.
"Hah… figured you'd ask that sooner or later."
He scratched the back of his head.
"To be honest?" Kael said. "This city doesn't exist."
Arelia blinked.
"…You're saying that way too casually."
Kael shrugged.
"Because that's the truth. No maps. No records. No kingdom claims it."
He looked at Vicky.
"People who leave this place can't even remember where they've been. Some don't come out at all."
Vicky's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then why does it exist?"
Kael's voice dropped.
"Because someone was sealed here."
The room grew quiet.
"…Sealed?" Vicky repeated.
Kael nodded.
"A long time ago. Something—no, someone—so dangerous that the world itself couldn't destroy them."
Luka's eyes flickered.
Vicky crossed his arms.
"Then answer me this."
He looked at all of them.
"Why did you come here?"
Eren shifted uncomfortably.
Before he could speak, Arelia poked his shoulder.
"Go on," she said. "Explain. Since you apparently know more than me."
Eren sighed.
"You don't have to pull my cheek every time."
Arelia immediately grabbed his face and stretched it.
"You're my little brother. I absolutely do."
"Ow—Arelia!"
Vicky raised an eyebrow.
Kael laughed.
"Trust me, this happens daily."
Eren finally escaped her grip and rubbed his cheek.
"…Fine," he said. "I'll explain."
He took a breath.
"The being sealed here… its power was enormous. Even after sealing, fragments of that power still leak into the city."
Vicky listened closely.
"That power seeps into people," Eren continued.
"And when it does… it makes them stronger. Faster. Sometimes smarter."
Kael added quietly,
"And sometimes insane."
Eren nodded.
"This city appears once every three years," he said.
"It stays for two years… then disappears completely."
Arelia crossed her arms.
"And takes a lot of idiots with it."
Eren ignored her.
"Adventurers, mercenaries, mages—they all rush in when it appears. Everyone wants a piece of that power."
Vicky spoke slowly.
"And the sealed one?"
Eren shook his head.
"No one has ever reached the core."
Silence followed.
Then Kael grinned suddenly.
"Well, except the people who died trying."
Arelia smacked his arm.
"NOT comforting."
Vicky looked down, thoughtful.
"So this city is a cage," he said. "And bait."
Eren nodded.
"Exactly."
Arelia leaned toward Vicky.
"That's why we came here. Eren felt the power before anyone else. Said it was… calling to him."
She sighed.
"And like an idiot sister, I followed."
Eren looked away.
"…Sorry."
Arelia smiled and pulled him into a headlock.
"Don't be. I'd do it again."
Kael watched them with a small smile.
Then he looked at Vicky.
"You still haven't said why you came here."
Vicky paused.
For a moment, even Luka looked at him.
"I didn't choose this place," Vicky said calmly.
"It appeared around me."
The room went silent.
Kael blinked.
"…That's worse."
Arelia stared at Vicky.
"You mean—"
Before she could finish, the ground trembled lightly.
Just for a second.
Luka stepped forward.
"The city reacted," he said quietly.
Vicky straightened.
"So it's alive," he murmured.
Kael swallowed.
"Or something inside it is."
Arelia forced a grin.
"Well then. Looks like we're all stuck together now."
Eren looked at Vicky, eyes serious.
"If what Kael said is true," he said,
"then the seal is weakening."
Vicky met his gaze.
"Then we don't have much time."
Outside, somewhere deep within the city—
Something ancient stirred.
And for the first time in a very long time…
It smiled.