The next morning's sun rose cold and pale, as if it too had lost its brilliance in mourning for what had happened.
Keelin woke from his bed, but his body felt as heavy as tons of iron. The exhaustion wasn't physical—it was a weight on his soul. Scenes of the funeral, the image of the grave, Noctis's white rose, and the scarred monster clashed in his mind like raging waves.
He let out a long breath, washed his face with cold water to drive away the ghosts of the past, then descended the wooden stairs that creaked sadly in harmony with the house's silence.
Downstairs, weak sunlight slipped through the window and lit the breakfast table. Hanabi and Namiro were already seated, eating in unusual quiet. The faint rustling of guild documents in their hands was the only sound.
"Good morning," Keelin said softly as he pulled out a chair.
Hanabi looked up and offered a small, cautious smile. "Good morning, Keelin. How are you today?"
He tried to look normal, forcing a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
He lowered his head to his plate, but his ears caught every word between the sisters.
Namiro shook her head sadly. "Did you hear the latest news from the academy, Hanabi? That girl who was buried yesterday… the magical examination of her body revealed something terrifying. It wasn't just heart failure. They found a large hole in her chest—and worse… her heart was missing. It was stolen professionally."
Keelin's hand froze midair. His eyes widened as he stared at his plate.
The truth was even worse than what he had seen in his "vision."
That scarred man hadn't only killed Elthra—he had stolen the most precious thing she had to create some cursed medicine.
Hanabi spoke gravely, "There's definitely a hidden organization moving in the shadows. Look at that student, Noctis—he turned into a complete demon and nearly killed a Spirit-level teacher without even mastering the basics of a Domain. That kind of power doesn't come from nothing."
Namiro laughed bitterly. "That poor teacher… he reached the Spirit stage and even summoned his guardian, and still almost died."
Suddenly, Keelin stood up, drawing their attention.
"I'm going to the academy now," he said, gathering his things.
Hanabi looked worried. "Keelin, you don't have to go today. Your body and aura are still unstable. You can stay and rest."
He gave a short laugh, trying to sound confident. "I'm really fine. I can't stay here while the world keeps moving."
Hanabi wasn't convinced. Her eyes glowed faintly as she tried to activate the Eye of Truth to peer into his heart, but Namiro gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't, Hanabi… let him go. If he wants to face it, that's his decision."
Keelin left the house and walked through the crowded streets of the city. The sounds of carriages and horses filled the air, but his mind was elsewhere.
Elthra's words echoed endlessly: the creature with the huge red eye.
How did they know she had seen it?
The bitter question gnawed at him.
Was there a spy among them during the aura exam? Or was that organization watching every corner of the academy?
When he reached the academy's massive gate, everything felt different. Security had tightened. Supervisors wearing crimson uniforms—different from the students' blue—stood guard. The chief supervisor watched everyone with strict authority.
"Academy card, please," she said, blocking his path.
Keelin handed it over. She examined both the card and his face carefully, as if searching for something suspicious, then returned it.
"You may pass. Have a good day."
Inside, Keelin searched anxiously for Janero and Leora. He checked the courtyard, the library, the fountain where they used to sit—but found no one.
He stood alone among the crowd, feeling the deadly emptiness left by Elthra and Noctis.
Then he spotted Janero entering through the main gate, walking heavily with his head lowered. Keelin waved. Janero approached silently. Dark circles framed his eyes, and he said nothing.
But the silence didn't last.
Leora suddenly rushed them from behind, forcing a brave smile despite the tears still clinging to her lashes.
"Why those long faces?" she said, trying to sound cheerful.
Keelin and Janero stayed quiet.
She continued softly, "Elthra didn't like sadness. Remember what she always told me when I was down? She'd joke and say, 'Leora, don't be sad. Look to the future. Forget the past and make a smile for a new day.'"
They stared at her in surprise.
"We're a team," she said, grabbing their hands. "And we'll always be a team. Don't let the darkness swallow us."
Janero's expression changed. He took a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Yeahhh! Leora's right! Sadness won't bring anyone back. We have to be strong for her!"
For the first time in days, Keelin laughed genuinely. "Yeah… we will."
Their conversation was cut off by the supervisors' booming call:
"Students, proceed to your classes immediately!"
Janero walked ahead, raising his hand toward the sun as the light struck his face. With renewed passion, he said, "Let's go write the future with blood and determination… there's no place for sadness anymore!"
Keelin followed behind them, a silent oath burning in his heart.
He would find the scarred man.
He would avenge Elthra.
And he would pull Noctis back from the path of demons—no matter the cost.