Selene's Investigation Deepens
The City at Night – The Shadows Speak
Selene Veyra walked through the narrow streets of the merchant city.
She did not hurry.
She did not hide.
She didn't need to.
The shadows stepped aside for her on their own.
The night air of the city was thick with tension.
Rumors spread faster than the wind, and everyone felt that something was coming.
Something big.
Selene stopped at the entrance of an alley.
Between the stones, tiny black dust glittered.
She crouched down and touched it.
The dust was cold.
Too cold.
"Shadow magic…" she whispered.
But not the demonic kind.
This… was human.
Trained.
Disciplined.
Left behind by a shadow hunter.
Selene's eyes narrowed.
"You're here too, Shadowbrother."
The Past Returns – Selene and the Shadowbrother's Story
Selene slowly walked deeper into the alley.
Her steps were silent as moonlight.
But her thoughts were loud.
Shadowbrother.
One of the empire's best agents.
Once Selene's partner.
Who disappeared during a mission.
Who was believed dead.
But now… he had returned.
And not on the empire's side.
Selene clenched her fist.
"Why did you defect? Why did you betray the Emperor?"
The question had burned in her heart for years.
Something Moves on the Rooftops – The First Sign
At the end of the alley, a shadow slipped across a rooftop.
Selene didn't move.
She only watched.
The shadow stopped at the edge of the roof.
The moonlight outlined the figure.
Tall.
Lean.
His movements perfectly silent.
His mask was black with silver lines — the old mark of the Shadow Hunters.
Selene slowly lifted her head.
"Show yourself."
The figure did not answer.
He only stood there.
Watching.
Then… he dropped a small metal object from the roof.
Selene caught it.
It was a silver coin.
In the center, an engraved symbol:
a crescent moon split by a blade.
Selene's eyes darkened.
"This… was our symbol. The old team's."
The shadow finally spoke.
His voice was distorted, as if several layers spoke at once.
"Selene. The empire is dying. The Emperor is dying. And you still follow the old rules."
Selene slowly drew her dagger.
"And you betrayed everything we stood for."
The shadow seemed to smile — or at least the mask shifted as if a smile hid beneath it.
"I didn't betray the empire. The empire betrayed us."
In the next moment, he vanished.
As if he had never been there at all.
Selene Returns to Wolf Lodge – And Brings Bad News
The inn had almost quieted down when Selene entered.
Her steps were quick, her expression tense.
Noelle and Ersi immediately looked up.
"Selene? What happened?"
Selene tossed the silver coin onto the table.
"He is here."
Tessa picked up the coin and examined it.
"This… is a shadow hunter's mark. But… old. Very old."
Selene nodded.
"Shadowbrother has returned. And he's not alone. Someone… or something… is directing him."
Ersi frowned.
"The poison mage? The water mage? Ryuzen?"
Selene shook her head.
"No. They're just tools. The real threat… is much greater."
Tessa slowly set the coin down.
"Lord Valerius?"
Selene's gaze darkened.
"Most likely. But I can't prove it yet."
Noelle took a deep breath.
"Then let's prove it. Together."
Selene nodded.
"This is no longer just Wolf Lodge's problem. This… is the empire's problem."
The Shadows Draw Closer
Beyond the inn's window, the city lights flickered.
In the distance, a shadow slipped across the rooftops.
Shadowbrother watched.
Waited.
Prepared.
And Selene knew:
Their next encounter would not be peaceful.
Lord Valerius's First Move Against Wolf Lodge
The Imperial Palace – Where Decisions Are Made
In one of the merchant city's most luxurious palaces, Lord Valerius Arcturus stood before the window.
The city lights sparkled below him like scattered diamonds in the dark.
The man took a slow sip of wine.
His movements were measured, elegant — every gesture radiating one message:
He was in control. Of everything. Of everyone.
His servant bowed behind him.
"My lord, more and more unusual figures are gathering around Wolf Lodge. The Dolermo girl has returned. The heir of the Wolfwood house lives there. The fire mage girl as well. And… a shadow hunter."
Valerius smiled.
"Excellent. Chaos always begins where hope is plentiful."
He slowly turned and pointed at a map marked with the city's key locations.
Around Wolf Lodge…
five red marks.
"Begin surveillance. We do not attack. Not yet. First… we learn everything about them."
His servant bowed.
"Our agents are already on their way."
Valerius's eyes gleamed.
"Very good. Wolf Lodge… interests me greatly. Threads gather there. Dangers gather there. And where there is danger… there is opportunity."
Wolf Lodge – Strange Guests Arrive
The next morning, the inn's door opened, and three strangers stepped inside.
They were elegant.
Too elegant.
Silver embroidery ran along their clothes — one of the hidden symbols of imperial nobility.
Behind the counter, Noelle immediately sensed the tension.
The water element vibrated faintly around her.
Ersi sat on the stairs, and her fireball suddenly popped.
Kagura stood at the gate and instinctively placed her hand on her sword.
Tessa looked up from her book and paled.
"These… are Valerius's men."
Selene stepped out from the shadows.
"They came to observe. Not to attack. But that's worse. Much worse."
One of the strangers stepped forward.
"Good morning. We are here on behalf of Lord Valerius Arcturus. We are merely… looking around."
Noelle's smile was polite, but cold.
"Wolf Lodge is open to everyone. But surveillance… is not customary here."
The stranger bowed.
"We are only… inquiring. For the safety of the city."
Selene stepped forward, her voice slicing through the air like a blade.
"The safety of the city is not your concern. It is mine. And I did not request your assistance."
The strangers froze for a moment.
Selene's shadow hunter insignia carried too much weight.
The leader finally bowed.
"Of course. We only… deliver a message."
He placed a small black envelope on the counter.
The seal upon it:
a sword encircled by a crown.
The symbol of the imperial throne.
Noelle slowly picked it up.
The strangers left.
Silence fell over the inn.
The Message – Valerius's First Threat
Noelle carefully broke the seal.
Inside the envelope was a single sheet.
On it, one sentence:
"The new order of the empire is coming. Those who do not stand with me… stand against me."
Ersi snorted.
"That's a threat. Clear as day."
Tessa turned pale.
"Valerius doesn't threaten. He… warns. And if he warns… he has already decided."
Selene took the paper.
"This is only the first step. The next won't be this polite."
Kagura placed her hand on her sword.
"Then we prepare."
Noelle nodded slowly.
"Yes. Because Valerius isn't only after the throne. He's… after us."
In the Palace – Valerius Is Pleased
The servants delivered their report.
"My lord, the message has reached its destination. Wolf Lodge… reacted."
Valerius smiled.
"Excellent. The next step: tighten the net. Slowly. Painlessly. So they won't notice… until it's too late."
He looked at the map.
Around Wolf Lodge, the red marks slowly closed in.
"The game has begun. And I always win."
The Storm Approaches
Beyond the windows of Wolf Lodge, the wind rose.
The city lights flickered.
The air shifted.
The girls knew:
Lord Valerius was not just a noble.
He was the storm.
And the storm was coming.
Noelle and the Poison Mage – Their Next Clash
Morning at Wolf Lodge – Something Is Wrong Again
The sun had barely risen, but Noelle was already in the kitchen.
Water always calmed her.
The feeling of purity, order, healing.
But today… something was different.
The water was not calm.
Its surface trembled with tiny ripples, as if touched by an invisible finger.
Noelle stopped.
Her heart beat slowly but firmly.
"You've returned…" she whispered.
The poison mage.
The Water Speaks – But Not Under Noelle's Control
The water in the bucket suddenly moved.
It didn't splash, didn't boil — it simply… began to form.
On the surface, tiny black letters appeared.
"You are not fast enough."
Noelle clenched her fist.
"Show yourself."
The water rippled again.
"When you are ready."
The waves smoothed out.
The water returned to stillness.
Noelle took a deep breath.
"You want to play… fine. But I won't lose."
The Market – Another Victim
Tessa burst into the inn, her face pale.
"Noelle! Come quickly! At the market… someone collapsed. Just like yesterday."
Noelle didn't ask.
She was already running.
In the middle of the market, a young woman lay on the ground.
Her skin had taken on a greenish tint, her pulse was weak, her eyes glassy.
Noelle knelt beside her and placed her hand on the woman's chest.
The water element gently wrapped around her body.
The poison… was there.
Familiar.
Cruel.
Exactly the same as yesterday.
Noelle closed her eyes and guided the power of water into the woman's body.
The poison resisted.
Coiled.
Fought.
But Noelle was stronger.
The woman suddenly gasped for air, then began coughing.
Noelle collapsed back, exhausted.
Tessa knelt beside her.
"This is no longer a warning. This… is a test."
Noelle nodded.
"The poison mage is testing how long I can endure."
The Poison Mage Appears – But Only for a Moment
Something moved in the crowd.
A black‑cloaked figure slipped between the market stalls.
Noelle snapped her head up.
The water around her trembled.
"He's there!"
Ersi jumped down from a rooftop beside her.
"Where?!"
Noelle pointed toward the crowd.
"There! The black cloak!"
Kagura was already running.
Selene stepped out of the shadows.
But by the time they reached the spot…
The figure was gone.
Only a small vial remained on the ground.
Noelle picked it up.
Inside, green liquid swirled.
On the cap, a tiny black snake symbol.
Ersi snorted.
"This is provocation. He left it here on purpose."
Selene took the vial.
"Not just provocation. This… is a message. The poison mage wants us to chase him. To react. To make mistakes."
Noelle nodded slowly.
"Then we won't make any."
The Poison Mage Watches From Afar
On a rooftop above the market, a figure stood.
His mask was black with green lines.
In his hand, another vial turned between his fingers.
His voice was soft, like a snake's hiss.
"You play well, Wolfwood girl. But you're not fast enough yet. Not strong enough."
The figure smiled behind the mask.
"When you're ready… we'll meet."
Then he vanished into the shadows.
Noelle's Resolve Strengthens
Noelle held the vial in her hand.
The water around her vibrated gently.
"If you want a fight… you'll get one. But not by your rules. By mine."
Ersi placed a hand on her shoulder.
"And we stand behind you. All of us."
Tessa nodded.
Selene too.
Kagura as well.
Wolf Lodge was no longer just an inn.
It was a team.
A family.
A force.
And Noelle knew:
The poison mage was close.
Very close.
And their next encounter would not be peaceful.