Arnold

As the sunset bathed the garden in gold, Sunflower placed her empty teacup down and stood. Before leaving, she turned to Dawn.

"Be careful of Reality. I don’t know what she’s hiding… but whatever it is, it’s dangerous."

Dawn chuckled.

"It hasn’t even been a day, and you’re already suspicious. But… you’re right to be." He coughed and lowered his voice. "I did a background check. Her identity is well-constructed—realistic even—but there are holes. Gaps that shouldn’t exist."

Sunflower’s eyes narrowed. "So she’s hiding her real identity?"

"Not just from us. From everyone. She’s been doing it for years. Why? I can’t say for certain. Maybe it’s a dark past… maybe something worse." Dawn finished his tea and stood up.

They nodded to each other, their conversation ending as they walked off in opposite directions.

Then—

"CHIEF!"

A voice rang out. Sirens began blaring.

Panic erupted in Tresia.

“What’s happening?”

“Why are the sirens sounding?”

“Is it a malfunction? Or… are we really under attack?!”

Fear gripped the hearts of citizens—an old, forgotten terror resurfacing.

A foot soldier came sprinting toward Dawn and Sunflower, breath ragged.

"Chief!" he cried. "He’s here—the Cursed One!"

Dawn and Sunflower locked eyes. No words were needed. Both nodded and dashed off in opposite directions.

Sunflower arrived at the tower in seconds. Several of her soldiers were already looking out toward the forest, tense and pale.

"Report! Now!" she demanded, spotting movement in the trees below.

One soldier stepped forward, clearly rattled. "Yes, ma’am! The cursed man has found us. Arnold—he was covering your shift—charged into the forest the moment he saw movement. He didn’t wait. Julie and Andy followed him."

"What?! Without orders?!" Sunflower’s voice echoed with fury.

"We tried to stop him, ma’am. But… he’s stronger than us. We couldn’t hold him back. He said the three of them together could take the cursed one. Isn’t… isn’t he supposed to be weak?"

"Julie and Andy too?!" Her anger turned into alarm. "You fools! I told you—never underestimate a witch’s curse!"

Without hesitation, Sunflower jumped from the tower. A 300-meter drop, and yet she landed as though she’d simply stepped off a stool. No scratch. No delay.

She sprinted into the forest—toward her soldiers.

"Commander, more blood here."

The Crownshade unit, ten strong, followed the crimson trail—confirmed to be human. They were seasoned scouts from Pearl Harbor, hired for stealth-heavy missions.

Commander Rock, clad in chainmail and a white cape, frowned. "Keep tracking it."

So much blood. If they hadn’t confirmed it was human, he wouldn’t have believed it.

He remembered the chief’s warning: “Value your men’s lives more than any mission.” But still, he moved forward.

Ten minutes later, Rock raised a fist. His men halted.

Torches out. Silence.

Crouching low, the squad melted into the underbrush. They’d found him.

Lance.

He stood motionless, gazing up at Tresia in the distance. His smile was faint—but terrifying. Something primal.

Ten seconds passed.

Then his eyes closed. The smile faded.

Rock held his breath.

"I know you’re there. All Eleven of you." Lance’s voice was calm. Too calm.

The words shattered whatever courage Rock’s men had left. They looked to their commander.

He gave the silent order—surround and wait. They obeyed, despite the dread creeping in.

A heavy, perfect silence. Lance took one step forward.

Ready to unleash hell.

Then—another movement, However this time not from Lance but From the sky.

A figure descended, silhouetted by the moonlight—young, dark-skinned, blue-haired, a sword gleaming in his hand.

He landed between Lance and the bush. His stance was firm. His hands steady. No fear in his eyes.

"Leave," Arnold said. One word. Unflinching.

Lance’s smirk returned. "A bit young for a leader—no… wait. You’re not with them." He pointed at the bush, grinning. "You’re from Tresia."

Lance’s excitement surged.

Inside his mind, the voices began to chant again:

BURN THE VILLAGE.
BURN THE VILLAGE.

But this time, Lance didn’t flinch. He’d grown used to the madness.

"Did he say Tresia?!" Commander Rock whispered, stunned.

His mind raced. He’s near the village… We’re close to the danger… This mission might be ending soon…

Or just beginning