The night hung heavy over Eryndra's mansion, wrapped in a cold stillness that only the moon dared disturb. Its pale glow poured over the city like spilled silver, catching the rooftops, the distant towers, and finally settling on the lone figure standing at the mansion's highest point.
Reider stood with his arms crossed, the wind brushing lightly at his silver hair. His crimson eyes watched the city, unblinking, as if trying to dissect every shadow it held.
Everything was moving too fast.
Every choice, every alliance, every threat coming from every direction.
"Everything is moving too fast… but I can't stop now."
His thoughts came quietly, steady, but the crease in his brow betrayed what his face refused to show: concern.
"Vael, Mei, Eryndra… And now these allies I've never met.
If I make the wrong choice—"
A faint stirring behind him interrupted the thought. At first he ignored it; shadows often shifted around him without reason. But this one didn't behave like the wind. The dark mist curled upward along the chimney, pooling together as if obeying a silent command.
Then a figure stepped out.
Zera moved like she had always been part of the darkness. Her robes flowed around her like liquid night, her glowing purple eyes half-lidded with amusement.
"You think too loudly," she murmured.
Reider didn't turn. His gaze slid toward her only slightly, enough to acknowledge her presence.
"You've been watching."
"Observing," she corrected softly. "You're… interesting."
He returned his eyes to the horizon. "Most people avoid me. You're the first to approach."
Zera stepped beside him, leaning forward over the roof's edge, her posture relaxed but her gaze sharp.
"Because most people are afraid of things they don't understand."
She tilted her head. "I'm not."
The wind carried a brief silence between them, tugging gently at her long black hair, catching the sharp angles of her elven features in the moonlight.
Reider eventually broke it.
"So, what do you want?"
Zera smirked, amused by his directness.
"I could ask you the same. You're not like the others. Not even like Vael."
His eyes flicked toward her.
"I'm nothing like Vael."
Her interest sharpened, glowing faintly in her eyes.
"That's what makes you dangerous, isn't it?"
Reider said nothing. He simply held her gaze, unreadable.
Zera stepped closer, invading his space just enough to test him.
"But you're still a kid, aren't you? Two months old, if I'm right?"
He lifted an eyebrow, mildly irritated.
"Everyone keeps mentioning that."
She chuckled, genuinely amused.
"Because it's funny. You walk like a man who's lived a thousand years, but you're still brand new."
Reider looked away, thoughtful, but his shoulders didn't shift.
"I don't have time to grow up slowly."
The smirk on Zera's lips faded into something more focused.
"What drives you like this? What is it you want?"
His reply didn't come instantly. He let the city breathe before he answered.
"To make sure no one I care about dies because of me."
Zera's expression softened—just a fraction—as she studied the truth behind his calm voice.
"You think you can control everything, don't you? Like if you're strong enough, you can stop all the pain."
Reider's eyes slid toward her.
"Isn't that what strength is for?"
She leaned in slightly, the teasing gone.
"Strength comes with a price. I hope you're ready to pay it."
"I don't care about the price."
Her smirk returned, faint but approving.
"Spoken like a fool… or a hero. Not sure which yet."
He tilted his head, analyzing her as she analyzed him.
"What about you? Why are you here?"
Her eyes darkened.
"To destroy the Church. To make them pay for what they took from me."
Reider nodded slowly. He recognized the hatred behind her words — the same weight buried quietly under his own.
"Then we're the same."
A breeze carried her hair, lifting it like black smoke as she grinned.
"Maybe. But you still owe me a fight. I want to see what kind of monster you really are."
"You'll be disappointed."
Zera laughed lightly, turning away.
"We'll see, Reider. We'll see."
She slipped back into the mansion's entrance, shadows swallowing her whole until the rooftop belonged only to him again.
Reider watched the city once more.
"I need to be stronger. Strong enough to protect them all."
The moon framed him in silver from behind, casting his silhouette over the city like a silent guardian—or a warning.
---
BATHHOUSE
Steam curled lazily through the air of Eryndra's luxurious bathhouse. Heated stone, soft torchlight, and carved marble bathed the room in warm gold.
Mei, Vael, and Eryndra were soaking in the water together — a rare moment of peace, if not sanity.
Eryndra broke the silence first, of course.
A grin spread across her face.
"Sooo… anyone else thinking about a certain two-month-old walking mystery?"
Mei practically exploded in red, waving her hands in panic.
"W-What?! No! I mean—he's practically my son! Sort of…"
Vael smirked at Mei's meltdown but immediately stiffened when Eryndra aimed that grin at her.
"He's a kid," Vael insisted, trying to stay composed. "That's what I keep telling myself."
"A kid with abs that could break steel," Eryndra shot back, leaning closer. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."
Vael's face ignited.
She sank deeper into the water.
"Shut up."
Mei splashed her face with both hands.
"But I raised him! For two months! That's too weird, right?!"
Eryndra tilted her head, voice dripping with mischief.
"Weird? Maybe. But not impossible."
Vael groaned into her hands.
"I can't believe I'm even in this conversation."
"Oh, come on," Eryndra said teasingly. "Don't pretend you don't notice how he always listens to you. Like a puppy."
Vael turned away, flustered.
"He doesn't listen. He's just… respectful."
Mei peered at her curiously.
"Do you… like him, Vael?"
Vael froze.
A full-body, soul-shaking freeze.
"W-What?! Of course not! I—"
Eryndra burst into laughter, splashing water everywhere.
"That's the face of a woman who definitely doesn't like him. Definitely."
Vael sank into the water until only her eyes were above the surface.
"I hate you both."
Mei lowered her gaze to the ripples around her fingers.
"He's… different, isn't he? Strong. Kind, in his own way."
Eryndra smirked.
"Falling for the quiet, brooding type, Mei?"
Mei groaned and hid her face.
"I'm his mom! Kind of…"
Vael glanced at Eryndra, trying to sound casual.
"And what about you, Eryndra? Always joking — but you like him too, don't you?"
Eryndra lifted an eyebrow, silent for a long beat.
Then, quietly:
"Maybe. But I like watching you two panic more."
Vael and Mei splashed her at the same time.
"Idiot!"
Eryndra just laughed, wiping water from her face.
Mei leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"I don't think Reider even understands what love is yet."
Vael softened.
"Maybe we're the ones who need to figure out what we feel first."
The steam wrapped around them like a warm blanket, the room settling into a rare moment of stillness.
Eryndra smiled sideways at them.
"Well… no matter what happens, it's going to be fun watching you two figure it out."
Mei gave a small pout.
"You're not off the hook either."
Eryndra shrugged.
"Guess we'll all be confused together, huh?"
Vael laughed quietly.
"Yeah… together."
The three women relaxed, sharing a peaceful silence, steam drifting gently above them.
Outside, the bathhouse glowed softly against the night.
---
ROOFTOP AGAIN
Reider remained on the roof, unaware of everything being discussed beneath him.
His eyes narrowed as he stared over the dark city.
"They're safe for now… but how long will that last?"
The night lingered, still and silent.
The mansion stood tall and quiet against the sky, holding warmth, confusion, tension — and the beginnings of something none of them understood yet.
And high above it all, the weight in Reider's chest did not ease.
But he did not move.
Not yet.
The night was far from over.