The Baron Saint John's mansion had never known such chaos.
Servants ran through the marble halls with pale faces, their voices overlapping in panicked murmurs. The heavy oak doors of the audience chamber stood wide open—something that had not happened in years.
At the center of it all stood Baron Dean Saint John, his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
Baron Dean: "Say it again."
Knight Roland knelt on one knee, his armor scratched and dirt-stained, his head bowed in shame.
Knight Roland: "Lady Aurelia… vanished during her morning ride in Sunwood Grove."
Baroness Octavia Saint John staggered back a step, her hand flying to her mouth.
Baroness Octavia: "Vanished…? That's impossible. She was guarded."
Knight Elise: "Two household knights. Four fire-elemental mages. All accounted for."
Baron Dean: "Then how did my daughter disappear from the middle of a guarded patrol?"
Fire Mage One: "My lord, there was a sudden earth collapse. A sinkhole split the road."
Fire Mage Two: "An earthen wall rose immediately after. Then mist—dense water mana mixed with wind."
Baroness Octavia: "Mist…?"
Fire Mage Three: "It behaved like a natural mana surge. Chaotic. Unstable."
Baron Dean slammed his fist onto the table.
Baron Dean: "Magic does not simply behave without reason!"
Knight Roland: "We searched the area for hours. No tracks. No hostile mana residue. It was as if the forest swallowed her."
Baroness Octavia: "Aurelia… she must be alone and scared right now…"
Her voice broke as tears streamed down her face.
Baroness Octavia: "Bring my daughter back."
No one answered.
---
Far from the mansion's panic, Daniel was returning from Sasha's house. He was completely unaware of the chaos unfolding inside the mansion. As he approached the main gate, he noticed something wrong.
There were no guards.
Daniel's instincts screamed danger.
Daniel began running toward the mansion.
As soon as he entered, his eyes darted around the hall, unease tightening his chest.
Daniel: "What is going on?"
He grabbed the first person he saw.
House Helper: "Daniel! Come inside quickly! Lady Aurelia is missing!"
Daniel froze.
Daniel: "She's missing…?"
House Helper: "Y-Yes."
The world seemed to tilt for a brief moment.
Daniel: "Tell me everything. Don't leave out a single detail."
After listening silently to the entire account, Daniel turned and ran back toward the gate.
Daniel: "I need to go."
He didn't wait for permission.
---
By the time Daniel reached Sunwood Grove, the area was swarming with knights, mages, and scouts. The ground was torn and uneven, yet strangely… clean.
Daniel stood at the edge of the collapsed path, his eyes narrowing.
Daniel: "Sensei."
Sensei: "Yes, Daniel."
Daniel: "Can you analyze or scan the area for every detail?"
Sensei: "I cannot scan directly. But if you survey the area, I can analyze everything you perceive."
Daniel: "Understood."
Daniel carefully examined the path Aurelia had taken.
Daniel: "I've covered the area. Sensei, analyze it now."
Sensei: "Analyzing…"
…
…
…
Sensei: "Earth mana detected. Density manipulation at high precision."
Daniel: "Natural?"
Sensei: "Negative. The pattern indicates controlled casting."
Daniel exhaled slowly.
Daniel: "Show me where the anomaly spread."
Sensei: "Proceed one hundred meters ahead, then turn right."
Daniel followed the instructions and stopped.
Sensei: "Water mana dispersed evenly at eye level. Purpose: visual obstruction."
Sensei: "Wind mana carried artificial sound distortions. Purpose: confusion."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
Daniel: "So the guards believed they were surrounded."
Sensei: "Affirmative."
Daniel continued along the path.
Daniel: "The sinkhole wasn't meant to kill."
Sensei: "Correct. The depth was limited. The collapse was designed to divide, not destroy."
Daniel stopped where the earthen wall had once stood.
Daniel: "This wall… it wasn't defensive. It was meant to isolate."
Sensei: "Probability of intentional separation: 96.7%."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Daniel: "They wanted Aurelia alone."
Knight Roland approached him.
Knight Roland: "Daniel, this area is restricted."
Daniel: "Captain, how long after the collapse did the mist appear?"
Knight Roland hesitated.
Knight Roland: "Almost immediately."
Daniel: "And how long until it faded?"
Knight Roland: "Only a few minutes. It didn't linger like battle magic."
Daniel nodded.
Daniel: "Any blood? Signs of struggle? Broken equipment?"
Knight Roland: "None."
Daniel: "Then she was taken alive."
Knight Roland stiffened.
Knight Roland: "Taken…? You're suggesting kidnapping?"
Daniel: "I'm sorry. I shouldn't interfere with your investigation."
Knight Roland: "Daniel, I know you're worried about Lady Aurelia, but it isn't safe here. You should go home."
Daniel: "No. I'll leave on my own. And… good luck. Please find Lady Aurelia."
---
After leaving the area, Daniel waited until the sun set. Darkness fell, shadows stretching across the grove.
Daniel: "Sensei, let's begin our investigation."
Sensei: "The soil here was re-compacted after the collapse. Perfectly smoothed."
Daniel: "Earth magic can stabilize terrain."
Sensei: "Not this cleanly. Someone erased the tracks."
Daniel felt increasingly uneasy.
Daniel: "If this were a natural mana surge, residual turbulence would remain."
Sensei: "Confirmed. Residual mana is unusually absent."
Daniel: "Which means it was deliberately withdrawn."
Daniel's eyes darkened.
Sensei: "The culprit is powerful, patient, and familiar with her routine."
Daniel looked toward the forest's edge, the distant Grey Hills barely visible.
Daniel: "And someone who doesn't want a war."
Sensei: "Hypothesis: The kidnappers prioritized stealth over force."
Daniel: "Meaning they want leverage."
Sensei: "Yes. Lady Aurelia is a bargaining chip for something far more important."
Daniel: "All evidence points to one person—Count Sebastian Arclay."
Sensei: "Affirmative. There is a 99.99% probability. The use of earth, wind, and water magic aligns with his house's forces, carefully disguised as a freak elemental anomaly."
Daniel: "If he doesn't want suspicion, Aurelia won't be kept at his estate."
Sensei: "Based on the magic used, there is over an 80% chance she is nearby. The enemy had a strong territorial advantage here."
Daniel: "Then we search."
Daniel: "It's going to be a long night. We must not let the baron's search party realize this was a kidnapping."
Daniel: "Let the enemy believe they executed the perfect plan. When their guard drops… we strike."
Sensei: "Agreed. If the kidnappers realize they've been exposed, her safety cannot be guaranteed."
Daniel's voice hardened.
Daniel: "Don't worry, Sensei. I won't let anything happen to her."
Daniel: "But as for the kidnappers…"
Daniel's eyes burned with fury.
Daniel: "When the Akuma finds them—none of them will leave alive."