Under the peaceful sunset, the world seemed to hold its breath in a rare moment of stillness. Estelle sat at the edge of a cliff, her lean, athletic form outlined against the soft pink and gold hues of the sky. The gentle breeze played with strands of her long, dark hair, tied back in a practical ponytail that kept it from obscuring her view. The scent of salt from the distant sea filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of worn fabric—the soft, weathered clothing she favored for its ease of movement. Below her hand rested the familiar weight of her sword, the weapon she had relied on countless times in the battles that had shaped her life.

The soothing rhythm of the waves below, lapping against the rocky shore, mirrored the ebb and flow of Estelle’s thoughts as they drifted as easily as the clouds above. This cliff had been her sanctuary since childhood, a place where the orphanage’s walls couldn’t confine her. Here, amidst the open sky and endless horizon, she found solace and a fleeting sense of freedom.

As she gazed out at the horizon, Estelle reflected on the day's events and the path her life had taken. Today had been a quiet one, a welcome change from the chaos of her early days as a Hunter. With each battle, the monsters had grown easier to defeat, and although no one had officially confirmed it, Estelle could feel her Essence growing stronger with every victory. There were whispers that killing monsters—or even other Aeths—could amplify one's Essence, a theory that had fueled the rise of the feared "Dark" Hunters. But they had been largely quelled, thanks in no small part to the stabilizing efforts of the Aegis Union.

Despite the dangers of her work, Estelle was grateful to the Aegis Union and its founder, Alaric Hale. Even though they were roughly the same age, his accomplishments far surpassed what most could achieve in a lifetime. At first, she had regarded him as an unreachable figure, a celebrity of sorts. But as she got to know him better, that distant respect deepened into something more personal. They often bickered—usually about her recklessness, much like this morning—but in those moments, she realized that they had become friends. Despite his complaints, Estelle was one of his top performers for a reason, and she took pride in that.

She understood the source of his frustration, however, having seen Alaric in action before—during emergencies when he was forced to fight as an Aeth himself. He was careful, calculated, and efficient, a stark contrast to her own impulsive style. Yet, despite his strategic approach to battle, outside of it, Alaric was surprisingly friendly and talkative—though he reserved his warmth for those close to him. He often wore a business-like smile, but Estelle had learned to see past that to the person beneath.

Alaric’s dual nature—his ability to balance professionalism with genuine care—was reflected in the way he ran the Union. The job he offered wasn’t just about fighting monsters or capturing Dark Hunters; it came with benefits that had profoundly impacted Estelle's life. The high-risk, high-reward nature of her work allowed her to support the siblings she had grown up with at the orphanage, providing them with the stability and opportunities they might not have otherwise had.

Now, with her siblings pursuing their own lives, Estelle found herself with more peace and quiet than ever before. The family dinners that once marked every weekend had become less frequent, as each of them followed their own paths. Though some still visited to check on her or ask for advice, it was rare to gather them all together. The loneliness this brought was a quiet ache, but it wasn’t the only thing that had driven her to this cliffside tonight.

As she watched the sun sink lower, Estelle couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more she needed to do. It was a nagging sense of incompleteness, a distant echo of the drive that had led her to this point in life—the drive to protect those she cared about and to uncover the truths that lay hidden beneath the surface. This instinct, or whatever it was, had guided her more times than she could count, from the secrets of the orphanage to the guidance she had offered her siblings. It was too accurate to dismiss as mere coincidence.

Lost in thought as the sun continued its descent, Estelle was suddenly overwhelmed by a sharp, splitting headache. The world around her dimmed, the vibrant colors of the sunset fading into darkness. She couldn’t tell if the night had fallen or if her vision was clouded by pain. The agony seemed to stretch on forever, but amidst it, she heard a faint, almost inaudible whisper. “…please…” was all she could make out before the headache abruptly ceased.

When the pain finally subsided, Estelle blinked and noticed that the sun had only just begun to dip below the horizon. The episode had lasted mere minutes, though it had felt like an eternity. As she tried to make sense of what had just happened, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

“Sis…?” a voice called out, pulling her back to the present.

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She knew this voice all too well—the youngest of her siblings, who always sent letters updating her on life at school and visited whenever she was on break.

Estelle turned to see Mira standing a short distance away. Her younger sister was slight and delicate, with wide brown eyes that always conveyed a quiet determination. Mira’s wavy chestnut hair framed her face, and her expression was a mix of surprise and something else—something that made Estelle’s heart clench.

“Mira? Shouldn’t you still be at school today? I don’t believe there’s a break scheduled, so did you skip class?” Estelle asked, confused, but there was no answer.

Deciding not to dwell on the headache earlier, Estelle stood up to confront Mira directly. It wasn’t uncommon for the kids to visit this spot—everyone’s favorite place from the past—but it was definitely unusual for Mira to skip classes just to come here.

“Mira? Why aren’t you answering? Are you feeling sick?”

Mira’s face was pale, almost ghostly. Estelle rushed to her side, worried that Mira might collapse at any moment. But to her surprise, Mira took a step back as she approached.

“Mira? What’s wrong?” Now that Estelle was closer, she noticed that Mira’s clothing was different—modest but unusual, far from the style she typically wore. Estelle always made sure her siblings had enough to wear properly, but this…

Mira’s trembling voice broke the silence, catching Estelle off guard.

“Sis… Are you really Estelle?”

“Of course, it’s me. What’s wrong with you today…?”

Estelle barely finished her question when Mira burst into tears and hugged her so tightly that she could hardly breathe. Seeing her sister’s current state, Estelle decided not to press further, instead wrapping her arms around Mira and gently patting her back.

The world around them was still, the only sound was the soft rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. The sky, once vibrant with sunset hues, had darkened into night, the moon casting a pale light over the cliffside. The stars began to appear, tiny pinpricks of light in the vast expanse of darkness, as the sisters stood together, unmoving.

After the sun had set and the moonlight had well-lit the area, Mira finally took a step back, though she still clung to Estelle’s hand as if afraid her sister would vanish if she let go.

Amidst hiccups, Estelle heard Mira whisper to herself, “…I knew they were lying…”

“Mira, have you calmed down? Can you tell me if there’s anything I can help with?”

Mira had always sought Estelle’s advice when troubled. Maybe she came here to find me because something happened? Estelle thought.

Estelle’s question seemed to snap Mira back to reality. Looking around, she hurriedly said, “It’s already night, let’s hurry back home.”

“Yes, of course. Let me grab my sword first.”

“Sword?” Mira sounded confused. “Never mind… Let’s talk when we’re back to safety,” she said, still clinging to Estelle.

“Follow me. We’ve moved since you were gone. I’m sure everyone will be happy to see you again! …Regardless of what they’ve said.”

“Moved?” Estelle was puzzled. It had been a while—more than a month, she recalled—since the last time the kids gathered at the usual place, but that was at her house. She was certain she hadn’t moved or told the kids about any plans to move, so Mira’s words made no sense.

But Mira was once again lost in thought as she pulled Estelle along. Estelle knew it would be no use talking to her like this, so she decided to wait until they arrived at their destination.

The sisters moved through the dense woods, the towering trees casting long shadows in the moonlight. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds were their soft footsteps on the leaf-strewn path.

The darkness seemed to press in around them, and Estelle instinctively reached for the small light she carried. And as the dark of night swallowed them, Estelle turned on the light she had in her possession.

“Please turn it off, it isn’t safe here,” Mira whispered urgently.

Estelle wanted to assure her that she would protect her from whatever came their way, but the seriousness in Mira’s voice made her pause. Reluctantly, she turned off the light, trusting her sister’s judgment.

They continued on in the darkness, Mira leading the way with a familiarity that only deepened Estelle’s sense of unease. After a short while, they reached a hidden tunnel entrance, concealed by thick underbrush and partially covered by a large, flat stone. The tunnel sloped downward, the air growing cooler and more oppressive as they descended into the earth. The walls were rough and uneven, the path twisting and turning through the darkness.

The sisters walked in near silence, the only sound the faint echo of their footsteps on the rocky floor. The tunnel seemed endless, each step taking them deeper into the unknown. Estelle felt the passage of time acutely, though she couldn’t tell exactly how long they had been walking. Her thoughts raced, trying to piece together the strange puzzle of the current situation.

After navigating the tunnel's winding path, they emerged into a narrow valley where the moonlight cast a pale glow on the rugged terrain. Moving cautiously, they followed a rocky path that twisted through dense thickets and steep inclines. The air was thick with the scent of earth and foliage, and the sounds of nocturnal creatures rustling in the underbrush heightened the tension.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of traversing the harsh landscape, they arrived at a well-concealed shelter. It was tucked away in a natural alcove, the entrance cleverly hidden behind a cluster of large boulders. Mira knocked in a specific pattern on a reinforced door, and after a moment, it creaked open to reveal the hidden refuge. The interior was dimly lit, with makeshift furniture and supplies carefully arranged to maximize space. The air inside was thick with a mix of tension and relief, as weary Aeths glanced up at their arrival.

Estelle could feel the weight of many eyes on her as she followed Mira inside, her heart heavy with the knowledge that something was very, very wrong.