Kazuki stirred awake in a large, unfamiliar bed, the soft sheets tangled around him. As he lay there, images from the previous night played vividly in his mind. He saw himself and Selena standing together on the balcony, gazing out over the Carnival of Forgotten Faces. The fireworks, created by magic spells, had illuminated the night sky in vibrant bursts, their light reflecting in Selena's golden eyes.

He clenched the sheets slightly, his chest tightening as he remembered what he had said aloud that night.

"Last night, I felt something that I haven't felt in a long time."

Shaking off the lingering warmth of the memory, Kazuki swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. The morning air was crisp, and the quiet hum of activity from the streets below faintly reached his ears. He walked to the large window across the room, its thick curtains drawn shut. Grasping the heavy fabric, he pulled the curtains apart. A blinding streak of sunlight streamed in, forcing him to squint as his eyes adjusted.

Through the glass, he could see the city of Mirkdusk awakening. The streets were alive with movement as the townsfolk worked tirelessly to clean up the remnants of the carnival and repair the damage left behind by the battle.

Drawn by a sense of familiarity, Kazuki opened the nearby door and stepped onto the same balcony from last night. The cool breeze brushed against his face as he leaned on the railing, watching the people below. Their determination and resilience reminded him of something he had long since buried—a fleeting sense of peace.

The sound of a door creaking open behind him made him turn. Standing in the doorway was Selena, her purple hair catching the light. She offered him a soft smile.

"You're awake," she said, her tone light but warm.

Kazuki nodded in acknowledgment, but as Selena stood there, her mind wandered. Memories of the night before flashed before her—Kazuki’s quiet words still echoing in her ears.

"I haven’t felt this way in a long time, but… I’m happy."

A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she looked away, quickly regaining her composure.

Breaking the silence, Kazuki spoke. "It’s been three weeks since we arrived here." He turned back to the balcony rail, his voice steady. "I think it’s time for us to leave."

Selena stepped closer, concern flickering across her face. "I agree, but… are you sure you’re okay? You haven’t fully recovered since your last fight."

Kazuki walked back into the room, sitting on the edge of his bed. He offered her a reassuring glance. "Don’t worry. I’m fine now. You don’t need to keep fussing over me."

"If that’s what you say," Selena replied, a hint of reluctance in her tone. She turned to leave, pausing briefly at the doorway. "Let me know if you need anything."

As she disappeared down the staircase, her footsteps fading into the distance, Kazuki sat in silence. The quiet hum of activity outside filled the room, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Clenching his fists tightly, he whispered to himself, his voice filled with determination.

"We have to move fast… so I can reach Nocturnia. I’ll train, become stronger than any of them, and… have my revenge."

His gaze hardened, the weight of his resolve settling over him like armor.

Kazuki stood in his room, letting out a quiet sigh before stepping out into the spacious halls of the manor. He wandered through the grand house, searching for the bathroom, his footsteps echoing softly on the polished floors. As he passed, a parade of maids greeted him warmly.

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“Please feel free to do whatever you want.”

“Ask us if you need any help!”

“Thank you for saving our city!”

“Hello, Hero!”

Kazuki’s expression remained unchanged, though their words lingered in his mind. "Don't worry," he thought. "We’ll leave today. I just know it. Staying here any longer will only feel like we’re imposing."

Spotting one of the maids nearby, he approached her and asked, “Excuse me, where is the bathroom?”

The maid smiled brightly. “It’s just around the corner. You’ll see a door there—behind it is the bathroom.”

“Thanks,” he replied, forcing a polite smile.

As he turned away, his fake smile faded, returning to his usual stoic expression. Soon, he found the door and stepped into the enormous bathroom. The sight that greeted him resembled a private hot spring—a large, luxurious bath, almost like a small pool.

Kazuki removed his clothes, leaving only his undergarments, and slipped into the warm water. He let out a sigh as the heat soaked into his muscles, leaning back with his head tilted up toward the ceiling. Yet, his mind remained restless.

"After my revenge... what comes next?" he thought, the question echoing in his head. "Will I even be able to hurt her?"

An image of Aiko flashed in his mind—his former classmate, the only one who showed him any kindness after his banishment from the kingdom. He clenched his fist beneath the water, the memories bitter and unresolved.

Thirty minutes passed before Kazuki rose from the bath. He grabbed a towel, drying off his scarred body. Despite the water’s soothing warmth, his old wounds remained as visible as ever—scars that time and battle had engraved onto him.

He stepped out of the bathroom wearing only a towel. The maids in the hall stopped and stared, their gazes lingering on the battle-hardened warrior before quickly averting their eyes. Kazuki ignored their reactions, walking back to his room to change into his usual clothes.

Meanwhile, in another room, Selena was busy packing her belongings. As she folded her last tunic, her thoughts wandered.

"Why are we leaving so early? Is Kazuki running away from something?"

She sighed, crossing the room to change her clothes behind a partition. "There’s so much I don’t know about him," she thought as she adjusted her purple hair in the mirror. "I want to ask him, but... I can’t force him to tell me."

Once dressed, she returned to her bed and sat quietly. A knock came at her door moments later.

Opening it, Selena found Kazuki standing there in his familiar attire, his face as unreadable as ever.

“It’s time,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Selena held the doorknob, tilting her head. “Okay, but... where are we going next?”

Kazuki replied without hesitation, “Aurelith.”

Selena’s golden eyes widened with excitement. “Aurelith? The city inside a hollowed-out mountain?”

Kazuki gave a small nod, and together they left the room.

The two stood before Mirkdusk’s massive gates, ready to depart. As they walked, Selena glanced at Kazuki, noticing something. “Why aren’t you wearing your mask anymore?”

Kazuki turned his gaze toward her. “It got destroyed during the fight with some of those goons back there.”

“Oh,” Selena said softly. She didn’t press further, and the pair continued their journey in silence.

Far away, the Arcane Knights, Kazuki’s former classmates, were battling a wave of goblins in a dense forest.

Ryohie raised his hand, chanting, “Shining Beam!” A brilliant ray of light erupted from his palm, burning through the charging goblins.

As the last goblin fell, Aiko approached Ryohie, holding a letter. “We just received this from the King of Malvora. It says, ‘Stay away from Mirkdusk. We’ve received reports that the city is being controlled by someone.’”

Ryohie furrowed his brow. “Controlled? If that’s the case, we have to protect it! Besides, we’re near Aurelith, and Aurelith is close to Mirkdusk!”

Yuki, standing beside Aiko, shook her head. “Didn’t you hear what the king said? It might be dangerous!”

Jiro scoffed, his voice rising with frustration. “You think we’re weak? Are you underestimating us? We’re the Arcane Knights! We’re not just random adventurers!”

Sako crossed his arms and smirked. “Exactly. Let’s go! That city needs saving!”

Aiko and Yuki exchanged uneasy glances, but the rest of the group was already rallying to move out. Reluctantly, the two followed as the Arcane Knights began their march toward Mirkdusk.