Kazuki stood atop the walls of Veridonne, his figure silhouetted against the fiery orange glow of the setting sun. The tranquil warmth of the fading daylight did little to ease the tension building within him. His gaze was fixed beyond the walls, scanning the vast plains that stretched toward the horizon, when suddenly, a creeping sensation stirred within his chest. He could feel it—an ominous presence approaching.

His eyes narrowed as he focused on the distance. The land beyond the city blurred slightly as the last rays of sunlight bent at the horizon. Then, just as he feared, movement caught his attention. An army of monsters, countless in number, marched toward Veridonne like a black tide rolling across the earth.

For a moment, Kazuki remained still, the sight of the monstrous horde bearing down on the city not affecting him outwardly. His face was hidden behind his mask, as ever emotionless and detached. "Brrrrm... Brrrrm!" The sudden blare of the siren echoed through the air, snapping him out of his quiet contemplation.

“PLEASE, ALL ADVENTURERS ASSEMBLE AT THE FRONT GATE!” the siren announced, its tone commanding urgency.

Kazuki remained still for a moment, watching the chaos begin to unfold around him as adventurers and city guards hurried to the front gate. He contemplated his next move, his mind as sharp as ever. But ultimately, he turned away, walking calmly toward his inn. He didn’t feel the need to join the others. The adventurers could handle this. They always did. This wasn’t his battle.

His boots echoed softly against the cobblestone streets as he made his way back, indifferent to the looming threat. His thoughts, however, couldn’t shake the nagging question that lingered in his mind. "Who sent that army of monsters?" he whispered to himself, suspicion creeping in.

As he opened the door to his inn, he halted suddenly, his thoughts racing back to the girl he had saved earlier. "Selena," the name echoed in his mind. Was it possible...?

Without wasting another second, Kazuki pivoted sharply and sprinted toward the hospital. His breath was steady, his heartbeat calm, yet the urgency in his steps betrayed his composed demeanor. As he reached the entrance of the hospital, a doctor emerged from the building, recognizing him instantly.

“Sir, the lady you brought here is now okay,” the doctor said with a respectful nod. “She just left right before you arrived.”

Kazuki’s jaw tightened under his mask, but he said nothing. He turned and left immediately, the thought of Selena's connection to the army of monsters dismissed, though not entirely forgotten. "It couldn’t be her..." he thought, trying to push the suspicions away.

Hours passed as the city’s adventurers fought off the monstrous invasion. The sounds of battle—"Clang! Thud! Roar!"—rang throughout the streets as adventurers, mages, and knights alike fought valiantly to defend their home. Kazuki observed from the distance, unphased and uninterested. As expected, the adventurers eventually prevailed, clearing out the horde.

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Meanwhile, outside the city gates, Selena walked silently, her purple hair catching the dim glow of the setting sun. She had recovered quickly from her ordeal, and now, she sought answers. There was something strange about this world, something that tugged at the edges of her consciousness, but she couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

Just as she neared the city gates, a voice called out to her.

“Wait.”

Selena turned around, her eyes meeting the figures of the Arcane Knights standing behind her. Ryohie, their leader, stepped forward, a calm yet authoritative presence surrounding him. His long black hair flowed gently in the evening breeze, and his piercing gaze locked onto her.

“I feel it,” Ryohie said, his voice steady. “You’re a light magic user, aren’t you? It’s rare to find one of your kind.”

Selena remained silent, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed the situation. Ryohie continued, undeterred by her lack of response.

“Join us,” he offered. “Become an Arcane Knight. You’d be a valuable addition to our ranks.”

Selena shook her head, her voice calm but firm. “I’m not interested.”

Behind Ryohie, Jiro, one of the more impulsive knights, scowled. His short temper flared instantly, and he stepped forward, grabbing Selena’s shoulder roughly. “Who do you think you’re disrespecting?” he spat, his voice laced with arrogance. “We’re the Arcane Knights.”

Selena’s gaze flickered to his hand on her shoulder, her expression unchanging, but a quiet storm was brewing within her. She spoke softly, her voice calm yet filled with warning. “Let go of me.”

Jiro sneered, tightening his grip. Before he could say another word, "WHOOOSH!" a powerful gust of wind burst from Selena’s direction, forcing Jiro to stagger back and release his grip.

“YOU DISRESPECTFUL WHORE!” Jiro shouted, his face contorting with rage. With a snarl, he raised his hand, casting a spell. “LEAF FURY!” he bellowed.

"SHHHHHH!" Razor-sharp leaves materialized from the air and shot toward Selena with terrifying speed, their edges gleaming in the fading light. Selena’s eyes narrowed, and in an instant, she summoned a spear made entirely of light. The weapon glowed with a radiant brilliance as she swung it effortlessly, slicing through the oncoming leaves with precision.

"SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!" Each attack was neutralized, the leaves disintegrating into harmless fragments of magic as they met the spear’s edge.

Ryohie, who had been watching silently until now, stepped forward, raising a hand to stop Jiro. “Enough,” he said firmly, his eyes locking onto Selena’s glowing spear. “You’ve made your point.”

Selena lowered her spear, the light dissipating as quickly as it had formed. She stared at Ryohie, her expression calm but determined. “I told you I’m not interested,” she said evenly. “I have no desire to join your ranks.”

Ryohie sighed, his gaze softening as he regarded her. “You’re strong, there’s no denying that. But strength without guidance is dangerous. The Arcane Knights can help you control it, hone it. You could achieve greatness.”

Selena shook her head. “Greatness isn’t what I seek. I have my own path to follow.”

Ryohie regarded her in silence for a moment before nodding. “Very well. But remember, the world is a dangerous place, especially for someone like you. If you ever change your mind, you know where to find us.”

With that, he turned and began walking away, his knights following him. Jiro shot Selena one last venomous glare before turning on his heel, his pride wounded but his anger subdued for now.

As the Arcane Knights disappeared into the distance, Selena let out a quiet breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. The encounter had unsettled her, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on it now. She had a purpose, even if it was still unclear to her. With renewed determination, she continued walking toward the gates of Veridonne, ready to leave the city behind.

Unbeknownst to her, Kazuki watched from the shadows, his expression unreadable beneath his mask. He had seen the entire confrontation, his mind piecing together what he had witnessed.