Kazuki stood in the midst of the relentless blizzard, his clothes tattered and torn. The icy wind bit at his exposed skin as the snow piled up around his legs. Every step felt heavier than the last, his body aching from the battle he had just endured. The ice reached up to his lower torso, and the cold seeped into his very bones. His breath came out in visible puffs, a stark reminder of how cold the world had become.

His mind drifted back to Nolan’s words: "Key to redemption..."

Kazuki clenched his fists as he trudged on, determined to make his way back to Mirkdusk. The city, now covered in snow, seemed so different in this quiet, frozen state. The streets that once bustled with life were now eerily silent, as if the snow had swallowed them whole.

The inn was just ahead, its warm light cutting through the darkness of the night. Kazuki's steps grew heavier with each stride, the weight of the world pressing down on him. He entered the inn quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

Inside, the innkeeper was still awake, sitting at a small table near the hearth, the fire crackling softly. Kazuki couldn’t help but notice the mask he was wearing. It was identical to the one he had seen on the people in the city—smooth, unyielding, and cold. A strange sense of unease washed over him, but he pushed it aside.

"It seems like it's already winter season," the innkeeper said, turning toward Kazuki with a small smile. The mask glinted in the firelight, the purple glow from within casting an eerie light on the room.

"Sit and warm yourself," the innkeeper offered, his voice calm, almost too calm.

Kazuki nodded silently, settling into a chair by the fire. As he did, his gaze fell upon a small statue resting on the table. It was a figure of Nolan, the god he had encountered the previous night, holding a cold, imposing presence even in miniature form. The innkeeper was worshiping it, his hands clasped together in reverence, his eyes closed in silent prayer.

Kazuki’s heart skipped a beat. This was the same statue he had seen in the city—everywhere he looked, people had been holding these statues, their faces hidden behind those glowing purple masks. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

He tried to shake off the feeling, but the sense of foreboding lingered, gnawing at the back of his mind. He stood up slowly and made his way back to their room. When he opened the door, he saw Selena still fast asleep in the bed, her peaceful expression a stark contrast to the storm outside.

The night passed without event, the storm continuing its relentless assault on the city.

Morning came, and with it, the same cold, heavy snow that seemed to have blanketed Mirkdusk in a never-ending winter. Selena slowly woke, blinking at the soft light filtering through the curtains. The snow outside had piled up, covering the ground in a thick, pristine layer of white.

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She rubbed her eyes, disoriented for a moment before she heard something unsettling.

A strange, muffled sound. It was coming from downstairs.

Curious, Selena slipped out of bed and made her way downstairs. What she saw stopped her dead in her tracks.

The innkeeper and the other people in the inn were standing motionless in the center of the room, their bodies stiff and unmoving. Each of them wore the same mask, the same eerie purple glow emanating from beneath. It was as if they had become statues, their eyes vacant, their postures unyielding.

But it wasn’t just them. Everyone in the inn, including the innkeeper, was holding a small statue, the same one Kazuki had seen last night. The figure of Nolan.

Selena’s breath caught in her throat. Brother!?

The word echoed in her mind, though she knew better than to believe it. She had to make sure Kazuki didn’t know what was going on. She had to keep him in the dark, for his safety, for her own.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. Then, with a deep breath, she stepped back, leaving the room behind her.

This can’t be real. Maybe Kazuki doesn’t know about Nolan yet. He couldn’t.

Her mind raced as she headed back upstairs, her footsteps soft against the cold floorboards. She reached the door to their room, hesitating for a moment before she pushed it open. Kazuki was still asleep, his breathing slow and steady. For a moment, she thought he might wake, but he stayed still.

Selena closed the door gently behind her, the weight of the situation sinking in. She sat on the edge of the bed, watching Kazuki as he slept, his face peaceful in contrast to the turmoil she felt inside.

Kazuki awoke slowly, blinking against the dim light of the room. His mind was foggy, his thoughts scattered. He could still feel the lingering chill from the night before, his body aching in places where he’d been wounded. But that wasn’t what occupied his thoughts now.

He stared at the snow outside the window, watching it fall gently, blanketing the world in white. The peaceful sight seemed out of place, too serene for the chaos he’d experienced. Then, the words of Nolan echoed in his mind: "Key to redemption."

Kazuki shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He turned over and saw Selena sitting at the edge of the bed, staring out the window. Her expression was unreadable, and for a moment, he wondered if she was hiding something from him.

"Selena…" Kazuki said softly, his voice hoarse from sleep.

Selena turned to him, her face the picture of calm. "It’s still snowing," she said quietly, her voice distant.

Kazuki nodded but couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. The innkeeper’s strange behavior, the masks, the statues—it all felt like a bad omen. But what could he do? He was already in too deep.

"Did you hear anything strange last night?" Kazuki asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Selena hesitated, her gaze flickering briefly before she shook her head. "No, nothing. It’s just the snow… It’s always like this this time of year."

Kazuki didn’t buy it. There was something off about all of this. The city, the people, the masks. He had seen the worshipers downstairs, the eerie silence that had taken over the place. He knew Selena wasn’t telling him everything, but he wasn’t sure how to press her without making her uncomfortable.

Kazuki closed his eyes, his mind whirling with the mysteries he had yet to solve. He had to find out what was going on in Mirkdusk, and why Nolan’s influence seemed to be everywhere. The pieces were all there—he just had to put them together.

But for now, all he could do was wait.

TBC