The morning light pierced through the mist, casting a pale glow across the Wraithwood Forest. Despite it being morning, the fog made it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead, although it was slightly better than when it was dark.

“Alright, everyone.” Carlos stood at the edge of the treeline, his expression grim as he spoke to the group gathered around him. Like him, their expressions were also filled with worry. "It's morning now. So we’re going to head back inside to find him. I hope nobody has any complaints."

Even if they did, Carlos would venture inside anyway. No matter what people said about the young master, he had always treated him with kindness. He had even hugged him. The rumors spoke false of this young man, or they were outdated. He was a different person now, and Carlos would be damned if he let that young man die like this.

Carlos would venture to the depths of the forest if there was the tiniest chance of saving him. Still, his firm voice carried a hint of worry that wasn’t missed by anybody.

His knights were all battle-worn and exhausted from the night’s harrowing encounters, for they had encountered far too many monsters last night, fighting to stay alive. Last night was a nightmare for these young knights. The fog had been merciless, as had the monsters lurking within it. Ghouls, spirits, and things they had no names for.

They had only survived because of sheer luck. Somehow, by the grace of whatever gods were watching, they had stumbled their way out of the mist.

They desperately needed sleep, but duty was duty. With a sigh, they exchanged glances with one another. They knew they couldn’t ignore their captain’s decision. They would not return empty-handed without the young master.

Yanked away by that monstrous Mortarachnithorax, Romani’s youngest had vanished into the depths of the cursed forest. They hadn’t seen him since. Some of the knights had already assumed the worst, with their faces pale at the thought of what awaited them if the young master truly was….

The consequences would be dire. Losing their jobs would be the least of their concerns. A noble’s death could mean imprisonment. Or worse. Especially since this was classified as a dangerous zone anyhow, the knights would be blamed for leading him here. And if the knights somehow managed to avoid blame, Carlos alone would meet a terrible fate.

That was his plan. If the worst came to be, Carlos planned to take all the blame on his shoulders.

More than his possible punishment, Carlos was going because he wished the young master was alive, somewhere out in the mists. He had survived the Vampires and Werewolves, would he really die to a mere spider monster?

He clenched his jaw and turned to the group. “The sun’s getting higher. Let’s move.”

The knights nodded slowly. Among them, he noticed Tyrone doing the same. His usual bravado was shaken after last night’s fights as he muttered, “...Let’s go.”

He didn’t look very pleased, Carlos noticed from the corner of his eyes. His hand rested uneasily on the hilt of his sword as he held back a grumble. Most of the others were similar to him. They were annoyed as to why they would be punished for a noble’s “foolish choice.”

Carlos could see that, while his Vice Captain Lucas was fine with his decision, these young knights didn’t like the situation one bit. Tyrone’s eyes darted toward the misty forest, his posture stiff as he shook his head and got to work. Carlos got to work as well. They wouldn’t go against his order, even if they were displeased.

The Count and Countess had always been kind to Tyrone, as were they to the other knights, so they wouldn’t complain now. So, at the very least, they’d want to bring back something—even if it was just remnants of their son.

The atmosphere was dense from the knights’ tension. All of them were worried for Iskandaar’s life and consequently their own... except for one person.

“You guys are trembling too much. He’ll be fine, I’m telling you~” Lilian’s casual and carefree voice broke through the tension.

She walked back and forth with her hands locked behind her head as though they were strolling through a park and not about to march back into a deathtrap. She was the only one who seemed completely unconcerned, with not a hint of worry or fear in her bright eyes.

Carlos glanced at her, puzzled. Why wasn’t she panicking? Did she not care about the young master because she hadn’t served him for long? That confused him. Because from what he had observed, the two of them seemed close enough—closer than a maid and a master should be, even, and not in a bad way.

“Uh, Miss Lilian, why are you so relaxed?” Carlos couldn’t help but ask.

Lilian stretched her arms lazily and yawned. “If there’s anybody I’d be worried about getting lost and dying, it’s not him,” she said simply, as though that answered everything.

Carlos raised an eyebrow. What’s she on about? He had half a mind to push her further for more information—she clearly knew something the rest of them didn’t. But pressing her for answers would be like interrogating the young master himself; she was his personal maid. It wasn’t his place.

Lilian shrugged, sensing his gaze. “But whatever. Let’s head inside. He might still be in trouble since he said... well.” She trailed off, looking away as if she had said too much already.

Carlos’ eyes narrowed, but he let it go. For now, they had to focus on finding their young master.

The knights took a moment to check their weapons, ensuring everything was in order. The night had been brutal on their equipment, so they had to be extra careful with them. They took sips of water from their flasks and steeled themselves for what was to come.

Then, exchanging silent glances, they ventured back into the forest.

The fog was as thick as yesterday. It curled around them like a living thing, but this time they knew what to expect. The mist was oppressive, almost gagging them. Their steps seemed to echo unnaturally loud in the silence, but they didn’t stop.

Ten seconds into their track, however, the rustle of nearby leaves caught their attention.

The knights tensed, hands flying to their swords. Carlos raised a hand, signaling them to stay on guard. They turned toward the source of the sound with their eyes narrowed in anticipation. Was it another ghoul? Or something worse...

Instead, the figure that emerged from the mist was far more familiar.

Yawning and rubbing his eyes as if he’d just woken up from a pleasant nap, Iskandaar Romani strolled out of the fog with all the calm in the world.

“Oh,” he blinked at them, seemingly surprised to see the group of knights standing there, their swords half-drawn. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

“....”

The knights stared, dumbfounded.

A silence stretched between them for a beat too long. The tension evaporated into sheer disbelief. Carlos felt a mix of relief and frustration well up inside him, but all he could do was shake his head as he sheathed his sword.

Lilian, of course, just grinned at the sight.

****

The potion, Bane of the Wraith, allowed me to easily maneuver around the forest. Using my Demonic Sphere, now that my Qi had recharged itself overnight, I managed to return to where our horses were waiting. The journey was far less complicated than last night.

Guess that’s how someone as weak as him lived in a forest so dangerous, I concluded, enjoying the cool breeze ruffling my hair.

“Still,” Sir Carlos said from my side, riding his horse. His tone held a mix of curiosity and disbelief. “I can’t believe you actually met the Alchemist. Ah, not that I am saying the young master is a liar, but truly? He didn’t try to harm you?”

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I almost laughed.

My first instinct was to say that the man wasn’t the type to harm anyone, but then again, from what I had seen, Maldric Othrandar was anything but predictable. He claimed to have driven the Cursed Scholar mad, after all, quite proudly so.

“I think he just wasn’t in the mood,” I replied, shrugging. “Or maybe it was something else. I’m not entirely sure. I got my answer, and that’s all I care about.”

Carlos nodded, though the look on his face showed he wasn’t fully convinced. Only the sound of hooves against earth accompanied us for a moment as he hesitated as though weighing whether to speak further. His gaze flickered toward me, uncertainty in his eyes.

“What exactly… did you go there to learn, young master?” His voice was softer now, cautious. He was curious why I had chosen to go to such a dangerous place in the first place.

I could feel Lilian shift slightly in front of me on the horse, her carefree demeanor slipping in worry. After a brief pause, I answered him, my tone steady, “I don’t have much time left.”

“Huh?”

“Death.”

Carlos stiffened beside me, his grip tightening on the reins. Lilian’s posture went rigid as well, her back straightening as the weight of my words settled over us. She had been curious about what I learned from the alchemist, but didn’t get the chance to ask yet.

“I can’t tell you how I knew, but I had a feeling, and the Forsaken Alchemist confirmed that it wasn’t long till I’d pass.” I kept my voice calm, even though the truth had bothered me the whole night. I chose to keep the Experience Point restriction out of it, that didn’t need to be said here since it was unrelated to the alchemist.

“Young master…”

“I understand that, as the 5th Order’s Knight Captain, you may have seen this expedition as a silly noble’s adventure wish, but it was more than that for me. I’m trusting you not to reveal this to my parents. I’ll find a solution on my own because this isn’t something a medic or healer can fix,” I finished.

Carlos turned his head slowly, his eyes searching mine as if hoping to find some sign that I was joking. But I wasn’t. After a long, tense silence, he finally nodded. His face was now grim.

“I trust you, young master,” he said quietly. “And I’m sure if it’s you, you’ll find a way.”

With that, he nudged his horse forward, considerate enough to leave me with my thoughts. Good guy, I realized once again as I watched him ride ahead, the tension between us lessening as the distance grew.

Lilian, however, wasn’t done.

She turned her head back, eyes wide with worry. “W-wait,” she stammered, “how long do you have left?”

Her voice trembled, and for a moment, I considered softening the truth. But there was no point. “Ten months.”

Her gaze faltered, and I could see the panic rising behind her eyes, her lips parting as if to speak, though no words came. I sighed and without thinking, reached out to ruffle her hair.

“Don’t worry,” I said, my tone light and playful, as she flinched, feeling my hand on her ears. “I know a way. It’ll take time, but I don’t plan to die.”

“Really?!” Her eyes lit up, grinning as if it was her that’d live. Silly girl.

“Yeah,” I smiled. “In the Academy.”

She was definitely curious, but she didn’t push me for answers. Her expression softened, though the worry didn’t completely leave her. She nodded slowly, trusting my words but not fully at ease. We continued riding in silence after that, the tension hanging between us even as the fog and the forest vanished, until the Carlstein mansion came into view.

My fiance was waiting at the front, standing near the gate with her arms crossed.

Dressed in a deep blue gown that complimented her pale skin, she looked calm, though her eyes were sharp as they watched us approach. As I slid off the horse, followed by Lilian and the knights around me, her gaze locked onto mine.

A slight frown formed on her lips. “I didn’t think you’d give up this fast,” she said, her voice dry with a hint of amusement. “Was the forest scarier than you thought?”

I smirked, meeting her gaze as I dusted off my coat. “Give up, my dear?” I asked, tilting my head. “No idea what you mean because I got my answers.”

She blinked, caught off guard by my response. Her mouth opened as if to throw back a witty retort, but as her eyes scanned my face, the teasing smirk faded, replaced by something more serious.

She studied me for a long moment as if trying to figure out what I wasn’t saying. Then, she sighed. “You’re insane,” she muttered, shaking her head.

I chuckled softly. “So I’ve been told.”

The air between us grew quiet as we stood there, the tension slowly dissipating.

She watched me for a moment longer before turning toward the mansion with a wave of her hand. She never bothered to ask how long I had to live, for she assumed it must be long if I was smiling. My smile vanished as I followed her inside, my mind planning everything to make the best out of the next couple of months. I shortly returned to the Romani Estate and dove myself into isolated training. How long passed like that?

****

The air around me hummed with demonic energy, and the room was intoxicating for bugs and insects. A house gecko crawling the walls fell from the ceiling, unmoving, unresponsive, its body twisted and corrupted by the demonic Qi.

I sat in the center, cross-legged, focusing on the flow of energy, my brows furrowed in concentration. The red, chaotic aura swirled around me like a storm, pulsating with the rhythm of my heartbeat. Sweat trickled down my forehead and chest.

The heat of my own power threatened to overwhelm me, but I managed to contain it. Every breath I took was shallow and controlled as I continued to draw out the Qi, pulling it deeper from within and spreading it throughout my body.

Dispersion. Concentration.

Minutes turned into hours, but the flow of energy didn’t slow. It changed, though, transforming ever so slightly. The red glow surrounding me started to shift, slowly at first but surely. The once violent and chaotic red energy took on a new form, burning hotter and brighter. The color lightened, turning orangish like the flames of a raging inferno.

I felt the change with a subtle shift in my control. The power was no longer raw and untamed, I had finally managed to tame it after months of trial and error. A flicker of golden light sparked across the room as my eyes snapped open. The brightness illuminated the room, casting shadows on the walls, as the aura around me flared to match the golden hue.

I exhaled a sigh of relief and accomplishment, my body relaxing after hours of intense focus. "Done, just in time," I muttered, glancing toward the window.

Outside, the first rays of the morning sun began to peek over the horizon. A warm glow was cast on the room, it felt nice.

A knock interrupted the peace, and before I could respond, the door creaked open. Lilian stepped in, disregarding formalities as usual as she walked in without permission. Her eyes landed briefly on my bare, sweat-covered chest before flicking back to my face, her expression excited.

"Hey, get up already, they’re ready to leave," she said, ignoring the fact that she had just barged in.

“You’re supposed to wait until I say come in,” I informed her. She just shrugged it off with a careless wave, as always she did not care.

"Go take a shower, you smell."

I did not smell. Shaking my head, I stood up, cracking my neck as I stretched out the stiffness from my body. “I miss Justin,” I muttered, more to myself than to her.

Without waiting for a reply, I headed for the bathroom.

Half an hour later, I was dressed and ready, stepping out of my room feeling refreshed. The sweat and fatigue from my training and achievement had been washed away, which left only the lingering sensation of power simmering just beneath the surface.

I walked down the hallway toward the front gate and noticed the carriage waiting outside. Sir Carlos stood nearby, along with the entirety of the 5th Knight Order, all of them looking more powerful than they had seven months ago.

They stood ready, their armor polished, their weapons sharp, their postures confident. Much had changed since our last journey in the Wraithwood Forest.

Upon arrival, I noticed this body’s parents eagerly awaited my entrance, with Lilian by their side. The Count wore his usual serious expression, yet there was a tender quality in his eyes, a paternal concern rarely seen. In contrast, the Countess greeted me with a warm smile, but her gaze hinted at something deeper.

"Be careful out there," my father said as I stopped in front of him. “Seek your siblings when you arrive at the academy. Don’t cause any trouble, you hear me?”

I offered him a reassuring smile. "I’ll keep that in mind."

My mother moved closer and placed her hand on my shoulder in a caring way. "Make sure to be on your best behavior," she said, her eyes sparkling. When I laughed, she glanced towards the carriage, and in a more serious tone, she whispered, "But even if you end up causing trouble, don't tarnish that young lady's reputation. Is that clear?"

“Uh…” I blinked, taken off guard by her bluntness. “Yeah. Got it.”

With that, I turned toward the carriage, Lilian trailing behind me after bowing to my parents. Sir Carlos stepped forward and opened the door for us as I stepped inside.

The carriage was wide and large. Certainly larger than two people because it held more than two. Inside, I was greeted by the sight of Nebula Carlstein sitting quietly. Her maid sat beside her. The older woman smiled politely at me, her hands resting on her lap, while my fiance merely nodded in acknowledgment, her expression calm and composed.

I silently sighed. I wondered why our parents thought it was a good decision for Nebula to accompany me. Was it wise to send a pure white rose like her with me, who’s reputed as trash? Sure I had started to turn things around, but people didn’t know that.

“You look good today, my dear.”

“Certainly,” the girl looked away.

…What were they thinking, entrusting this delicate girl to travel with me? Suppressing the urge to groan, I climbed into the carriage, followed closely by Lilian, who, as usual, was entirely unfazed by the situation. Although, she did glare at the two vampires.

The door closed softly behind me, and I looked out the window as the carriage started moving. We were to travel towards the Waybound Academy City on the edge of the Empire.

The journey ahead seemed long and unpredictable, but as the wheels spun and the horses accelerated, I couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation. My life in this world seemed to have just begun.