Morning arrived quietly over the land that bordered the Elven Kingdom.
The night's dew still clung to the leaves like tiny stars, and the faint light of dawn slipped between the towering trees surrounding the outer roads of the kingdom. For a moment, everything looked calm—as if the world itself had paused to breathe after the chaos and wars they had endured.
Lucifer stood near the forest trail, arms crossed, waiting impatiently.
Emilie was adjusting the strap of her bag while Luna leaned against a stone pillar near the road, half-awake yet strangely alert as always.
Lin was the only one silently observing the distant tree line.
Then footsteps approached.
A slender figure stepped out from the misty road ahead.
Silver-white hair flowed gently behind her as the morning breeze moved through the trees.
Sylvarielle had returned.
The elf princess carried the quiet grace of the forest itself. Her emerald eyes scanned the group before settling on Lin.
Lucifer let out a breath.
"So the scout finally returns."
Sylvarielle ignored his remark and walked straight toward Lin.
"I gathered the information you asked for," she said calmly.
Before Lin could respond—
Luna suddenly burst into laughter.
"Ahhh! So that's why!"
Everyone turned toward her.
Luna tilted her head mischievously and looked at Lin with narrowed eyes.
"Giving secret missions to your close friends, huh?"
Sylvarielle froze instantly.
Her elegant composure cracked for a brief moment.
"W-Wait—!"
A faint red shade appeared on her cheeks.
"It's not that kind of matter!"
Her voice came out far quicker than she expected.
Lucifer slowly raised an eyebrow.
Emilie blinked in confusion.
Luna only smiled wider.
"Oh? Then what kind of matter is it?"
Sylvarielle looked completely flustered now.
Her usual calm presence was replaced with a pale reddish expression as she tried to explain.
"Lin simply asked me to confirm movements around the western border of the kingdom. That's all!"
Luna placed a hand over her mouth dramatically.
"Ohhh, I see."
Then she leaned closer.
"Still sounds suspicious."
Sylvarielle turned away quickly.
"Stop teasing me!"
Lucifer sighed.
"I cannot believe we survived wars only to die from Luna's jokes."
Luna laughed again.
Then she gently nudged Sylvarielle.
"Relax, princess. I'm joking."
Her voice softened slightly.
"Now tell me—what happened while you were gone."
Sylvarielle took a breath, calming herself.
"Nothing unusual near the western border… but there were traces of strange movements deeper in the northern forests."
Lin listened silently.
Then he finally spoke.
"Then we should move."
And just like that, their journey resumed.
The five figures walked away from the outer gates of the Elven Kingdom.
Behind them, the golden towers of the kingdom slowly faded into the distance.
Ahead of them—
The forest waited.
The deeper they walked, the quieter the world became.
Soon, thick trees began surrounding the path.
Branches twisted over the sky like giant claws, blocking the sunlight.
A strange mist hovered close to the ground.
Even the wind felt slower here.
Sylvarielle narrowed her eyes.
"This forest…"
Lucifer rested a hand near his sword.
"I don't like this place."
Emilie stayed close to Lin.
Luna casually walked ahead, but her senses were clearly alert.
Lin stepped forward quietly.
His eyes moved across the trees, the soil, the air.
Then he spoke.
"Luna."
She turned her head.
"Yes?"
Lin looked toward the deeper forest.
"Places change when time passes… don't they?"
Luna smirked.
"Oh?"
She folded her arms and glanced at him teasingly.
"Even the greatest strategist who once carried an aura that could shake battlefields has changed into a quiet scholar."
She pointed lightly toward him.
"Isn't that right?"
For a moment—
Silence hung between them.
Then something rare happened.
Lin smiled.
Not the calm, controlled smile people usually saw.
But a genuine one.
And then—
He laughed.
A deep, natural laugh that came from his heart.
Lucifer blinked in surprise.
"Did… Lin just laugh?"
Emilie looked shocked.
Sylvarielle watched quietly.
Even Luna paused for a second before shaking her head with a grin.
"Looks like miracles still exist."
They continued walking.
But Lin's eyes remained observant.
As they moved deeper into the forest—
Something caught his attention.
Just a small detail.
Barely visible.
On the rough bark of a nearby tree—
A thin streak of blood.
Lin slowed down.
His eyes sharpened.
The blood was fresh.
Very fresh.
He immediately turned to warn the others—
But it was already too late.
A sudden pressure exploded through the forest.
BOOM.
A shadow moved.
So fast that even Lucifer barely reacted.
A dark figure appeared between the trees—
And struck.
Lucifer was thrown aside instantly.
The force behind the attack was monstrous.
He crashed through two trees before landing heavily on the ground.
"What—?!"
Before anyone could react—
The shadow moved again.
Luna stepped forward instantly.
Her instincts were sharp.
Her sword appeared in her hand.
CLANG.
But the moment their forces met—
An enormous dark energy erupted.
The mysterious attacker released a power so dense that even the air trembled.
Luna's eyes widened.
"Impossible—!"
The dark force struck her directly.
BOOM.
She was pushed backward violently.
Even Luna—
Someone who had fought monsters and warlords—
Was forced several meters back.
Lucifer stood up immediately.
"What kind of power is that…?!"
Sylvarielle drew her sword.
But the mysterious figure ignored everyone.
Slowly—
It turned its gaze toward Emilie.
Only its eyes were visible beneath the dark hood.
Two eyes.
Deep.
Endless.
Terrifying.
Emilie looked at them—
And instantly froze.
Her body trembled.
Those eyes were wrong.
Not human.
Not spirit.
Something older.
Something ancient.
Something that felt like an abyss staring back at her soul.
Her vision blurred.
Her strength faded.
And without even being touched—
She fainted.
Sylvarielle caught her before she fell.
"Emilie!"
Lucifer stared in disbelief.
"She collapsed just from seeing those eyes…?!"
The mysterious figure stepped forward again.
Its gaze now shifted.
Toward Lin.
The forest became silent.
Even the mist seemed to stop moving.
The figure slowly approached him.
Lucifer prepared to attack again—
But something stopped him.
Lin raised one hand slightly.
A signal.
Don't move.
Lucifer frowned but obeyed.
Luna stood up slowly.
Blood trickled from the corner of her lip.
Her eyes narrowed at the attacker.
"That power…"
Sylvarielle tightened her grip on her sword.
Lin did not move.
He simply watched the approaching figure.
Calm.
Silent.
Unshaken.
The mysterious attacker stopped a few steps away from him.
For a moment—
Neither moved.
Then a voice came from beneath the dark hood.
A cold voice.
"You… are Lin."
Lucifer's eyes widened.
"You know him?"
The figure ignored him.
Its gaze remained fixed on Lin.
"Interesting."
Lin did not respond.
The figure tilted its head slightly.
"I expected fear."
Still—
Lin said nothing.
Then slowly—
A faint smile appeared on his face again.
And for the first time since the attack—
He spoke.
"You've been watching us since we entered the forest."
Lucifer blinked.
Sylvarielle looked surprised.
The figure paused.
Lin continued calmly.
"The blood on the tree… was meant to slow us down."
Luna's eyes widened slightly.
Lin stepped forward.
Just one step.
"But you made one mistake."
The forest seemed to grow heavier.
The mysterious figure asked quietly—
"What mistake?"
Lin's gaze sharpened.
"You revealed your presence."
The figure laughed softly.
A chilling sound.
"You think you understand what you're facing?"
Lin's expression did not change.
"No."
Then he added quietly—
"But I understand enough."
Lucifer suddenly felt something strange.
The air around Lin had changed.
The calm scholar standing before them—
Was no longer just a scholar.
Something else was present.
Something dangerous.
Lin's eyes locked onto the mysterious figure.
And he said softly—
"You shouldn't have come here alone."
The forest trembled slightly.
And for the first time—
The mysterious attacker felt it.
A faint sensation.
A warning.
Something about Lin—
Was far more dangerous than it first appeared.
And the battle…
Had only just begun.