Leo, Ray, and Chris entered the room, and their eyes immediately went to the bed where Anna had been sleeping just a short while ago. The bed was completely empty now, and an uneasy silence filled the entire room. It felt like something important had suddenly disappeared from their reach.
Leo looked around and asked in confusion, "Anna… where did she go?"
Chris and Ray didn't have any immediate answer, and the silence between them said everything.
Ray slowly walked toward the table where a small white folded paper was placed neatly. The room felt still as he picked it up without saying a word and looked at it once. Then he turned and handed it over to Chris with a blank expression.
Chris took the paper and began reading it carefully, his face showing no reaction at all. The message seemed to sink in quietly as he processed every word. Leo quickly moved closer and looked at it as well, trying to understand what had happened.
Leo suddenly said in shock, "What… Anna left in the middle of the night?"
Chris replied calmly, "It looks like she did… she went back to her people, the other elves."
Ray spoke in a low, steady voice, "It was her decision. We can't interfere. She chose her own path, and we can only hope she stays safe."
Chris nodded slightly and lay down on the bed. He covered his eyes with his arm, as if carrying the weight of the thought.
"Life is like this… everyone has to make their own decisions and walk their own path. And how they walk it depends on them," he said quietly.
After a moment of silence, Chris spoke again.
"It's still night. Go to sleep. We have a lot of work tomorrow."
One by one, they lay down on their beds, but sleep didn't come easily. Their minds were still filled with thoughts about Anna and what had just happened. The room stayed quiet, only the sound of breathing breaking the silence. Chris looked up at the ceiling and softly said, "Take care, Anna," before closing his eyes.
That same night, Anna was standing alone on the rooftop of the rest house. The cold wind moved through the night air, and moonlight covered her like a silver glow. Her white hair reflected the light, shining softly in the darkness as she stood there thinking.
Chris's words kept echoing in her mind again and again. She slowly clenched her fist, feeling something change inside her.
"You're right, Chris… I have to make my own decision. I have to walk my own path," she whispered to herself.
She looked up at the sky where the moon was partly hidden behind moving clouds. The light was faint but steady, like a signal guiding her forward. Without hesitation, she stepped off the rooftop.
She landed silently on the ground, and immediately her aura flowed into her legs. In the next moment, she shot forward into the darkness at incredible speed, disappearing into the night.
Morning arrived
outside or rest room the sound of carriages echoed through the quiet morning streets. The distant rolling of wheels over stone and the faint voices of people slowly waking up filled the air. Sunlight streamed through the window, cutting across the wooden floor in long golden lines, slowly brightening the entire room.
Chris's eyes opened slowly. For a moment, he just stared at the ceiling in silence, as if trying to fully wake himself from sleep. Then his gaze shifted toward the clock on the wall 6 AM . The new day had already begun, and time was not waiting for anyone.
He sat up immediately, his expression turning serious, and looked toward Leo and Ray who were still asleep.
"Wake up, both of you. We're leaving," Chris said firmly.
His voice broke through their sleep. Leo moved slightly, still half-drowsy, while Ray slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the morning light. The calm of sleep was quickly replaced by awareness as they remembered the journey ahead.
Chris didn't wait for them to fully wake up. He stood, adjusted his clothes, and walked out of the room with steady steps, already focused on what needed to be done.
After a short while, Leo and Ray also got ready and came downstairs. The building felt more alive now, with morning activity beginning around them, but their minds were already elsewhere.
Chris was waiting outside. He looked at them once and simply said,
"Let's go."
Leo followed him and asked while walking,
"Where exactly are we going?"
Chris answered without slowing his pace,
"Berkyo Town."
Ray nodded slightly as he walked beside them.
"It's a large town near Greyrock," he added calmly, as if confirming the destination in his mind.
They soon reached Greyrock's main market, which was already fully awake and crowded. The streets were filled with merchants shouting prices, people moving between stalls, and the constant noise of trade and conversation. Wooden carts rolled across stone paths, and the smell of fresh goods mixed with smoke and iron from nearby shops. It was chaotic, but organized in its own way—like a living system that never stopped functioning.
Chris scanned the area for a moment, then stepped toward a waiting carriage. Without hesitation, the three of them climbed inside.
"Berkyo Town," Chris said firmly.
The carriage started moving immediately, wheels creaking as it left the busy market behind and headed toward the open road.
As they traveled, the environment slowly changed. Greyrock's noise faded into silence, replaced by the sound of wheels and wind. Dense forest surrounded the road, tall trees forming a dark green tunnel that stretched for miles. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in scattered patterns, shifting with every movement of the carriage.
After crossing the forest, the atmosphere shifted again. The air felt cooler, and the road became smoother and more structured. Civilization slowly returned in the distance, and soon they arrived at Berkyo Town.
The moment they entered, everything felt different. Berkyo Town was quieter, more controlled, and almost unsettling in its calmness. The streets were wide and paved with dark polished stone, reflecting faint light even under the sun. Buildings stood tall with ancient gothic architecture—arched windows, carved stone patterns, and iron details that looked centuries old. The entire town carried a heavy sense of history, as if it had witnessed far more than it revealed.
At the center of the town stood a massive clock tower. It dominated the skyline, rising far above all other buildings. Its structure was made of stone and reinforced metal, with intricate carvings running along its surface. The large circular clock face glowed faintly with a golden light, even though it was daytime.
Leo stopped walking for a moment, staring at it. A faint but steady sound reached his ears—
"tick… tick… tick…"
It wasn't loud, but it felt like it was coming from everywhere at once, like the heartbeat of the entire town.
Ray gently tapped his shoulder and said,
"Let's move."
Chris, however, suddenly stopped. His expression had already shifted into something more serious and focused. He turned toward both of them.
"From here, we split up," chris said.
Leo immediately asked, "Split up? For what exactly?"
Chris replied in a calm but firm tone.
"We're investigating the recent murders."
He first looked at Leo.
"You're coming with me," Chris said as he looked at Leo. "We're going to the news office, Morveth Times. We need records, reports, old articles—anything related to the recent murders."
Then he turned toward Ray.
"You have a different job."
Ray raised an eyebrow.
"You're going to a bar."
Before Ray could question him, Chris continued.
"I want you to sit there quietly and listen. Don't draw attention to yourself, don't start unnecessary conversations, and don't make it obvious that you're looking for information. Just observe and listen carefully to what people are talking about."
Ray looked confused.
"And that's supposed to help us how?"
Chris folded his arms.
"Because people talk. Especially when they drink. Most people are careful with their words when they're sober, but alcohol changes that. It lowers their guard. They become more relaxed, more emotional, and far less careful about what they say."
He pointed toward the streets around them.
"If these murders have been happening for a while, people will be talking about them. Rumors, theories, witness accounts, strange stories—something will eventually come up. Even if it sounds useless at first, small pieces of information can lead to bigger discoveries."
Ray still looked uncertain.
"And how are you so sure I'll actually find something there?"
A faint smirk appeared on Chris's face.
"Because I've spent enough time in places like that to know how they work."
Ray tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
Chris shrugged.
"I worked in bars when I was younger."
Leo immediately looked at him in surprise.
"You worked in bars?"
Chris sighed.
"That's a story for another time."
His expression quickly became serious again.
"Right now, we have more important things to focus on."
For a few moments, nobody spoke. The sounds of Berkyo Town continued around them as people walked through the streets and merchants opened their shops.
Then Ray suddenly spoke.
"There's something I still don't understand."
Chris looked at him.
"What is it?"
Ray crossed his arms.
"Why are we even investigating these murders in the first place?"
Chris stared at him for a second before nodding.
"Honestly, I expected you to ask that question."
Ray blinked.
"You did?"
Chris nodded again.
"Which is exactly why I already thought about the answer before you even asked."
Ray frowned slightly.
"Then what is the answer?"
Chris's face became more serious than before.
"Because these murders aren't normal."
The playful confidence disappeared from his voice.
"All of the recent killings follow the same pattern. The victims were found under similar circumstances, and the methods used are far too consistent to be random."
Leo and Ray listened carefully.
Chris continued.
"I've seen reports like these before. The details match the kind of killings demon cult members are known for."
The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere became noticeably heavier.
"Demon cults?" Leo repeated quietly.
Chris nodded.
"I can't prove it yet. Right now it's only a suspicion. But the similarities are too obvious for me to ignore."
He paused for a moment, letting them process what he had said.
"If my theory is correct, then these murders are more than simple crimes. They could be connected to a much larger operation."
Ray's expression hardened.
"And if we investigate them?"
"Then we might find clues," Chris answered immediately. "Clues that could lead us directly to the cultists responsible. And if we're lucky, those clues might even reveal the location of their base somewhere within Morveth."
Silence followed.
Ray looked genuinely impressed now. The plan suddenly made far more sense than it had a few minutes earlier.
Chris glanced between both of them before giving his final instructions.
"Leo and I will search through newspaper records and reports. Every murder, every witness statement, every strange detail—we'll examine all of it."
Then he looked at Ray.
"You'll gather information from the people. Listen carefully, pay attention to rumors, and remember anything that sounds unusual. If you discover something important, find us immediately."
Both Leo and Ray nodded.
The seriousness of the mission was now clear to everyone.
Chris turned around and began walking forward.
"Alright," he said firmly. "Let's get to work."