Morning sunlight filtered through the dense forest canopy.
The rescued dwarven guards slowly regained consciousness in the clearing where Team 18 had found them tied to the trees.
One of the dwarves groaned loudly as he sat up.
"Ugh… my head…"
Kael helped him steady himself.
"Easy there."
The dwarf looked up, blinking several times.
His thick beard was tangled with leaves.
"…Who are ye?"
Lucien stepped forward calmly.
"Students from Supreme Arcanum Academy."
"We're investigating the attack on your caravan."
The dwarf's eyes widened slightly.
"The academy sent students?"
Aurelia crossed her arms proudly.
"Not just students."
"Very talented students."
Lyrielle sighed.
"Please ignore her."
Seraphina knelt beside another dwarf who was just waking up.
Her voice was calm and gentle.
"You're safe now."
The dwarf blinked at her silver hair.
"…Princess of the Silver Kingdom?"
Seraphina nodded slightly.
"Yes."
The dwarves exchanged surprised looks.
Clearly they hadn't expected royalty to rescue them.
The Story
After giving them water, Lucien began asking questions.
"What attacked your caravan?"
The dwarves looked at each other uneasily.
One of them finally spoke.
"…At first we thought it was monsters."
Kael nodded.
"That's what we fought last night."
The dwarf shook his head slowly.
"Nay… those creatures weren't normal."
Lyrielle leaned closer.
"What do you mean?"
The dwarf pointed toward the forest.
"They came from the darkness like beasts possessed."
"But…"
He hesitated.
"…they weren't alone."
Lucien's eyes sharpened.
"What else was there?"
The dwarf swallowed.
"A man."
The clearing fell silent.
Aurelia raised an eyebrow.
"A human?"
The dwarf nodded.
"He wore a dark cloak."
"His eyes glowed red like a demon's."
Seraphina's expression grew serious.
"…A demon servant."
Lucien looked toward the forest slowly.
"Or worse."
The Clue
Kael noticed something unusual on the ground near the wagon tracks.
"…Hey."
Lyrielle walked over.
"What is it?"
Kael pointed to a strange symbol carved into a rock beside the road.
It was faint.
But clearly intentional.
Seraphina stepped closer to examine it.
"…This symbol."
Her voice became quiet.
"I've seen it before."
Lucien looked at her.
"Where?"
Seraphina hesitated slightly.
"In records about the Great Demon War."
Everyone stared at the mark again.
Aurelia frowned.
"You're saying this might be demon-related?"
Seraphina nodded.
"…Possibly."
Kael scratched his head.
"So our mission just got way more complicated."
The Feeling of Being Watched
They began escorting the dwarves back toward the main road.
The forest felt strangely tense.
Too quiet.
Even the wind seemed to hesitate between the trees.
Lyrielle walked beside Kael again.
"…Do you feel that?"
Kael nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
"Like someone's watching us."
Seraphina suddenly stopped walking.
Lucien did the same.
Aurelia's flames flickered to life instantly.
The trees ahead rustled.
Then—
A shadow moved between them.
Fast.
Too fast to see clearly.
Kael drew his sword.
"Did anyone else see that?"
Lucien nodded.
"…He's here."
The Chase
Suddenly a dark figure appeared on a tree branch above them.
A tall man wearing a black cloak.
His eyes glowed faintly red.
The dwarves gasped.
"That's him!"
The mysterious man smiled slowly.
"Well well…"
"Students from the academy."
Aurelia stepped forward confidently.
"Congratulations."
"You're about to lose."
The man laughed softly.
"You're children."
Lucien's shadow magic spread across the ground.
"Let's test that."
The cloaked figure suddenly jumped backward into the forest.
Lucien shouted,
"After him!"
Team 18 ran instantly.
The chase exploded through the forest.
Branches snapped.
Leaves flew everywhere.
The mysterious man moved incredibly fast.
But Kael noticed something.
"…He's leading us somewhere."
Lyrielle ran beside him.
"You noticed that too?"
Seraphina's voice came from ahead.
"He wants us to follow."
Lucien didn't slow down.
"Then we finish this."
The Trap
The chase ended suddenly in a rocky clearing.
The cloaked man stood waiting in the center.
Around him…
More corrupted monsters slowly emerged from the shadows.
Aurelia groaned.
"Oh come on."
"Seriously?"
The man smiled again.
"I wondered how strong the academy's students really were."
Seraphina raised her sword.
"You're responsible for the caravan attack."
The man shrugged.
"Experiments."
Lucien's eyes turned cold.
"You're working with demons."
The man's smile widened.
"…Perhaps."
The Battle
The monsters attacked first.
Aurelia unleashed a massive wave of fire.
Lyrielle's wind magic slammed into several creatures.
Lucien's shadow blades cut through the darkness.
Seraphina moved like silver lightning between the enemies.
Kael fought beside them.
Blocking claws.
Striking openings.
Working perfectly with the team.
But the cloaked man only watched.
Amused.
Until Kael suddenly rushed him.
Their blades clashed.
CLANG
The impact echoed across the clearing.
The man looked surprised.
"…You have no mana."
Kael smirked.
"Still enough to hit you."
The man laughed.
"Interesting."
But then—
He suddenly jumped backward again.
"You're stronger than expected."
"But our meeting ends here."
He snapped his fingers.
A smoke explosion filled the clearing.
When it faded…
He was gone.
After the Battle
The remaining monsters collapsed once their master disappeared.
The forest grew quiet again.
Lucien clenched his fist.
"…He escaped."
Seraphina looked toward the trees.
"But we confirmed something."
Lyrielle nodded.
"This wasn't random."
Aurelia crossed her arms.
"We're dealing with someone dangerous."
Kael looked toward the distant mountains ahead.
Toward the road leading to the Dwarf Kingdom.
"…And he's probably heading there."
The Quiet Moment
That night, after the dwarves were safely escorted to a nearby outpost, Team 18 set up camp again.
Lyrielle sat beside Kael near the fire.
"You were reckless again today."
Kael smiled.
"You noticed."
She sighed softly.
"…Just try not to die."
Kael looked at her.
"You sound worried again."
Lyrielle hesitated.
Then quietly said—
"…Maybe I am."
Kael didn't respond.
But the warmth in his chest returned again.
Across the fire, Seraphina watched them silently.
And for the first time…
She realized something uncomfortable.
She didn't like seeing Lyrielle that close to him.
Aurelia leaned toward Lucien.
"…This team is becoming a romance drama."
Lucien smirked.
"Indeed."