A dark room with only one source of light at the center. A light that came from a moon that never stopped shining. In that sealed room, there was only a single hole in the ceiling allowing the moonlight to enter.
In the circular room, several chairs were placed far from each other. They were occupied by people bearing their own ranks and authority.
Right beneath the moonlight, Kaelan was shackled by his hands and feet, kneeling unconscious. His body was covered in blood and filth.
Nearby stood Lunaria, leaning against the wall casually yet serious.
"You seem to have found something interesting."
Lunaria looked at the man taller than her. A man with brownish skin, a gentle face, and a small scar on his cheek. He wore a brown leather coat, gloves, and a black hat.
"Yes," Lunaria answered as she threw a faint smile. "That man—Kaelan Veradis. I found him during an exploration."
Lunaria had delivered Kaelan's situation briefly. Since Kaelan unexpectedly turned out to be a Devourer, a trial like this was necessary.
"Glad, as the captain of the archaeological team, what do you think about him?" Lunaria asked.
The man speaking to her was her former colleague when they were still beginners. Now both of them held equal positions in different teams.
Glad stared at Kaelan with anticipation. "Honestly, whether he's affiliated or not, Kaelan Veradis will be executed. His background is unknown. It would be safer to erase him."
In this cursed world, even the existence of Devourers was limited. Devour Art techniques were not shared with ordinary civilians because the risks were too great. Therefore, Devourers were almost always affiliated with large organizations.
"I doubt he's part of any organization," Lunaria said, stating her theory. "I'm sure those people would have far better methods if they wanted to infiltrate."
Large groups rarely got along. Each had a different path and often clashed with one another indirectly.
"It would be better if Kaelan weren't honest. He ran away from a city because he accidentally discovered the Devour Art method."
Glad flinched hearing that, frowning. "You want to save him?"
Lunaria stared sharply at Kaelan. "There has never been a case like this. I've already told people to search for any document, even the smallest one. But there has never been any Kaelan Veradis."
It could be said that Kaelan had never appeared in any city's registry. Lunaria was able to find this fact because her people worked efficiently.
"But that doesn't prove anything," Glad argued. "Don't tell me… your intuition?"
As her former partner, Glad knew Lunaria always had sharp intuition that hit the mark. On one mission, he once survived purely thanks to her intuition.
"What do you feel from him?" Glad reluctantly asked.
"Hope."
Glad was slightly surprised, but before he could ask anything else, the sound of a gavel echoed. It signaled the beginning of the trial.
The judge ordered someone to splash water on Kaelan to wake him.
Kaelan opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a layered circular hall. There were tables and chairs with several people sitting. He couldn't see their faces because they were covered by hoods.
Then he saw Lunaria and the tall man.
"Kaelan Veradis."
Kaelan turned toward an old man wearing black clothes, with a thick book on his desk.
Seeing all this, Kaelan concluded he was inside a trial. His fate would be decided here.
"You were found just outside the city. With no memories, you wandered around and encountered Lunaria Veil's team."
Kaelan nodded. He remembered his earlier conversation with Lunaria. Even a small mistake could bring great misfortune.
At this moment, Kaelan chose to be cautious. He would imitate Lunaria, holding back as much information as possible.
"You claim to have no memories at all, including how you became a Devourer. The only thing you remember is your name. Is that the truth?"
Kaelan smiled awkwardly. "You can think that."
He refused to admit it directly, yet he also didn't deny it. Kaelan at least understood that honesty wouldn't save him. They wouldn't listen.
I must act like I have something when I actually don't.
Kaelan walked on the edge of a cliff. A misstep would send him falling. But staying in a gray zone was necessary to delay his fate.
The old man seemed unbothered. "If there is something you want to say, now is the time."
"Will my fate change just because I speak?" Kaelan mocked.
"It might."
Hearing that, Kaelan decided there was no point in telling the truth. He needed to prove that he had value worth keeping.
But the problem was he didn't know what could be used. Kaelan knew absolutely nothing. The only secret was that he climbed out of a grave.
Wait, maybe that could be useful!
Kaelan intended to use that as a card to preserve his life.
To survive, Kaelan needed to maintain as much mystery around himself as possible.
"I once tried to kill myself."
His statement startled the old man, even Lunaria slightly. Kaelan squeezed his brain harder to build his lie.
"Why did you try?" the old man asked, emotionless.
"I feel like a stranger to this horrible world. Monsters, curses? Isn't living with such things already a hell?"
Everyone went quiet. Kaelan used the momentum to continue.
"This world might not be my place. Maybe I was meant to be born in a more comfortable era. I don't want to live with fear and suffering. That's why death was my answer."
He indeed felt alienated here. With no memories, no friends, and no family. Perhaps he once lived in a different era.
"I don't know anything about the Devourer you mentioned. When I woke up, I was on a monster's corpse. But damn it, before I could do anything, another monster chased me."
The old man closed his eyes and stroked his beard. Kaelan felt nervous while waiting for a reaction.
"You lie quite well."
"Huh?" Kaelan was stunned. His story was perfect, yet how did the man know?
"See? Your reaction is too clear," the old man chuckled. "But I believe that you really don't remember anything. Trying to lie in front of a Mantis Organa is proof you know nothing."
Kaelan frowned slightly. He had heard of Devourers, Sangu Carna, and now Mantis Organa.
There was too much he didn't know. Yet strangely, Devour Art felt both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
"I can see that your confusion is real. You only sense your memories faintly toward knowledge that feels familiar."
The old man seemed to contemplate something. Kaelan felt full of anticipation. After all, his life was at stake.
"You are not guilty merely for being a Devourer, but being unaffiliated is troublesome."
He preached that someone without any identity was rare. Usually it only happened in espionage cases.
Suspicion toward Kaelan could hardly be erased. From any angle, his sudden appearance was suspicious.
"Elder, pardon my interruption. May I say something?"
"Lunaria Veil," he called. "What is it you need?"
Lunaria bowed a little, forming a circular motion with her hands before her chest.
"Regarding Kaelan Veradis… would you allow me to take him under my supervision?"
"Let us listen." The elder smiled as if expecting Lunaria to take initiative.
"As we know, Kaelan Veradis has no memories. He even became a Devourer without understanding what or how."
Lunaria began explaining the situation. Kaelan looked at her, unable to understand her intentions.
"A Devourer, in a certain sense, is also a threat. Therefore we must closely monitor every Devourer."
The elder sighed. "Just say clearly what you want."
Lunaria nodded. "I volunteer to take responsibility for him."
Her request was that Kaelan would be under her protection and supervision. She would monitor him and clear the suspicions surrounding him.
Besides that, Lunaria felt something odd about Kaelan. Her goal was to uncover it gradually.
"He doesn't even know the place he lives in, yet Devour Art triggered his memories—or at least, his sense of familiarity."
The elder nodded, seemingly understanding. "But why must it be you? I'm sure there are other teams more suitable."
Lunaria closed her eyes and nodded. She wasn't claiming she was above the others.
"Because we are a special unit. A team formed to search."
There were many teams with different duties. For example, the team led by Glad. They had different roles than Lunaria's.
"I am the leader of the exploration team. Most of our time is spent outside the city, right into the danger of curses and strong corruption. For one purpose: finding fragments of hope."
One of the few teams with the highest danger level. Outside the city walls was extremely dangerous. Not only monsters, but curses were very thick there.
"It is safer to keep him outside city to prevent any plans he might have."
Additionally, the exploration team was the best option to supervise Kaelan, who was full of suspicion.
Hearing her explanation, the elder and other higher executives seemed convinced. They clearly trusted Lunaria's ability.
"Quite reasonable," the elder agreed.
His gaze turned to Kaelan. "As you heard— you will be under Lunaria's supervision. Unfortunately, you have no other choice. Of course, there is always the option of death."
Kaelan glared at the old man who smirked mockingly. He felt irritated by the uncomfortable treatment.
But he couldn't act recklessly or insult anyone. Carelessness would bring great misfortune.
"Starting today, you will be in a trial period. Lunaria, you will be responsible for him."
"Yes!" Lunaria folded her fingers, straightened her thumb toward her chest, then formed a circle with her thumb.
Kaelan noticed it looked like some kind of salute here.
Lunaria walked toward him and showed the same warm smile as before.
"From now on, you will be part of us—Radiant Covenant."