The Next Morning
The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, spilling warm golden rays across the rooftops of Dichondra. The city slowly came to life as merchants prepared their stalls and early travelers wandered the streets below.
Leo was already awake.
He stood near the balcony, watching the sunrise paint the sky with shades of amber and rose. Behind him, the door creaked softly as Rein stepped out, stretching her arms above her head.
"Wow… you're up early," she said, rubbing one eye.
Leo glanced over his shoulder and smiled faintly. "Couldn't sleep much."
Rein leaned on the railing beside him and looked out across the city. The decorations from the previous night still hung between buildings, lanterns swaying gently in the morning breeze.
A mischievous grin slowly spread across her face.
"Well… if we're already awake," she said, raising her hand slightly, "we might as well enjoy it."
Leo tilted his head.
"Enjoy what?"
Rein's eyes sparkled.
With a small swirl of magic from her fingertips, a soft cloud suddenly formed beneath them. It shimmered faintly with pale blue light, drifting gently just above the balcony floor.
"Hop on," Rein said with a playful grin.
Leo blinked.
"…You made a cloud."
"Yep."
"For flying."
"Exactly."
Leo chuckled under his breath.
"You really never run out of surprises, do you?"
Rein simply crossed her arms proudly. "Are you getting on or not?"
Leo stepped onto the cloud beside her, testing it cautiously with his foot. The surface felt soft but stable, like standing on a cushion of air.
The moment both of them were aboard, the cloud gently lifted.
Slowly… smoothly… it carried them upward into the morning sky.
Below them, Dichondra stretched out in vibrant color. Animals wandered freely through open markets, merchants began preparing goods, and the golden morning light reflected off rooftops and palace towers.
The entire city looked alive.
Rein laughed with delight as the wind rushed past them.
"This is amazing!" she said, spinning lightly on the cloud. "I could stay up here forever!"
Her hair danced wildly in the breeze, sunlight catching the strands like glowing threads.
Leo barely noticed the city.
His eyes were on her.
The way she laughed.
The way the sunlight reflected in her eyes.
For a moment, the world felt incredibly simple.
Rein eventually noticed his gaze and tilted her head.
"Hey…" she said slowly.
Leo blinked.
"You're not even looking at the city."
His face instantly heated.
"I—uh—well…"
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Maybe a little."
Rein leaned closer, her playful smile softening.
"Oh?" she teased.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"So… you do have a crush on me, don't you?"
Leo froze.
The question lingered in the air between them.
His heart thumped loudly in his chest.
He tried to speak, but the words tangled together.
Finally, after a long second, he muttered quietly—
"…Maybe."
Rein blinked.
Then a mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Maybe, huh?"
She gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
Leo's face turned completely red, but he didn't move away. Instead, he simply stood there, flustered but oddly happy.
The cloud drifted peacefully across the sky as the two of them hovered above the glowing city.
For Leo, nothing in the world felt more magical than that moment.
Then Rein suddenly realized something.
Her cheeks turned red.
"Wait… did I just say that out loud?"
Leo scratched the back of his neck again.
"Yeah… you kinda did."
Both of them turned bright red.
Leo shifted nervously before finally speaking again.
"Um… Rein?"
"Y-yes?"
He looked incredibly embarrassed.
"Do you… maybe…"
He hesitated.
"…think you could teach me how to… kiss?"
Rein froze completely.
Her brain stopped working.
"W–w–WHAT?!"
Her face exploded with color.
"You're asking me that?!"
Leo nodded quickly, refusing to look directly at her.
"I mean—only if you want to! I'm not forcing you or anything!"
Rein covered her face for a moment.
Her heart was racing so fast she was sure Leo could hear it.
After a moment, she slowly reached out and brushed her hand lightly against his.
"O-okay…" she whispered shyly.
"I guess… I can help you."
Leo's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Rein nodded slowly, her smile shy but genuine.
The cloud drifted a little higher into the sky as if celebrating the moment.
Leo slowly closed his eyes.
His heart pounded loudly in his chest.
He leaned forward slightly.
Rein's face burned red, but she didn't move away.
For a moment, everything felt quiet.
The wind.
The sky.
The drifting cloud beneath their feet.
Rein leaned forward.
Their faces inches apart—
Just as their lips were about to meet—
"LEO! REIN!"
Alice's voice suddenly echoed across the courtyard.
Rein jumped in surprise.
Her hand waved instinctively, and the cloud spun around sharply.
The romantic moment vanished instantly.
Leo opened his eyes.
"…Wait."
The cloud was already heading back toward the palace.
"Wait—what?"
Moments later, the cloud gently landed near their balcony.
Alice stood there waiting for them.
Her expression was unusually serious.
Leo rubbed the back of his head, looking disappointed.
"Did… something happen?"
Alice nodded immediately.
"Yes."
Her voice was tense.
"I found something strange. You both need to hear this."
The warmth of the morning disappeared instantly.
Leo and Rein exchanged worried glances.
Whatever Alice had discovered…
It clearly wasn't good news.
---
The Medical Room
Alice hurried them through the palace corridors.
"Leo, Rein—you need to come quickly."
Leo immediately noticed the urgency in her voice.
"What's wrong?"
Alice answered without slowing down.
"It's Helmond."
Both Leo and Rein stopped.
"What about him?" Rein asked.
Alice turned to them.
"Something's happening to him."
Without another word, they rushed toward the palace medical wing.
The moment they entered the room—
They froze.
Helmond lay on a bed, his entire body violently convulsing.
His muscles jerked uncontrollably.
His arms twisted as if something inside him was forcing his body to move.
Several medical staff surrounded him, trying desperately to hold him still.
"Hold him steady!"
"Careful!"
Leo rushed forward.
"What's going on?!" he demanded.
One of the medics looked at him anxiously.
"We don't know!"
Another shook his head.
"His body suddenly started reacting like this!"
Rein stepped closer.
"Did you run an examination?"
The medic hesitated.
"…We tried."
Leo frowned.
"Tried?"
The medic looked uncomfortable.
"His anatomy doesn't match any race we know."
The words hung heavily in the room.
Rein's voice dropped.
"…Meaning?"
"We don't understand how his body works," the medic admitted.
"We can't even determine what's causing the reaction."
Leo stepped closer to the bed.
Helmond's body continued twitching violently.
"Helmond…" Leo muttered quietly.
"Hang on."
Nearly ten minutes passed before the convulsions finally began to slow.
Gradually…
The shaking faded.
Helmond collapsed back against the bed, breathing heavily.
The room fell silent.
The medical team stepped away in relief.
Leo leaned forward.
"Helmond… what happened?"
Helmond slowly opened his eyes.
They looked distant.
Haunted.
"I… saw something," he whispered.
Leo frowned.
"What did you see?"
Helmond swallowed.
"The one who's terrorizing this land…"
His voice lowered.
"I know where it is."
Everyone in the room went still.
Helmond clenched his hand weakly.
"And I'm certain of one thing…"
He looked directly at Leo.
"That creature…"
A heavy pause followed.
"…and I…"
His eyes darkened.
"We're the same."
Rein's eyes widened.
Helmond took a slow breath.
"We're linked."
Silence filled the room.
Leo leaned closer.
"What else did you see?"
Helmond struggled to remember.
"I saw… Kharous Raine."
The name alone sent tension through the room.
"He was laughing… somewhere far away."
Leo's jaw tightened.
"But he isn't the one behind this."
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"Then who is?"
Helmond closed his eyes.
"I caught a glimpse of the one responsible."
He opened them slowly.
"He looked like royalty."
Rein tilted her head.
"But something was wrong," Helmond continued.
"It felt like… he wasn't the real one."
Alice spoke quietly.
"What do you mean?"
Helmond explained slowly.
"The creature sealed itself by entering the body of its host."
His voice grew darker.
"I couldn't see clearly… because it hid itself inside the body."
Everyone leaned closer.
"But I know one thing for certain."
He looked around the room.
"The culprit…"
A tense pause filled the air.
"…is possessing someone with royal blood."
The room fell completely silent.
Alice covered her mouth in shock.
The medical staff exchanged uneasy looks.
Leo slowly stood up.
His decision was immediate.
"We need to tell the King."
Moments later, Leo called for an urgent meeting with the kingdom's highest officials, including King Bard.
When the King heard the report, his expression hardened.
"You're saying the creature… is hiding inside a royal?" he asked slowly.
Helmond nodded. "Yes."
King Bard looked troubled.
"That would mean…" he murmured.
Leo finished the thought.
"…someone from another city's royal family could be the host."
The King leaned back slightly, clearly shaken by the possibility. If Helmond's vision was correct, then the enemy threatening Thaloun Grass might already be walking among the nobles.
And no one would know who it truly was.