Lucius walked back toward his office after leaving the dining hall.
From a distance, he noticed the door slightly open. He pushed it wider.
Lyra stood inside, waiting.
He didn't say anything. He just walked past her, went to his desk, and sat down. He picked up a file and pretended to read it.
The silence felt heavy.
Then Lyra spoke.
"How can you be so sure?"
Lucius didn't look up right away. He set the papers aside and finally raised his eyes to her.
"I'm not," he said calmly. "But we have enough to believe it."
For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—a small doubt. Gone in a second.
Lyra watched him closely, tightening her expression as if she wanted to say more but held back. She turned to leave.
At the doorway, she paused.
"I don't want to see you like that again. Not ever."
Lucius's jaw tensed.
"…Neither do I."
She left. The door clicked shut behind her.
Lucius stood slowly and walked to the window. The garden below looked calm, pale in the morning light.
Isabel sat alone on the bench under the tree.
Lucius watched her without a word.
Isabel let out a small breath as she leaned back on the bench. The garden felt… wrong. Too quiet. Too perfect. She shook her head.
Stop thinking so much.
Crack.
The sound cut through the silence. Isabel froze.
Before she could fully look up—
A branch snapped above her. Something dropped down hard right in front of her.
"Ow—!" The boy groaned, clutching the back of his head.
Isabel jumped up so fast she almost slipped again. She grabbed a fallen branch and held it in front of her.
"Who are you?! Where did you even come from?"
The boy held both hands up immediately.
"Wait! I didn't mean to scare you! I'm Orion. Orion Tenebris."
Isabel blinked.
"…Tenebris?"
He nodded.
"My father is Lucius Tenebris. This is our house."
She lowered the branch a little, studying him. He looked young—maybe a high school kid.
His black-and-white hair was messy. Bright blue eyes made him look honest—too open for a place like this. Leaves clung to his clothes.
"I was climbing," Orion said awkwardly. "Didn't see you were down here."
"And you fell," Isabel said flatly.
"…Yes."
A longer pause. "…That part wasn't planned."
A small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
Orion noticed her phone.
"Trying to call someone?"
"Yes. No signal."
He pulled out his own phone and held it toward her.
"You can use mine. It has satellite connection."
She hesitated, then took it.
"Thank you."
Orion stepped back immediately, giving her space. He looked away, lightly kicking at the grass, like it had suddenly become the most important thing in the world.
The call connected.
"Hello?"
"Annie. It's me—Isabel."
A beat of silence. Then—
"ISABEL?!"
Isabel winced and pulled the phone away from her ear.
"Your phone was off all night! I thought something happened to you!"
"Annie, calm down."
"I was literally about to call the police!"
"I'm fine," Isabel said firmly. "Really."
"…You're sure?"
"Yes."
A soft pause.
"Then where are you?"
"At the town near the college."
"And your phone?"
"No signal where I'm staying."
"No signal?" Annie scoffed. "What is this, the Stone Age?"
Isabel sighed.
"The head of the college is also the lord of the town. I'm staying at his mansion."
"…Of course you are," Annie muttered. "You were scrolling when I told you, wasn't I?"
"Yes."
"Fair enough," Annie admitted. Her voice softened. "You scared me."
Isabel smiled a little.
"Sorry."
"You better tell me next time you run off into a mansion."
"I will."
A beat passed. Then Annie cleared her throat.
"One more thing."
Isabel frowned. "What now?"
"…The lord."
Isabel stiffened. "What about him?"
"Is he handsome?" Annie asked flatly.
"Annie—"
"Is he single? Don't tell me he's married—"
"Annie, stop—"
"Because if he's rich, powerful, and handsome, and you're staying in his mansion—"
"ANNIE."
Silence. Then Annie laughed.
"I'm just asking."
Isabel's face warmed.
"I have to go now."
"You didn't answer—"
"Bye, Annie."
She hung up fast.
For a moment, she just stood there holding the phone. Then she remembered Orion. She slowly looked up.
He was a few steps away, still looking anywhere but at her, gently kicking at the grass.
"…Thank you," Isabel said quickly, handing him back the phone.
Orion nodded without meeting her eyes.
Up close, she noticed how messy he was—dirt on his cheek, leaves in his hair. Without thinking, she stepped closer. She brushed a leaf off his shoulder.
"You're a mess," she said softly.
He blinked. She straightened his collar and wiped the dirt from his cheek.
"There. That's better."
Orion stayed completely still. Then his expression changed. A single tear slid down his cheek.
Isabel froze.
"Did I hurt you?" she asked gently.
He shook his head.
"You just… remind me of someone. My mother. She used to do things like this… quietly, without saying a word."
A strange weight settled in Isabel's chest. She didn't understand it, but it hurt.
Isabel placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
For a second, everything felt still.
Then—
The air shifted. Cold. Wrong.
Isabel's body moved before her mind could catch up. She grabbed Orion's wrist and pulled him behind her. With her free hand, she picked up a thicker branch from the ground. Her eyes locked ahead.
At the far end of the path—something stepped out.
It was huge, bigger than any dog she'd seen. Its legs were thick, and its body looked heavy. Its dark fur was messy, stuck with dirt and leaves. Its head stayed low, and its eyes glowed in the shadows.
It stopped. A low growl rumbled in its chest.
Orion's hand tightened on her sleeve.
The creature lowered its head.
A heartbeat of silence—then it charged.