Green.

  ?Endless, vibrant green stretched out in all directions, rippling like an ocean under a gentle sun.

  ?Aelira found herself standing in the center of it. She wasn't cold. The heavy air of the Viremonts was gone, replaced by the scent of warm earth and nectar.

  ?Someone was holding her hands.

  ?Warmth. A gentle, calloused warmth she hadn't felt in six years enveloped her fingers.

  ?She looked up. A woman stood before her. Her face was bathed in light, features blurred like a watercolor painting left out in the rain, but the feeling was unmistakable.

  ?Lassandra.

  ?The woman’s lips moved.

  ?“What?” Aelira whispered, leaning closer.

  ?The wind began to howl. It rose from nowhere, a sudden, violent gale that tore at Aelira’s clothes and hair.

  ?The woman spoke again, urgent now.

  ?“I can't hear you!” Aelira screamed against the roar of the wind. “Please, say it again!”

  ?But the woman didn't repeat herself. Instead, she offered a sad, gentle smile. She let go of Aelira’s hands.

  ?“No… don’t let go!”

  ?The woman turned around. She began to walk away, her figure unbothered by the storm that was pushing Aelira back.

  ?“Wait! Who are you? Where are you going?!”

  ?Aelira tried to run, to chase after her, but the wind was a physical wall. It slammed into her chest, lifting her feet off the grass. She was being blown away, dragged back into the cold.

  ?“Ghh… Wait…!”

  ?Through the gale, she saw another figure appear in the distance, waiting for the woman. A silhouette against the blinding light.

  ?The woman reached the figure. They both turned back to Aelira one last time.

  ?And they waved.

  ?Goodbye.

  ?The force of the wind became too much. Aelira reached out, her fingers grasping at empty air—

  ?THUD.

  ?“Hah... Huff… Huff…”

  ?Aelira jolted awake, her lungs burning as if she had drowned.

  ?Pain shot through her shoulder. She wasn't in the green field. She was on the hard, cold floor of the inn room they had rented the night before. She must have thrashed so hard she fell out of bed.

  ?It was dawn. The pale blue light of morning was just beginning to bleed through the thin curtains.

  ?Aelira sat up, trembling, sweat plastering her silver hair to her forehead. She clutched her chest, trying to calm her frantic heart.

  ?Was it… a dream?

  ?She looked down at her hand—the hand the woman had been holding. It still felt warm. A phantom sensation that lingered even as the cold reality of the room set in.

  ?She squeezed her eyes shut, trying desperately to picture the woman's face, to hold onto the image for just a second longer.

  ?But it was gone. Like mist in the sun.

  ?Who was she? Her mind knew, but her memory refused to sharpen the blur. And who was the figure waiting for her?

  ?She sat alone on the floor, the silence of the room heavier than the storm in her dream.

  ***

  Knock. Knock.

  ?When Zaek opened the door, he found Aelira waiting. She was dressed and ready, but her face told a different story. Dark circles bruised the skin under her eyes, making her silver irises look dull and glassy.

  ?"You look terrible," Zaek commented bluntly. "Did you cry in your sleep too?"

  ?"No... I just had a weird dream," she murmured, avoiding his gaze.

  ?"Well, dreams cling to emotional people. Don't let it weigh you down."

  ?"Okay..."

  ?They went downstairs to the inn's common room. It was early; the morning mist still pressed against the windows. The place was empty save for a sleepy innkeeper wiping down tables.

  ?They ordered a simple breakfast—hard bread, cheese, and watered-down juice. Aelira picked at the bread, tearing it into tiny pieces without eating.

  ?"Sensei..." she began, her voice low. "What will we do if Flora doesn't tell us anything useful? Or if that neighbor refuses to talk?"

  ?"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Worrying about a locked door won't help you find the key." Zaek took a bite of cheese. "For now, focus on eating. And..." He pointed a fork at her. "Your coverage."

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  ?Aelira blinked.

  ?Ah.

  ?She had completely forgotten. The grief, the dream, the exhaustion—it had all unraveled her concentration. The mana veil was gone.

  ?"Sorry."

  ?She closed her eyes, forcing the mana to flow again. It felt heavier today. Like trying to lift a weight with tired muscles.

  ?I said I wanted to learn the truth... to give her the funeral she deserves... but I can't even maintain a simple spell.

  ?Creak.

  ?The heavy front door groaned open, letting in a gust of cold air and loud voices.

  ?Three men stomped in. They were clad in worn leather and steel—adventurers, fresh from a night shift or an early start.

  ?"Did you see that? The way it screeched?"

  ?"Hah! You screamed louder than the beast!"

  ?"Bartender! Three ales! And keep 'em coming!"

  ?They crashed onto a nearby table, their laughter filling the quiet room. Aelira pulled her hood lower, trying to disappear.

  ?As their drinks arrived, the conversation shifted from monsters to local news.

  ?"Hey, did you guys hear the rumor going around since yesterday?" one of them asked, leaning in.

  ?"Yesterday? No. I was busy trying not to die in the forest. What happened?"

  ?"You know old Flora? The hermit who lives on the outskirts?"

  ?"Flora?" The second man scratched his stubble. "Ah! The one who sent her daughter to the Viremonts years ago? What about her?"

  ?"Apparently, people from the Viremont main house came looking for the daughter yesterday."

  ?Aelira froze. Her hand tightened around her cup.

  ?"Looking for her?" The third man scoffed. "Isn't she working for them? Did she run away?"

  ?"That's the interesting part. Turns out, she's missing. No one knows where she is. Not Flora, not the Viremonts."

  ?"You idiot," the second man slapped the table. "Think about it. Why would a Great House bother sending people to look for a single, common maid?"

  ?"They wouldn't," the first man admitted. "Unless..."

  ?"Unless she stole something. Or knew something she shouldn't."

  ?The second man made a cutting motion across his throat.

  ?"If that were the case, they wouldn't be 'looking' for her. They'd have finished her off in a back alley without wasting a second. Viremonts don't leave loose ends."

  ?Aelira felt the blood drain from her face.

  ?"So what? You think she's dead?"

  ?"Nah. The girl probably ran away with a lover or something," the man laughed, leaning back. "Some noble boy probably promised her the world and whisked her away. Lucky girl. I wish a noble lady would kidnap me."

  ?"You watch too many plays," his friend jeered. "Commoners can't just move cities, genius. You need permits. Seals."

  ?"Pah! You're thinking small. If she has a noble lover, he handles the permits. She's probably living in a villa somewhere, laughing at us poor sods."

  ?"You really think she's alive and living the high life?"

  ?"Better than thinking she's rotting in a ditch, isn't it?"

  ?"You guys are no fun..."

  ?The conversation drifted back to alcohol, but the damage was done.

  ?A noble lover... Escaping to a better life...

  ?It was a beautiful lie. A fantasy. And for a second, Aelira desperately wanted to believe it.

  ?"Don't listen to them."

  ?Zaek’s voice cut through the noise, low and firm.

  ?Aelira looked up. Zaek wasn't looking at the adventurers; his sharp gaze was fixed on her.

  ?"They're just talking nonsense to entertain themselves. Listening to fools will only give you false hope. And false hope is poison."

  ?"..."

  ?Aelira nodded slowly. She knew he was right. The "noble lover" theory was absurd. But the other theory—the throat-slitting gesture—felt terrifyingly plausible.

  ?Zaek stood up, dropping a coin on the table.

  ?"Let's go. The faster we find that neighbor from yesterday, the faster we get to the truth. Whatever it is."

  ***

  They stood at the edge of the alley leading to Flora’s cottage, scanning the nearby fields. Or rather, Aelira was scanning. Zaek was staring at the clouds.

  ?"Can you see the man?" Zaek asked, shielding his eyes from the sun with a lazy hand.

  ?Aelira frowned. "Can you at least act like you're trying?"

  ?"It's no use. I don’t remember his face. All angry neighbors look the same to me."

  ?"He really doesn't inspire confidence..." Aelira muttered to herself.

  ?"Tired already?"

  ?"No... But can't we just ask people? There might be someone who knows him."

  ?"We can't just pick a random person. If we ask the wrong guy, they'll clam up or run to warn him." Zaek lowered his hand, his gaze suddenly sharp. He fixed his eyes on an old man tending a vegetable patch nearby. "We need someone who is already guilty."

  ?"Guilty?"

  ?"That old man. He’s been pruning the same branch for five minutes while watching us."

  ?Before Aelira could blink, Zaek vanished.

  ?Whoosh.

  ?A gust of wind ruffled her hair. When she looked back at the field, Zaek was already standing right in front of the gardener.

  ?Aelira ran to catch up, her boots thudding on the dirt.

  ?"Yo, old man," Zaek greeted casually, leaning over the fence. "Nice weather for spying, isn't it?"

  ?The old man jumped, nearly dropping his shears. He kept his head low, focusing intently on a cabbage.

  ?"I... I don’t know what you are talking about..."

  ?"Oh? I didn't even ask a question yet." Zaek’s grin widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "So, you already know who we are? The 'Viremonts' everyone is whispering about?"

  ?The old man flinched at the name. "I told you, I don't know anything! Please, just leave!"

  ?"Sensei, maybe we shouldn't—" Aelira started, feeling bad for the terrified local.

  ?Zaek raised a hand to stop her. He leaned closer to the man. The air around them seemed to grow heavier, the playful atmosphere vanishing instantly.

  ?"For someone who doesn't know anything," Zaek whispered, "you aren't surprised by my speed. And you keep glancing at that blue house over there."

  ?Gulp.

  ?The old man swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. He tried to look away, to deny it, but he was trapped under the weight of Zaek’s gaze. It wasn't magic; it was the raw pressure of a predator.

  ?His knees gave out.

  ?"Okay! Okay, I'll tell you!" the old man stammered, bowing frantically. "Just don't hurt me! Or him!"

  ?Aelira quickly stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on the fence.

  ?"We won't harm you," she said, her voice soft and earnest. "We won't harm him either. We just want to talk to the man from yesterday. To apologize."

  ?The old man looked up, searching Aelira’s eyes. He saw the desperation there, the sadness. It didn't look like the eyes of a killer.

  ?"What... what will you do with him?"

  ?"Just talk. I promise."

  ?The old man hesitated, then sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

  ?"His name is Marcus," he whispered, pointing a trembling finger toward the house Zaek had noticed earlier. "He lives right there. The one with the blue door. He is a good boy... he always looks after Flora. Please... keep your promise."

  ?"We will," Aelira said firmly.

  ?Zaek straightened up, the oppressive aura vanishing as if it never existed.

  ?"See? Easy," he said to Aelira, then winked at the old man. "Thanks for the chat, grandpa."

  They left the gardener shaking among his cabbages and stood before the weathered house with the peeling blue paint.

  ?Marcus.

  ?This was it.

  ?Aelira reached out, but her hand froze inches from the wood.

  ?The memory of the shattering vase and Flora’s hateful screams played in her mind like a broken loop.

  ?You monsters.

  ?Her chest tightened, her breath catching in her throat. What if he screams too? What if he chases us away before we can even speak?

  ?Her fingers began to tremble.

  ?She felt a warm, heavy hand settle on her shoulder. It was firm, grounding her against the rising tide of panic.

  ?She looked up. Zaek wasn't smiling this time. He just nodded, his eyes calm and steady. A silent message: I'm right here. You can do this.

  ?Gulp.

  ?She swallowed the lump of fear in her throat.

  ?Drawing a deep, shaky breath, she curled her trembling fingers into a fist.

  ?Knock. Knock.

  ?She struck the wood.