Memories were always a jumbled, hazy mess for Adeline. Yet, she had never doubted that mist-like fog drifting through her mind. From the beginning, she believed she was destined to live this way—to drift aimlessly like a small boat wrapped in the morning fog of a port, carrying scattered memories.

“Kill. Slay your enemies.”

Her origins, age, family—these were nothing more than meaningless phrases buried deep in her memory long ago. The reason for her blindness no longer mattered either. What she could remember, or what she could not, was irrelevant. The only thing that drove her, the one force guiding her actions, was the orders of Léon Benning.

“Remember this: you submitted to me in battle, and you serve me with unyielding loyalty as my knight.”

That was Adeline’s identity and her sole purpose. Yet, every time those words echoed in her mind, a shiver born of fear crept through her. She avoided contemplating Benning's words too deeply, trying to escape from that fear. But the terror had already slipped beyond her control, clawing deep into her thoughts.

Pain. She felt it leaking from the crack in the doorway—an excruciatingly familiar agony. Her eyes seemed to burn, a sensation impossible to feel, yet it gnawed at her. The pain triggered a flood of memories. Benning’s words overwhelmed her, entwining fear and obedience.

“Adeline.” “Draw your sword. Slay your enemies. Offer their heads to me.” “With these eyes…”

“Adeline?”

The voice was different—not Benning’s dry tone, but someone else’s. She suddenly recalled where she was and what she was doing.

Yes, the Tower investigation. She was following the Count’s orders, trying to uncover what secrets they were hiding, and in the meantime, she was supposed to be watching that mysterious knight, gauging the king’s motives, and…

Unseeing, Adeline was unaware that her hands were trembling. She didn’t realize that her blood was chilling, or that her face had gone pale and cold. Darkness was treacherous. It surrounded her in an empty world, where she alone existed, an unending nightmare suffocating her with phantom hands.

“Adeline.”

The voice reached her again, accompanied by a new warmth and pressure on her hand.

Adeline realized that someone was holding her hand. Her consciousness began to return, pulling her out of the nightmare-like reverie. Finally, she remembered that she was sitting in a café with the knight known as Arsène, having just finished their investigation.

“…Are you alright?”

The question sounded forced, as if the person asking didn’t want to voice it. Adeline attempted to respond in her usual tone, as though nothing was wrong.

“I’m, I’m fine.”

But her voice, unsteady and far from its usual tone, betrayed her, forcing her to clear her throat. She sounded as if she was on the verge of admitting, No, I’m not alright at all.

“What’s going on? You’re pale and shaking.”

Adeline suddenly realized that Arsène was still holding her hand. Whether to feel displeased or indifferent, she didn’t know. She deliberately adopted an even colder tone to point it out.

“Could you let go of my hand first?”

“…Ah, sorry.”

His voice had turned a bit gruff. The warmth around her hand faded as Arsène let go, replaced by the chill of the air. He slid a warm cup toward her, and Adeline hesitated, unsure whether to be grateful for the gesture. She wrapped her hands around the cup.

“So, are you going to explain what happened? We’re supposed to be investigating together, after all.”

Adeline lowered her gaze. She didn’t want to revisit the cause of her distress, but there was little choice. Holding onto the cup’s warmth, she began to explain.

“I felt a sinister presence from that room, something potent. If they had lost control, you probably would have sensed it too.”

Arsène frowned at her words.

“A sinister presence… That strong? Enough to shake up a knight like you?”

She shook her head, albeit unconvincingly. He watched her intently, trying to discern if she was truly afraid.

“I’m not sure. It didn’t feel overwhelmingly strong, but besides that sinister presence…”

Throb.

Once more, the burning sensation overtook her eyes. Adeline shuddered, burying her face in her hands. The pain surged like a wave, sweeping through her. She struggled to steady her breath.

This mustn’t be revealed.

The thought etched itself into her mind as if branded there. She didn’t question why; it simply felt like a command she had to follow. Then, Arsène’s voice cut through her fog.

“In that case, since you’re in no condition to continue, I’ll investigate alone tomorrow.”

Adeline’s head snapped up.

“Why?”

“Why do you think? Look at your state. You’re trembling with fear, your body reacting erratically. I won’t pry into whatever you’re hiding, but I don’t think you’re fit to be of any help tomorrow. You’re a knight; you should be able to assess your own condition.”

His tone was cold. Adeline’s voice rose, almost without her realizing it. The thought that she might fail to carry out all of Benning’s orders stoked her fear once more.

“I’m fine. It’s only temporary. There’s no need for your concern.”

“I already said, it’d just be a distraction. If I report this, I doubt the Count would hold it against you under the circumstances.”

A surge of sharp energy emanated from Adeline. Arsène, unflinching, continued.

“Seems like you’re ready to draw your sword.”

“Didn’t I warn you to watch your words?”

She was truly ready to draw her blade, but Arsène neither matched her hostility nor backed down. He simply held his ground, absorbing the intensity of her gaze.

“Adeline.”

“Don’t call me by my name so casually.”

Now practically sulking, Adeline clenched her fists. Arsène sighed.

“We should calm down and talk later. The Count won’t return for two days. There’s no need to be so reactive.”

He took a sip of his tea, the bitterness spreading through his mouth. The sharp tension in the air began to dissipate. He glanced at Adeline, who now sat with her head lowered, her lips pressed together as if suppressing her frustration. She looked like a child reluctant to apologize for a mistake.

“Let’s at least drink our tea. We ordered it, after all.”

“…Fine.”

She mumbled, finally raising the cup and sipping the tea, which had cooled somewhat.

“When the others finish their investigation, we’ll regroup and return to our quarters. Judging by the mages’ attitude, they won’t make it easy for us, so it might take a while.”

Adeline nodded, resigned. The mages who had obstructed their entrance earlier wouldn’t simply hand over incriminating documents on a silver platter.

After she fell silent, a tense quiet lingered between them. Arsène continued sipping his tea, hoping Dennis and Charlotte would wrap up quickly.

==

“Those damned mages.”

Surprisingly, the curse slipped from Charlotte’s lips as she, Dennis, Maxime, and Adeline gathered at a table back at their lodging. Both senior knights looked exhausted, their heads down.

“Chattering nonstop, loud and obnoxious. It’s like they went out of their way to make it as difficult as possible.”

Dennis nodded in agreement, clutching the stack of notes from the investigation.

“At least we found something. We’ll need to review it more thoroughly tomorrow, but it’s lucky we got anything at all.”

He raised his head, the exhaustion clear in his eyes. Maxime watched him sympathetically as Dennis shook his finger at him with a strained smile.

“Your idea was a good one, Arsène. I’m a bit miffed we were the bait, but without your plan, we wouldn’t have gotten this close to finding the research documents.”

Charlotte grumbled in agreement, her frustration still evident.

“They tried to block us at every turn, even with a warrant in hand. Without clear evidence, they would’ve probably used magic to kick us out.”

She glanced at Adeline, her face set in a challenging expression.

“So, what about you? Any findings from the bait?”

Adeline, sensing that the question was directed at her, adjusted her posture and shook her head.

“No direct results.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, surprised that Adeline had responded.

“No direct results? So, you found something indirectly?”

This time, Maxime nodded.

“More like clues that lead to clues. Nothing conclusive yet. We’ll have to investigate more thoroughly tomorrow.”

“So, you’re planning to go back disguised again?” Dennis asked.

Maxime nodded. “Thanks to you all, we got everyone—including our team—kicked out. It won’t be suspicious if we return tomorrow. I think another day of investigation will help us figure things out.”

“…Alright. Then let’s call it a day. We’ll need to rest if we’re going to face those mages again tomorrow.”

Dennis suggested they retire for the night, and Maxime nodded apologetically.

“I’m sorry for putting you through this.”

“Don’t worry. We knew what we were getting into when the Count assigned us. Rest up; we’ve got a lot to tackle tomorrow.”

Dennis waved it off, but Charlotte was already trudging to her room, and Adeline followed shortly after. Maxime was about to head to his own room when Dennis stopped him.

“Is everything alright with your team? No issues?”

Maxime hesitated, wondering if he should mention Adeline’s strange behavior, but ultimately he decided against it. Better to keep watch quietly than stir up trouble prematurely. He forced a lighthearted tone.

“Nothing serious, other than it being awkward as hell.”

Dennis chuckled, patting Maxime on the shoulder.

“Well, seems like you had a rough time too. Maybe I shouldn’t complain so much.”

As Dennis stretched, his fatigue evident, Maxime watched him walk away, his mind swirling with thoughts. The ominous presence, Adeline’s strange behavior, the rushing mages—this wouldn’t be resolved with just another day of undercover work.

==

Adeline sat curled on her bed, gripping her sword tightly. The familiar feel of the hilt brought her a sense of security. She had intended to go to bed early to avoid the thoughts trying to consume her, but those thoughts refused to let go.

Resigned, she began meditating, expanding her senses as she often did to ground herself. Gradually, she spread her awareness throughout the building, detecting Charlotte’s resting presence, Dennis moving about, and…

“Arsène?”

She stopped meditating, focusing on Arsène’s faint presence. His movements grew increasingly faint as if he was deliberately hiding his presence. Adeline strained to track him as he slipped out of his room.

A soft creak of a window hinge. Barely perceptible, he was almost gone, like a candle flickering out. Hearing the faint rustling of the wind, Adeline jumped up and threw open her window, determined to follow.

Was it because of the Count’s orders? Or was it something else? Either way, she knew she had to follow him. She was already dressed and armed, and there was no time to hesitate. She extended her senses, following Arsène’s fading presence into the night.

The Tower.

With the direction clear, Adeline leaped into the night, following the path Arsène had taken.

==

It was early winter, and although darkness had settled over the capital, a few lamps lit the streets. Maxime moved from shadow to shadow, his hood pulled low as he reached the plaza, with the ivory Tower glowing eerily even at night.

“…Good.”

The plaza was mostly empty. A few mages occasionally left the Tower, heading home after a late night of work, but otherwise, it was deserted. He slipped toward the entrance, careful to remain unseen. His steps, trained by elven techniques, blended seamlessly with the wind.

As he approached, he overheard a conversation between a guard and a mage at the lit entrance.

“Another day of visitors from the palace, huh? Must be tiring.”

“Ah, don’t worry. It wasn’t a big deal.”

The mage’s voice faded as he walked away. Once he was out of sight, Maxime turned his attention to the entrance, timing his move. The guard, yawning, didn’t notice as Maxime slipped past him, making his way through the lobby.

The place she pointed out.

The empty lobby felt entirely different from the bustling afternoon. The exhibits and sculptures that had seemed fascinating now looked eerie and sinister. Each closed door, once inviting, now appeared like a vigilant observer.

There.

He spotted the door Adeline had indicated. The strange sensation she described wasn’t detectable, but the unsettling aura was enough to unnerve him. He wasn’t planning to open it immediately—just understanding its nature was enough for now.

But as he focused on the door, a sense of discomfort tightened in his chest. The phantom pain, as if an old scar had been torn open, was unmistakable. He placed a hand over his heart, the memories of dark magic gnawing at him.

He needed to be on guard.

He tensed, steadying his breath and readying his sword, extending his senses. The draw of his blade was swift, intended to silence his target without a sound.

Clang!

The metallic clash jolted him as his attack was blocked. He squinted at his opponent.

“Adeline?”

She stood with her sword half-drawn, her expression uncharacteristically startled.

“What are you…?”

Adeline raised a hand to her lips, signaling for silence. Maxime withdrew his blade, scanning the area. No one had reacted to the noise, but it wouldn’t be long before they were discovered.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded in a low voice.

Adeline’s lips pressed into a thin line.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

Maxime closed his mouth, realizing he had no legitimate reason for his presence either.

“I sensed something odd and wanted to check.”

Before she could respond, movement stirred behind the door. Maxime froze, and Adeline’s hand went to her sword.

How? He had sensed nothing, but now the door was opening. A bearded mage stepped out, rubbing his shoulder. Seeing Maxime and Adeline, he froze.

“You…”

Before he could utter another word, Maxime grabbed him, pulling him into the room as Adeline closed the door. In silence, Maxime subdued the mage, then looked around.

Dark.

He realized why neither he nor Adeline had sensed the mage’s presence earlier.

“…A dungeon?”

He spoke aloud, noting the gaping hole at the center of the room. A dark, oppressive energy filled the space, seeping into his skin.

Maxime felt other presences approaching, perhaps alerted by the disturbance. If they were discovered now, the mission would be over. He glanced at Adeline.

Her face had gone pale, her trembling hands gripping her sword. Maxime grabbed her shoulder, trying to ground her.

“Adeline. Stay with me.”

Despite his words, her eyes remained unfocused, her body locked in fear. With no time left, Maxime gritted his teeth, pulling her toward the gaping maw of the dungeon. They had no choice but to descend.

As footsteps approached, he jumped with Adeline into the abyss.