The corridors of Sancthorn were silent now.
Not the sacred silence of prayer—but the exhausted quiet that followed a long, unforgiving day. The kind of silence that settled only after voices had faded, duties had ended, and even faith itself seemed too tired to speak.
Torches burned low along the stone walls, their flames trembling faintly, stretching shadows that swayed like restless spirits. The air carried a chill, cool and damp, clinging to Elias's skin as if the place itself were breathing around him.
Elias walked alone.
His steps were slow, uneven, barely making a sound against the cold stone floor. His body moved forward out of habit, but his mind lagged behind—caught in fragments, replaying moments he couldn't stop seeing.
Too much.
Far too much for one day.
His first step into Sancthorn.
Elizabeth's sharp, measuring gaze.
Hailee's nervous smiles and careful distance.
Alessia's overwhelming strength, the calm authority in her touch.
That man's rage.
And worst of all—
The voice.
That thing inside him.
It hadn't stopped.
It didn't scream.
It didn't shout.
It whispered.
Sometimes it felt like a thought that slipped into his mind before he could recognize it as foreign. Sometimes it felt like a sensation—an urge—rising in his body before he had chosen to move.
His body reacted first.
His mind was always too late.
Why am I like this?
Why does my body move on its own?
Why do I think things I don't want to think?
Elias pressed his fingers lightly against his chest as he walked, feeling his heartbeat beneath his palm. It was steady now—but unfamiliar. Stronger. Like it didn't entirely belong to him anymore.
"I'm not like that…" he murmured to himself. "I'm really not."
His voice echoed faintly down the corridor, then vanished into stone and shadow, unanswered.
He didn't notice when the path turned.
Didn't notice the familiar carvings etched into the walls.
Didn't even realize—
He had reached his room.
His hand touched the wooden door before his mind caught up.
"Huh…?"
Confused, Elias stopped. He stared at the door for a second, blinking slowly, as if the world had jumped forward without him.
I… already got here?
He hesitated, then pushed the door open gently.
The room was dim, lit only by moonlight slipping through the narrow window near the ceiling. Pale light traced the edges of furniture, casting long, distorted shadows across the stone floor.
And then—
His breath caught.
Someone was standing inside.
A massive silhouette filled the center of the room.
Broad shoulders. Thick arms. A frame so solid it looked carved from stone rather than flesh. The man stood with his back turned, completely still, as if he had been waiting—or listening.
Like a mountain blocking the path forward.
Elias froze instantly.
Every instinct in his body screamed.
He nearly collided with the figure—but this time, something inside him reacted fast enough. He stopped himself just in time, his foot sliding back slightly, heart slamming violently against his ribs.
Who—?
The man's presence was heavy. Not openly threatening yet—but dominant. The kind of presence that bent the air around it, forcing attention, forcing awareness.
Moonlight brushed the edge of his form.
And Elias recognized him.
His stomach dropped.
No…
It was him.
The same man.
The Warden.
The one from the dining hall.
The Armour guy.
Elias stood frozen at the doorway, fear crawling slowly up his spine, cold and deliberate. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Why is he here?
The room felt smaller. Colder. The shadows seemed to press inward, watching silently, as if the walls themselves were curious how this would end.
Elias's fingers curled unconsciously at his sides, his muscles tightening without his permission. He hated that feeling—hated how his body prepared itself before his mind could even decide what to do.
Not again…
He swallowed hard.
And then—
The mountain moved.
The massive figure turned slowly.
Not all at once.
First the shoulders shifted. Then the thick neck followed. Finally—his face came into view.
The moment his eyes landed on Elias, they widened.
Then hardened.
Anger flashed across his expression like fire catching dry wood.
"You," he growled.
The single word struck Elias harder than a slap.
The Armour guy stepped closer, his heavy boots thudding against the stone floor. Each step felt like it shook the room itself. Elias instinctively stepped back, his back nearly brushing the door.
"What?" the man snapped, teeth grinding together. He leaned in close—too close—his shadow swallowing Elias's smaller frame.
"You followed me all the way here?" he hissed. "It seems you really want to die today, don't you?"
Elias felt his throat close.
"N–no!" he stammered, panic spilling into his voice. "T-there's nothing like that! I swear! This—this is my room!"
The words rushed out, tangled and desperate. His hands trembled slightly at his sides. His chest rose and fell too fast, breath shallow and unsteady.
The Armour guy paused.
"Your room?" he repeated slowly, disbelief dripping from every syllable.
Before he could say anything more—
"Hey!"
A voice cut through the tension.
Bright. Familiar. Completely out of place.
"You're back! I was waiting for you!"
Both of them froze.
Footsteps rushed forward from deeper inside the room—quick, clumsy, hurried.
Aron appeared from behind the Armour guy, his round face lighting up with relief and excitement. He looked slightly out of breath, like he had been pacing, worrying.
"Elias!" Aron said happily. "Where did you go? I was starting to think you got lost again!"
Then he noticed the tension.
The way the Armour guy stood too close.
The way Elias looked pale, frozen, like he might collapse.
"Oh—" Aron blinked. "Uh… bad timing?"
He scratched the back of his head nervously, then suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Oh! Right! I forgot to tell you this in the morning!"
He laughed awkwardly, completely unaware—or unwilling to acknowledge—how dangerous the atmosphere felt.
"There's a third roommate," he said cheerfully. "I meant to explain, but things got… messy."
He turned toward the Armour guy, beaming proudly.
"Meet him! The very powerful, very intelligent, very fearless—" He spread his arms dramatically. "—the one and only Ivan!"
Silence.
Thick. Heavy. Suffocating.
Elias's eyes slowly widened.
The Armour guy's expression stiffened.
Both of them spoke at the exact same time.
"…He's our roommate?!"
The words echoed sharply off the stone walls.
Aron blinked between them, confusion slowly replacing his excitement.
"…Wait," he said. "You two already know each other?"
The tension in the room spiked instantly.
Elias's heart sank.
This night… wasn't going to end peacefully.
The air inside the room grew thick.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Aron looked from Elias to Ivan, his smile fading into a confused frown.
"Wait…" he said slowly.
"Have you two… met before?"
The question hung there.
Ivan's eyes darkened.
Before Elias could answer—
Ivan's hand shot out.
He grabbed Elias by the collar and slammed him back against the wall with brutal force.
The sound cracked through the room like stone striking stone.
Elias gasped, his breath knocked out of him as Ivan yanked him closer, their faces only inches apart. Ivan's grip was crushing—his knuckles pressing painfully into Elias's chest.
"You're going to stay in my room?" Ivan snarled. "I don't know why… but there's something wrong with you, little boy."
Elias froze.
His fingers curled uselessly at his sides. His body trembled—not just from fear, but from that strange inner pressure again, tight and restless, like something inside him wanted to react.
Wanted to strike.
But he didn't let it.
Aron panicked.
He rushed forward, grabbing Ivan's arm with both hands, trying to pull it away.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Aron shouted. "Let go of him! He's innocent—he's shy! He wouldn't hurt anyone!"
Ivan turned his head slowly toward Aron.
His eyes were sharp.
Dangerous.
"Stay away," Ivan said coldly. "You fat rat."
The words hit harder than a slap.
But Aron didn't let go.
"Stop it!" Aron insisted, tugging again. "You're hurting him!"
Elias's vision blurred.
His chest tightened painfully.
For a split second—
Something surged.
A tight pressure snapped inside his body, sharp and sudden. His left eye flickered faintly, glowing red for the briefest moment—
Then—
A single tear slipped from the corner of his eye.
It rolled down his cheek silently.
"I'm sorry," Elias whispered. His voice shook, but it was honest. "Please forgive me. I didn't do it intentionally… not even once."
Ivan paused.
His grip loosened—just a little.
He looked directly into Elias's eyes.
Not with anger.
With contempt.
"I don't like weaklings like you," Ivan said flatly.
He released Elias completely.
Elias stumbled forward, barely catching himself before falling.
Ivan turned away as if Elias no longer existed.
He walked to his bed with slow, heavy steps, sat down, then lay back without another glance.
"Keep your distance from me," Ivan said coldly. "I won't give a warning next time."
Silence followed.
Only Elias's shaky breathing filled the room.
Aron rushed to his side, holding Elias by the shoulders.
"Are you alright?" Aron asked anxiously. "Please forgive Ivan… I've never seen him act like this. He's usually respectful—I don't know what happened to him today."
Elias wiped his face quickly, forcing himself to stand straight.
"I'm okay," he said softly. "And… forget it."
Aron stared at him.
"What? How can you say that? It's clearly not your fault—"
"It is," Elias interrupted gently. "I'll take the blame."
Aron opened his mouth to argue—
Then stopped.
Something in Elias's expression made him hesitate.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Something tired.
Something heavy.
"…Alright," Aron said quietly. "But still… I'm here if you need me."
Elias nodded faintly.
Ivan had already closed his eyes.
Not sleeping.
Just pretending.
The room settled into an uneasy silence—three people sharing the same space, but worlds apart.
And deep inside Elias, something stirred again.
Watching.
Waiting.
***