Himitsu stood among the gathered magic fighters of Lunaris, yet he felt strangely detached from the world around him.
His face still carried that same odd, unreadable expression—the one he had worn ever since he had stepped out of the Dark Castle. It was unfamiliar, even to himself. A blank, slightly awkward look, as if his mind was still trapped somewhere far away.
The fighters noticed it immediately.
Their gazes kept drifting toward him, curiosity and concern mixing in their eyes. Quiet murmurs spread through the group.
"I've never seen Himitsu act like that before…"
"Something feels off."
"Did something happen during his mission?"
Some whispered behind their hands, others leaned closer to one another, but all of them were thinking the same thing.
This isn't the Himitsu we know.
At that moment, a calm but authoritative presence approached.
Kaiel—the high-ranking officer of the magic fighters—walked toward them.
Dressed neatly in a black suit, Kaiel carried himself with quiet confidence. His sharp eyes reflected years of experience, and the faint strands of gray in his black hair hinted at both age and wisdom. Around forty to forty-five years old, he was a man respected by every fighter in Lunaris.
He stopped in front of Himitsu.
"Himitsu," Kaiel said, his tone steady but observant. "What happened to you?"
Himitsu didn't respond immediately.
"Why are you standing there with such a strange expression?" Kaiel continued. "I've known you for a long time. You're always composed, always focused. But I've never seen you like this."
Kaiel paused for a moment before asking the question that truly mattered.
"Did something happen at the Dark Castle? Did you meet Lord Akitora?"
Those words snapped Himitsu back to reality.
What should I say…?
I can't tell them the truth.
His heart tightened.
If I tell them what really happened… the absurdity of it… the humiliation…
No. He couldn't.
Not yet.
He took a quiet breath, forcing his expression back into something more controlled.
"No," Himitsu said calmly. "I didn't meet him."
The surrounding fighters immediately focused on his words.
"I couldn't even find his castle," he added smoothly. "On the way there, I suddenly started feeling unwell. My body just… gave out. So I decided to return."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then a few fighters nodded in understanding.
"That makes sense," one of them said. "You fought that powerful villain earlier and left without resting. Anyone would collapse after that."
"Yeah," another agreed. "You always push yourself too hard."
Himitsu said nothing more.
Kaiel, however, remained quiet.
His eyes lingered on Himitsu for a second longer than necessary. There was something in that explanation that didn't fully sit right with him.
A convenient answer, Kaiel thought.
But not a convincing one.
Still, he didn't press further.
Himitsu met Kaiel's gaze and spoke again. "I'd like your permission to rest for a day or two."
Kaiel studied him carefully, then nodded once.
"Very well," he said. "You may take time to recover."
Relief washed over Himitsu, though he didn't show it.
As he walked away, several fighters called out to him.
"Take care of yourself!"
"Get some rest, Himitsu!"
A few young women approached him as well, asking about his health. In Lunaris, Himitsu was well-known—not only for his strength, but also for his calm demeanor and striking appearance.
He acknowledged them politely and continued on his way home.
But as he walked through the streets, a strange sensation crept up his spine.
Someone's following me.
He stopped and turned around.
There was no one there.
The street was empty.
"…Just my imagination," he muttered.
Yet the feeling didn't leave him.
Even when he reached his home, the same unease lingered, as if unseen eyes were watching him from somewhere beyond his sight.
He glanced around once more.
Nothing.
He exhaled slowly.
That family… he thought.
Meeting them really messed with my head.
His thoughts felt scattered, heavy.
I really do need rest.
Himitsu entered his house and went straight to his room. Without even changing his clothes, he collapsed onto his bed. His body ached from exhaustion, both physical and mental.
Within moments, his breathing grew steady.
He fell asleep.
And as darkness filled the room—
A shadow slowly formed near the corner of the chamber.
Silent.
Watching.