The first light of dawn broke over the horizon, its pale rays spreading across the ruined town.

  What the night had hidden, the morning revealed without mercy.

  Corpses lay scattered through the streets. Broken walls and shattered homes stood like silent witnesses to the destruction. Thin trails of smoke still rose from the ashes, drifting slowly through the cold air.

  Inside the medical camp, the quiet was heavy.

  A narrow ray of sunlight slipped through the opening of a tent and fell directly across Rudra’s face.

  “Ugh…”

  He groaned and lifted a hand to shield his eyes. Slowly, the fog of sleep began to fade from his mind. His vision cleared as he turned his head slightly—

  Then he froze.

  The place beside him was empty.

  “Dhruv?”

  Rudra sat up instantly and looked around the tent.

  No answer.

  He rushed outside, his eyes scanning the camp quickly.

  He spotted him almost immediately.

  Near the edge of the camp, standing alone and facing the rising sun, was Dhruv.

  “Oi, Sky Hair!” Rudra shouted while walking toward him. “What are you doing here so early?”

  Dhruv slowly turned toward him. His face looked calm, though there was a faint tiredness in his eyes.

  “Good morning, Rudra,” he said softly. “The sun looks… very different today.”

  Rudra stopped beside him and crossed his arms. His eyes dropped toward Dhruv’s injured leg.

  “I see,” he said. “How is your leg?”

  “You can see it’s better,” Dhruv replied calmly. “What about your hand?”

  Rudra blinked and looked down at his arm as if he had completely forgotten about it.

  “Whoa!”

  He flexed his fingers a few times.

  “I didn’t even notice. It’s fine!”

  Suddenly overjoyed, Rudra began jumping around excitedly as if he had just discovered something incredible.

  Dhruv sighed.

  “Okay… now you should sto—”

  Before he could finish speaking, a loud horn shattered the morning silence.

  The sharp sound echoed across the entire camp.

  People rushed out of their tents. Doctors, injured soldiers, and civilians all looked around in confusion.

  From the distant road, a large battalion of armored knights was approaching. Their armor reflected the morning sunlight as they marched forward in perfect formation.

  Everyone stared in surprise.

  The commander of the battalion stepped forward. His deep voice carried easily across the crowd.

  “Everyone listen carefully!”

  The murmuring slowly faded.

  “The King has ordered that all civilians from these towns and villages must immediately relocate to the Royal Town — Vincheria — for their safety.”

  A ripple of fear passed through the crowd.

  The commander raised his voice again.

  “We must leave immediately. There is very little time.”

  Rudra suddenly stepped forward.

  “What about the villages?” he shouted. “My family is still there!”

  The commander looked at him.

  “Ms. Astha has already gone there to rescue them,” he said. “A battalion of knights has also been sent to protect the surrounding villages.”

  Rudra slowly relaxed, though worry still lingered in his eyes.

  Soon the knights began organizing everyone.

  Civilians were guided toward large transport carts lined along the road.

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  Children were lifted up, injured people were helped carefully, and families gathered together as the evacuation began.

  Once everyone was seated, the commander raised his hand.

  The convoy slowly began moving.

  The long line of carts rolled forward, leaving the ruined town behind.

  As the camp slowly faded from view, Dhruv’s gaze drifted back toward the destroyed streets.

  Smoke still curled into the cold air. Broken houses stood like hollow shells, and lifeless bodies lay where the battle had ended.

  His eyes lingered there.

  So many lives… gone overnight.

  The silence felt heavier than the battle itself.

  Dhruv and Rudra sat together in the back of one of the carts as the caravan traveled along a forest road.

  The wheels rattled against the uneven path while sunlight filtered softly through the tall trees above.

  For a while, neither of them spoke.

  Rudra glanced at Dhruv.

  He looked unusually quiet.

  Rudra nudged him playfully with his elbow.

  “Thinking about Lucia again?”

  Dhruv didn’t respond.

  Rudra’s smile faded slightly.

  “Oh… the dream again?” he said more seriously. “You’re worrying too much about it.”

  Dhruv slowly lifted his head.

  “How is it possible,” he asked quietly, “that for the past three days I’ve had the exact same dream?”

  The cart creaked as it rolled over a rough patch of road.

  Rudra leaned back against the wooden side of the wagon.

  “Did you notice anything new this time?” he asked.

  Dhruv fell silent again.

  Fragments of the dream replayed inside his mind.

  Smoke.

  Darkness.

  The massive shadow claw falling from the sky.

  Then suddenly—

  Something new appeared in his memory.

  “There was a fort,” Dhruv said quietly.

  Rudra turned toward him.

  “A fort?”

  “Yes.”

  Dhruv continued.

  “It had golden banners… and a white flag with the symbol of Falco.”

  Rudra frowned deeply.

  “Falco…”

  He began muttering to himself.

  “Falco… Falco…”

  Then suddenly—

  “Got it!” Rudra shouted loudly.

  Everyone inside the cart turned to stare at him.

  Dhruv immediately slapped Rudra lightly on the head.

  “Stupid! Why are you shouting like that?”

  Rudra scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

  “I was trying to cheer you up.”

  Dhruv stared at him.

  “What did you remember?”

  Rudra shrugged.

  “…I forgot.”

  Dhruv sighed deeply and looked away.

  Sometimes he seriously wondered how this idiot was still alive.

  The forest road continued quietly for several minutes.

  Then suddenly—

  Dhruv felt something strange.

  A cold sensation crept across his mind.

  He slowly turned his head toward the forest outside the cart.

  For a brief moment—

  He saw someone.

  A tall figure stood beside a tree, completely motionless.

  Its face was hidden in shadow.

  But Dhruv was certain of one thing.

  It was looking directly at him.

  Dhruv immediately pointed.

  “Who is that?”

  Rudra looked in the same direction.

  “Where?”

  “There,” Dhruv said urgently. “Next to that tree!”

  But when Rudra looked again—

  There was nothing there.

  Only the silent forest.

  Rudra folded his arms.

  “You read too many books,” he said. “Your brain needs a doctor.”

  Dhruv didn’t answer.

  He kept staring at the empty trees as the cart continued moving.

  Something felt wrong.

  Very wrong.

  After several hours of travel, the forest slowly began to thin.

  The road widened.

  And then—

  In the distance, towering above the landscape, massive stone walls appeared.

  The Royal Town of Vincheria.

  Tall towers stretched proudly toward the sky. Flags fluttered along the battlements as guards watched from above.

  Inside the walls, colorful rooftops and crowded streets filled the town with life.

  Merchants moved through busy markets. People walked along the wide roads.

  The entire city looked vibrant and alive.

  Near the center of the town stood the Royal Academy.

  Its white stone structure rose above the surrounding buildings like a shining fortress of knowledge.

  For most people in the caravan, Vincheria looked beautiful.

  Safe.

  Alive.

  The convoy finally entered through the massive gates.

  The moment the cart stopped, Rudra jumped down with excitement.

  “Whoa! This place is amazing!” he shouted. “We should explore it!”

  Dhruv climbed down carefully.

  “Alright,” he said with a faint smile. “We can.”

  The two boys began walking through one of the busy streets.

  Merchants shouted from their shops.

  Travelers moved through crowded roads.

  Guards patrolled the streets in polished armor.

  Rudra stared everywhere with excitement.

  “Look at this sword!”

  “And those crystals!”

  “Dhruv, imagine if we had armor like that!”

  Dhruv only smiled faintly.

  Then—

  THUD.

  A loud impact echoed from a nearby alley.

  Another sound followed.

  Cruel laughter.

  Dhruv stopped walking.

  “Rudra,” he said quietly.

  “Let’s see what’s happening there.”

  They walked toward the alley.

  As they approached, the sounds became clearer.

  Kicks.

  Mocking laughter.

  When they reached the corner, they saw a group of noble academy students surrounding someone on the ground.

  They were kicking him.

  Boots slammed into Axel’s side with dull thuds, sending dust rising from the ground as he curled up to protect himself.

  They were laughing.

  Bullying him.

  Rudra leaned toward Dhruv.

  “Hey… that’s Axel, right?”

  Dhruv’s eyes narrowed.

  “Yes… it is.”

  “But why are they beating Axel?”

  Rudra clenched his fists.

  “We should help him.”

  “Let’s go.”

  They stepped forward—

  But suddenly a familiar voice interrupted.

  “Hey! What are you doing with that little lamb?”

  Lucia stepped into the alley, blocking the bullies.

  The leader of the three noble students smirked.

  “Well, well… Lucia Heartful.”

  “I thought you had gone back home.”

  He leaned slightly closer.

  “If you interfere, we might tell your family about your location.”

  Lucia didn’t move.

  “That’s none of your business,” she replied calmly.

  “Same for this,” the noble replied, gesturing toward Axel.

  Lucia’s voice turned colder.

  “But I cannot ignore someone weak being bullied.”

  “At least I have a heart… unlike you.”

  The leader’s expression darkened.

  He stepped forward as if to attack.

  Lucia calmly raised her hand.

  “Glacius.”

  In an instant, frost spread across the ground.

  Ice surged upward and trapped the three noble students in place, leaving only their necks free.

  The boys immediately began shouting.

  “Unfasten this ice at once!”

  “Do you know who we are?!”

  Lucia ignored them.

  She walked toward Axel and extended her hand.

  “Come,” she said softly. “Stand up.”

  Axel suddenly slapped her hand away.

  “Weak, huh?” he said bitterly.

  “Is that what you nobles think about everyone else?”

  Lucia froze.

  For a moment, she had no words.

  Axel slowly pushed himself to his feet.

  His eye was swollen and dark, his clothes stained with dust and blood.

  Without looking at anyone, he began walking away.

  He passed right beside Dhruv and Rudra.

  Ignoring them completely.

  Each step carried pain—

  and deep resentment.

  Dhruv, Rudra, and Lucia watched silently as Axel disappeared down the street.

  But as Dhruv looked after him…

  That strange cold feeling returned.

  For just a brief moment—

  He felt it again.

  Someone…

  was watching him.

  And whoever it was—

  had been watching for a long time.