The tenth night since the epic battle against the Elder Dragon descended with a heavier and more oppressive darkness than usual. Nocture's black mist hung thick like a living blanket, enveloping the entire castle area and the surrounding forests. The red moon that usually shone faintly in Nocture's sky was now completely covered by dense dark clouds, making the darkness perfect not a single point of light could penetrate it. The air felt cold, damp, and filled with the scent of wet earth mixed with a faint metallic smell that had begun to drift from afar.
