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Kaelen, Derick, and Estelle knocked twice on the door of the building wrapped in exposed wires.
After a long silence, the iron viewing slot on the door slid open.
"Password."
A deep voice echoed through the street.
Derick smiled and stepped closer to the door.
"Black beaver."
"…."
After several locks clicked into place, the door swung open with a loud creak. A man stood in the doorway, studying the newcomers.
"You must be the new arrivals!" the man said. A broad-shouldered figure stepped into view, standing before Kaelen. He had short, dense black curls and thick eyebrows. He wore a loose robe barely held together by a belt; beneath it, his large belly seemed almost alive, swaying independently as he moved. Yet beneath that first impression, Kaelen strangely sensed strength—yes, the man was overweight, yes, he looked sluggish, but deep within him pulsed a power that had yet to be unleashed.
The man extended his hand.
"Bernard. The unofficial guard, guide, cook, and… occasionally the psychologist of this place," he said with a chuckle.
Kaelen smiled as he shook his hand.
"Kaelen. You're the most sincere person I've met today. Choosing between you and Derick wasn't exactly difficult."
"Was Derick that cold?" Bernard said, winking. "When he goes into mission mode, they swap him out with an ice sculpture. You'll get used to it."
Then he noticed Estelle approaching quietly from the end of the corridor and turned his head toward her.
"And here's the other guest… Welcome, princess. We haven't seen you around here in a long time."
Estelle wrinkled her nose slightly and dipped her head, saying nothing.
Bernard clapped his hands together.
"Alright, let me show you to your rooms. This building looks abandoned from the outside, but it's actually one of the Council's small outposts. The specially sealed wires on the exterior hide it from ordinary eyes. Inside, there are also a few illusion spells—technically not visual ones… they suppress perception."
Kaelen began to observe his surroundings more carefully. Faint, nearly invisible lines glimmered along the stone walls—magical traces. A soft hum echoing through the corridors suggested a protective barrier. The interior was cold but clean, as if it hadn't been used in years yet was still being regularly maintained.
Bernard continued speaking as they walked.
"This building is quite close to the borders of Menas, but positioned carefully to avoid attention. It's usually used as a waiting point for low-level missions. Three floors total, though only the first two are active. The bottom floor is storage and laboratory space, the middle floor is for guest rooms and the common area, and the top floor is—surprise—off-limits. Don't go in."
Estelle spoke for the first time.
"What's up there?"
Bernard shrugged.
"Just 'forbidden.' Even if there is something up there, those who know aren't allowed to talk about it. And if I do, I get sent underground. And by underground, I mean there's literally a section below ground. Derick once spent three days there. You wouldn't believe the story."
Kaelen nodded.
"If Derick stayed underground, it definitely wasn't by choice."
"Definitely," Bernard said seriously—then added with his old cheer, "But you won't be seeing him tomorrow. He's got a few preparations before the mission. Still, he told me to pass this along: 'We leave early in the morning. Bernard will brief them.' So tonight, I'll explain a few things. But first…"
The three reached the corridor on the second floor. Bernard gestured toward two worn but tidy doors.
"This one's yours, Kaelen. The other is Estelle's. Be grateful they're side by side—sometimes guests get sent to the lower floor. It's damp down there, and strange noises come out at night."
Kaelen nodded in thanks and opened his door.
The room was small but functional. A simple bed stood in the right corner, paired with a square table and a chair in the center. A metal coat rack hung on the wall beside a small wooden cabinet. There were no windows, but a pale blue light seeped in from the edge of the ceiling, giving the room an unexpected sense of openness. Kaelen recognized it as magical—likely designed to stay lit throughout the night.
He dropped his bag onto the bed and took out a few essentials: spare clothes, books, several magic stones, and his backpack.
After removing his belt and hanging it up, he took a deep breath.
"Not much different from academy dorms," he muttered to himself.
A knock followed.
Estelle stood in the doorway. Her usual distant expression remained, but her voice was gentle. Her green eyes shimmered beneath her red hair.
"Bernard is calling us downstairs. He wants to talk about the mission."
Kaelen nodded.
"Alright. I'm ready."
They descended the stone stairs in silence. At the end of the corridor, Bernard waited in the common area. He still wore his loose robe and held two steaming cups. A small table stood between several cushions and a shelf filled with books. Tiny sparks orbited the crystal lamp on the table, signaling a magical power source. At the center sat a holographic stone.
"Tea?" Bernard asked. "If you don't drink it, I'll be offended."
Kaelen smiled faintly as he sat down.
"Please don't be offended. I'll take a cup."
Estelle seated herself quietly beside them, nodding in thanks as she accepted the tea.
After taking a sip, Bernard's expression grew serious. The mana stone activated, projecting a holographic map.
Several key locations were marked with red dots.
"Listen carefully. Tomorrow's mission may be labeled 'beginner-level,' but don't trust that label too much. There's been an increase in disappearances in the outer districts of Menas. Most of the missing are low-level mages or non-magical laborers. At first, it was thought to be the work of criminal gangs… until trackers found a body."
Kaelen frowned.
"What did they find?"
"The body was almost completely drained—like only the outer shell remained. But after some time, those who were captured regained consciousness and began acting as if nothing were wrong."
Estelle flinched slightly.
"Yes," Bernard said. "We believe it's a type of mana creature. Your task is to patrol the areas where the disappearances occurred, locate the target if possible, and eliminate it. Derick will take you to the site in the morning, but no matter what happens, I don't want you putting yourselves in unnecessary danger."
Kaelen nodded silently. A familiar sensation rose within him.
Bernard continued,
"You'll stay in this building tonight. It's safe—don't worry. If you hear any noises or sense magic, do not go down to the lower floor. Call for me. Get proper rest. Mental clarity is more important than anything before a mission."
Kaelen closed his eyes briefly and took a sip of tea. The heat burned his tongue, but he didn't stop. The sensation of burning… had become familiar to him.
He looked at Bernard.
"So this is just a monster-hunting mission?"
Bernard hesitated—but only for a second.
"Yes. You don't need to think about anything beyond that. Some matters are a bit beyond your level."
Kaelen had gotten what he needed. He finished his tea and rose slowly from the table.
"In that case, excuse me. I should go rest."
Kaelen returned to his room and shut the door firmly.
He exhaled deeply.
In his previous life, he had never been in the city of Menas. Everything about it felt alien. It was nothing like Vaelion or Vermilion, the cities he had known. This was a city already lost.
He couldn't remember when it had happened—perhaps around the time he first formed his mana seed. Back then, survival was his only concern; he knew nothing of the wider events shaping the world.
Aside from a few moments when soldiers spoke in hushed tones about Menas, he knew nothing of what truly happened here.
Kaelen paced the windowless room, then began forming a plan of his own. He knew the events—but not their sequence. That was a major weakness.
Even so… Kaelen would solve it.
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