The evening classes had finally ended.
By the time Kael and Elior left the academy grounds, the sun had already begun to sink behind the distant buildings.
The streets outside were quieter than they had been in the afternoon.
Elior walked beside Kael, holding his books against his chest.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Kael didn't seem to mind.
He walked at his usual pace, his hands resting casually at his sides.
Elior glanced at him.
"You're not sleepy anymore."
Kael looked at him.
"Was I supposed to be?"
"You were sleeping during lunch."
"I was resting."
"You were sleeping."
"There's a difference."
Elior gave him a look.
Kael smiled.
"...Fine."
Elior shook his head.
"You really don't like admitting anything."
"Not everything needs to be admitted."
"That's exactly what someone who doesn't like admitting things would say."
Kael looked amused.
"You've become quite talkative lately."
Elior immediately looked away.
"I was always like this."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Kael hummed.
"I don't remember that."
"Then your memory isn't very good."
That made Kael laugh quietly.
They continued walking.
The conversation slowly faded.
Neither noticed the man standing near the edge of the street.
At first.
He was dressed simply.
Nothing about him immediately stood out.
He looked like an ordinary traveller who had stopped to rest before continuing his journey.
But as Kael and Elior came closer...
The man's eyes lifted.
And stopped on Kael.
He didn't look away.
Kael noticed.
His steps slowed.
Elior, who had been walking beside him, also stopped.
Kael looked at the stranger.
The man was older than them, though not by much.
There was nothing threatening in his expression.
Still...
Something about the way he was looking at Kael felt strange.
Not like someone seeing a noble.
Not like someone recognizing a famous person.
It was something else.
As if...
He was comparing the person standing in front of him with someone he had known a long time ago.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
The stranger took one step closer.
Then another.
Elior looked at Kael.
Kael remained still.
The stranger finally stopped a few steps away.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The man simply stared at Kael.
Then his expression changed.
Just slightly.
His eyes moved across Kael's face.
His hair.
His posture.
The way he stood.
Almost as though he was searching for something.
Kael noticed every movement.
Finally, Kael spoke.
"Do I know you?"
The stranger didn't answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on him.
Then...
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"No."
Kael waited.
The stranger tilted his head slightly.
"But..."
His eyes narrowed.
"You've changed."
Elior's expression shifted.
Kael said nothing.
The stranger continued to look at him.
"More than I expected."
Kael's gaze became colder.
"Have we met before?"
The stranger smiled again.
This time, there was something unreadable in it.
"Perhaps."
"That's not an answer."
"I know."
Kael took one step forward.
"Then give me one."
The stranger looked at him for another moment.
Then his gaze briefly shifted toward Elior.
Only for a second.
He looked back at Kael.
"You're still the same in one way."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"What way?"
The stranger didn't answer.
Instead, he smiled.
A strange, almost familiar smile.
Then he stepped aside.
Kael's eyes followed him.
The stranger walked past them.
Just like that.
No explanation.
No introduction.
Nothing.
Elior turned his head slightly, watching the man leave.
Then he looked back at Kael.
"...Kael."
"Hm?"
"Do you really not know him?"
"No."
Kael's answer came immediately.
Elior looked in the direction the stranger had gone.
"Then why did he say you've changed?"
Kael was silent.
That was the question.
He didn't know.
But there was something else bothering him.
The stranger's eyes.
There had been something oddly familiar about them.
Not the face.
Not the voice.
The eyes.
Kael turned his head.
The stranger was already farther down the street.
For a brief moment, the man looked back.
Their eyes met.
Kael stopped.
The stranger smiled.
Then he turned away and disappeared into the crowd.
Elior was still looking at Kael.
"...What is it?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the direction where the stranger had disappeared.
Nothing.
He couldn't see him anymore.
Finally, Kael looked back at Elior.
"Nothing."
Elior didn't seem convinced.
"You look like you're thinking."
"I usually think."
"Not like this."
Kael glanced at him.
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to remember something."
Kael paused.
For the first time, his expression became slightly distant.
"...Maybe I am."
Elior waited.
Kael looked away.
"But I can't remember."
The words came out quietly.
Elior didn't ask anything else.
Instead, he simply started walking again.
After a moment, Kael followed.
Neither of them noticed...
At the far end of the street...
The stranger had stopped once more.
He watched the two figures walking away together.
His gaze remained on Kael.
Then, very quietly, he murmured to himself—
"Still the same."
A pause.
His expression changed.
"Just not yet."
And then he disappeared into the evening crowd.
"..."
They had reached the entrance of the dormitory.
Kael stopped.
"Go inside."
Elior nodded.
"Good night, Kael."
"Good night."
Kael turned to leave.
He had barely taken two steps when—
"Kael."
He stopped.
Elior was still standing behind him.
Kael turned around.
"What is it?"
Elior didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward him.
Kael's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Elior?"
Before Kael could say anything else, Elior stepped closer and wrapped his arms around him.
Kael froze.
Completely.
For one brief moment, even his thoughts seemed to stop.
Elior's forehead rested lightly against his shoulder.
Kael stared ahead.
His arms remained at his sides.
He hadn't expected this.
Not from Elior.
Not now.
Not like this.
"...What are you doing?"
Elior's voice came quietly.
"Just stay like this for a moment."
Kael blinked.
Something inside him softened.
Slowly, almost instinctively, one of his hands came up.
He hesitated.
Then rested gently against Elior's back.
"Only a moment?"
Elior didn't answer.
Kael's lips curved slightly.
"You're getting greedy."
Elior tightened his arms around him just a little.
"Then don't complain."
Kael went quiet.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I wasn't."
For a few seconds, neither moved.
The evening breeze passed quietly through the street.
The world around them continued as usual.
But Kael didn't seem to care.
Elior finally pulled away.
The moment their eyes met, Elior immediately looked somewhere else.
Kael watched him.
Then...
"Was that all?"
Elior looked at him.
"What?"
"The hug."
Elior's face warmed slightly.
"Yes."
Kael nodded thoughtfully.
"I see."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're going to say something annoying."
Kael smiled.
"I was only wondering."
"Wondering what?"
Kael leaned slightly closer.
"Whether I should expect another one tomorrow."
Elior stared at him.
Then immediately turned around.
"Good night, Kael."
Kael laughed softly.
"Good night."
Elior took a few steps toward the entrance.
Then he stopped.
Without turning around, he said quietly—
"...Maybe."
Kael's smile widened.
"Maybe?"
Elior quickly disappeared inside.
Kael remained outside.
For once, he didn't follow.
He simply stood there, looking at the entrance where Elior had disappeared.
A small smile still rested on his lips.
Then he quietly murmured to himself—
"Maybe is enough for today."
And finally...
Kael turned and walked away.
"..."
By the time Kael returned to the mansion, the sky had already darkened.
The estate was quieter than the academy.
The moment he stepped inside, the familiar silence of the mansion settled around him.
A servant approached and took his coat.
"Young Master."
Kael nodded lightly.
He was about to continue upstairs when he noticed Butler Ren standing near the entrance.
Ren had been waiting.
Kael's steps slowed.
"Something happened?"
Ren bowed slightly.
"Nothing urgent, Young Master."
"Then why are you waiting here?"
Ren's expression remained calm.
"I received something this evening."
Kael looked at him.
Ren reached inside his coat and took out an envelope.
The moment Kael saw it, his eyes paused.
The seal.
He knew it.
The old mansion.
For a few seconds, Kael simply stared at it.
Ren noticed the slight change in his expression.
"Young Master."
Kael held out his hand.
"Give it to me."
Ren placed the letter in his hand.
Kael turned it over once.
The seal was untouched.
He broke it.
His eyes moved across the words.
Once.
Then again.
His expression remained calm.
But Ren had known him long enough to notice the small change in his eyes.
"Is there a problem?"
Kael folded the letter.
"No."
Ren waited.
Kael looked at him.
"Why are you still standing there?"
"Because you said there was no problem."
Kael stared at him.
Ren's expression remained perfectly innocent.
Kael gave him a look.
"...You're becoming bold."
"My apologies, Young Master."
There was no apology in Ren's voice.
Kael sighed quietly.
He looked down at the letter again.
Ren's gaze followed.
"From the old mansion?"
"Yes."
"I see."
Kael turned the letter between his fingers.
"It seems they've remembered that I exist."
Ren's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"I doubt anyone there has forgotten you."
"Then they've remembered I haven't visited."
"That seems more likely."
Kael glanced at him.
Ren calmly continued.
"It has been some time."
"Six months."
"Indeed."
Kael's expression became faintly displeased.
"Must you remember the exact number?"
"I am the one who keeps track of your schedule, Young Master."
"Then forget this one."
"Unfortunately, I cannot."
Kael looked at him for a moment.
Ren's expression softened slightly.
"Was the letter from the old master?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he opened the folded letter again.
His eyes moved over the final lines.
Ren waited.
Then Kael said quietly,
"...Not directly."
Ren understood.
"The old lady?"
Kael nodded.
"She wants me to return."
"Ah."
That single sound was enough to tell Kael exactly what Ren thought.
Kael looked up.
"What?"
"Nothing, Young Master."
"Ren."
"I said nothing."
"You clearly thought something."
Ren looked toward the ceiling.
"Perhaps the old lady has simply grown tired of waiting."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"She can wait longer."
Ren's lips twitched.
"Young Master..."
"What?"
"That is exactly what you said three months ago."
Kael was silent.
Ren continued before he could say anything.
"And three months before that."
"You're keeping a record?"
"I may have."
Kael stared at him.
Ren finally smiled.
"It seems you have been avoiding the old mansion rather successfully."
"I've been busy."
"Of course."
"I have the academy."
"Yes."
"Investigations."
"Naturally."
"Other matters."
"Of course."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Why do I feel like you're not listening to me?"
"Because I am listening very carefully, Young Master."
Kael looked away.
He folded the letter again.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The mansion was quiet around them.
Then Ren's expression changed slightly.
"Will you go?"
Kael's fingers paused against the envelope.
"I don't know."
"Young Master."
Kael looked at him.
Ren's voice was respectful, but there was a quiet firmness beneath it.
"You cannot avoid the old mansion forever."
"I know."
"Then perhaps—"
"Not now."
Ren stopped.
Kael's voice wasn't harsh.
Just final.
Ren bowed his head.
"Understood."
Kael looked at the letter in his hand.
Six months.
He hadn't realized how long it had been.
Or perhaps...
He had realized.
He simply hadn't cared enough to count.
Until now.
His gaze lowered.
There were too many things happening at once.
The academy.
The investigations.
The strange changes he still couldn't explain.
And now...
The old mansion.
Kael let out a slow breath.
"It seems everyone has become impatient."
Ren looked at him.
"Everyone?"
Kael's eyes lifted.
For the briefest moment, something unreadable crossed his face.
Then it disappeared.
"Forget it."
Ren didn't ask.
He knew better.
Instead, he looked at the letter.
"Should I prepare the carriage?"
Kael immediately answered.
"No."
Ren blinked.
"No?"
"I said I don't know if I'm going."
"Ah."
Kael started walking toward the stairs.
Then stopped.
"Ren."
"Yes, Young Master?"
"Keep this between us."
Ren looked at the letter.
Then at Kael.
"Of course."
Kael nodded.
He began walking again.
After a few steps, Ren spoke.
"Young Master."
Kael stopped.
"What?"
Ren hesitated for a moment.
Then he asked quietly,
"Did anything happen today?"
Kael's eyes shifted slightly.
The stranger.
Those eyes.
The words.
You've changed.
For a moment, the memory returned.
Kael's expression became unreadable.
"Why?"
"You seem distracted."
Kael looked back at him.
"I met someone."
Ren's expression changed.
"Someone?"
"Nothing important."
"Do you know him?"
"No."
"Then why does it sound important?"
Kael's gaze lingered on Ren.
"...Because he knew me."
Ren went silent.
Kael turned away.
"Or at least..."
He paused.
"...he thought he did."
Ren watched him carefully.
Kael continued upstairs.
"Good night, Ren."
"Good night, Young Master."
Kael disappeared from view.
Ren remained where he was.
His eyes fell on the old mansion's letter.
Then slowly lifted toward the stairs.
Something had happened.
He didn't know what.
But judging by Kael's expression...
Whatever it was, it hadn't ended with that encounter.
And somewhere inside the mansion, Kael was thinking the same thing.
The stranger's words returned to him.
You've changed.
Kael stood alone inside his room.
He placed the letter on his desk.
For some reason...
The words from earlier refused to leave his mind.
Not because he understood them.
But because he didn't.
Kael stared out of the window.
The night outside was quiet.
Too quiet.
He couldn't remember the stranger.
Yet the man's eyes...
They felt familiar.
Kael's fingers rested against the edge of the desk.
"...Who are you?"
There was no answer.
Only the silence of the mansion.
Kael finally turned away from the window.
He looked once more at the letter from the old mansion.
Two mysteries had entered his life in the same evening.
And he had no idea yet...
That before the night was over—
A third one would be waiting outside his door.
"..."
That night, Kael slept.
And for once...
There was no darkness.
No battlefield.
No broken voices.
No scattered fragments that disappeared the moment he tried to remember them.
Instead—
There was light.
Soft.
Golden.
Almost peaceful.
Kael opened his eyes.
He was standing in a place he had never seen before.
A long corridor stretched before him.
The walls were made of something pale and smooth, reflecting the strange golden light that filled the place.
There were no windows.
No doors.
Nothing.
Only the corridor.
Kael looked behind him.
The same corridor continued into darkness.
He frowned.
He didn't remember coming here.
That alone was enough to make him cautious.
Kael took a step forward.
His footsteps echoed.
Once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
Kael paused.
He looked down.
There was no sound anymore.
Not even his own breathing.
The silence was absolute.
He continued walking.
At the end of the corridor stood a single door.
Unlike everything else around him, it was dark.
Almost black.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
Something about it felt wrong.
Not dangerous.
Not exactly.
Just...
Familiar.
He walked toward it.
With every step, the strange feeling became stronger.
He had seen this door before.
But where?
Kael stopped in front of it.
There was something engraved in the centre.
A symbol.
He couldn't understand it.
Yet the moment his eyes fell upon it, something inside him stirred.
A memory?
No.
Not a memory.
Something else.
Kael raised his hand.
His fingers were only an inch away from the surface when—
"Don't."
Kael froze.
The voice had come from behind him.
He slowly turned.
Someone was standing at the other end of the corridor.
Kael couldn't see the person's face.
Only their silhouette.
Tall.
Still.
Watching him.
Kael's expression hardened.
"Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer.
Kael took a step toward them.
"Answer me."
Still nothing.
Then the figure moved.
One step.
Kael stopped.
The figure spoke again.
This time, the voice was clearer.
"You're not supposed to be here."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"That's interesting."
He looked back at the door.
"Because you seem to know exactly where I am."
The figure remained silent.
Kael looked at them again.
"Who sent you?"
Nothing.
Kael's patience began to thin.
He took another step.
The figure suddenly said—
"You're different now."
Kael stopped.
The words struck him strangely.
Not because of their meaning.
Because...
They were familiar.
The same feeling.
The same words.
Like something he had heard before.
Kael's gaze sharpened.
"What did you say?"
The figure didn't repeat it.
Instead, it said—
"You changed."
Kael's expression went still.
The stranger from earlier.
The same words.
The same feeling.
His hand slowly lowered.
"Who are you?"
The figure's head tilted slightly.
Then—
It laughed.
Not loudly.
Not cruelly.
Almost sadly.
"You're asking the wrong question."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Then tell me the right one."
The figure looked toward the dark door.
Kael followed its gaze.
When he looked back—
The figure was gone.
Kael stood alone.
His expression darkened.
He turned toward the door again.
The corridor suddenly felt colder.
Kael looked at the symbol.
Something was different.
The engraving...
It was glowing.
Very faintly.
A strange magical light pulsed beneath the surface.
Once.
Then again.
Kael stared.
He could feel it.
Magic.
Old.
Powerful.
But unfamiliar.
Kael reached toward the door.
The moment his fingers touched it—
Everything changed.
The corridor disappeared.
The golden light vanished.
And suddenly—
Kael was standing somewhere else.
A vast room.
Dark.
Silent.
Empty.
At the centre of the room stood a table.
And on that table...
Was a small box.
Kael stared at it.
His expression changed slightly.
He knew that box.
Not from memory.
Not from reality.
But somehow...
He knew it.
Kael slowly approached.
The closer he came, the stronger the magical presence became.
His hand reached toward the box.
Then—
A voice whispered beside his ear.
"Too late."
Kael immediately turned.
Nothing.
His eyes moved around the room.
"Show yourself."
Silence.
Kael looked back at the box.
It was open now.
He hadn't opened it.
Inside...
Was a key.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
The key was strange.
Its shape was unfamiliar.
Its surface was covered in tiny markings.
The same kind of markings he had seen on the door.
Kael reached for it.
His fingers touched the key.
And—
The entire room shattered.
Not literally.
The world around him broke apart like glass.
Kael's eyes widened.
A thousand sounds rushed into his mind.
Voices.
Screams.
Laughter.
Someone crying.
Someone calling his name.
Not Kael.
Another name.
A name he couldn't understand.
Then—
Silence.
Everything disappeared.
Kael stood alone in complete darkness.
The key was still in his hand.
He looked down.
It was glowing.
A faint light travelled across the markings.
Slowly.
One by one.
Then the key began to change.
Kael's eyes widened.
The metal twisted.
The shape shifted.
And suddenly—
The key was no longer in his hand.
It was gone.
Kael looked up.
The dark door was standing in front of him again.
But this time...
It was open.
Just slightly.
Beyond it was nothing but darkness.
Kael stood still.
Something was waiting on the other side.
He could feel it.
A presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
Kael stepped closer.
One step.
Then another.
His hand reached toward the door.
And just before his fingers touched it—
A voice whispered from the darkness.
Not behind him.
Not beside him.
From inside.
"Not yet."
Kael stopped.
The door slammed shut.
Kael's eyes snapped open.
He woke abruptly.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
His breathing was steady.
His eyes stared into the darkness of his bedroom.
Nothing.
No voice.
No corridor.
No door.
Just his room.
Kael slowly sat up.
His hand moved to his chest.
His heartbeat was faster than usual.
He frowned.
That dream...
It had been different.
Not blurry.
Not fragmented.
Not like the nightmares he had experienced before.
He remembered everything.
The corridor.
The figure.
The door.
The box.
The key.
Kael's eyes slowly narrowed.
He looked toward the bedroom door.
Something felt wrong.
Then—
Three knocks sounded.
Knock.
Kael froze.
Silence.
Knock.
His gaze sharpened.
Another pause.
Then—
Knock.
Three.
Exactly three.
Kael slowly got out of bed.
The dream still lingered in his mind.
The door.
The key.
The voice.
Not yet.
He walked toward his bedroom door.
His hand rested on the handle.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then he opened it.
The corridor outside was empty.
Kael stared.
Nothing.
No footsteps.
No servants.
No movement.
His eyes slowly moved toward the staircase.
And then—
He saw someone.
A figure was already walking down the stairs.
Kael's gaze sharpened.
The person stopped.
Just for a moment.
They turned their head.
Kael saw their eyes.
Those eyes.
The same eyes from earlier.
The stranger.
Kael's expression changed.
The figure turned away.
And disappeared down the stairs.
Kael didn't follow immediately.
His gaze lowered.
Something was lying outside his door.
A small box.
Kael stared at it.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he crouched down.
His fingers touched the box.
Cold.
No seal.
No name.
Nothing.
Kael looked toward the stairs again.
Empty.
His eyes returned to the box.
Slowly...
He opened it.
Inside—
Was a key.
Kael's expression became unreadable.
It was not the same key from his dream.
At least...
Not exactly.
But the moment his fingers touched it—
Something moved beneath his skin.
A faint pulse of magic.
Kael immediately pulled his hand back.
His eyes narrowed.
The sensation was gone.
He reached for it again.
Nothing.
Just cold metal.
Kael picked up the key.
There were tiny markings engraved along its surface.
He didn't recognize them.
Yet...
The magic inside the key was undeniable.
Old.
Strange.
And somehow...
It felt as though the key had been waiting for someone.
Kael stared at it.
Then slowly looked toward the empty staircase.
The stranger had come to the academy.
He had appeared again.
And now—
This.
Kael closed his fingers around the key.
His expression darkened.
"...What exactly are you?"
The key remained silent in his hand.
And somewhere deep within it...
Something faintly stirred.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
He didn't know what the key opened.
He didn't know who had left it.
And he certainly didn't know what the stranger wanted from him.
But one thing was certain.
Whatever had begun tonight...
Kael had a feeling he was already moving forward—whether he understood the path ahead of him or not.
—by Aurea ;
"Some mysteries are not meant to be solved.
They are meant to remember you first."