MOONVEIL
JURAL DISTRICT: AZURA
Morning had fully settled over Azura.
The sun hung high, casting a warm golden glow across the neatly paved streets and perfectly maintained buildings. Windows reflected the sunlight, and the rooftops gleamed, their well-kept tiles and polished woodwork speaking of a prosperous village.
Flowering vines climbed along the walls, and the scent of fresh bread and morning dew lingered in the air.
Villagers went about their daily routines, tending stalls, sweeping the walkways, or greeting neighbors with quiet smiles.
Suddenly, in the center of the village square, the air shimmered.
A circle of brilliant blue light appeared, runes spinning rapidly along its edge like liquid crystal.
It was a magic teleportation circle.
The villagers froze, unsure whether to flee or watch.
The guards stationed throughout Azura, lower-ranking but vigilant, sprinted toward the circle, weapons at the ready.
Their eyes narrowed as they prepared for any threat that might emerge.
From the heart of the glowing circle, three figures stepped forward, appearing as if the light itself had carried them into the village.
They were strikingly similar—identical in height and build, their red hair shining brilliantly under the morning sun, tied neatly behind their backs.
Each wore a short, long-sleeved tunic cropped just below the waist and fitted around the arms, paired with sturdy, stylish boots.
Across their shoulders rested identical satchels, simple but well-made—the only accessories they carried.
Their collars gleamed with polished Gold 2 badges.
The engraved names and ranks read:
Serenya Veyrin — Gold 2
Serelia Veyrin — Gold 2
Seranya Veyrin — Gold 2
Each badge shimmered as the sunlight caught it, clearly marking them as high-rank adventurers.
The guards halted mid-step as recognition settled over them.
These were no ordinary visitors.
They were adventurers—highly trained ones—and the villagers had no reason to fear.
Their weapons were sheathed, and the girls' presence radiated calm authority.
The village itself seemed to relax.
Azura was alive and prosperous. Its streets were paved with smooth cobblestones, while homes were built from finely carved timber and stone, their walls sturdy and well-maintained.
Shops displayed their wares neatly, and the villagers resumed their routines, occasionally glancing toward the teleportation circle that had now vanished, realizing it posed no threat.
The three girls—Serenya, Serelia, and Seranya—walked together toward the inn at the edge of the square, moving with effortless grace.
Their eyes briefly scanned the village, noting its orderliness and the alert guards, before they entered the inn.
Though identical in appearance, each carried an air of quiet confidence, as if they were already evaluating the district for the task ahead.
The Moonveil Party had arrived.
---
Within a few minutes of their arrival, there was a knock at the door of the inn they had rented.
A guard was standing outside when the door opened.
"Sorry to disturb you," the guard said calmly. "The capital has assigned me to bring you to his office. You're the adventurers who arrived here today, correct?"
The building was large and well-kept, with smooth, pale stone walls and dark-framed windows.
Its steep red-tiled roof and sturdy wooden doors gave it a solid, official appearance.
A neatly paved courtyard and trimmed gardens surrounded it, marking it as an important administrative office without dominating the village.
The Moonveil Party entered the office of Azura's guard in charge of village safety.
The trio walked up the wide staircase, their footsteps soft against the steps.
At the top, the guard who had escorted them knocked firmly on the door.
"They're here, sir," he announced.
From inside, a deep, authoritative voice responded.
"Come in."
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, falling across polished stone floors and neatly constructed wooden beams.
Shelves lined the walls, stacked with ledgers, maps, and supplies.
Outside, the village continued its quiet routine, everyday life carrying on undisturbed.
Behind the desk sat Captain Gorrick, a broad, fat man with a round face, dark eyes, and a thick mustache.
His uniform strained slightly across his midsection, but his gaze was sharp and alert—a man used to maintaining order rather than facing Gold-ranked adventurers.
"Morning, ladies. Please, have a seat."
He gestured toward the chairs.
"What brings you to Azura?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
Serenya, Serelia, and Seranya sat in unison.
Their identical red hair was tied simply, while their crisp, short-sleeved and long-sleeved tunics reached just above their bellies. Their boots were polished and practical, and their identical bags were neatly secured on their backs.
They exuded a quiet confidence that brought a subtle tension into the room.
"We've been assigned here to deal with the Weavers," Serenya began.
"They've—"
"Weavers?"
Gorrick cut her off, leaning back in his chair.
"I've been stationed here for ten years. Not once have I seen a spider or a Weaver. Nothing of the sort..."
Before he could finish his words, the doors and windows suddenly shut on their own.
Click.
The locks snapped into place.
A faint, shimmering barrier spread across the walls of the office, enclosing the entire room.
Gorrick's pen trembled in his hand.
Sweat beaded across his forehead.
"W-What's going on? Why... why are the doors shut? Barriers? Open this immediately, or I'll report this to the capital! This is a crime!"
"Go ahead. Report it."
The three girls spoke together, their voices perfectly synchronized.
"Or better yet, take it directly to the king."
Their voices were calm, certain, and terrifyingly unyielding.
Gorrick's eyes flickered white for a moment.
His posture stiffened.
Then he slowly leaned back in his chair.
"I need you to tell me... why affect the villagers' souls? What is your gain in tormenting them?" the girls continued, their tone sharpening with authority.
"Yes... you."
Their eyes remained fixed on Gorrick.
"I know you can hear us."
"What are you saying? I don't understand what's going on here..."
Gorrick's voice faltered.
"M-Master... you're right. Daria... it's filled with extraordinary people. Years pass, and they still haven't changed... I... shouldn't..."
His words stumbled out as though another presence were filtering through his voice.
The girls leaned back slightly, their confidence unshaken, sitting as if the room belonged entirely to them.
"Your master," they said, their voices harmonizing once again, "we would very much like to meet him."
Their expressions remained calm.
"But know this: you've done more than possess this man."
Their voices grew colder.
"You've influenced every soul in the four affected villages. You are both the victim and the predator."
The three girls' voices rang out in perfect unison, cold and unwavering.
"You've not only taken control of the Weavers, but every single victim as well."
"For what purpose?"
"Splitting one's soul is impossible..."
Their eyes narrowed.
"Yet you've done it beyond anything we've ever encountered."
"Possessing the villages. Controlling the Graveweavers."
"You've fragmented your soul into a thousand pieces."
"Each shard is still you."
"Damage one, and you risk irreparable harm to the whole."
A brief silence followed.
"Or..."
Serenya tilted her head slightly.
"Are you able to heal an injury inflicted on your soul?"
Gorrick, possessed and no longer entirely himself, nodded faintly, acknowledging their understanding.
He was trapped by the truth they had laid bare.
"You..."
The voice that spoke through him murmured.
"What you've said... it's formidable..."
It paused.
Gorrick's face suddenly contorted.
He plunged his hand into his mouth.
His elbow disappeared entirely as his jaw stretched unnaturally wide.
Slowly, with almost grotesque precision, he retracted his arm, gripping a small piece of paper between his fingers.
Wordlessly, he placed it carefully on the desk.
The paper slid to a stop in front of the three girls.
"This is for the ex-captain of the Daria elite soldiers."
The voice paused.
"My time is up."
Before the girls could react, Serenya's gaze snapped toward the window.
"Incoming!"
Her voice was calm but sharp.
Enormous white nails tore through the morning air, crashing against the building and shattering parts of the barrier.
The sound echoed through Azura, startling the lower-ranked guards outside but causing no panic.
"Nice distraction, but you're not leaving," Serelia murmured.
She brushed a fingertip across one of the massive nails.
"White nails."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Highest-grade weapon creation."
She examined the strange weapon.
"Durability negation..."
A pause.
"Soul destroyer."
Her expression hardened.
"We're dealing with a strong opponent."
Serelia vanished in a blur, moving at light speed and leaving the office behind.
She arrived at the edge of the forest, tracing the residual Dio energy left behind by the attacker.
Deploying her detection across the entire village, she scanned every house, every path, and every corner.
Nothing.
The intruder had vanished.
Meanwhile, Serenya maintained the barrier around Gorrick, keeping him trapped as she assessed their next move.
The moment Serenya shouted "Incoming!", a brilliant white barrier erupted outward, instantly enveloping every living being in the village—humans, demi-humans, and animals alike.
The remaining nails struck the barrier but failed to destroy any residents or nearby buildings.
Seranya had already protected everything within that single moment.