Hours before the incident, when Raymond parted ways with Mikael, evening was descending slowly upon the cobblestone street.
Long building shadows stretched across the ground, and shop windows reflected a faint orange glow.
Mikael stopped in front of a storefront as though nothing were amiss.
Yet the glass reflection did not show his usual smile—only cold eyes watching from behind him.
A few steps away stood a woman with short black hair and the formal attire of a knight, her posture artificially steady. Their gazes met for a single second.
It was enough.
She looked away first, then moved into a narrow side alley.
Her steps were measured—yet slightly faster than they should have been.
Only a moment passed before the path closed before her.
It was Mikael.
She had not heard his footsteps.
She stopped abruptly, as though she had collided with an invisible wall.
The silence between them was unnatural—heavy, charged.
She feigned ignorance and continued forward.
Just as she was about to pass him, he spoke in a low voice
"What do you think you're doing, following my little brother?"
She raised an eyebrow with studied indifference.
"I have no idea what you're rambling about. Perhaps you're imagining things."
But inside, she was anything but calm.
How did he get ahead of me? I didn't sense him…
When she attempted to step past his shoulder, his hand closed around her wrist.
The grip was not painful—
it was absolute.
There was no space to escape.
"I'm afraid I have very little patience," he said quietly.
"So I'd appreciate it if you listened while I'm still being polite."
She shoved his hand away forcefully, stepped back twice, and placed her hand on her sword hilt.
The alley was wide enough for a fight.
But was it wide enough to escape?
"If you continue like this, I'll consider it assault and respond accordingly."
Her voice was steady—barely.
Mikael smiled, without warmth.
"Assault? You're exaggerating. I haven't done anything yet."
His eyes never left hers. He did not blink.
In the next moment—
she did not see him move.
All she felt was her back striking cold stone, and a hand encircling her throat.
The pressure wasn't severe—
but it clearly defined the boundary.
"Who sent you?"
She coughed, struggling to breathe.
How does he move like that?!
Her eyes glared sharply at him as she tried to pry his grip loose.
His hold was far stronger than her ability to push him away.
Suddenly, he released her.
She dropped to one knee, clutching her sword like the final pillar keeping her upright.
Mikael's gaze was devoid of emotion.
He looked like someone accustomed to handling others this way.
Another voice cut through the tension
"Are you really planning to kill her in a public alley, Mikael?"
From the far end of the passage emerged a tall man. Crimson sunlight reflected off strands of his red hair, and his dark coat moved quietly behind him.
It was Kail.
Mikael turned slowly, as though the interruption displeased him.
"You're late."
"I couldn't find you at the agreed location."
The woman's gaze shifted between the two, tense.
An academy professor…? Why does it feel like I'm the only one who doesn't understand what's happening?
Mikael gave her no time to think.
He seized her again—this time calmer… but closer.
"Don't avert your eyes when I'm speaking to you. Answer me. Why Ray, specifically?"
Kail spoke as he approached slowly
"Because the director ordered it."
The silence that followed was different.
Mikael looked at the woman calmly, as though reassessing her entire existence.
His grip did not tighten—
but the air around him shifted.
He was ready to break her neck if she became a threat to his brother…
Yet he was still granting her a chance to survive.
He averted his gaze and glanced at Kail coldly.
"If you know something, why do you keep your damned mouth shut?"
"There you go losing your temper again. Your brother isn't the only one being toyed with like this."
"What does that mean?"
Mikael asked, hesitantly.
"It seems he and Gilbert crossed paths somehow and got entangled in a problem. Because of that, they're under the director's watch. Perhaps he intends to test their eligibility for the external training expeditions that began as a private project a few months ago."
Mikael raised an eyebrow and added casually
"A project? Gilbert? Who's that?"
Kail sighed.
"I'm not certain about the project's nature, but it's likely connected to searching for those individuals—and perhaps interfering with the location of the Ancients."
Mikael frowned, while the woman's eyes widened.
Hearing those words seemed to affect them both in particular ways, but Kail paid no mind and continued
"As for Gilbert… I told you about his identity before. Don't pretend ignorance now."
Mikael lowered his head in thought—
then received a sudden kick that sent him backward.
It was the woman—striking while he was distracted.
Kail glanced at her, then at Mikael, who sat on the ground unconcerned by the blow.
That strange habit of his again… When his mind is occupied, he loses awareness of his surroundings.
Does he even feel pain?
Kail sighed, then looked back at her.
After catching her breath, she asked hesitantly
"You two… what exactly are you? Especially you—aren't you a teacher? How do you know all this?"
Kail replied without emotion
"The same question could be asked of you. Aren't you an assistant instructor? Can you justify your knowledge and background?"
"I see. You don't intend to answer. Then tell me this instead."
He remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"Are you an enemy… or an ally?"
Kail regarded her calmly.
He did not answer at once.
After glancing at Mikael, who had finally stood, he met her eyes briefly and replied
"Neither."
Her grip tightened on her sword. She hesitated.
She knew Kail's position within the academy—and her own status did not allow her to act further without clear orders.
She had not intended to engage in a life-or-death battle during this mission.
It was only routine surveillance under professional duty.
But becoming entangled like this—with one madman attacking with hostile intent and another whose motives were unknown—
was beyond her ability to judge.
"Kail" Mikael said
"are you telling me those insects intend to drag my Ray into their damned problems as they move to ignite another war with us?"
My Ray? Kail thought briefly.
"Don't exaggerate. I said surveillance for evaluation, not that they'll truly get involved."
As if I'd allow that, he thought, lowering his gaze.
"Let me tell you something," Mikael continued.
"Despite your claims of knowledge, are you aware that a sorcerer might currently be inside the academy… scheming in secret?"
Both Kail and the woman's eyes widened.
Mikael continued
"Not long ago, I noticed a gap in my memory. That means—"
"You were subjected to brainwashing," Kail finished slowly.
A heavy silence followed.
If the sorcerer had been in front of Mikael at that moment, he would not have hesitated to tear him apart before even asking how he dared.
Kail added
"And since you were unaware of it for so long, the only possible caster is a sorcerer—not a dark mage."
Something is wrong here… the woman thought.
I feel like I'm standing in the middle of something far more dangerous than I imagined.
But… do I have the luxury to think about it when my life is uncertain?
She swallowed, glancing aside.
She needed to find a way out—even if killing became necessary.
Mikael spoke again
"When I searched my deepest memories, I saw a blurry image of someone. It must be the caster. And since he possesses the skill to ensnare me without my awareness… he's a threat to Ray."
Kail frowned.
"Why bring your brother into this again?"
"Because he's the one who asked me to send him to the academy. From the start, I didn't want him suffering among aristocratic children whispering nonsense about him.
How do you think I let it pass so easily?"
Kail's eyes widened slightly.
"I was confused about why you sent him… If a sorcerer is targeting him, that explains a lot. Wait—don't tell me there's something you're hiding about your brother?"
Mikael shot him a sharp look.
"Don't dig into things that don't concern you—just as I haven't."
They exchanged a brief gaze.
If a real sorcerer is involved… things will spiral out of control.
His physical condition isn't good… and if he's struck by dark magic again, he will die this time.
Kail clenched his fist.
A white mist with faint gray lights rose around him.
Mikael stepped back.
"Now's not the time to lose your composure. You're not planning to destroy the area, are you?" he asked cautiously.
The woman did not understand what was happening—but it was far from comfortable.
She tried to retreat while they were distracted.
"If you step back any further, you'll die."
Mikael addressed her without looking.
It wasn't a warning—
it was literal.
She froze. The air left her lungs.
What is happening? Are my suspicions about them true? Are they… not human?
The pressure around her intensified, as though gravity itself grew heavier.
She was forced to yield.
She collapsed onto her knees, exhausted, realizing resistance was futile.
Mikael turned back to Kail, who had calmed once more.
"Why did you lose your temper so suddenly?" he asked.
Kail did not answer.
*I need to find the sorcerer first. Now it's clear he was behind the carriage incident targeting ***. Since he dared touch him, I'll make that sorcerer's life hell before I kill him.
Mikael placed a hand on his shoulder.
"In that area… you have more freedom of movement than I do. Find him. No matter what."
Kail stared at him briefly, then brushed his hand away and walked off.
"It's strange you didn't stop your brother and asked me to move instead. What changed you?"
"If I forced him to return… he would hate me. I won't allow that. Not again."
For a moment, his gaze shifted—softer.
Hesitant.
Kail noticed.
He's still regretting what happened that night…
Kail decided to ignore it and continued walking.
"I'll contact you later. Handle the woman. Just don't kill her, alright?"
Mikael watched his back until he disappeared.
Silence returned to the alley.
The faint light filtering between the buildings seemed heavier now.
Mikael stepped toward her slowly.
Despite the pressure she'd endured, she tried several times to stand—and failed.
But this time, she barely managed.
Perhaps someone had allowed it.
He grasped her chin and lifted her face toward him—without violence, but with the confidence of someone who owned control.
When their eyes met—
his changed gradually.
Red.
Not a reflection.
A living, pulsing color.
Her pupils widened despite her effort to remain composed.
She whispered
"How… can a vampire remain alive under sunlight?"
Mikael smiled faintly.
Sharp fangs revealed themselves clearly.
"It seems human information is severely outdated. That's good, in several ways."
He watched her reaction carefully.
She showed no clear fear. No immediate attempt to flee.
He could not read what lay behind her gaze.
Perhaps she had already accepted her fate.
Or perhaps that strange will in her eyes reflected something else.
He did not understand why—
but he found it oddly satisfying.
He leaned closer and whispered into her ear
"From this moment on… this miserable life will no longer belong to you."
Simple words.
But not a suggestion.
Something cold ran down her spine.
It was not a direct threat—
but a complete redefinition of her place in this game.
Without looking away, he continued
"Prove your worth… if you wish to remain alive."
It should have angered her.
She should have drawn her sword and refused to submit.
But she didn't.
Because she realized that challenging him now would not prove her strength—
it would only give him a reason to kill her without hesitation.
And worse than that…
she did not want it to end that way.