The atmosphere inside the Dean’s chamber shifted subtly as Luca’s words trailed into hesitation, the unfinished sentence lingering heavily within the quiet room. The earlier authority that had filled the space now felt sharper, more focused, as though every individual present sensed that the next portion of the report carried weight beyond simple reconnaissance.

Luca’s fingers tightened faintly at his side.

His gaze lowered.

For a brief moment, the composure he had maintained throughout the explanation faltered visibly.

A trace of embarrassment surfaced upon his face, mixing with the unmistakable tension of someone attempting to navigate words that refused to align easily with dignity.

"When we entered the room..." he began slowly, his voice quieter than before, his eyes remaining fixed upon the polished floor rather than meeting the gazes directed toward him.

"...I do not clearly remember what happened afterwards."

The admission hung awkwardly in the air.

Beside him, Seraphina remained silent for a fraction of a second.

Something flickered briefly within her eyes.

Then she spoke calmly.

"We sincerely apologize," she said evenly, her voice composed despite the subtle tension beneath her words.

"When we regained consciousness... two days had already passed."

Her tone remained measured.

Neutral.

Controlled.

"We are unable to account for the events that occurred during that period."

The reaction within the room was immediate, though subtle.

Thrain’s thick brows drew together, his expression sharpening as the implication of lost time settled into his thoughts.

The Dean’s gaze narrowed faintly, the old man’s posture remaining relaxed yet his eyes clearly analyzing every word spoken.

Celestia’s crimson eyes remained steady, her expression unchanged, though the quiet intensity within her gaze suggested deeper consideration unfolding beneath her calm exterior.

The Tower Master remained still, though the faint tightening of her fingers revealed that the information had not left her unaffected.

Silence lingered briefly.

Luca exhaled slowly before continuing, forcing himself to maintain composure.

"When we awoke," he said carefully, "we immediately attempted to determine what had occurred during the missing time."

His gaze lifted slightly now, though he remained careful with his phrasing.

"We searched the room thoroughly."

"We examined the surrounding structure."

"We attempted to identify any trace of intrusion, external influence, or residual mana signature that could explain the lapse in awareness."

His expression hardened faintly.

"However... we were unable to locate any individual responsible."

"There were no signs of continued presence within the building."

"The bodies within the inn remained as previously discovered."

"And..."

His voice slowed slightly once more.

"...every inhabitant of the town had disappeared entirely."

The words settled heavily into the room.

"There was no evidence of evacuation."

"No signs of forced relocation."

"No residual mana traces suggesting large-scale teleportation."

"The settlement itself appeared to have been abandoned... completely."

Seraphina remained beside him, her posture composed as she inclined her head slightly.

"We failed to confirm the presence of the Second Demon General’s base," she stated calmly.

"We were unable to secure any decisive intelligence confirming the accuracy of the report."

Luca followed her lead, bowing respectfully.

"I take responsibility for the incomplete results of the mission," he said quietly.

Seraphina bowed as well, her voice steady.

"We apologize for failing to obtain verifiable confirmation."

Silence filled the chamber completely.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

The weight of the report settled heavily upon every individual present.

Slowly—

Luca and Seraphina raised their heads once more.

The silence within the chamber lingered for several moments after Luca and Seraphina straightened from their bow, the weight of their incomplete report settling uneasily among those gathered. The quiet was not one of disappointment alone, but of calculation, as each individual present carefully considered the implications of missing time, vanished civilians, and an operation that seemed meticulously designed to leave no trace behind.

The Dean leaned back slightly in his chair, his aged fingers resting calmly against the wooden armrest as his sharp eyes observed the two before him with thoughtful intensity.

"What is the last thing you clearly remember?" he asked evenly, his tone neither accusatory nor forgiving, but simply seeking clarity.

Seraphina answered without hesitation.

"The final clear memory we possess," she said calmly, her posture composed once more, "is entering the room in order to search for the individual responsible for the massacre."

Her gaze remained steady.

"After that point... there is no continuity in our recollection."

Her voice did not waver.

"It is as though the following period has been erased entirely."

Luca nodded beside her in confirmation.

"That is correct," he added quietly.

The reaction among those present was subtle but unmistakable.

Thrain’s thick fingers stroked thoughtfully through his beard, his brows drawn together as though attempting to identify any precedent for such interference.

The Tower Master remained silent, though her eyes lingered upon Luca for a brief moment longer than before, as though measuring the consistency of his response against something only she could perceive.

Celestia’s crimson gaze remained calm, yet observant, the faintest trace of intrigue surfacing beneath her composed exterior.

The Dean himself appeared neither surprised nor fully satisfied, his expression remaining neutral as he considered the information presented.

Then Celestia spoke.

Her voice carried quiet authority as her attention shifted fully toward Luca.

"What is your personal conclusion?" she asked, her tone calm yet direct.

"What do you believe occurred?"

Luca inhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts before answering.

His expression grew serious.

Focused.

"We have concluded," he said carefully, "that the entire situation was most likely a trap."

The chamber remained silent as he continued.

"A carefully prepared scenario designed to lure individuals of significant importance into a controlled environment."

His gaze lowered briefly before lifting once more.

"The disappearance of the town’s inhabitants... the complete lack of traceable evidence... the sudden removal of all witnesses..."

"All elements indicate deliberate manipulation."

He paused briefly.

"It resembles the pattern observed in the incident involving the Elven Queen."

Several of the figures present reacted subtly to that reference.

"If the cult had succeeded in eliminating another major figure aligned with humanity," Luca continued calmly, "the balance of power could have shifted significantly in their favor."

"The potential strategic advantage gained from removing even one additional key individual would be considerable."

The room remained quiet.

Yet the logic presented aligned clearly with recent events.

Thrain gave a small nod of agreement.

Celestia’s expression remained composed.

The Tower Master did not interrupt.

The Dean leaned slightly forward, his gaze thoughtful as he spoke.

"My private investigation unit has already been dispatched to the location," he said calmly.

"We will await their report before determining further action."

His voice carried quiet finality.

"Speculation alone will not guide our response."

Several of the gathered figures nodded in agreement.

The situation required confirmation before escalation.

The Dean’s gaze then shifted toward Luca and Seraphina.

"For now," he said evenly, "you will both return and rest."

"If further clarification becomes necessary..."

"...you will be summoned again."

Luca and Seraphina bowed respectfully in acknowledgment.

"Yes, Dean."

Without further delay, they turned and exited the chamber together, the heavy wooden door closing softly behind them as the quiet corridor of the academy greeted them once more.

Yet the tension had not followed them out.

It remained inside.

Where decisions were still being made.

The quiet corridor outside the Dean’s chamber felt noticeably lighter compared to the suffocating tension that had filled the room moments earlier. The faint glow of evening lamps illuminated the stone pathway as Luca stepped forward, his thoughts still lingering upon everything that had transpired during the briefing.

"Professor Seraphina..." he called softly.

His voice echoed faintly through the corridor.

But she did not stop.

She did not turn.

Her pace remained steady as she continued walking forward, her posture composed, her expression unreadable from the distance that slowly formed between them.

Within moments, she disappeared beyond the turning of the corridor.

Luca remained still for a brief moment, exhaling quietly as he lowered his gaze.

"...Right..."

There was nothing further to say.

At least not today.

He turned and began walking along the familiar paths of Arcadia Academy, the evening air cool and calm as students passed quietly in the distance, unaware of the weight carried silently upon his thoughts. The academy grounds, usually a source of comfort, now felt strangely distant, as though he were observing it from somewhere slightly removed.

He continued toward the dormitory building, exchanging a brief acknowledgment with the dorm manager before receiving his room key.

His steps were slower now.

He ascended the staircase quietly, the soft sound of his shoes against the polished steps echoing faintly as he finally reached the corridor leading to his room.

The door opened with a quiet click.

Inside, everything remained exactly as he had left it.

Neat.

Orderly. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Unchanged.

A stark contrast to the chaos he had experienced over the past few days.

Luca stepped inside, closing the door behind him before loosening his posture slightly, allowing the fatigue he had suppressed throughout the journey to surface at last.

He moved toward the bed and sat down slowly before eventually lying back, staring up at the ceiling as silence filled the room.

Time passed quietly.

The faint glow of evening faded gradually as darkness settled across the academy grounds.

Night arrived.

Still, Luca’s thoughts refused to quiet.

Fragments of memory surfaced repeatedly.

The mission.

The town.

The unanswered questions.

The conversation with Seraphina.

The unknown identity of the dark-haired woman.

Nothing felt resolved.

Everything felt unfinished.

"...Tomorrow..." he muttered quietly to himself, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

"...won’t be easy..."

Just as the words faded—

A voice broke the silence.

"Luca Valentine."

Cold.

Calm.

Familiar.

Luca exhaled slowly as recognition came instantly.

Without needing to look, he already knew who had arrived.

He sat upright, turning his gaze toward the window where a familiar presence stood as though the barrier of glass had never existed.

"...Could you please stop entering through windows?" he said with mild resignation in his voice.

"You are an Empress, for god’s sake."