LOGINAlia’s voice was low and steady, but her fingertips had already tightened unconsciously.That silhouette—she didn’t need to see his face to recognize it.As the boat drew nearer, the lantern light revealed the sharp lines of a familiar visage—Eryx.He was clad entirely in black, his long coat rippling in the night wind. His hair, loosened by the sea breeze, framed his face in slight disarray, yet none of it diminished the austere, almost sacred coldness that emanated from him. In his hand he held a long staff, the metal ring at its tip trembling faintly, producing a subtle chime of metal against metal. It was no mere ornament—it was the mark of his authority, the emblem of the power he now wielded.His eyes fell upon the two waiting at the shore—deep, unwavering, as though he were gazing not at people, but at the intersection of fates.The boat bumped softly against the stones at the water’s edge with a muted thud.Eryx stepped onto land, his boots crunching against the slick gravel.
The night had deepened; the air hung thick with damp salt, tasting faintly of the river’s breath.The wooden bridge behind them had long since vanished into the fog, as if the world itself had shrunk to this single island.Alia and Marcellus stood side by side. The ground beneath their boots was slick and cold, steeped in the muddy scent of river silt. In the distance, the wind slid over dead grass and broken stones, whispering faintly as it passed. The entire island was unnervingly silent—only their breathing and heartbeats echoed softly against the dark.Meanwhile, on the far side of the island, Elias had already arrived.He had come by water—diving up through a narrow, hidden passage that they’d discovered days ago during reconnaissance. The channel was tight, barely wide enough for one man to swim through, choked with rotting algae and splintered driftwood. But that very decay made it invisible to prying eyes.When Elias surfaced, the night air bit like steel. He steadied his brea
In another hidden corner of the world, the night hung low and heavy—like a shroud that breathed.A single lamp flickered in the room, casting a wavering, amber glow across an ancient desk. A twisted shadow stretched long upon its surface, while a man sat still before it, silent as stone.On the desk, the interface of a message remained open.The words—an anonymous invitation sent to all factions—still glimmered coldly across the screen.He stared at the lines for a long time, unmoving. His fingers trembled faintly on the table—a fragile, conflicted tremor, hovering between release and guilt. Finally, a low laugh slipped past his lips, hoarse and hollow, tinged with both madness and despair.“So… it’s come to this.”The corners of his mouth curved upward in a faint, bitter smile—mockery of himself, or perhaps of fate. But that smile broke quickly. He raised his head, eyes tracing beyond the window where the darkness pressed thickly against the glass. Far away, moonlight wandered throug
Night draped low over the city, and distant lights shimmered like a silent, restless tide.Eryx sat on the long bench of the old stone hall, a golden pocket watch turning slowly between his fingers. The faint cracks on its surface mirrored the slight crease in his brow. On the table before him lay a newly delivered anonymous letter—its cold, precise handwriting glaring sharply under the dim light.After a moment of silence, he lifted his gaze to Jim, who lounged against the wall nearby.“Is this your doing?”Jim—usually so casual—wore an uncharacteristically serious expression. He shook his head, voice stripped of its usual flippancy.“Of course not. But… whoever sent it has skill.”A rare tension threaded through his words.Eryx smoothed the letter out again, his eyes falling on the threat etched plainly into the lines: If you do not come, I will destroy the gem.His lips twitched faintly.“So this is their ultimatum. They want every holder of a Grail fragment in one place. It’s eith
“I think… it’s time.”Marcellus turned the phone in his hand, his fingertips pressing down, trapping the faint glow of the message in his palm. “I’m convinced this came from one of the other factions. They’ve realized the fragments are converging. It’s likely a trap—but we’re at an impasse, and there’s no better move left.” His tone was steady, but beneath that calm lay a grim, cornered resolve.Alia’s eyes tightened as she listened. She folded her arms across her chest, as though shielding something fragile within. “You’re right. Before, I might’ve thought—if the Grail is destroyed, then so be it. But now things are different. If we want to bring Livia back, we need it. Still, we can’t just walk into their sights like fools.”Her voice carried both edge and clarity—a blade sharpened by reason, one that could cut through both fear and doubt.Elias stood by the window, his knuckles pale under the lamplight. “And that message,” he added quietly, “means they know how far we’ve come. They
A faint trace of shyness still lingered in the air. Pale light slipped through the gap in the curtains, falling softly across Alia’s slightly flushed cheeks. She pressed her lips together and drew a slow breath, as though trying to hide her unease within it. After a brief silence, her composure returned—her voice calm, steady, and resolute once more.“I’ve put the Grail fragments back,” she said, lifting her gaze. Her eyes gleamed with a sharp, unwavering light. “We now have three. Jim holds the crucial cup handle, and we know that both Eryx and my father must have their own pieces. One way or another, the end is drawing near.”Her tone carried a strange certainty—almost prophetic, as if the gears of fate were already in motion.Elias leaned against the edge of the table, fingers tapping lightly on the wood as his mind worked quickly. “You’re right,” he murmured, brows furrowed. “But the real problem is, we don’t actually know if we’ve gathered all of them. And more importantly—how do







