Kai's gaze slowly turned to me.
"Are you... a mage?"
I couldn't speak.
My throat was dry. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. And my heart... it felt like that three-letter word had pierced through my chest.
Kai's voice came again—slower this time, but sharper:
"How could you... become a mage? Without telling me once?"
"I didn't want to lie to you," I said. My breath trembled. "I was going to tell you, but… you always spoke negatively about mages. I couldn't bring myself to do it."
"Don't make excuses, Elysia."
His voice cut deep.
"After everything... I thought we were close. How could you do this to me? Knowing the truth… how could you become a mage?!"
The truth? What truth?
Lucian stepped forward then.
His voice was unusually clear and firm:
"You've pushed enough."
"What?" Kai turned to him.
"You don't know," Lucian said. "You don't know what she's been through. What she's trying to deal with. But you know how to blame."
Kai's face tightened. "What are you implying?"
Lucian's gaze sharpened. "You judge her. Just because she's not like you."
But I... I didn't want to hear anymore.
"Take your hand away," I told Lucian.
He turned to me, eyes slightly widening. "What?"
"Drop the act. You're the one who put me in this position. You knew what would happen. You exposed me here, Lucian. Now you want to play the hero?"
My words were like knives. But they were the only weapon I had.
Lucian's expression changed for the first time—truly. I could feel it. He was shaken. But it was too late now.
Kai looked at us both. In his eyes: betrayal, anger… and that strange coldness.
"I see," he said. His voice was frozen.
He adjusted his armor. Glanced once at the grand statue in the square. Then turned back to us without flinching:
"I'll continue the investigation elsewhere. You... mages..."
He chewed those two words like they left a bitter taste.
"...just write down what you find in the report."
You mages. That's when it hit me. I was one of them now. In Kai's eyes, I belonged with them.
He turned sharply. "There's nothing more to say."
And he walked away. Leaving behind a burden heavier than his armor.
Lucian… remained where he was. Motionless. His eyes still followed Kai.
Orren silently returned to his notebook. As if nothing had just happened.
Nina... quietly walked over to me. She held out the cake bag. Her voice soft, low: "So… if you're not gonna eat it… can I?"
I closed my eyes. That cake couldn't save anything now.
The weight over the square wasn't just from Kai's words anymore… but from Lucian's silence.
Just then, Orren looked up. "I think... it's time for the mission."
Lucian slightly turned his head, but didn't look at me.
Nina blinked. "Oh, right. Um, the anomaly report from the town just reached the tower. Director Sevrik issued an emergency code. And… we're the assigned team."
"What kind of anomaly?" I asked, my voice still hoarse and tired.
Orren checked his notebook. "Locals… have been restless all night. Sleepwalking, sleep paralysis, some woke up gasping like they were drowning in their dreams."
Nina frowned. "And some kids… couldn't speak when they woke up. Like something had locked their tongues."
A chill ran through me.
Lucian spoke. His voice cold. Professional. "This isn't a regular mana leak. There's a spell affecting the dreamscape."
"So… it's a dream-affecting entity?" I said without looking up.
Lucian nodded. "Could be a being that feeds on dreams. Or one that thrives on suppressed trauma."
Something snapped inside me. Feeds on trauma…
Orren said, "The ruined church outside the village… marked as a suspicious area."
Lucian stood. "We're heading out immediately."
I tried to follow… but something held me back. A weight—heavy and invisible—rested on my shoulder.
Lucian paused. Looked at me. But this time, there was no anger. No softness. Only questions.
"Are you coming?"
I wanted to say "No." But... "Yes," I said. "It's our mission, after all."
Nina was restless. Orren was silent. Lucian's steps were heavy. And me... I was part of this four-person team. But I felt the most distant of all.