(Third POV)
Five months had passed since the devastation of the Fittoa region.
Despite the immense loss, reconstruction efforts were progressing at an astonishing rate—thanks largely to the contributions of a mysterious benefactor. A masked man in a wide-brimmed hat had funneled vast resources into Fittoa's recovery, ensuring that the region would not suffer financially. Though the land had yet to regain its former splendor, its farmlands had been restored at an unexpectedly rapid pace. Magic Tools provided by the benefactor accelerated the process, causing crops to flourish like never before. Farmers who once feared ruin were now experiencing newfound prosperity.
But the true mystery lay not in the tools or the wealth itself—it was in the nature of the donations.
In addition to a staggering number of Magic Crystals, a total of twelve fully grown dragons had been delivered. The dragons were pristine, save for a single fatal wound to the head.
News of this spread quickly.
Some claimed the masked man had summoned them. Others insisted he had bent space itself, pulling the dragons from another realm. Regardless of the method, the temporary administrator of Fittoa, acting in place of the missing feudal lord Sauros, had accepted these bizarre offerings. However, under the masked man's explicit orders, all financial aid from the Prime Minister was rejected.
This decision sent shockwaves through the capital. In the halls of Ars, nobles whispered in both fear and curiosity. Yet another crisis had begun to take root in the capital of Asura.
One by one, noble families across the kingdom began reporting missing members.
The victims were aristocrats—men and women, young and old, high-ranking and low. No clear connection could be made between them, except for one chilling theory that began to spread through the highest circles of power.
"Someone is eliminating Darius' supporters."
This well kept intel came from one of the Second Princess Ariel Anamoi Asura's trusted subordinates. Inside her private chamber, Ariel listened intently, her expression sharp and calculating. Standing beside her her seat was Silent Fitts, her newly appointed Magic Guardian.
"If it were anyone else, I wouldn't be concerned," Ariel murmured, her eyes darkening. "But this is Darius. There must be a reason his allies are being singled out."
Her subordinate hesitated. "…Do you suspect the masked man from Fittoa?"
Ariel leaned against the armrest of her chair. "Perhaps, since his condition for the funding was to reject any from Darius. But something about this doesn't add up."
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
She leaned forward. "What types of dragons did he deliver again?"
"Half were Red Dragons. The others were a mix of Earth Dragons, Blue Dragons, and Black Dragons. According to witnesses, all fully matured."
Ariel's gaze sharpened. "That alone raises troubling questions. Do you realize how difficult it would be to acquire such creatures? The Blue and Black Dragons live on the other end of the map. And the Earth Dragons, native to the Earth Dragon Valley in the south—one must cross through the Red Dragon Mountain's heart to send them that quickly."
"I see what you mean. Are you suggesting that he might have had accomplices because of the time needed to deliver those monsters?"
"Maybe he might have access to Teleportation Magic, or he had those monster ready before the disaster. But those are nothing but speculation. Empty accusations we cannot confirm without evidence. The same goes for the case of the missing nobles."
A heavy silence filled the room.
"If he killed them himself or sent someone after them, it speaks to an impossible level of skill to hide any traces left behind," she continued. "And if he obtained them by other means… then he has connections we do not yet understand."
Her subordinate swallowed. "That would mean—"
But Ariel raised a hand, silencing him. There was something even more pressing.
"More importantly," she said coldly, "Let's discuss the case of Luke."
Her subordinate stiffened. "…Princess?"
"Luke Notos Greyrat," she clarified. "My appointed Guardian Knight. My closest aide since childhood. He was taken as well, wasn't he?"
The man hesitated. "Yes, but—"
"But he doesn't fit the pattern," Ariel finished. "He was no ally of Darius. In fact, it is unimaginable that he secretly would work for the Prime Minister." Her eyes burned with frustration. "So why was he taken?"
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
Finally, Silent Fitts spoke, his voice calm as ever. "Perhaps his abduction was incidental."
"Unlikely," Ariel countered. "Luke was always by my side. For him to be taken must suggest some type of motif, a pattern as to why he was the only one from my faction to be taken."
Her subordinate frowned. "A different reason? One that doesn't involve Darius?"
"That," Ariel murmured, "is the real question."
She rose from her chair, pacing toward the window. Outside, the capital city of Ars gleamed under the midday sun, blissfully unaware of the tension building in its highest courts. If Luke's disappearance was unrelated to the purge of Darius' allies, then two forces were now at play.
One eliminates nobles general, and another targets individuals like Luke for an entirely different purpose.
Silent Fitts adjusted his glasses. "If we assume this masked figure is behind one or both of these actions, it still doesn't explain his motivations. He funds Fittoa's recovery but refuses recognition. He delivers the corpses of dragons but claims no reward. And now, the balance of power in Asura is shifting—nobles vanishing, alliances breaking, and most importantly, a weakness other countries might exploit."
Ariel turned back to him, her arms crossed. "And if he is also behind Luke's disappearance… then that means—"
She stopped. No. That possibility seemed absurd.
Luke had been by her side for as long as she could remember. A betrayal from him for another country would be absolutely unimaginable.
She forced herself to remain composed. Panic would accomplish nothing.
"How long has it been?" she asked.
"Three weeks," her subordinate replied. "No ransom. No messages. Nothing."
Ariel's fingers tapped restlessly against the window's wooden frame. "Which means he was not taken for leverage. That makes this even more disturbing."
Silent Fitts studied her closely. "…Have there been any disappearances outside Darius' circle?"
Her subordinate nodded. "A few. Minor nobles, lesser knights. No one of real political weight, but also none who were affiliated with you the Princess directly... well, except for Luke, of course."
Ariel's brow furrowed. The pieces still didn't fit.
"What was Luke's last known location?"
"He was last seen near the northern district of the capital. Witnesses say he was speaking with someone before vanishing."
Ariel's gaze sharpened. "Someone? Who?"
"We don't know," the subordinate admitted. "But there was one odd detail. The last person to see him said he looked hesitant. Like he was debating whether to follow them or not."
Ariel exhaled sharply. "Let me guess. A woman?"
The subordinate blinked in irritation. "Well… yes."
Ariel touched her temple, already knowing what would come next.
"And I assume she was described as having an outstanding beauty, dazzling features, and large chest?"
The subordinate coughed. "That… is exactly how she was described."
Ariel sighed. "Of course. I can not even blame him since it is just... Luke being himself."
Silent Fitts, ever composed, simply adjusted his glasses.
"If this was a kidnapping, then the culprit knew exactly how to bait him," Ariel murmured.
The room grew into another heavy silence.
Luke had vanished. The masked man was making bold moves (that is, if he was indeed the culprit). Nobles were disappearing. And now, an unknown woman had entered the equation.
Ariel's unease deepened.
After a moment, she waved a hand dismissively. "You're dismissed. Gather more information and report back."
The subordinate bowed and left.
Alone with Silent Fitts, Ariel closed her eyes briefly. "I may need to appoint a new Guardian Knight. And all after losing my Magic Guardian not long ago."
Silent Fitts remained silent.
"…But for now," Ariel muttered, staring out at the city, "we need to find Luke and make sure none of this leaks into a neighboring country. Whether he was taken… or walked into this disaster himself."
And somewhere, in the shadows of the kingdom, an unseen force continued to move.
Unraveling a scheme that had only just begun.
***
Silent Fitts moved with his usual composed demeanor as he made his way through the halls of the palace, his presence acknowledged by the occasional nod from passing servants. Though he wore the uniform of the princess's trusted retainer, few knew the truth hidden beneath the layers of fabric and the glasses perched on his nose.
Upon reaching his private chamber—a modest but well-kept room among the servants' quarters—he entered swiftly, locking the door behind him.
A moment of silence passed before he exhaled softly.
Then, with practiced ease, Silent Fitts shed his disguise.
Beneath the loose garments was not the young male Magic Guardian the palace knew but a young woman. Her true name was Sylphiette.
Her once-vibrant emerald-green hair had long since faded into a stark white, a change that still unsettled her when she caught glimpses of herself in the mirror. But more than her appearance, it was the role she played that weighed heavily on her.
What had started as a decision to serve Princess Ariel had turned into something far more horrifying than she had anticipated.
At first, she had accepted the role of Fitts as a means of survival, a way to remain hidden in the royal palace. But she quickly learned that being Ariel's guardian involved more than just serving as a trusted retainer—it meant witnessing the darkness behind the kingdom's pristine walls.
Schemes, betrayals, blood spilled in the name of power… It was a world Sylphiette had never wanted to be a part of. Yet here she was.
With a tired sigh, she reached for the enchanted glasses resting on the bridge of her nose. These had been gifted to her from the royal treasury, meant to help her hide her identity.
Removing them had become a small ritual whenever she was alone, a reminder of the self she had to hide from the world.
Just as she set them down on her bedside table, her eyes caught something unusual.
A package.
It was neatly wrapped in ribbons—a striking emerald green, almost identical to the hair she had lost long ago.
Her body tensed.
Carefully, she scanned the room, searching for any signs of forced entry. But nothing was out of place. The door had been locked. The windows were undisturbed. No footprints, no shifts in the air that suggested someone had entered.
Despite that, someone had been here.
She cautiously approached the package, her heart pounding as she examined the attached tag.
"To Sylphiette Dragonroad."
Her breath caught in her throat.
"Dragonroad?"
That wasn't her surname. She had never used that name before. No one—not even her own parents—had ever referred to her or themselves that way. So why?
Whoever had left this package not only knew her true identity but had deliberately chosen to give her a surname she had never claimed.
Swallowing her unease, she carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Inside was a pair of white long-sleeved gloves, nestled within a protective silk lining. But these weren't ordinary gloves.
Thin metallic wires ran along the fabric, stretching from the fingertips to the forearm. The craftsmanship was meticulous, almost unnatural in its precision.
Beside them, a small folded note rested against the silk.
She picked it up, unfolding it carefully.
"Mana Enhancement Gloves."
That was all it said—no sender's name. No explanation. Just those three words.
Sylphiette stared at the note, her grip tightening slightly. She didn't know who had sent these. She didn't understand why they had chosen to address her this way.
But one thing was certain—whoever had done this knew more about her than they should. And that was a terrifying thought.
***
Date: 417 of the Armored Dragon
Prepared for: The Royal Council of Asura Kingdom
Classification: Top Secret
Incident Overview
In the past month, the capital city of Ars bore witness to an unprecedented act of terror. The noble members who had previously gone missing were discovered crucified in their respective households. Only one survivor was repoted.
The exact number of casualties remains undetermined. However, it has been confirmed that among the deceased were the heads of the Euros, Zephyrus, and Boreas households, along with their spouses and concubines, but none of the heirs of each family.
Prior to this incident, it had been deliberately withheld from the populace that the leaders of three Greyrat branch families had been abducted. Their execution and subsequent exposure to the public have now made this fact undeniable.
Additionally, members of the Asura Magic Division—dispatched by His Majesty to investigate the Teleportation Disaster—now commonly referred to as the Metastasis Event—were among the crucified victims. The complete eradication of this division raises concerns regarding the intent behind their execution and the potential implications for ongoing investigations into the disaster.
Survivor Testimony
The sole survivor, Luke Notos Greyrat, was discovered in a state of severe malnutrition and psychological distress. Due to his condition, he has been able to provide only fragmented information regarding his captivity.
According to his initial testimony, he was deliberately kept alive to serve as a messenger, intended to deliver a warning. However, as of this report, he has not disclosed any specifics regarding the nature of this warning or the demands of the perpetrator. His mental state remains fragile, and further interrogation efforts have yielded minimal additional insight.
Perpetrator Identification
The individual responsible for these murders has been described as a masked figure with a distinctive design of lines forming a smiling face across the mask. No further identifying details have been obtained.
The methodologies employed in the executions suggest a highly skilled and calculated individual or group, raising concerns about potential external threats to the kingdom's stability.
Containment Measures
In an effort to suppress public panic and external diplomatic repercussions, this incident has been declared classified. All information regarding the event is being strictly controlled, and any unauthorized disclosure will result in immediate and severe consequences.
Additionally, Philemon Notos Greyrat, head of the Notos household, has been placed under intensive surveillance. While no direct evidence links him to the orchestrated assassinations of the Greyrat branch leaders, his potential involvement remains under suspicion. Further intelligence efforts are being directed toward confirming or refuting his complicity in these events.
Conclusion
Within the highest echelons of the Asura Kingdom's leadership, it has been agreed that this event marks one of the darkest moments in the kingdom's history. The implications of this massacre extend beyond the immediate loss of noble leadership and have introduced a significant destabilizing factor within the realm's political landscape.
As investigations continue, all efforts are being directed toward identifying the perpetrator, uncovering their motives, and ensuring that no further escalation occurs. Immediate actions are required to restore order, protect the integrity of the kingdom, and prevent potential political exploitation of this crisis by external forces.
End of Report
///