Selwyn's head throbbed, a dull ache radiating from the back of his skull. He struggled to open his eyes, but the weight of exhaustion kept them firmly shut. Sounds swirled around him—fragmented voices, distant and indistinct. Somewhere in the haze of his mind, he recalled flashes of what had happened. Cal's booming voice, Raven's scream, the grotesque creature with its writhing mass of eyes. And then… nothing.
He drifted in and out of consciousness, vague snippets of memories flitting past like fragments of a dream. The oppressive silence of the college halls, the monster advancing on Raven, Cal's electrifying attack. Everything felt disjointed, like pieces of a puzzle he couldn't quite fit together.
A sharp voice finally pierced through the fog.
"Selwyn… Selwyn, wake up!"
It wasn't a whisper this time, nor an eerie voice from the void. It was warm, familiar. It was Raven. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, and the blurry world around him began to sharpen into focus.
The first thing he noticed was the ceiling above him—smooth, dark wood with exposed beams crisscrossing in a traditional pattern. Lanterns made of paper and wood hung suspended from the beams, casting a soft, flickering light across the room. He blinked, disoriented, as his gaze swept the space. The walls were made of polished wood, and the floor beneath the low bed he lay on was covered in tatami mats. It was as if he'd woken up in a different era entirely.
Groaning, Selwyn propped himself up on one elbow, wincing at the sharp ache in his ribs. His body felt like it had been through a blender. "Raven… Where are we? Is this… Japan?"
Before Raven could answer, a familiar voice snapped from across the room. "No, idiot."
Selwyn turned his head toward the source, finding Cal Mandem standing casually by the doorway. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed, his sharp gray eyes glinting in the lantern light.
"You're in one of the Whispering Moon's hideouts," Cal explained. "This one happens to be in your country, not Japan."
Selwyn's brow furrowed in confusion. "Whispering Moon? What does that even mean?"
Cal straightened, stepping further into the room. He tapped the crescent-shaped crest emblazoned on his robe. "This. It's the symbol of Whispering Moon, one of the four major factions of Rogues. Our main base is in Japan, but we maintain hideouts worldwide. The other factions? The Concord of Ashes in the USA, The Eternal Summit in India, and the Obsidian Crown in the UK. Each operates from secretive, fortified locations."
The explanation did little to clear Selwyn's confusion, but one thing stuck in his mind. "Why bring us here? And why Raven too?"
Cal's expression darkened. "To save you both, obviously. Do you want to die?"
"What?" Raven's voice broke the tense silence. Her usual sharpness was dulled by a tremor of fear. "What are you talking about? I don't understand any of this."
Cal sighed heavily, as though their ignorance was a personal affront. "You must possess some Mana, little girl. No one enters the Mirror World without Mana—it's impossible."
"Mana?" Raven repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What does that even mean?"
Cal regarded her with a scrutinizing gaze. "You also have the blood of Rogues in you. That's the only explanation."
Raven shook her head vehemently. "No. That's impossible. No one in my family is a… whatever you're talking about."
"They might not be now," Cal replied, his tone unyielding, "but your ancestors were. Their legacy runs through your veins, whether you acknowledge it or not."
Selwyn, still sitting awkwardly on the bed, finally interjected. "Can someone please explain what the Mirror World is? You keep throwing around all these terms like we're supposed to know what they mean."
Cal's sharp features softened slightly, but only for a moment. "The Mirror World," he began, "is a dimension created by Rogues. We use it to isolate threats like monsters or hostile forces, ensuring that civilians in the real world remain safe. The stronger the Rogue, the larger the area they can cover with their dimensional spell."
Selwyn nodded slowly, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to fit together. "And the monster we encountered? How did it get there?"
Cal's expression darkened again. "When I was talking to you earlier, I felt an ominous presence. Blood Rogues."
"Blood Rogues?" Selwyn asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"They're Rogues who've turned to the dark side," Cal explained. "Corrupted by their own power, they use it for harm. Many join the Nihilum Legion—the Fifth Faction, the Dark Faction. They defy every Rogue code and operate from the shadows. When I sensed their presence, they released that sealed monster into the area to buy time for their escape."
Selwyn swallowed hard, his mind replaying the horrifying image of the creature. "So you killed it… and saved us."
"Yes," Cal said bluntly, then turned his attention to Raven. "But you—your Mana reserves are extraordinary. Strong enough to come around only once in a century. That's why the Nihilum Legion is after you, not him."
Raven paled visibly, her lips parting in shock. "What? No, that can't be true. I don't even know what Mana is!"
"It doesn't matter if you know it or not," Cal said. "It's there. And it's why they'll come for you."
Selwyn felt an overwhelming wave of guilt rise in his chest. Now even Raven is dragged into this mess. Is it my fault? No… but it feels like it is.
Before he could voice his thoughts, Raven turned to him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She reached out and took his hand, her touch soft yet grounding. "This isn't your fault, Wyn," she said firmly. "If anything, it's mine. Whatever he's saying… I must be the reason you got hurt."
Selwyn squeezed her hand tightly, shaking his head. "It's not your fault either. I'd do anything to protect you, Raven."
A loud clearing of the throat interrupted their moment. "If your lover's quarrel is over," Cal said, his smirk faint but unmistakable, "we need to focus."
Both Selwyn and Raven froze, realizing they were still holding hands. They pulled away quickly, their faces flushing a deep red.
Cal chuckled, though his amusement was brief. "Listen closely," he said, his tone serious once more. "We don't have time for distractions. What I'm about to tell you is crucial."
Selwyn and Raven exchanged a glance before turning their full attention to Cal.