His sharp gaze caught sight of a side door leading out to the gardens, tucked away in the shadows.
The narrator screen appeared again, a faint golden glow against the darkened corridor.
[—The side door provided a perfect escape route, ensuring Arlon and Ace could slip away unnoticed. But the timing had to be flawless. One misstep, and their exit would not go as planned".]
Arlon adjusted his pace as he approached the door. A pair of servants passed by, their attention fixed on their tasks. Arlon waited for a beat, then slipped through the door as quietly as a shadow. Ace remained perched on his shoulder, his sharp crimson eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced ease.
The cool night air greeted them, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers. The grandeur of the mansion loomed behind them, its golden light spilling across the darkened gardens. Arlon didn't pause, his movements precise as he led them toward the perimeter wall.
Ace stretched lazily on his shoulder, his tail flicking with satisfaction. "You know, I think I'm starting to enjoy these little outings. High stakes, fancy clothes, and you pulling off stunts like you're in a stage play."
Arlon gave him a sidelong glance. "I'd prefer fewer complications."
"But where's the fun in that?" Ace grinned, his fangs glinting faintly in the moonlight.
They reached the wall, scaling it with practiced ease. Once on the other side, the city of Falcon stretched before them, its streets bathed in soft lamplight. Arlon exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
The narrator screen flickered one last time.
[—With the evidence secured and their escape clean, Arlon and Ace vanished into the city. The mansion's guests remained oblivious, their laughter and music a distant echo in the night."]
"No alarms, no screaming nobles, no one chasing us with pitchforks," Ace mused, his tone light. "I'd call that a success."
Arlon adjusted the satchel beneath his stolen uniform, his gaze fixed ahead as they disappeared into the shadows. "It's not over yet."
Ace chuckled softly, his tail curling with satisfaction. "You know, you're a lot more fun when you're not trying so hard to be serious."
Arlon didn't respond, but the faintest flicker of amusement danced in his eyes as they vanished into the night.
The nobles thought themselves untouchable. They thought their schemes were hidden, their power absolute. But they forgot one thing—no shadow is impenetrable. And no secret stays buried forever.
———
The stone walls of the castle stretched endlessly ahead, their cold surface catching the pale light of early morning. Arlon's boots struck the floor with a steady rhythm, the faint echo bouncing off the silence. On his shoulder, Ace's tail flicked lazily, the black cat's crimson eyes scanning his weary companion.
"Hey," Ace began, his tone casual but laced with a pointed edge, "you've been awake for over 24 hours now."
Arlon didn't look at him. "I'm fine," he replied curtly, his voice flat. "Just tired."
"That's the recoil," Ace continued, ignoring the dismissal. His voice lowered. "From the Sky Soul."
Arlon's steps slowed, his brow furrowing. "The Sky Soul?" He thought back to the last time he'd used it. "I've used it before. I was fine after the Moon Mage."
Ace snorted. "That was different. You were still new to it—too weak to channel its full strength. Now? It's tearing at you from the inside."
Arlon said nothing, his lips tightening into a thin line. He felt the weight of Ace's gaze, but before he could respond, a flicker of movement caught his eye.
He stopped. There, half-hidden behind a pillar, was a small figure. He approached cautiously, his sharp gaze softening as he recognized the boy. "Eric?"
The child flinched but didn't run. Instead, he stepped hesitantly into the light, his gray, wolf-like ears twitching nervously. "M-Master Arlon…" he whispered, clutching at the hem of Arlon's coat.
"What's wrong?" Arlon asked, crouching slightly to meet the boy's wide eyes.
Eric opened his mouth, but before he could speak, the sound of footsteps filled the hall. Arlon glanced up and saw the twins approaching.
The twins came into view, their matching blonde hair catching the soft morning light. They looked just like their mother, but there was a fragility to them that set them apart—nervous postures, hesitant steps. Irish, her natural cheer muted by unease, gave a small, uncertain wave.
"G-good morning, Lord Arlon…" she said, her voice faltering.
Irien, the more composed of the two, dipped her head slightly in greeting. "Good morning," she said, though her tone was restrained, stiff.
Arlon straightened, his sharp gaze flicking between them. He caught the way Irish fidgeted with her hands and the way Irien's shoulders stiffened, as though she was forcing herself to stay calm. Despite their outward composure, it was clear they were nervous about approaching him.
"Good morning, Irish. Irien," Arlon said finally, his voice neutral but not unkind.
For a moment, a strange thought crossed his mind. They looked so alike—so perfectly identical. He suddenly realized that if they hadn't spoken, he wouldn't have been able to tell who was who. The thought made him feel… distant, as if they were strangers despite sharing the same blood.
Beside him, Eric's small frame tensed. He gripped Arlon's coat tighter and angled himself slightly behind his leg, his wide, lupine eyes darting nervously between the twins. The boy's wolf-like ears twitched with every subtle movement they made.
Irish noticed and took a step forward, her nervous smile widening in an effort to appear more friendly. "We were… we were hoping to play with Eric," she said softly, though her voice wavered.
Irien nodded, her tone steadier but no less tentative. "Yes. We thought it might… help him feel more comfortable here."
At the mention of his name, Eric flinched. He pressed himself closer to Arlon, clutching at his coat as though it were a shield. His small claws scraped against the fabric, his face half-hidden behind Arlon's leg.
Arlon glanced down at the boy, then back at the twins. Their expressions were hopeful, though there was a faint tension behind their smiles. It wasn't hard to see that they wanted this moment to go well—perhaps even needed it.
But Eric clearly didn't share their enthusiasm. His grip on Arlon's coat tightened further, and he tugged on it lightly, as if begging for protection.
Arlon placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, his touch firm but reassuring. "Eric's a little shy," he said carefully, glancing back at the twins. "He's not ready to play with you just yet."
Irish's face fell slightly, though she tried to hide it with another smile. "Oh… I see," she said, her voice soft.
Irien gave a small nod of understanding, though her blue eyes flickered with something unreadable—disappointment, perhaps, or frustration.
Arlon watched them for a moment, something stirring uneasily in his chest. The twins had always been kept at a distance. Illness, duty, circumstance—there had always been something keeping him from truly knowing them. And now, here they were, trying to bridge that gap, only to be met with hesitation and rejection.
He looked down at Eric, the boy's small fingers still clutching at his coat. The fear in his wide eyes was palpable, but so was the silent plea for guidance.
Arlon sighed quietly, crouching down so he was at Eric's level. "Eric," he said softly, his tone gentle but firm. "You don't need to be afraid. The twins won't hurt you. They just want to play with you. They'll be careful, I promise."
Eric hesitated, his ears twitching as he glanced nervously at the twins. They were watching him closely, their expressions softer now, less intimidating. But the boy's fear didn't fade.
Instead, he looked up at Arlon, his voice barely above a whisper. "Master Arlon… can you play with us too?"
"..!?"
The question caught Arlon off guard. He froze, his expression unreadable as he stared down at the boy.
Behind him, he felt the twins' gazes shift toward him. He glanced up and saw it—hope. Quiet, fragile hope, mirrored in their identical blue eyes. For a moment, Arlon felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on him.
Play? I don't have time for this… But he looks so scared. And the twins—why are they looking at me like that?
He hesitated, glancing back at Eric. The boy was still looking up at him with those wide, pleading eyes, his grip on Arlon's coat tightening as if the answer meant everything to him.
Arlon sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "I… I guess I can play for a little while," he said quietly, the words feeling strange as they left his mouth.
Eric's face brightened instantly, his earlier fear all but forgotten. "Really?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise and excitement.
Behind him, Irish's face lit up as well. "You'll play with us?" she asked, her tone more cheerful now, her earlier nervousness fading.
Even Irien allowed herself a small, relieved smile.
Before Arlon could say anything else, a familiar voice chimed in from his shoulder.
"Well, well," Ace said, his tone dripping with amusement. "Looks like you're stuck now, huh?"
Arlon cast the cat a sidelong glare. "Not helping," he muttered under his breath.
Ace only chuckled, his crimson eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, I think I'm helping plenty."
Eric tugged on Arlon's hand, pulling him gently toward the twins. "Come on, Master Arlon!" the boy said, his earlier hesitation now replaced with excitement.
Arlon allowed himself to be led, though his steps were slow and reluctant. As he approached the twins, he caught the way they exchanged a quick, hopeful glance.
For the first time in what felt like years, Arlon felt something unfamiliar stirring within him. It wasn't quite warm, but it was close.
"All right," he said gruffly, his tone making it clear he wasn't entirely comfortable. "But don't expect me to be any good at this."
Irish giggled, her nervous energy finally melting away. "We'll see about that!"
Irien nodded, her smile soft but genuine. "Thank you, Lord Arlon."
As they made their way down the hall together, Ace perched on Arlon's shoulder with a satisfied smirk. "This should be entertaining," he murmured to himself.
This feels ridiculous. I've faced worse, but somehow… this is harder. What do I even do with them?
Arlon sighed, but there was a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
For the first time in a long while, the silence of the castle felt just a little less heavy.