-Arkan Lawrence-
After an entire night of setting up traps and preparing for the worst, I finally stumbled back to the inn, utterly drained and caked in dirt. My clothes were a mess, my hair was disheveled, and I felt like I could sleep right there in the street.
But I knew Rainer would notice something was off if I walked in looking like I had just rolled out of a battlefield. He wasn't the type to overlook details, and if he figured out I'd been wandering around all night, he'd start asking questions.
So before heading inside, I stopped at the inn's well to wash up. The icy water jolted me awake just enough to scrub the grime from my face and hands. After pulling on a clean set of clothes, I strolled back into the inn like everything was perfectly normal.
The moment I reached my room, I collapsed face-first onto the bed. My body felt as heavy as lead, and exhaustion wrapped around me like a warm cocoon.
"Finally... a few hours of sleep," I muttered into the pillow before surrendering to the blissful void of unconsciousness.
-Third-Person POV-
While Arkan slept deeply in his room, Rainer was already awake, as was his habit. Outside, in a small clearing near the inn, he was practicing his swordsmanship. Each slash and thrust was precise and fluid, slicing the cool morning air with sharp whooshes.
Yet his thoughts weren't entirely on the motions.
They kept drifting back to Arkan.
Something about him felt... strange. Not just his nonchalant demeanor but also the way he carried himself—like someone who knew more than he let on.
Rainer had noticed the night before when Arkan returned late, mumbling something vague about "preparations." While Rainer trusted him to a degree, a sense of unease lingered in his gut, as if there were a larger picture Arkan wasn't sharing.
As Rainer continued his drills, soft footsteps approached from the road. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Clara walking toward him, a small basket in her hands.
"Good morning," she greeted warmly, her steps slowing as she drew closer.
Rainer gave her a curt nod. "Morning. What's in the basket?"
Clara smiled and lifted it slightly, revealing its contents. "Boiled potatoes. I thought you and Arkan might not have eaten yet, so I brought these."
Rainer glanced at the basket briefly before returning his focus to his sword. "Thanks, but I'm not done yet."
Clara chuckled softly and placed the basket on a nearby table. "That's all right. You can eat it later. You look really focused."
She watched him for a while as he trained, then tilted her head curiously. "Do you always practice every morning?"
"Every day," Rainer answered without breaking rhythm. "You never know when you'll need your skills."
Clara's smile softened, though there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. "You're right. This world doesn't leave much room to relax, does it?"
He paused mid-swing, lowering his sword to glance at her. "You don't seem to stop working either. Don't you get tired?"
Clara nodded lightly, her expression calm but honest. "Of course, I get tired. But if I stop, who will help them? This village needs every bit of help it can get."
Rainer stared at her for a moment, an inscrutable look in his eyes. He wasn't sure what to say. Clara always appeared so strong, so full of life, but in her words, he caught a glimpse of the burden she carried.
"Then you should eat too," he finally said, gesturing toward the basket. "Those potatoes are for you as well, right?"
Clara chuckled softly. "Maybe. But you have to try them first."
With a quiet sigh, Rainer set his sword on the table and sat down on the bench. Taking one of the potatoes from the basket, he took a bite.
"How is it?" Clara asked expectantly.
"Not bad," he said shortly, though a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Clara seemed relieved, her grin widening. "Then I'd say I did well."
In the comfortable silence that followed, the two shared the simple meal under the gentle morning sun. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Rainer felt a fleeting moment of peace.
And he knew it was because of Clara.
But just as he allowed himself to savor that tranquility, an unexpected sensation swept over him.
"Hngh—!"
Rainer clutched his head as a sudden wave of dizziness hit him like a crashing tide. His vision blurred, and he struggled to steady himself.
"Rainer?" Clara's concerned voice reached him, but it sounded distant, like an echo through a tunnel.
He tried to rise, but his body wouldn't respond. The world around him swirled chaotically, and as he fell to the ground, he caught a glimpse of something that froze his blood.
Clara's smile.
Not the gentle, caring smile she always wore. No, this one was different—darker, colder, dripping with twisted delight.
"Tsk tsk~" Clara sighed mockingly, her tone taking on an unnervingly playful edge. "You really shouldn't let your guard down, should you? Ufufufu~"
Rainer's body crumpled, paralyzed. His breaths came shallowly, and his limbs refused to obey him. Through the haze of his failing senses, he heard Clara's voice, now cold and biting.
"You're such a fool, Rainer. I almost feel sorry for you… almost."
He tried to resist, to fight back, but it was useless. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was Clara's shadow looming over him.
"I hope you're ready," she whispered, her tone suddenly filled with ominous reverence. "Because my child is going to love you."
Her words rang in his ears as he lost consciousness.
-Arkan Lawrence-
I woke earlier than I had planned. The sun was barely over the horizon, but an uneasy feeling gnawed at my chest.
Call it paranoia, or maybe just instinct. After everything I'd been through last night, my mind was still spinning, unable to rest completely.
I stretched and quickly threw on my clothes, stepping outside into the crisp morning air. Rainer's probably practicing, I thought. It was part of his routine—wake early, train hard, repeat.
But when I arrived at the training field, it was empty. No Rainer. No sign of his sword or any indication he'd been there.
"Where did he go?" I muttered, scanning the area. The morning light glinted off the dew-covered grass, but there were no fresh footprints, no disturbance in the dirt.
I racked my brain, trying to piece together his habits. It wasn't like him to just vanish without a word, and the uneasy knot in my stomach tightened.
I began searching the village, starting with the well and moving toward the outskirts. I asked a few villagers along the way, but they all shook their heads.
"Rainer?" an old man asked, resting his axe against a log. "Haven't seen anyone this morning. Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing," I lied with a forced smile. "Thanks anyway."
But the truth was evident—something was definitely wrong.
As I scoured every corner of the village, dread began to seep into my thoughts. Rainer was no ordinary man. He was strong, cautious. If he had disappeared, it could only mean something—or someone—had taken him by surprise.
The answer came to me like a bolt of lightning.
Clara.
"Could it really be… her?" I whispered to myself, the cold realization sinking in. But my mind shifted quickly, connecting the dots.
No… This has to lead back to Howard. It has to.
Without hesitation, I turned toward the church, ready to confront the smiling shadow that lurked within.