Something happened to Master? Nox’s heart almost skipped a frantic beat when he saw the solemn expression resting on his grandfather’s aged face. What did he mean by something happened to his master? Was she terribly sick? Did she get badly injured? Or worse—did she... die? Nox’s face went through a variety of shifting expressions in that short yet intense timeframe. Nathan, clearly noticing everything, saw through all this and quickly said, "It’s not what you’re thinking." A wave of relief crossed Nox’s tense face. "Then what?" he asked firmly. If she was not sick or injured, then what exactly was the problem? Nox was beginning to feel increasingly anxious with every passing moment. Nathan exhaled deeply, rubbing at his aching temples as if trying to put his swirling thoughts in perfect order. His grandson’s dark eyes stared into him, seeming to ask for answers. "It’s complicated, kid," Nathan finally said, his voice laced with a faint hint of quiet frustration. Nox crossed his arms, his expression now unreadable. "Then explain it to me. What happened to Master Eve?" Nathan hesitated for a lingering moment before finally nodding. "Listen carefully." --- Some Weeks Ago Inside the dimly lit, silent study of the Barony, Nathan sat rigidly across from Eve, his old friend and Nox’s esteemed mentor. A single candle flickered between them, casting eerie, dancing shadows against the stone walls. The woman before him looked the same as always—calm, calculating, and utterly untouchable in her commanding presence. But something was off. Different. Her usually cold ruby-red eyes seemed dulled, burdened with troubling thoughts she had yet to share. "You called me here," Nathan said, breaking the heavy silence. "What’s wrong?" Eve let out a slow, quiet sigh, leaning back into her sturdy chair. "Nathan... I might be leaving." His brows furrowed deeply. "Leaving? What do you mean?" Her fingers drummed absentmindedly against the wooden desk. "It’s not by choice." Nathan’s instincts flared up instantly. "Who’s forcing you?" Eve didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the lone, cracked window, staring at the distant, glowing moon. "They came again." Nathan clenched his fists. He knew exactly who she was referring to. The cloaked figures. They had been visiting her for months now—strangers shrouded in thick mystery, always appearing and disappearing like elusive ghosts. Eve had always sent them away without a single second thought, but this time… "What did they say?" Nathan asked, his voice dangerously low. Eve hesitated, her lips slightly tightening. "They told me… that if I don’t go with them willingly, they will make me." A thick, throbbing vein pulsed in Nathan’s tense temples as he shot to his feet. "And you’re just going to let them?" "I don’t have a choice." "How?" he snapped heatedly. "Since when do you follow someone else’s orders?" Eve smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Since I realized that staying here would only bring danger to those I care about." Nathan’s anger wavered slightly. "You mean…?" Eve nodded solemnly. "If I stay, they’ll come after me again. And if that happens, this entire Barony will become nothing but a battlefield." Nathan gritted his teeth tightly. He wanted to argue, to tell her that they would fight fiercely beside her, but he saw it in her unwavering eyes—she had already made up her mind. Then, she said something that sent an icy chill deep into his core. "If we ever meet again, Nathan… it won’t be as allies." --- Present Nox stared hard at his grandfather, waiting for him to continue, but Nathan remained oddly silent, lost in lingering thought. "Then what happened?" Nathan looked up, his expression dark and grim. "She left." The words felt like a devastating punch to Nox’s gut. Master Eve… left? Just like that? Nox clenched his trembling fists. "And you just let her go?" Nathan’s expression darkened further. "I tried to stop her. But she’s not someone you can just tie down." Nox fell silent. That much was undeniably true. His master was a woman of incredible strength, both in sheer power and iron will. If she had decided to leave, no one—not even him—could have possibly stopped her. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept. "What about the cloaked figures?" Nox asked, his voice quieter now, filled with uncertainty. Nathan’s tired eyes flickered. "I don’t know who they are, but they weren’t ordinary. The last ones who visited were different from the rest—stronger, more arrogant." "Stronger?" Nox narrowed his glowing eyes. Nathan nodded firmly. "I could feel it. Their presence alone was enough to suffocate the people around them." A heavy silence settled uncomfortably between them. Then, finally, Nox spoke. "I’ll find her." Nathan looked at him. "And then what?" "I don’t know yet," Nox admitted. "But I can’t just sit here and do nothing." Nathan exhaled deeply. "Kid, I know you want answers, but don’t go rushing into something you don’t understand." Nox smirked. "When have I ever done that?" Nathan shot him a deadpan look. "Do you really want me to answer that?" Nox chuckled lightly, but it faded quickly. His mind was already elsewhere. If his master had truly left, and if these mysterious figures were as powerful as Nathan claimed, then things were far more complicated than he initially thought. Who were they? Why did they want his master? And most importantly… Why would she say that they would meet again as enemies? --- As the deep evening sun began to set, casting long, eerie shadows over the grand Royal Island, Nox stood opposite Nathan in front of the academy gate, lost in troubled thought. Meanwhile, the massive statue of Volgrath still loomed ominously on the distant horizon, its eerie presence more unsettling than ever. Then, at that moment, the eyes of Volgrath lit up, burning with intense anger. It was only for a brief moment, so no one noticed it. Something big was about to happen. Nox could feel it. --- --- Thanks to all those who support Supreme BeastTamer with their valuable Golden Tickets and power stones! I really appreciate it—thank you!