CHAPTER 109: CHAPTER 109 - THE MISSION IN PAIR (5)

The room had fallen into an awkward yet oddly peaceful silence. The faint creak of wooden beams above, the occasional chirp of crickets from the village outside, and the soft breath of the sleeping baby dragon added a sort of rhythm to the quiet night.

Luca turned slightly on his bed, glancing at the ceiling as his thoughts wandered. It was hard to rest. His mind kept going back to the words Selena had asked just moments ago.

Luca blinked, a bit caught off guard. Tower Master...?

He turned toward her, brow furrowed in slight confusion.

"I didn’t quite get that. What do you mean?"

"I mean..." Selena hesitated, her eyes cast downward, "how does she treat you? How does she talk to you? It’s... hard to explain, but... I just want to know."

Understanding began to dawn on Luca’s face. He gave a small nod, his voice calm.

"Ah... I think I understand."

He looked up again, pausing a moment before speaking.

"Master... is a good person. If I had to describe her, that’s where I’d start."

A small smile ghosted his lips as memories flickered by—his first when he met her, her sharp words softened by subtle gestures, the quiet encouragement behind her words.

"She was probably the first person who showed me genuine kindness," he said quietly. "Someone who saw me... and didn’t just see what I could do, but who I was. Who tried to understand me, even when I didn’t understand myself."

He glanced at Selena again. Her expression was unreadable—still, silent—but there was a faint distance in her eyes, as if she were hearing about a stranger.

Then she murmured, so low it almost didn’t reach him,

"How come she’s only like that with you?"

Luca sat up a little, the words catching him off guard. But he quickly shook his head.

"No—it’s not like that. She worries about you too. She does care. She just... doesn’t know how to show it."

Selena let out a bitter huff, turning away.

"What can’t she show to her own daughter?"

Luca exhaled slowly, resting his back against the wall as he looked up again.

"Sometimes... it’s easier to talk to strangers than to your own blood," he said after a long pause. "You don’t carry the same weight with a stranger. No expectations. No old wounds. You can show weakness. You can be vulnerable without fear."

He turned toward her, voice softer now.

"Maybe the love she has for you... the deep emotions she holds—it’s what’s trapping her. Like chains. She might be scared that showing too much will break the both of you. So instead, she hides it."

Selena didn’t respond.

She just turned her back further, curling up slightly under the blanket. It looked like she was trying to sleep, but her fists had clenched tightly over the edge of the cover.

Luca, sensing the end of the conversation, lay down too.

"I hope..." he murmured, barely audible, "you two can talk it out someday."

Silence returned.

But behind her closed eyes, Selena’s lashes trembled.

A single tear slid down her cheek and soaked quietly into the pillow as her fists tightened once more beneath the sheets.

Outside, the night deepened. The wind carried a soft, chilled breeze through the slightly cracked window—serene, like the calm before a storm.

The morning sun filtered softly through the linen curtains, casting golden patterns across the wooden floor. Luca stirred beneath the sheets, blinking as the warmth touched his face.

He yawned and turned—only to find the other bed empty.

Selena was gone.

Startled, he sat up. The baby dragon was curled up next to him, snuggled deep into the covers with a tiny pout on her sleeping face. Luca gently moved her to the side and slipped out of bed.

Did she go out alone? he thought, worry prickling at his chest. That’s dangerous...

He quickly threw on a tunic and stepped into the hallway, scanning the dimly lit inn. The common room was quiet, the scent of morning bread just beginning to drift in. He glanced around the inn, searching—but there was no trace of her.

Frowning, he rushed back to the room.

Strange... I’m sure I closed the door.

He stepped in, only to pause as he saw her there—standing by the window, wet strands of her white hair clinging to her shoulders. A towel hung around her neck, and faint mist still clung to her skin.

She looked up.

"Where were you this early in the morning?" Luca asked, voice laced with confusion and relief.

Selena blinked, then tilted her head. "I went to wash up."

Luca stared for a moment. She was in the shower the whole time? A flush crept up the back of his neck. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"I was looking for you... thought you’d gone somewhere alone."

Selena’s eyes widened slightly, then softened. "Get ready. We need to leave soon."

Luca nodded, quickly gathering his clothes and heading to the washroom. The water was still warm, the stone floors damp from her earlier presence. After a brief rinse and a quick change, he stepped out fully dressed.

The baby dragon was already up, waddling toward Selena and tugging at her cloak playfully. Selena let out a small chuckle, gently patting the creature’s head as it chirped.

Luca smiled faintly and summoned her back into his arms. "Let’s go."

Selena gave a silent nod, her expression unreadable. Without another word, the two stepped out of the inn, the door closing behind them with a soft click as the wind stirred through the sleepy morning streets.

The morning sun filtered through the forest canopy, casting a golden glow across the dew-covered ground. Birds chirped lazily in the distance as Luca and Selena walked briskly down a narrow dirt path, boots crunching over fallen twigs and leaves.

"The forest trail, the old granary, the ravine path, the ruins, and the church... those are the places we need to search," Luca said, his voice steady but thoughtful, eyes scanning the forest ahead as they moved.

Selena gave a sharp nod, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Let’s start with the old granary."

Luca returned the nod, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before they both picked up their pace.

The granary stood on the edge of the abandoned farmland—a crumbling relic of a time long gone. Its wooden frame groaned under its own weight, and most of the roof had caved in, leaving it exposed to the elements. Vines crawled up its sides, and the scent of rot and dry straw lingered in the air.

Luca pushed open the crooked door with a creak, stepping inside first, his hand hovering near his blade just in case. Dust danced in the air, illuminated by thin beams of sunlight that pierced through the gaps in the ceiling.

Selena followed, her steps light and controlled, eyes already scanning the surroundings. She paused near a pile of old grain sacks, kneeling to inspect them.

"There’s some torn cloth here..." Luca said, crouching near what remained of a shattered cart. He picked up a piece of fabric stuck in a splintered wheel—dirty, but recent.

Selena moved further into the building, her fingers brushing over a trail of disturbed hay. "And look at this... signs of something being dragged," she said, voice tight with focus.

Luca frowned, rising to his feet and dusting his hands off on his coat. Whoever was here didn’t want to leave much behind. No footprints. No lingering mana. Not even blood. His eyes scanned the walls, the shadows, Too clean...

Selena stood up beside him, arms crossed. "Nothing solid. Again."

Luca let out a quiet sigh and nodded. "Let’s check another place then."

They turned back toward the entrance, but before they could take more than a few steps, a sudden chill swept through the room. The air turned heavy—dense, as if laced with something foul.

Selena stiffened. Her breath hitched, eyes narrowing. "...Did you feel that?"

Luca’s hand shot to his blade as his eyes sharpened, silver energy briefly glinting in his irises. "Corrupted mana."

Then came the sound—unnatural, gurgling, and sharp.

"Jieieijijieji..."

A distorted, eerie cackle, somewhere between a laugh and a screech, echoed from behind the building—deep in the overgrown woods.

Luca and Selena exchanged a glance.

Without hesitation, they dashed toward the sound—Selena’s hand already glowing with a faint, icy blue light as she began weaving a spell. Luca moved like a shadow, twin sabers ready, cloak billowing behind him.

Branches snapped beneath their feet as they raced through the underbrush, hearts pounding.

The corrupted presence grew thicker.

Closer.

And then—another laugh, louder this time.

"Jieieijijieji—!"