The cave was quiet, save for the crackle of the fire. The air inside carried a heavy stillness, almost pressing down on their shoulders. The orange glow of the flames danced across the stone walls, throwing long shadows that seemed to shift like restless spirits. Aurelia sat with her spear resting by her side, her back straight and her posture rigid. She didn't look at Luca when she finally broke the silence.

"Why did you put back the glowing stone?" Her tone was measured, still carrying that lingering chill.

Luca sat across from her, his elbows resting loosely on his knees, hands clasped together. His gaze lingered on the fire for a moment before he lifted his head. "It's for emergencies. Who knows what else we might encounter?" His voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge of caution.

For the first time since they had started this mission, she had initiated a conversation. Luca caught onto it immediately, and though her tone wasn't exactly warm, he thought ,This might be the right time. His lips curved into a faint, almost relieved smile as he leaned forward slightly.

"Aurelia, about that day—"

Her sharp eyes flicked up at him, and she cut him off before he could continue. "I think we should discuss the plan for now." Her fingers curled lightly against her knee, knuckles pale in the firelight. "How did the bear get corrupted? And what if other beasts are getting corrupted as well?"

Luca let out a quiet sigh, leaning back against the rough stone wall behind him. For a moment, disappointment flickered across his face, but it faded quickly as his expression hardened. "You're right. That's important."

He shifted his gaze away from the flames, looking at her directly now, his eyes narrowing in thought. "For a beast to get corrupted, there are two cases. Either it was specifically targeted…"

"…Or the corrupted mana has spread into the mountain." Aurelia's words slid in smoothly, completing his thought. She sat a little straighter, brows furrowed, her sharp profile illuminated by the fire's glow.

Luca's face grew grim. "If it's the second case, then there might be more corrupted beasts in the forest." He pressed his lips together, the weight of the possibility settling in his chest. I hope that's not the case.

The fire popped, breaking the silence for a brief moment. Luca's eyes narrowed further, sharp and calculating, as his thoughts turned. "Did they give you any other information?" His tone had grown heavier, deliberate.

Aurelia caught the subtle shift, her gaze snapping toward him. "What are you trying to say?" she asked, eyes narrowing ever so slightly, as though testing his intent.

Luca's jaw tightened. His voice dropped lower, heavier with suspicion. "What if—what if they aren't searching for something at all? What if this is just a decoy, to hide whatever they're actually doing?"

For the first time, Aurelia's eyes widened slightly. The firelight reflected in her irises, making the faintest trace of unease flicker there. Her lips parted as if to argue, but instead, she fell into thought, her fingers tightening briefly on her spear.

"We can't deny the possibility," she admitted at last, her voice softer but no less serious. Her gaze lingered on him, assessing, weighing his words. "Do you think….. we should inform the academy?"

Luca shook his head immediately, his hair shifting with the motion. "No. We don't have any evidence—it's just speculation right now." His gaze dropped briefly to the fire, before lifting again, firm and unwavering. "We need more clues first. In the morning let's search the forest."

Aurelia's lips pressed into a thin line, but she gave a small nod. The flames flickered between them, casting their faces in alternating light and shadow.

Silence settled again. Luca's eyes stayed on the fire, but his mind churned restlessly, running through endless possibilities. Is there something I'm overlooking? Something hidden? His fingers drummed lightly against his knee. Ashenrock… Ashenrock… what else lies here?

The cave was silent save for the faint crackle of the fire, the orange glow painting both their faces in flickering shades of warmth and shadow. Aurelia sat with her arms loosely wrapped around her knees, her spear resting against the wall beside her. Her gaze kept drifting toward Luca—softening for a heartbeat, then hardening again as though she caught herself. Over and over, the cycle repeated, while Luca, lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, never noticed.

The weight of unspoken words hung in the cave, heavier than the air itself.

By the time the faintest hues of dawn seeped into the cave's mouth, the fire had dwindled to embers. Morning light touched the stone walls in pale silver. Luca stirred, stretching the stiffness from his shoulders, his sabers at his side. Aurelia pushed herself up as well, brushing dust from her armor, her movements sharp and efficient despite the fatigue in her eyes.

"Let's go and search around," Luca said, rolling his neck once, his voice steady but edged with determination.

Aurelia only nodded, gripping her spear, and together they stepped out into the chill of the morning forest.

The gorge was vast, its forest dense with uneven terrain. Dew clung to the leaves, mist curling low against the ground as if the mountain itself was exhaling. They moved through undergrowth and rocky paths, scanning for signs of corruption or human interference. But instead of trails, or marks, or evidence of tampering—they found beasts.

And more beasts.

A boar with veins of black mana twisting beneath its hide burst from the brush, its tusks slick with corrupted energy. Luca was already there, twin sabers flashing, their arcs black and white like clashing streaks of moonlight and sun. Aurelia followed a heartbeat later, her spear ablaze with a crimson fire aura as she skewered the beast clean through.

It collapsed, twitching, the corruption bleeding out of its body in a foul, smoky haze.

They pressed on.

A flock of corrupted hawks descended next, shrieking through the skies with talons dripping with shadow. Aurelia's spear spun in wide arcs, scattering flames to swat them from the air. Luca moved with lethal precision, blades flashing, each strike clean and deliberate.

And still, no clues. Only more corrupted corpses dotting their trail.

"This isn't right…" Aurelia muttered under her breath, wiping dark residue from her spear tip. Her expression was tense, eyes narrowed. "We've searched half the gorge, but there's nothing. Just beasts. Corrupted, every last one."

Luca stood still for a moment, breathing hard from the last exchange. His brows furrowed, his grip tightening around his sabers. He glanced into the forest, at the suffocating mist curling between the trees.

"Exactly," he murmured, his voice low. "No traces. No signs. No trails. Nothing but corrupted mana."

Aurelia frowned, turning toward him. "And yet the further we go, the worse it gets. It's spreading."

Luca exhaled sharply, trying to chase the gnawing unease inside him. His mind spun, repeating the same name again and again, as though trying to force a lock open with a key that didn't fit.

Ashenrock… Ashenrock Gorge… Why does it feel like I'm missing something?

The thought dug into him like a thorn, refusing to leave.

But no matter how hard he searched his memory, it stayed just out of reach.

They kept searching, when….

Aurelia's boot caught on a root hidden beneath the thick undergrowth, and with a startled gasp, she stumbled forward before landing hard on her knees. The sound of torn fabric and a sharp intake of breath escaped her lips as a shallow scratch marred her leg.

"Aurelia!" Luca's voice came sharp, urgent. He was at her side in an instant, crouching down, crimson eyes wide with worry. "Are you okay? Why are you in such a hurry?" His words carried both relief and reprimand, yet his expression was nothing but pained as he glanced at the blood welling from the wound.

Before Aurelia could push herself up, he slid an arm beneath her knees and another around her back, lifting her with startling ease.

"H-Hey! W-What are you doing!?" Her cheeks flushed scarlet, braid sliding forward over her shoulder as she twisted in his hold, flustered and indignant.

"Stop moving," Luca muttered, voice low but firm. He carried her a few steps and carefully set her down upon a smooth rock, ensuring her balance before kneeling in front of her. His hands reached for her leg, steady yet gentle as they brushed aside the torn edge of her stocking to expose the scratch.

Aurelia's breath hitched, her face still hot. "It's just a scratch, leave it…" Her tone was soft, almost embarrassed, though her hand twitched as if to push his away.

But Luca ignored her protest. His palm hovered just above the wound, his eyes narrowing in concentration. A faint ripple shimmered in the air, and a stream of cool water gathered and trickled over the cut, cleansing it with almost tender precision.

Aurelia blinked, staring at the glistening droplets as her lips parted slightly. "This water… where is it flowing from?" she asked, voice tinged with curiosity and disbelief.

Luca froze. The question struck something deep within him, his chest tightening as though a memory clawed at the edge of his mind. His gaze sharpened, a flicker of realization dawning in his crimson eyes.

Water flowing…? His breath hitched. His fists clenched slightly against her leg before he drew back, staring into the trees beyond.

Those bastards…!