The storm passed by dawn, but the atmosphere within the manor remained heavy. The tension among Ari and his companions was palpable, a silent undercurrent that none of them could quite shake.

Seris’s words, delivered through her messenger, had done their job. The threat wasn’t just external—it was tearing at the group from within.

Ari stood on the balcony, his dark eyes scanning the forest. The faint scent of rain lingered in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of wet leaves. His fists were clenched at his sides. He could feel it—the storm that was still coming, one that had nothing to do with the weather.

And then, it struck.

The Alarm

A loud, shattering sound echoed through the manor, followed by a sharp, magical pulse that rattled the windows.

Kimi was the first to react, rushing into the hall with her violet eyes glowing faintly. “The wards! Someone’s breached the outer barrier!”

Yuri appeared seconds later, daggers in hand, her expression sharp and ready. “We knew they’d come. Where are they hitting us?”

“The south side,” Kimi said, her hands moving as she traced glowing runes in the air. “They’re probing for weaknesses.”

Finoria charged into the room, her shield strapped tightly to her arm. “Probing or not, they’re about to regret it.”

Ari entered last, his presence calm but commanding. “Stay focused,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension. “This isn’t a full assault. They’re testing us.”

“They’re about to fail the test,” Yuri muttered, twirling her daggers.

“Finoria, cover the south perimeter,” Ari commanded. “Yuri, back her up. Kimi, reinforce the wards. I’ll deal with the breach.”

“What about me?” Varrek asked as he entered, his scarred face grim.

“Stay here,” Ari said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Varrek frowned but nodded, his gaze flicking toward the window. “Be careful. If this is a distraction, they’ll strike somewhere else while you’re occupied.”

Ari didn’t respond. He was already moving.

The Southern Perimeter

The forest on the south side of the manor was thick and dark, the morning light barely penetrating the canopy. Ari moved through the trees like a shadow, his senses sharp and his body coiled like a spring.

The intruders were easy to spot—a group of six, each clad in dark leather armor and armed with blades and staves. They moved with purpose, their hands glowing faintly with magic as they probed the wards.

Ari didn’t give them a chance to notice him.

The first attacker went down with a single, devastating punch to the chest, the force sending him crashing into a tree. The others barely had time to react before Ari was among them, his movements precise and deadly.

One swung a sword at him, the blade slicing through the air with deadly intent. Ari ducked under the strike, his fist driving into the attacker’s ribs with a sickening crack.

Another mage raised a staff, muttering an incantation. Ari moved faster than the words could leave the man’s lips, grabbing the staff and snapping it in half before delivering a brutal elbow strike to his jaw.

The remaining attackers hesitated, their confidence faltering as they realized they were outmatched.

“Run,” Ari said coldly, his dark eyes piercing.

They didn’t hesitate.

The Second Strike

As Ari returned to the manor, he knew something was wrong. The air was too still, the silence too heavy.

“Kimi!” he called as he entered the hall, his voice echoing.

No answer.

His fists clenched as he moved through the manor, his sharp gaze scanning every shadow. He found Yuri and Finoria in the main hall, their weapons drawn and their postures tense.

“They’re inside,” Yuri said, her green eyes flicking toward the upper floor.

Ari’s heart sank. “Kimi?”

“She was reinforcing the wards,” Finoria said, her shield raised. “But we lost sight of her after the breach.”

Without another word, Ari sprinted toward the upper floor, his footsteps echoing through the corridors. He reached Kimi’s room in seconds, his pulse pounding as he pushed open the door.

The room was empty.

But there was a message.

The Warning

A single piece of parchment lay on the desk, weighted down by a smooth black stone. The script was sharp and familiar, its message chilling in its simplicity:

“The cracks have already formed.”

Ari’s fists tightened, the veins in his arms bulging as a cold fury settled over him. He turned to Yuri and Finoria, who had followed him into the room.

“They took her,” he said, his voice low and deadly.

“What?” Yuri said, her expression shifting from shock to anger. “How? She was—”

“They knew how to bypass the wards,” Ari interrupted, his dark eyes blazing. “This was planned.”

Finoria’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the edge of her shield. “Then we get her back.”

“We will,” Ari said, his voice sharp as steel. “But first, we find out where they’ve taken her.”

Resolve and Rage

Back in the study, Ari paced like a caged predator, his mind racing. The group gathered around him, their faces grim but determined.

“They’ve taken Kimi to draw you out,” Varrek said, his tone tense. “Seris knows you’ll come for her.”

“She’s right,” Ari said coldly. “But it won’t be the way she expects.”

“We’re going after her,” Yuri said, her green eyes blazing.

“Not ‘we,’” Ari said, his gaze locking onto hers. “This is my fight.”

“Not a chance,” Finoria said, stepping forward. “You’re not doing this alone.”

Ari’s gaze swept over them, his expression unreadable. “I need you both here. If this was a distraction, there’s no telling what else Seris has planned. Protect the manor. Protect each other.”

“And what about Kimi?” Yuri asked, her voice tight.

Ari’s jaw clenched, his dark eyes hard. “I’ll bring her back. No matter what it takes.”

The Hunt Begins

As the group prepared for whatever came next, Ari stepped into the night alone, his mind sharp and his body brimming with controlled rage.

Seris had made her move.

Now, it was his turn.