The night wore on, and time passed like molasses inside the marble halls of the royal palace. Though they had been dismissed from the main chamber, Renjiro and his party were asked to wait within a secondary holding room—more lavish than it needed to be, but somehow still suffocating.
An ornate clock on the far wall ticked away the minutes. A tray of untouched food sat cold on the center table.
None of them had spoken since the debriefing. There was too much to process.
Renjiro paced the length of the room, hand running through his hair. Daichi sat slumped in one of the cushioned chairs, arms folded, scowling at the ceiling. Akari stood with her back against the window, arms crossed, her face distant. And Mayu stared at the floor, fingers trembling slightly over her staff.
Eventually, the door opened again with a soft knock.
Commander Lysandor stepped back inside, accompanied by another palace officer. His expression was more thoughtful now—still stern, but no longer just suspicious.
"I appreciate your patience," he said, voice low. "We've begun a preliminary analysis of the Alpha Wolf's remains."
The party straightened.
Lysandor continued, "Your suspicions were correct. That beast was not natural. Not even close. The level of mana it radiated… far beyond a typical alpha-type. But more troubling than that is what we found inside its core."
Renjiro raised an eyebrow. "What about the Core?"
"Mana cores, yes. All magical beasts have one. In this case, the core showed signs of... contamination. Dark energy residue, unlike any beast we've studied recently. Similar to... demonic influence."
Akari narrowed her eyes. "You're saying that wolf was possessed?"
"Something like that," Lysandor confirmed. "But it's rare—extremely rare—for a demon to possess a beast like that. It requires a vulnerable vessel and strong ambient mana. Still, that alone wouldn't explain the strength. The influence had to be recent. Controlled. Directed."
"So it wasn't random," Daichi muttered.
Lysandor nodded grimly. "Exactly. Which raises several questions. How did a possessed beast end up in a B-rank mission zone? Who—or what—led it there? And why? We've already started an internal investigation. You'll be kept updated."
There was a pause as Lysandor looked at each of them.
"You're lucky to be alive," he added. "Even with that stranger's help."
Akari glanced sideways at Renjiro, but said nothing.
As Lysandor turned to leave, a younger guard burst in through the door, holding a rolled parchment with the royal seal.
"Commander! A message from the inner gate."
Lysandor frowned and took it, scanning the note swiftly.
His expression changed—subtle, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. Surprise. Confusion.
"What is it?" Renjiro asked cautiously.
Lysandor didn't answer immediately. He looked back at the party, then re-read the final line of the scroll before folding it slowly.
"We've received news," he said, voice tight. "A new individual has been granted clearance and position within the Royal Guard. Just arrived within the past hour. He passed the vetting process with exceptional scores and was apparently fast-tracked by someone with high authority."
Renjiro blinked. "So? That's not unusual for high-ranking nobles."
"No. But the name…" Lysandor's lips tightened. "Kyoichi."
The room went dead silent.
"He's here?" Mayu whispered.
"As of now," Lysandor confirmed, "he's a part of the palace guard."
"But why?" Daichi muttered. "How? He just walked in and got a job?"
Lysandor sighed, clearly irritated but trying to maintain composure. "We've received no explanation. The command came from someone above even me. And the paperwork's flawless—documents, test results, all valid. It's like he was meant to be here all along."
"He vanished into thin air" Akari said coldly. "Now he's suddenly a royal guard? Who the hell is he?"
Renjiro's fists clenched.
Renjiro looked toward the palace hall, as if he could somehow see beyond the stone walls and corridors. "
And for the first time in a long while, Renjiro felt a deep, undeniable chill settle in his chest.
Few hours later ....
The morning sun filtered through the elegant, arching windows of the royal palace. It was the day after the investigation, and a calm silence settled over the grand halls and courtyards of Selemor's seat of power. Birds chirped lazily in the gardens, and servants moved with quiet urgency, preparing for an important event.
Renjiro stood in one of the inner corridors near the guest wing, glancing toward the main gates as he adjusted the straps on his traveling gear. Daichi was beside him, yawning wide and stretching his shoulders.
"I thought we were free to go," Daichi muttered. "Didn't expect to sleep in a palace one day and get booted out the next."
Renjiro chuckled. "We weren't booted. Just wrapped up our statements. I was ready to head back to Selemor's guild."
Just then, a castle messenger rushed down the hallway toward them, holding a scroll sealed with the royal insignia.
"Renjiro Ignisar and Daichi Himura?" the messenger asked. "You've been summoned. An invitation to a banquet held this evening."
Renjiro raised an eyebrow. "Banquet?"
The messenger handed him the scroll. He unrolled it. A simple note was written in elegant script:
> You are cordially invited to the royal banquet this evening to welcome the newest Royal Guard. Your presence is requested.
—Prince Rikuya Kamizora
"Kyoichi..." Renjiro murmured, eyes narrowing slightly. "So he really is one of them now."
Daichi gave a low whistle. "Didn't peg him for the military type. He just looked like some quiet wanderer."
Renjiro stared down at the note, then looked at the crest at the bottom—the unmistakable signature of Prince Lysander himself. "Well, we've been summoned. No sense in refusing."
___
By evening, the palace was glowing with the warm hues of lanterns and crystal chandeliers. Music floated through the air as guests mingled across the hall, dressed in their finest silks and armors.
Akari and Mayu joined them at the entrance. Akari was clad in a black and gold formal uniform, her usual scowl replaced with faint unease.
"This is weird," she muttered. "Just yesterday we were bleeding out in a forest. Now we're here."
Mayu smiled faintly. "Feels like a dream."
They were ushered inside. The banquet hall was breathtaking—massive pillars wrapped in silver filigree, tables loaded with food and drink, nobles and knights of all standings gathered to welcome the new Royal Guard.
And at the center, standing just beneath the royal banners, was Kyoichi.
He was dressed in the uniform of the highest-ranking royal guards—A sleek, form-fitting black tunic with subtle geometric patterns—barely visible, as if etched in shadow Draped over his shoulders is a pristine, white cloak, finely woven with threads of silver that shimmer faintly under light. It reaches his calves, and the inside lining is midnight black. The back of the cloak bears the insignia of the Royal Guard of Selemor—a stylized sun pierced by a sword—embroidered in gold thread, with gold accents at the edges .His posture was calm, elegant, composed.
Renjiro's eyes met his for a moment.
Kyoichi nodded once.
Then he looked away.
Moments later, a tall young man with soft blond hair and a regal bearing approached them. His eyes were blue and bright, though his demeanor lacked arrogance.
"Renjiro Ignisar? Daichi Himura? Akari Tsukishiro? Mayu Hanabira?" the prince asked.
They bowed out of respect.
Prince Rikuya smiled. "Thank you for coming. I hope your wounds have healed."
Renjiro nodded. "We're recovering well. Thank you for the invitation."
The prince glanced across the hall toward Kyoichi. "I understand you traveled with him briefly."
"A few missions, yes," Daichi said, scratching the back of his neck. "Didn't know he was royalty material."
Rikuya chuckled. "He's not. But he is someone I trust more than most men in this room."
They looked at him curiously.
The prince leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"He... and I go way back," Rikuya continued, his expression softening. "When he was fifteen, he saved my life. I was just a kid, only thirteen at the time, and my royal convoy was ambushed by bandits in the forest. I thought I was going to die there, alone. But Kyoichi... he showed up out of nowhere. He didn't look like much, just a boy himself, but he took down the entire group of bandits without even breaking a sweat."
Renjiro, Akari, and the others remained silent.
Rikuya chuckled. "He never asked for a thing. No recognition, no reward. Just told me to survive and vanished into the woods like a shadow."
He sighed, gazing over at Kyoichi, who was speaking with a group of nobles. "We've kept in touch over the years. He's always been difficult to pin down. He showed up again recently, asking for a favor. I didn't hesitate. I owe him my life. And frankly, I think it's the least I can do."
Renjiro nodded slowly, understanding now. Kyoichi's ties to the royal family weren't just about power or prestige; they were rooted in something deeper—a bond that had been forged through shared history and trust.
"I didn't know," Renjiro said, a small frown tugging at his lips. "He never mentioned any of this."
Rikuya smiled wryly. "He's not the type to talk about his past. But now you know. Kyoichi is... complicated. And maybe, just maybe, a little more than he lets on."
With that, the prince clapped Renjiro on the shoulder, his usual princely demeanor returning. "Enjoy the rest of the evening, my friend. It's a rare thing to have someone like Kyoichi in the royal guard. I trust you'll understand him better over time."
Renjiro watched as Rikuya returned to the festivities, his thoughts lingering on the unexpected revelation.
Across the hall, Kyoichi turned once more, his eyes locking with Renjiro's.