The night sky above Duskwatch was strangely still. Stars blinked cold, distant, in a blanket of abyss. Within the elaborate estate's terrace, Duke Liles Siegfreed tipped a glass of nightwine, its dark crimson sheen catching the light of the moon, like blood captured in crystal. A storm had passed during the graveyard shift—at least that was his thought.
Then a sound rumbled, a loud crash. Some wine sloshed over the edge of his goblet, trailing red across the velvet carpet like a sign of something portentous. He jumped straight up, heart racing and stared toward the repeat gardens in time to see a glimmering flaming streak slither into the hedges, golf-ball sized. Smoke was curling up from the shadows, laden with the acrid, burnt earthy scent of twigs and bloodied roses.
"Vaenir!" Liles shouted, his strong voice echoing about the marble walls.
A tall man with shoulders like a Shining Tree clad in silver dragonsteel armor ran into sight. Each stride, very radiant beams of moonlight reflected off his armor; and as the Grand Knight, Seven Star-quality armor was all he was allowed.
"She is down there!" Liles commanded, pointing into the remnants of a smoldering ruin. "Bring her in."
Vaenir saluted then vanished over the edge of the crater. Liles followed him, his sleeves wet with both wine and anxiety.
He nearly stumbled as he arrived at the smoking garden below. Where fire had met rain, at its center lay Raveera Siegfreed in front of him, her body sprawled on the marble floor beneath a green arbor. Her skin pulsated with sickly green veins; boils grew on her flesh then popped with hollow wizzing sounds. She stiffened and writhed as if a curse, a strong one, had affected her body into apoplexy - an advanced Runic Poison Seal had brought her to this state.
"Hold her head," Vaenir barked.
Knights and servants moved in dull, candle-like mourning around and froze into action. Raveera's gray eyes opened and locked upon Liles with clear terror. She coughed and her throat opened to expel hot virid bile boiling on the cold marble below.
"Bring healers!" Vaenir shouted.
Almost immediately, Master Rulven, the Duke's head of healers, came to Raveera's aid. He did not blink when Raveera yelped. He knelt, retrieving Raveera's arm in order to search for her veins.
"By the old flame..." Rulven said, "This is runic poison, there is a Rune Master behind this. We can slow the pain, perhaps dull it - but you won't extract such a seal...that's out of my craft."
Liles gritted his teeth. "Do what you need to do. Keep her alive. And get me the one who did it."
One of the junior knights took a timid step forward. "My lord... our scouts are telling us we have been compromised."
Liles turned so quickly that the young knight almost vomited with fear. "Who?"
The young man hesitated.
"Alfrenzo."
He swallowed hard. "We have confirmation—scouts killed, one captured. They attacked... from our midst."
Liles became rigid. Lightheaded. Blatantly.
His hand found a ceremonial dagger. He said nothing as he moved toward the nearby guard—a youth, pale-faced, wide-eyed—no shield, no armor, just castle guard uniform.
Vaenir tiered off to the side, and the world went silent.
Liles advanced, eyes locked with the guard's. Then he struck - eight times, in concussion-staccato rhythms of fury, justice, and fear.
When Liles finally stepped back, the guard laid crumpled trembling in a puddle of red.
"That damn Hunter....."
_____
In a darkened inn on the edge of Edelgard, Alfrenzo and Luenor walked a worn wooden floor. Their only illumination was a single lanterns that cast shadows more than it provided light. The fighter they had captured — bruised, bound, and mute — scowled at them through swollen eyes tied to a battered table.
Luenor regarded the man with cool detachment. "Big storms ahead of you," he said, tone stalwart. "Tell me who you serve and the storm calms."
The man spat blood. "I serve... the duke."
Luenor knelt and pressed one armored hand against the man's chest. He closed his eyes and breathed in. The threat in his aura made the captive sway.
With a flick of his fingers mana slithered — a living flame forcing itself into the man's lungs, teasing his nerves, converting the air he breathed into acid.
The man jerked out in full spasms. A scream burst forth — raw, panicked.
"Tell me!" Luenor shouted, his voice as rough as gravel.
The man shattered under the pressure. He vomited names — scout masters, relay points, even a few petty knights of Duskwatch. Luenor hung onto each name, entombed in the moment.
He leaned in as the prisoner talked, then paused, his eyes darkening when the realization washed over him slowly.
Luenor withdrew his hand. The prisoner sagged, quaking.
"Who told you that Alfrenzo would be in Edelgard?" Luenor asked in total calmness.
The man hesitated, looking down into the floor.
Luenor said it again, louder. "Who?"
The prisoner looked up, his face was wet with tears, "I—I don't know the name," he said in a whisper, "He's been with me... planted since Duskwatch. He—he blends in." A spasm went through him. "But he knew... he said he learned it from someone who follows Alfrenzo."
Luenor's chest compressed. "Arwin," he whispered.
Without warning the mood snapped. The door swung, revealing Alfrenzo, rough and cockpit without his disguise — Arwin, chest heaving from exertion.
He slowly surveyed the blood-slick floor, and unsheathed his sword. "Dispose of him quietly, Luenor."
Arwin's voice inflection contradicted his demeanor, "Make it look... like thieves." He blinked. "A local bandit; just leave him at the border guard post, on Siegfried's lands."
Luenor nodded, voice cold: "Done."
Arwin sheathed his sword and stepped toward the prisoner.
Luenor met his gaze. "Do you want to know who it was?"
Arwin's lips curled. "Always."
Luenor smirked. "You'll need to come with me—to Echlion."
Arwin nodded, turning before giving away emotion.
Luenor strode from the inn, cloak humming behind him like a tide. On the porch, Hunter waited—lean, imposing, sword-hilt tapping against his thigh. A goblet of wine hung loosely in his hand.
Luenor sat beside him.
"I know who betrayed us," he said.
Hunter exhaled slowly. "Are you sure?"
Luenor nodded, staring at the empty road where moonlight pooled. "He's not new."
Hunter's voice dropped. "Then it hurts more."