A heavy silence lingered in the room as the six figures knelt, the light of the summoning circle fading beneath them. Velmuth stood still, arms folded, his expression unreadable.
The butler-like man, Sebastian, was the first to speak. His deep, composed voice broke the stillness.
"Pardon my intrusion, my lord, but… may I ask, what shall we call our organization?"
The others glanced at each other, visibly intrigued by the question.
Velmuth blinked. He hadn't thought of that.
"Ah," he said with a soft exhale, almost amused. "Right. I suppose a nameless group would seem a little amateurish."
He turned toward the window. Moonlight poured through the glass, casting a pale glow across the pitch-black sword resting on his bed.
"I truly hadn't considered it," he admitted in thought. "All I wanted was to enjoy this strange little life with books and tea."
His gaze sharpened.
"But now that I've summoned them… that won't be enough."
Memories stirred. Centuries of solitude. The destruction of the old world. The burden of its rebirth. Faint cries echoed in his mind, remnants of a past long lost. Then came the silence. Absolute silence, unbroken even by time.
"How about," he said quietly, eyes distant, "Silent Creed."
The name echoed softly through the chamber. The six figures looked up.
"A creed formed in silence," Velmuth said, his voice steady. "Born not from glory, but from necessity. We act from the shadows, not for power, but to prevent the corruption of history from rising again. No sermons. No applause. Just purpose."
Evelyn Graves nodded, her expression thoughtful.
"A fitting name, my lord. In silence, truth is preserved."
Selene Vire smirked.
"It sounds cool, too."
Velmuth allowed himself a rare, faint smile.
"Then it's settled. From this moment forward, you are the first agents of the Silent Creed."
He turned back to them.
"For now, stay hidden. The world must not know of us. Not yet. Use the night. Travel the land. If you come across strange relics, ruins, or objects that radiate unnatural energy, especially those linked to Dream Beasts, either bring them back or destroy them."
A flicker of curiosity appeared in Selene's eyes.
"Dream Beasts… I saw that name in old records. Weren't they just myths?"
Velmuth's eyes narrowed, the moonlight casting a silver sheen over his dark pupils.
"They're no myth. In the old war, long before this age, they caused unimaginable destruction. These weren't ordinary monsters. Some say they fed on thoughts. Others believed they came from nightmares. No one knows for certain."
He paused.
"But the damage they caused was real. Entire civilizations collapsed trying to stop them. Some were sealed underground. Others… simply vanished."
Evelyn lowered her head, thoughtful.
"So they still exist. In some form."
"Barely," Velmuth said. "What remains are fragments. Broken consciousness. Lingering hatred tied to cursed artifacts, or buried deep in forgotten places. Even those remnants are dangerous."
John Doe stepped forward. His voice was cold.
"And if someone awakens them?"
"They risk unleashing destruction once more," Velmuth replied. "We don't know how much of their power still lingers, but if even one is revived, it could end everything."
He leaned on his sword, his tone quiet.
"No one wants another war like that. That's all the reason we need."
James Moriarty clicked his pocket watch shut.
"Understood, my lord. The Creed will move in silence."
Morning
Velmuth yawned and sat up in bed, eyes still half-closed. A quiet murmur escaped his lips.
"It really is good to have a decent night's sleep…"
A knock came at the door.
"Young master Velmuth, breakfast is ready," a maid called politely from outside.
"I'll be down shortly," Velmuth replied, stretching.
At the dining table, the Nox family sat in peaceful harmony as sunlight spilled through the tall windows.
"Serenya," Baron Hadren Nox said, "are you ready to leave for the academy?"
"Yes, Father. I believe I'm more than prepared," Serenya replied confidently.
"Just remember what we discussed. Don't cause serious trouble. Understood?"
"I know, Father. Don't worry," she said with a slight grin.
"Mataku… such a handful," Hadren muttered, shaking his head.
He turned to Velmuth.
"Vel, your sister's leaving soon. You won't have her to spar with for a while. Don't get too lonely. In three years, you'll be heading to the Imperial Academy too."
"Understood, Father."
Later That Day – Outside the Manor
A carriage waited in front of the estate. Serenya stood beside it, adjusting her cloak.
"Velmuth," she said softly, "I'll be off to the academy. Take care of yourself, alright? Don't miss me too much."
"I'll be fine, Serenya. Good luck at the academy."
She chuckled. "It's not like we won't see each other again. Once you enroll in three years, we'll meet there. Until then, focus on your training."
He nodded. "I will."
She gave him a quick hug, then stepped into the carriage as it rolled away toward the distant station.
That night, with the manor quieter than usual, Velmuth sat alone in his room...
He read a book by the flickering light of an enchanted lantern. The shadows stirred. Six figures emerged silently from the dark.
"You're all here," Velmuth said without looking up. "What's the report?"
Sebastian stepped forward.
"My lord, while scouting the western lands, we found a hidden cave where suspicious individuals were gathering. Upon investigation, we discovered they were part of a cult performing sacrificial rites. They were trying to summon a demon."
"Did they succeed?" Velmuth asked.
"They did. The ritual was completed before we arrived."
Flashback – Cult Hideout
Inside the torch-lit cave, robed cultists stood around a glowing magic circle, chanting fervently.
"With this summoning, we'll destroy the nearby village and offer their souls to our lord! No one will ever mock us again!"
Their deranged laughter echoed off the walls.
Suddenly, a chill swept through the cavern. A figure appeared at the entrance, a man in a skull-shaped mask, standing motionless with a wicked scythe resting on his shoulder.
"Who are you?! Another demon?!"
Reaper tilted his head.
"A demon? Sure. Call me that if it helps you sleep."
"You bastard! You'll regret mocking us!"
The cultists launched spells, flames, ice, lightning, but Reaper glided through them like smoke, the cave filling with an eerie hush between each dodge.
"W-what is he?! He's not human!"
Reaper blurred, then stood behind one cultist.
A soft thud followed. Blood sprayed the wall. The body slumped with no cry, only the echo of disbelief. The others froze.
"Finished already?" Reaper said, voice flat. "That's disappointing."
"Monster! What are you?!"
The cult leader stepped forward, grinning with desperation.
"Let's see how you handle this. Face a true demon!"
A surge of dark magic filled the cave as a towering, horned demon emerged, its flesh black and cracked like obsidian, eyes glowing with hateful hunger. The ground trembled under its weight.
Reaper's grin returned.
"So this is a demon. Let's see if you're worth my time."
The other five agents of the Creed appeared around him without a word.
"So there's more of you?" the cult leader sneered. "It won't matter. Crush them!"
The demon roared and charged. Reaper twisted in midair and landed on its arm.
"Not bad," he muttered.
"Stop playing," Doe said. "Just finish it."
"I agree," Moriarty added.
The cultists screamed as Evelyn and Selene cut through them like paper. One tried to flee, his legs gave out in panic before Evelyn's blade found him.
Only the leader remained, trembling.
He stared in disbelief as Sebastian and Reaper moved in perfect sync, their blades meeting at the demon's neck. One clean strike. A spray of black ichor. The head rolled.
The demon's body collapsed with a quake.
"I-it's impossible…! How are all of you this strong?!"
Selene raised her hand, conjuring a blade of arcane light.
"Because you were never worth our time."
The blade shot forward. The cult leader fell without a sound.
The cave fell silent, utterly silent. Blood dripped. Torches crackled. And the air felt heavier than death.
The Silent Creed moved without comment, searching the ruins. Amid the wreckage, Moriarty picked up a sealed scroll.
"Hey, take a look at this."
Sebastian opened it, eyes narrowing.
"This is a map. Another hideout. This cult is part of something bigger."
"Then it's worth reporting," Evelyn said.
Back at Velmuth's Mansion
Velmuth studied the map, his gaze cold.
"So there are more of them," he murmured. Then he stood.
"Prepare yourselves. We're going to their next den. Let's move."