Killian sensed movement outside. He glanced over at Lucien, who was sound asleep, completely unaware.

He scoffed softly, “How convenient.”

With practiced ease, he opened the window and stepped out into the cool night air. He placed a compact barrier device near the window and shut it quietly behind him. Slipping down the roof, he landed with feline grace on the ground.

A faint clicking sound escaped his lips, and a red-eyed crocodile skink slithered out of the shadows, climbing up his leg and resting on his shoulder.

“Good boy, Ryu,” he whispered, then vanished into the trees.

Navigating the forest with silent steps, Killian climbed a tree for a better vantage point. In the distance, he spotted four figures huddled in quiet conversation.

"...Arwin and Morana should’ve been back by now," one said nervously.

"Do you think... the Shadows Demon got them?" the second whispered.

The third shook his head. "Impossible. They were told to retreat at any sign of Nyssa."

The fourth cursed, kicking at the dirt. "No one even knows who that is. For all we know, it’s not even human."

Killian coughed deliberately, making his presence known. “Who’s ‘it’?”

They spun around, drawing weapons.

“Who are you?”

He held up his hands with exaggerated innocence. “Relax. I’m a friend, not a foe. We work for the same guild. Come on—how could you forget me?” He feigned a wounded expression. “I feel like a flaming arrow just pierced my heart…”

As if on cue, a real flaming arrow screamed through the air and struck one of them directly in the chest. The man crumpled to the ground.

Killian tilted his head. “Oops. I think I jinxed it.”

“You bastard!” one shouted, hurling a dagger. Killian raised a hand, pulling iron from the dirt to form a shimmering shield. The dagger bounced harmlessly off.

“He’s a metal manipulator?! But didn’t he just summon fire?”

Killian grinned. “Still have time to speculate? You must be new. Here—let me demonstrate up close.”

He infused aura into Ryu, who immediately grew to the size of a bear. “Could turn him into a full-sized dragon, but that might be... overkill.”

Raising his arms, he pulled metal from the earth and formed a globe-shaped barrier around them. “Ryu, give these gentlemen a show.”

Ryu roared and spewed fire. Killian condensed the flames into a hail of glowing bullets that tore through the air. One by one, the intruders fell.

“Good work, Ryu,” he praised. Ryu shrank down and climbed back onto his shoulder.

A slow clap echoed behind them.

Killian spun, then relaxed slightly. “Well done, Killian,” Nyssa said, stepping out from the trees. “But next time, quicker. You were a weapon tonight—not yet a shadow.”

He laughed sheepishly. “Come on—it was my first time. Let me enjoy it a little.”

“You’re crazy.”

He grinned. “I prefer ‘creative.’”

They moved into the clearing. Killian drew more bullets from the ground.

Nyssa got into position. “It seems my student has grown confident,” she said, smiling at the moon. “Let’s begin.”

Killian launched a wave of metal bullets at her. She smirked—and disappeared.

“New trick?” he muttered. “Did you poison yourself again?”

Something brushed his shoulder.  “You’ve truly become a shadow.” he whispered

He spun and hurled a flame dart. Nothing.

“You’re using me as a test subject,” he growled. A shadow hand yanked his leg, and he fell.

He spotted her above, perched in a tree. He flung a bullet—she was gone again.

“Over here.”

She sprinted toward him with a blade. He flipped, conjuring his own sword mid-air. They clashed, metal ringing through the forest.

“You're stronger than you look,” he admitted, blocking another strike.

“You always forget that,” she shot back.

He found an opening, slashed—but she flipped over him, landing behind him with her blade at his throat.

“You’d be dead,” she said evenly.

He chuckled. “You never cease to amaze me, little Nyssa.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re only four years older.”

“And taller.”

She gave him a shove. “That’s useless if you can’t win.”

They both looked toward the distant clearing.

“Is that a training arena?” Killian asked.

“Much better than the one at base,” Neri said. She started walking.

“Where are you going?”

“Back home.”

He caught up. “Will you be at breakfast with Lucien and Lord Alen?”

She shook her head. “Keir and my father invited me to the training grounds. He wants to teach me self-defense.”

Killian burst out laughing. “If only they knew...”

She smiled. “He nearly beat me once. If not for my ability, I’d have lost.”

“The House of Rue is full of surprises. Will you ever tell them about the Shadows?”

She waved dismissively. “No need. We have the Ikars’ support.”

Killian stopped. “You can’t hide it forever. When the guild needs you—what then?”

“I’ll handle it when the time comes.”

He sighed. “As you wish.”

They reached the mansion.

“Door or window?” he asked.

She gave him a look. “Window. Obviously.”

Suddenly, the barrier device blinked red. “Crap—Lucien’s up!”

Neri bolted inside—just as she crashed into Nathan.

“Ah—!”

She helped him up. “Sorry! I wasn’t watching. Are you okay?”

Nathan nodded. “I was just about to go look for you.”

He turned back toward the hall. “Keir! I found Neri!”