The group rode through the town, keeping to themselves as the townsfolk went about their day, selling goods, providing services, simply living their lives. After ten minutes, they made it to a large manor. Duskwatch Manor was the home of the person who watched over the small town and its bodyguards.The Manor looms at the edge of town, perched on a rise where cobblestone streets give way to rugged cliffs and misty peaks. Its slate-gray stone exterior blends with the mountain fog, while tall arched windows and wrought iron balconies hint at old nobility and quiet wealth. Twin staircases lead to grand mahogany doors beneath a crest of a watchful eye, and inside, velvet carpets, obsidian floors, and enchanted chandeliers whisper of legacy, secrecy, and power held just out of reach. The group got off their horses and tied their leads to some stakes before the manor. A butler greeted them and bowed. “Lord Revenant will see you now, please follow me.” As they did, Indigo felt something wrong. The atmosphere was suspicious. And he could smell the bitterness of rotting flesh and metal in the air. He covered his nose as he walked forward, scanning his surroundings. “I don't like this place. It reeks.” Indigo had caught up to the group, not trusting anything about the manor. “What do you mean? It smells fine.” Oscar looked at Indigo and shrugged before walking ahead. Rose rolled her eyes before grabbing Oscar by the collar of his shirt. “Idiot, Indigo has a strong sense of smell. He can smell things we can't.” A yelp escaped Oscar’s as he stumbled back, nearly landing on the ground before steadying himself. “Hey! I didn't know!”

“You have known us for hundreds of years, and you ‘didn’t know’ that Indigo has a keen sense of smell? You are a piece of work,” she shook her head as they moved onward.

Oscar looked at her and held onto her sleeve, making sure not to touch her skin through the fabric. “Yeah, well, I didn't forget your strongest sense.”

Rose smiled and patted his head, “Yeah, and I told you not to worry about it.”

Oscar’s eyes sparkled with something Rose couldn’t quite place, but she felt it.

They hadn’t noticed their arrival until Sakura split them apart. “Cut it out, lovebirds. Focus.” Rose and Oscar both pushed away, looking embarrassed.

A tall man was sitting in a black, cushioned chair. Might as well have been a throne. He lifted his head when the group entered the room, golden eyes reading every movement.

The young man who had been leading them bowed and introduced the Masked man. “I present, Lord Revenant.” He backed away and blended in with the bodyguards.

Mahou bowed. “Greetings, my lord, I am Mahou Saika. These are my children—Rosalie, Sakura, and Indigo—and that’s Oscar.” The annoyance in his voice was prominent when he said Oscar’s name.

The Revenant tilted his head, scanning over them all. His eyes stayed on Indigo the longest. Too long. Indigo noticed.

“I have the supplies you requested. Although I have a small worry,” as he moved his head to the side, his mask caught the light.

“What is it, my lord?” An unsettling feeling grew in Mahou’s chest as he watched the movements of the revenant.

“A body was unearthed on my property last night. Did you all see anything?” He tapped his fingers on the wooden armrest, anticipating what they would say.

“No, my lord, we were at the inn all night.”

The revenant nodded. “Alright, did you see anything or anyone suspicious?”

As Mahou spoke with the revenant, a small gust of wind blew through the window.

The moment the scent reached him, time froze. A sharp, involuntary shudder ran down Indigo’s spine, his muscles locking as his senses drowned in recognition. His breath hitched, his pulse hammering against his ribs.

He knew this smell.

A pained expression flickered across his face. His throat tightened, his stomach twisting into knots. Confusion tangled with fear, an unbearable weight pressing against his chest. Why did he smell that way? Why did it feel so wrong? He couldn’t piece it together fast enough.

Indigo took a step back, then another, his legs unsteady beneath him. The scent burned in his lungs, suffocating, relentless. A choked gasp escaped him before he turned, stumbling into the hallway, his hands pressing against his face as if that could somehow block it out.

He ran.

He barely registered the walls rushing past him, the flickering lanterns, the distant murmurs of conversation. The only thing that mattered was escaping that scent. It clawed at him, wrapping around his mind, whispering the truth he wasn’t ready to hear.

Bursting through the manor’s front doors and from the gardens of the manor, Indigo inhaled deeply, the cold air sharp against his throat. His knees buckled beneath him. He hit the ground with a dull thud. His hands shook as they curled against the dirt, the weight on his shoulders unbearable.

One whiff. That was all it took.

One whiff, and now he knew everything.

The truth pressed against him like an immovable force, sinking into his bones. It couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible. It was just a scent—

But no, it was never just a scent.

It was a scent he knew inside and out. A scent woven into his past, stitched into memories he had locked away.

His breath came in uneven bursts as he pressed his hands over his face, forcing himself to be steady, to control the storm brewing inside him.

Soft footsteps approached, then stopped beside him.

Rose sat down.

She didn’t speak, didn’t ask questions. She simply sat there, her presence grounding him in a way nothing else could.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run off.” He was panting drastically, trying to catch his breath.

Rose shook her head, a quiet reassurance in her movement. "Don't be sorry—I know how overwhelming heightened senses can be."

“I just—I can’t be in that room,” Indigo muttered, picking at his nails, breath uneven. “It doesn’t make sense to me, but he has someone else’s smell.” As Indigo looked at the ground, he gritted his teeth. "I can't stay here. I'm taking my horse to the edge of town. I'll wait there for you guys." He stood up and stormed off, getting on his horse. His heart pounded in his chest as more thoughts filled his mind. “It wasn’t him–it couldn’t have been. right..?” Rose hesitated only for a second before following. She wasn't about to let him go without at least trying. "I—Indigo, please," she called out, keeping pace behind him. "You don't have to do this alone." But he didn't stop. His hands shook as he fumbled with the reins, struggling to untie his horse from the stake. Rose watched the frustration build, the tension in his shoulders growing tighter with every failed attempt. She stepped closer, voice gentle but uncertain. "I know it's a lot. I know it's—" "Stop," Indigo snapped, breath uneven as he finally freed the reins. He stood still, gripping them tightly, eyes wide as he stared at the ground. Rose's chest tightened. She could see the tremor in his hands, the way his jaw locked, the way his breathing came too fast, too shallow. He was spiraling, falling too fast for her to catch him. "I just—" His voice cracked, his grip slipping. The reins slid from his fingers. The horse jerked slightly, but Indigo didn't move. His hands hovered in the air where the reins had been, his breath turning ragged. Rose reached out instinctively—but stopped. She knew. Touch wouldn't help. Words wouldn't help. She could see it now. "I need to go," Indigo whispered, barely able to get the words out. Rose swallowed hard, pressing her nails into her palms. "I just wanted to help." Indigo let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You can't." The words stung, cutting deep in a way she hadn't expected, but she didn't argue. Because she knew he wasn't trying to hurt her—he was drowning. And the only way to stop it was for him to leave. So she stood there, watching as Indigo climbed onto his horse and rode away, the weight of everything pressing into her chest. She wished she could help. She wished she knew how. But wishing wasn’t enough. All she could do was wait.