The sun had not risen over the capital.

  The city lay draped in early morning gloom as word of Kazuki’s disappearance spread like wildfire. But within the confines of the Duke’s estate, time had stopped altogether.

  The drawing room, once used for planning, had become silent.

  Elara sat on a velvet chair, legs pulled to her chest, eyes red and swollen. She hadn’t spoken since the night before. Garron stood stiffly near the window, staring outside, hands clenched at his sides.

  “I should’ve protected him…” he muttered under his breath.

  “No,” said Drake, his voice heavier than usual. “We all should’ve. We let our guard down. Whoever that figure was… they were beyond anything we’ve ever seen.”

  A long silence followed.

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  Rinara leaned against a pillar, arms folded, looking down. She hadn’t shed tears, but the pain in her expression was unmistakable.

  “He didn’t even scream,” she whispered. “He just… vanished.”

  The Duke, seated behind his desk, scanned through countless magical analysis reports and witness testimonies.

  “It was not teleportation,” he said grimly. “There were no mana traces. He was forcibly ripped from this plane.”

  Elara looked up weakly. “So… he’s gone?”

  “No,” said the Duke. “He’s sealed. I’ve seen such vortexes before—in ancient records. Forbidden divine spells… ones not cast by mortals.”

  At the word divine, Drake’s face tightened. “Then we’re up against something far worse than monsters.”

  Rinara looked up. “What’s the plan, then?”

  The Duke sighed and stood. “We gather information. We send scouts. We contact old allies of the crown. If this is divine-level magic, then we need divine-level answers.”

  He turned to them.

  “In the meantime… you all must grow stronger. The Guild has authorized a special training ward for your party.”

  Garron looked skeptical. “Train… while Kazuki’s trapped?”

  “Yes,” the Duke said sharply. “Because if you don’t… none of you will survive what’s coming.”

  A knock came at the door.

  A guild messenger entered, panting. “We’ve received… a pulse! From the eastern sky! A dark ripple. It registered… as Kazuki’s mana!”

  Everyone stood in shock.

  “He’s alive?” Elara asked breathlessly.

  The messenger nodded. “Barely—but it was him.”

  Hope flickered in their chests.

  And deep in the sealed dimension, Kazuki’s eyes twitched—his body still emotionless, but a faint glimmer of movement sparked at the corner of his lips.

  The seal had cracked.