Natsuki stepped forward, eyes narrowed, her irritation thinly veiled behind a strained tone. “Who invited you here?” she snapped, shooting Simon a gre before turning toward Macaria for answers.

  Macaria shook her head, just as stunned. “I didn’t.”

  Was he following us? Hoshiko’s voice stirred uneasily in her thoughts. I didn’t even sense him… and I should’ve.

  Macaria’s heart picked up speed. Ever since her awakening, her senses had sharpened—but she hadn’t felt a trace of Simon’s presence until now.

  Simon, unfazed, offered a faint smirk. “Rex. I just happened to be in the area when I saw you two sneaking down here. For a moment, I thought maybe it was those men returning to erase their tracks. But instead…” His eyes slid toward Macaria’s hand. “I noticed that flower you’re carrying.”

  Macaria instinctively closed her fingers around the memory flower and shoved it deep into her pocket. “We were retracing my steps,” she said, trying to sound confident. “I thought maybe there was something left behind—something that could help identify them. They were all in bck, so I couldn’t see their faces.”

  Simon tilted his head, his amber eyes gleaming faintly in the low light. Macaria’s pulse quickened under his gaze. It was like he could see right through her.

  Natsuki took a protective step toward Macaria. “She doesn’t owe you an expnation,” she said coldly. “Why don’t you—”

  She didn’t finish. Simon vanished in a blink.

  Macaria’s breath caught.

  That speed again—

  A moment ter, Simon’s voice spoke casually from behind her. “Hmm… this is rather beautiful.”

  She turned, startled to find him beside her, the crystal memory flower glinting between his fingers beneath the alley’s flickering streetmp.

  “Give that back!” she barked, lunging at him. Her hand gripped his wrist, but he lifted the flower just out of her reach, the hint of a teasing smile curling his lips.

  “Careful,” he said coolly. “It’s fragile. Wouldn’t want you to break it in your righteous fury.”

  Natsuki had seen enough. With a crackle of static around her fingers, she charged and tackled Simon to the ground in a blur of motion. The flower flew from his hand, tumbling through the air.

  Macaria dove—catching it a mere inch before it shattered against the concrete.

  You could’ve just used wind magic, Hoshiko mused. But hey, nice reflexes. You’re learning.

  Pinned beneath Natsuki, Simon didn’t even resist. He y there, hands caught in her grasp, and grinned up at her like the entire situation was mildly amusing.

  “You didn’t think this through,” he said, voice low.

  “Why are you really here?” Natsuki demanded, her eyes burning with suspicion.

  Simon sighed, almost theatrically. “As I said—I saw something suspicious. Then I heard you talking. And then I saw the flower. Curiosity won out.” He tilted his head slightly to look at Macaria. “Besides, she asked for my opinion earlier. I figured this was worth seeing firsthand.”

  Macaria hesitated. As much as she hated to admit it, Hoshiko chimed in before she could deny it.

  As much as I dislike the guy, he did save you. And let’s be honest—the next person who found you might’ve been a lot worse. His knowledge might help us.

  With a long breath, Macaria tucked the flower safely into her pocket. “Alright… he can know too.”

  “What?!” Natsuki shot up, eyes wide with disbelief.

  Simon’s smirk widened. “Thank you. Now, mind letting me up?”

  Natsuki grumbled but released him, stepping back. Simon sat up, dusting himself off with unnecessary fir.

  Macaria’s attention was suddenly drawn to a glint of something metallic wedged between the trash bins further down the alley. Her gaze lingered.

  A bell?

  “Hoshiko,” she whispered, “you mentioned a bell yesterday.”

  I did. Wait—hang on… that shape…

  She took a step closer, crouching near the overturned bins. As she reached out toward it, Natsuki’s voice broke the silence behind her.

  “Why do you even care if those people come back?” she asked, her tone ft, skeptical.

  Simon’s expression shifted, the smile dimming as his eyes hardened. “Haven’t you been paying attention to the news? The citywide power failures? The strange disappearances? Bodies found drained of mana? That’s not coincidence.”

  “I know about the attacks,” Natsuki said, arms crossed. “That’s why I don’t want Macaria walking into danger alone.”

  Simon nodded. “Then you should know this all traces back to a group called Shadow Dawn. They’re a faction of unknowns who believe in purging their own kind. They call it cleansing. Their goal? A new world—one without ‘impurities.’”

  Macaria froze, her stomach twisting.

  “Eliminating their own?” she asked, her voice barely audible. “But… why?”

  “They believe some unknowns are unworthy of power,” Simon said bitterly. “Dangerous. Fwed. Easier to cleanse than coexist.”

  Natsuki narrowed her eyes. “How do you know so much?”

  Simon hesitated for a moment too long. “I’ve done my research.”

  Before she could press further, Simon suddenly stiffened, head snapping toward the alley’s entrance.

  “Hide. Now. Someone’s coming.”

  Macaria ducked behind the trash bins, her heart pounding as footsteps echoed closer. Peering through a gap, she watched Natsuki grab Simon by the arm, pressing him against the wall as they melted into the shadows.

  “What are they doing?” Macaria whispered.

  No idea, Hoshiko replied ftly. I didn’t teach them that.

  Two men appeared—one with short white hair and a bck jacket, the other in a dark navy coat. They halted at the entrance, mid-conversation, startled by the sight of Natsuki and Simon in a rather compromising position.

  “Uh… sorry,” said the white-haired one, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Didn’t mean to interrupt your… moment.” The voice sounded familiar.

  That voice… Hoshiko whispered. It’s familiar. I’ve heard it before.

  “Felix,” Macaria whispered.

  The dark-haired man squinted into the alley, stepping forward slowly.

  Macaria's eyes locked onto his subtle shift in posture—off-bance. His arm twitched, not quite natural. That’s strange… did you see that? she asked.

  I did, Hoshiko said, voice tense.

  Then—a sudden jolt.

  A mouse scurried past Macaria’s leg. She gasped, jerking back and knocking over a bin.

  The crash echoed like a gunshot.

  The dark-haired man spun, eyes locking onto her. His hand raised, summoning a jagged shard of ice.

  “Don’t!” Hoshiko barked. Wind is weak to ice—if you retaliate, you’ll only get hurt!

  Macaria rolled to the side as the bst struck, freezing part of the metal fence behind her.

  Simon lunged at the ice user, knocking him off bance, but the man responded swiftly—freezing Simon’s wrists together before delivering a hard kick to his chest.

  Natsuki sprinted toward Felix, grabbing a bde he dropped—a weapon forged from flickering shadow. Electricity sparked from her hands, surging into the bde as she swung.

  But before it struck, a fire orb exploded between them, bursting with heat and embers. Smoke rolled through the alley, thick and suffocating.

  Now! Hoshiko cried. The heat! Use it—wind and fire are allies!

  Macaria thrust her hands forward. A powerful gust tore through the alley, parting the smoke like a curtain.

  Three silhouettes stood within it—one tall, two slightly hunched.

  She blinked.

  They were gone.

  “Wait—!” she cried, taking a step forward, but the mist was already empty.

  The fight was over.

  Natsuki was on her knees, blood dripping from a cut on her palm where the shadow sword had shattered. Simon sat up nearby, hands free but covered in frostbite-like marks.

  “Are you okay?” Macaria asked, running toward them.

  “Fine,” Natsuki grunted. “Just a bit sliced.”

  “Nothing broken,” Simon added, wincing. “I’ve had worse.”

  Macaria pulled the memory flower from her pocket. Its glow had dimmed slightly but remained intact.

  “Come back to my pce,” she said, breathless but determined. “It’s time you both saw how I got these powers.”

  Good, Hoshiko murmured. But tread carefully. We’re not alone—and eyes may still be watching.