Eclipsed

Chapter 59

The Empty Dormitory

Ren pushed open the wooden door to the dormitory where Aiko and Quinn were supposed to be waiting. The room was eerily silent, with no signs of life. The single lantern that hung from the ceiling flickered faintly, casting long shadows across the sparsely furnished room. The beds were untouched, and the air was thick with an unsettling stillness.

Ren furrowed his brows, stepping further inside, his boots thudding softly against the wooden floor. "Where the hell are they?" he muttered, scanning the room for any clues.

As he walked toward the table in the center of the room, something caught his attention—a faint, residual energy in the air. His instincts immediately sharpened. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his senses guide him. The faint traces of Hiraigen—a distinct aura associated with the knights of Kagetsu—lingered in the room.

Opening his eyes, he gritted his teeth. The energy felt familiar, like a ghost from his past. It only took him a moment of deep thought before realization hit him.

"The knights..." he whispered, his voice low and filled with anger. His fist clenched and slammed into the wooden table, cracking its surface. "Damn it!"

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to think rationally. His thoughts raced. Why would they go after Aiko and Quinn? If they were after me, wouldn't they target me directly?

The pieces began to fit together. His expression darkened. "This has to be a trap... they know I'll come for them. But why take the risk and leave the kingdom already? What are they planning?"

Ren paced the room, his mind in overdrive. Finally, he stopped, his eyes narrowing with determination. "I know exactly where they've taken them," he muttered. "This is too obvious. If they think I'm walking into their little trap, they've got another thing coming."

Grabbing his cloak and securing his katana, he stepped out of the dormitory. The night air was cold, and the streets were quiet. He pulled his hood up, his jaw set with a mixture of frustration and resolve.

---

On the Outskirts of Ryouen

The outskirts of the Kingdom of Ryouen were desolate, a barren expanse of land with sparse vegetation and rocky outcrops. The moon cast an eerie glow over the landscape, its light refracting through the mist that clung to the ground.

Standing in the midst of this desolation was Doulos. His black skull mask gleamed faintly under the moonlight, its hollow eye sockets reflecting an otherworldly emptiness. His withered frame was draped in dark, tattered robes, and the massive scythe in his hand rested against the ground, the blade dull yet intimidating.

He stood perfectly still, as if waiting for someone. The silence around him was unnerving, broken only by the faint rustle of the wind.

Ren had already arrived, keeping to the shadows. He crouched behind a large boulder, watching Doulos with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. What's he doing here? Waiting for me? he thought, considering sneaking up on him just for the joke.

But then, Ren froze. A new presence emerged, one that set his instincts on edge.

From behind Doulos, a figure stepped out of the shadows. He was tall, with disheveled brown hair and piercing dark eyes. His aura was suffocating, a strange mix of malice and calm. Ren's hand instinctively went to his katana, but he didn't draw it. Instead, he ducked further into his hiding spot, carefully observing the scene.

Doulos turned his hollow gaze toward the newcomer. "Ah... my fallen comrade. It has been some time, Kaiser."

Kaiser tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "It has. The winds of fate have been stirring, Doulos. Yoruzen has emerged. He is free now."