The capital city of Astradel was always too bright at night.
Lucien hated that.
It wasn't because the lanterns glowed with magic or because people bustled through the cobblestone streets like ants pretending their lives mattered.
It was because it felt fake.
Too perfect.
Too peaceful.
He stood now in the shadow of an old bell tower, hood pulled low over his face. His cloak fluttered with the wind, and his boots barely made a sound on the rooftop as he moved.
> New Quest: Infiltrate the Royal Archives. Objective: Locate the Threadbearer. Bonus Objective: Learn the Hero's True Origin.
Lucien narrowed his eyes. The Royal Archives weren't guarded like a military fortress—they didn't need to be. Most people weren't crazy enough to try breaking into a building lined with divine enchantments and guardian spirits.
But Lucien wasn't most people.
And now, he had the system.
> Skill Unlocked: Phase Step (Lv.1)
You can briefly pass through physical barriers. Cooldown: 60 seconds.
"Nice," he muttered, stepping off the roof and vanishing midair, reappearing silently inside the upper level of the archive.
It was quiet inside. Dusty. Books floated through the air, rearranging themselves magically. The building smelled like old ink and paper dreams.
He moved fast, staying low, eyes scanning the rows for a clue—anything about the "Threadbearer."
Then he heard her.
A voice like chimes.
"...You're not supposed to be here."
He spun around.
She stood across the hall, holding a heavy tome in one hand, a glowing staff in the other. She wasn't in armor like the knights he fought—she wore a scholar's robe with a crescent sigil on the chest.
Silver hair. Crimson eyes. Soft expression.
The girl from the balcony.
Lucien froze for a second. Not out of fear.
Out of… déjà vu.
"You're one of them," she said quietly, stepping forward, eyes sharp but curious. "You're not using normal magic. That aura—it's divine, but twisted. Who are you?"
Lucien tilted his head. "Do you always talk to strangers in the middle of the night?"
Her brow furrowed. "Answer the question."
"I'm just a passing traveler. Name's…"
He paused.
"...Luc."
She raised a brow. "Luc?"
"Short for... Lucien."
He gave her a lopsided grin. "You don't look like a guard. Why are you even here?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she lowered her staff and closed the book.
"…I study prophecy. I've been searching for someone—someone fated to return with the mark of stars on his hand."
Lucien's smile faded.
He instinctively closed his left hand into a fist.
The star mark.
> WARNING: Fate Signature Detected.
Threadbearer proximity confirmed.
Lucien stepped back slightly. "Who are you?"
She hesitated, then finally said, "Selene. High Priestess Candidate of the Moon Temple. And the only person in this city who doesn't worship the Hero blindly."
He blinked. "You're not a fan of the golden boy?"
She didn't smile.
"I've seen what he does to people who question him. To anyone marked by 'Fate.' The Hero isn't who the world thinks he is."
Lucien's heart beat faster.
He took a careful step closer. "So… what if I told you I'm here to kill him?"
Silence.
Then… Selene's lips curled into the faintest smile.
"Then I'd ask if you need help."
---
Far away, inside the Royal Cathedral…
Cedric Dawnbringer knelt before a blinding altar. His golden armor shimmered with light, and divine energy pulsed through the cathedral like a heartbeat.
"Is it true?" he asked, voice low.
A priest stepped forward, pale and trembling. "Yes, Your Grace. A figure matching the villain's description was spotted outside the ruins. And the Moon Temple reports interference in the prophecy records."
Cedric's eyes narrowed.
"So the false one returns."
He stood, reaching for the sacred blade mounted behind the altar.
> Sword of Light: Valor's Edge.
"I won't let him touch what's mine again," he said coldly. "Not this time."
---
Back in the Archive, Selene opened a hidden chamber behind one of the bookshelves. Stairs led down into shadow.
"Come on," she said. "If you're serious about killing the Hero… you'll need to see what he's hiding."
Lucien followed.
As the door closed behind them, he felt it again—that voice whispering in his mind.
> "She is the Threadbearer. Protect her."
Selene lit a lantern and glanced over her shoulder.
"…Lucien?"
He tensed. "I said my name's Luc."
She looked amused. "I never said it wasn't."
Lucien exhaled slowly.
For the first time since he came back, he felt something that wasn't anger or vengeance.
He felt curiosity.
And maybe, just maybe…
Hope.