The evening before the meeting with Grisha — the evening after hearing Stella's plan.
"There's a big lake on the right side of the mansion," Stella explained. "You can even see it from the varandar of Grisha's room. According to Cornelia, Grisha's a complete degenerate. He spends his evenings there, pretending to enjoy the view, but really, he's spying on girls bathing in the lake."
---
"If we use that... seducing him might be the easiest way to get close to Gable."
Wendy was calm. Focused. She nodded. "I can handle it."
Joseph wasn't having it.
"This is insane! No way—no way I'm agreeing to that!" he shouted, voice cracking with anger.
"Joseph," Wendy said gently, trying to bring him back down. "It's just a plan. He won't even see me clearly."
Joseph kept shaking his head, pacing. "You don't know that! You're going to let that pervert watch you—?!"
Wendy stepped in and cupped his face with both hands, forcing him to look at her.
"Come on," she said softly. "It's for the mission. One glance isn't going to kill me."
Joseph looked like a child being made to swallow bitter medicine.
"Look at me," Wendy said again, trying not to smile. "If we pull this off… I'll reward you."
Joseph blinked. "What kind of reward?"
Wendy leaned in and whispered against his ear, smirking,"I'll let you hit… the back."
Joseph stood there frozen. His ears turned red.
And just like that, the plan was set in motion.
The next evening, everything unfolded perfectly. Grisha saw just enough. And by the next morning—he made contact.
Just as Stella predicted.
---
As for Elias, she returned to the tavern where she'd gathered information the night before. It was the closest spot to the main stage—where Egotheon himself would appear and claim the dead artifact. So, she made a decision:
She'd work there. At least until the festival.
"You're looking for a job?" The bar owner eyed her with suspicion. "Didn't you say yesterday you were here for business?"
"Ah, that…" Elias scratched her head, playing along. "I just took leave from my usual work to attend the festival. But with nothing else to do while I wait, I figured I'd help out."
The bar owner narrowed his eyes… then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Alright, young lady. Can you serve customers?"
"S-Sure! I can handle that," Elias said, trying to sound confident.
"Good! Welcome to Windy Up—the best tavern in Windrise." He tossed an apron her way. "Now put this on. Your shift starts now."
"By the way," he added with a grin, "call me Owen."
Elias caught the apron, barely, and gave a stiff, awkward laugh.She hadn't expected him to say yes so fast.
---
Von had been running through the darkened roads all night, the wind screaming past him, the stars blurring above like scattered ash. His thoughts were a storm—but his destination was clear:
Windrise.
But the path ahead wasn't going to be that simple.
Something stirred in the trees. No… not something. Many things. The wind around him didn't feel natural anymore—it twisted, pulsed, like breath held in anger. The branches swayed, not with the breeze, but as if something unseen moved through them.
Von slowed, his eyes narrowing. The air felt heavy—thicker than it should.
That's when he heard it.
A whistle.
Not a bird, not the wind—no, it was sharper, intentional. It was the signal of Dark Wing.
"How do they know I'm here?" he muttered, gripping the hilt of Clock Hands.
Out of the shadows, cloaked figures stepped onto the road, their eyes faintly glowing, their aura shimmering with faint wind sigils, mixed with dark elements. Ten of them. Wind blessings. That meant one thing.
Egotheon's hounds.
Von exhaled slowly. "Of course… he wouldn't let me just walk into Windrise."
The leader stepped forward, masked, silent. He raised a hand. The air around them shifted violently—blades of wind danced along the trees, slicing leaves before they could fall.
Von's eyes began to glow, faint and steady.
Lotus Eyes: Activated.
Time slowed. Every movement was laid bare. Every weakness—illuminated.
"Fine," Von whispered. "You want to delay me? Let's see if you can."
He stepped forward, alone, against the wind.
But Windrise wasn't far. And nothing—not even Egotheon's followers—would keep him from reaching it in time.
Will he make it in time? Or will the Dark Wings keep him from reaching his destination?