The sun dipped low over Esteria, casting long golden shadows across the cobbled streets. The mansion loomed in soft light, windows glowing with warmth as the group returned one by one tired, a little dirty, but mostly in one piece.
Kajala kicked the front door open with dramatic flair. "Honey, we're hooooome!"
"You're not funny," muttered Reiner from behind him.
"You laughed that one time."
"No, I sneezed."
Kajala shrugged and skipped inside anyway. "Close enough."
Rei followed with his usual calm expression, scanning the mansion interior. Rika walked beside him, eyeing every hallway like it was filled with traps. Elrya trailed behind them, humming softly, her staff in hand but relaxed.
Regulus pushed the door open last and immediately slipped on the entry rug again.
Thud.
"WHO PUT THIS HERE—!? I SWEAR THIS RUG IS CURSED!"
Leo walked past him, flipping his red cloak over his shoulder. "Maybe the rug just hates you."
Regulus hissed as he got back up. "It's personal now."
Mentil was waiting for them in the front parlor with a plate of snacks and a proud smile. "Welcome back, heroes."
"Please don't call us that," Rei muttered.
Kajala immediately flopped onto the couch. "Call me that all you want, though. I am very heroic."
"You tripped over your own whip today," Elrya reminded him gently.
"I did that on purpose. For flair."
Reiner stepped into the room behind Mentil, crossing his arms. "You all look like hell."
"And you look like a disappointed dad," Kajala fired back.
Leo leaned against a pillar and said nothing. His eyes were distant still thinking about the sealed fountain and the presence he felt beneath it.
Rei stood by the fireplace, arms folded. "We need to talk. About Maestro. About what we're dealing with."
Everyone quieted. The room shifted from casual to focused.
"Whatever this Sin of Pride is planning," Rei continued, "it's not random. The attacks, the corrupted knights, the old magic in the city... it's connected. We need to figure out how."
"I found something," Leo said suddenly. Everyone looked at him.
"At the fountain. It's ancient sealed magic, hidden well. I think it's from the time of the Lock Queen."
Mentil blinked. "Wait… the Lock Queen? From the legends?"
"She's real," Leo said flatly. "And bad news. She's the one who sealed my powers."
Kajala leaned toward Reiner. "So like… are we just accepting that this guy is some mythical beast god now?"
Reiner whispered back, "I've already accepted that I don't understand 80% of this team."
Leo raised an eyebrow at both of them but continued. "There's something under this city. Something big. If Maestro's connected to it…"
"We're in more danger than we thought," Rei finished.
A moment of silence passed.
Then Kajala slowly raised his hand.
"Uhhh… ARE WE GONNA ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM?!" he blurted out, pointing at Leo. "Like, WHY is this guy STILL! just with us now?! He literally flew in, choked out a kraken, and moved in?!"
Leo crossed his arms. "I didn't move in. I just… never left."
Kajala waved his arms. "That's WORSE!"
Mentil laughed. "I like him."
Rika licked a spoon thoughtfully. "He smells like… copper and regret."
"…What," Rei asked, blinking.
"She's just being weird again," Elrya said kindly.
Leo sighed and turned to Rei. "Is this what it's like traveling with friends?"
"Yes," Rei said. "This is the nightmare."
Kajala pouted and plopped on Rei's shoulder. "Aww, don't be like that, roomie."
Rei shoved him off lightly. "Not cuddling tonight either."
"I didn't say anything!"
"You were thinking it."
Kajala groaned dramatically and collapsed onto the floor. "My suffering… my loneliness…"
Regulus tripped on the rug again.
Night Falls
Eventually, the group quieted. Plans would resume tomorrow. For now, the mansion was warm, safe, and at least for tonight quiet.
Rei stood by the window, watching the distant lights of Esteria flicker like stars.
The fight ahead wasn't over. Maestro was still out there. So was the truth.
But for now... they were together.
And that had to be enough.
The house had gone quiet.
Everyone had either passed out or found their own little corners to rest in. The ticking of an old clock echoed faintly through the halls. Outside, the wind whistled past the windows of the mansion.
Rei stood alone in the dimly lit hallway, rubbing the back of his neck. He wasn't tired. Not really. Sleep came and went like a stranger lately.
He wandered into one of the mansion's bathrooms, quietly closing the heavy wooden door behind him. The air inside was cool and smelled faintly of old soap and lavender.
He stepped up to the sink and turned on the water.
It gurgled softly as he splashed a bit onto his face, letting it drip down slowly. His hands gripped the edge of the sink as he looked up at the mirror.
And for a moment—
Just a moment—
He saw someone else.
Not the boy with tired eyes and messy dark hair staring back at him.
But a man.
A hardened soldier with short-cropped hair, sharp cheekbones, and lines etched deep from years of war. His eyes were colder then not from cruelty, but from seeing too much. His body bulkier, his jaw set, posture precise. He wore the uniform he died in, with medals glinting across his chest and a thin trail of blood running from his temple.
Colonel Rei Saotome.
Rei's breath caught.
The reflection didn't move with him at first.
It just stared back.
Then—blink.
It was gone.
Back to now. Just him. Rei Lyer. The kid with no magic and a cursed loop.
He let out a shaky breath, realizing his grip had cracked the porcelain slightly.
"...Get it together," he muttered to himself.
But his reflection stared back like it knew something he didn't.
Like it was waiting.
Watching.
And somewhere deep inside, Rei knew the loops were starting to weigh on him more than he wanted to admit.
He turned off the sink, dried his hands, and left the room without looking back at the mirror again.