The fourth masked man bolted forward without hesitation. His footsteps scraped sharply against the stone, echoing down the narrow alley, as he closed the distance in an instant. The knife in his hand caught the last rays of the setting sun, a glinting flash of lethal intent. He swung, the blade arcing toward Akitsu Shouga’s side with precision born of malice.

  Akitsu reacted on instinct. His body twisted just enough for the blade to slice through empty air, a whisper away from his ribs. In a single fluid motion, he stepped inward and redirected the attacker’s wrist with the edge of his forearm. The knife slipped past harmlessly, clattering to the ground.

  Another strike followed, then another—each faster, more desperate than the last. Steel clashed against stone as Akitsu deflected, ducked, and pivoted. His movements were calm, almost languid, precise as though he were guiding the attacks away rather than meeting them head-on. Each dodge and block flowed seamlessly, a quiet rhythm of control in the chaos.

  The masked man leapt backward suddenly, creating distance. He straightened and let out a low, amused chuckle.

  “You’re not half bad,” he said. “I can see why these guys couldn’t restrain you.”

  Akitsu lowered his stance, eyes sharp and steady. “I appreciate the compliment,” he replied calmly. “But I don’t need it.”

  “Awww.” The masked man placed a hand theatrically over his chest. “I was starting to feel something warm in my heart. Don’t you feel it too?”

  Akitsu frowned. “Sorry. I have a fiancée. And I’m not really into guys.”

  The masked man froze for a heartbeat. “…That’s sad,” he said lightly, shaking his head. “I guess I’ll have to retreat. I’ll see you soon, my darling.”

  With a dramatic flourish, he turned and vanished into the maze of rooftops and shadowed alleyways before Akitsu could pursue him.

  Akitsu stood still, unsettled, his chest tightening. “…What was that all about?” he muttered. “Why would he suddenly attack me and then run away?”

  A soft flutter echoed beside him. Seraphine Orion appeared, wings trembling slightly, tails swaying with anxious energy.

  “Oi! Where did they go?” she shouted. “They suddenly ran away while they were chasing me!”

  “They ran away from me too,” Akitsu said, eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkened alleys. “I wonder what happened…”

  His expression suddenly stiffened. “…Where is Kaoru?”

  Seraphine froze midair, tails flicking nervously. “In there,” she said, pointing toward the remnants of the birdcage.

  Akitsu turned. The protective structure—twisted vines and interlocking branches—was disintegrating. Glowing fragments drifted upward, scattering into the night breeze like embers from a dying fire.

  He dashed forward. Inside the cage, there was no one.

  “…Where is she?” His voice dropped, tight with panic. “She isn’t in there.”

  “What?!” Seraphine flew closer, her voice trembling. “Where did she go!? She was inside a moment ago!!”

  Akitsu turned sharply toward her. “Don’t tell me…” His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms. “You failed to protect her?! Where did she go!? Can’t you sense her?!”

  “That’s not how my power works!!” Seraphine snapped, ears flat. “I can only sense her if she’s in danger!”

  “But can’t you teleport to her location?!” Akitsu shouted, frustration and fear cracking his voice. “How useless can a spirit like you be, calling yourself a guardian angel?!”

  “I cannot teleport!!” Seraphine yelled back. “I can only do that if she’s in danger! It’s one of the rules in the Wish-Maker’s rules list!!”

  Silence fell. Akitsu’s eyes, fierce and unblinking, trembled with a mixture of anger, guilt, and helplessness.

  “Can you stop staring at me?!” Seraphine snapped again, snapping him from his frozen state. “We need to find out where she is instead of wasting time here! Let’s go get the watchmen—they should be around since it’s almost dusk!”

  “…Damn it,” Akitsu muttered, jaw tight.

  At that moment, a shadow detached itself from the rooftop above. A figure stood there, holding an unconscious body by the collar.

  The fourth masked man.

  Before Akitsu could react, the figure leapt down smoothly, landing without a sound on the cobblestones below. The moonlight glinted off his uniform: a black blazer flowing behind him, the red sash of the Disciplinary Committee marking him unmistakably.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “It’s Kael Ardent,” Akitsu muttered under his breath.

  “There’s no need to worry,” Kael declared, straightening proudly. “I, Kael Ardent, have arrived!”

  Akitsu glared at him. “You could’ve come sooner!! Kaoru was kidnapped by a group of masked thugs!”

  “Oh.” Kael blinked, tilting his head. “I don’t know who that is, but I’ll help!”

  “We have no leads as to where she went,” Akitsu said sharply. “How can we find her?”

  “Oh?!” Kael crossed his arms, voice calm but slightly amused. “You have no leads? It’s going to take a long time if we don’t know how or where she went. I’ll inform the watch house and tell the victim’s parents about what happened.”

  He glanced at Akitsu. “In the meantime, why don’t you go and separately search for her, Akitsu?”

  “…I guess so.”

  “Hurry up!” Seraphine urged. “Let’s go search for her! It’s almost nightfall—we won’t be able to do anything after dark!”

  Akitsu nodded and ran in the opposite direction. Kael watched him go, his expression unreadable. “…I hope you find her, Akitsu,” he muttered.

  They searched relentlessly. Akitsu and Seraphine ran through winding streets and shadowed alleys, checking every corner, every empty doorway, every space where someone could hide.

  By the time they paused, the moon hung high, silver and cold, reflecting in the puddles and wet stones.

  They collapsed into a dark alley. Akitsu sat on the ground, shoulders trembling. “I can’t find her…” Tears streaked his face.

  “Yeah,” Seraphine said quietly, tails drooping. “The town just started searching for her. We might be too late if this takes too long.”

  “…What do we do?” Akitsu asked weakly.

  “We’ll have to stop for now,” Seraphine replied. “And go meet that Sora Amamiya guy. You promised to duel him today, remember?”

  “…Oh yeah,” Akitsu said quietly, wiping his tears. “I forgot about that.”

  A voice emerged from the darkness, cold and teasing. “You forgot, huh? Too bad—I didn’t forget about it.”

  Akitsu looked up. “It’s you… How did you find me?” he asked, voice hoarse.

  Sora Amamiya stepped out, blue hoodie fluttering lightly in the night breeze. Two semicircle blue blades hung at his sides. The bloody bandages that once covered his face were gone, revealing scars now faint in the moonlight.

  “I don’t know,” Sora said. “I searched all over the town and found you here. Why were there so many people outside? It made it harder for me to get here without being found out.”

  “The whole town is searching for Ryozen Kaoru,” Akitsu said sharply. “Do you happen to know where she is?”

  “I have no idea who you’re talking about,” Sora replied, voice calm. “I don’t remember being assigned to kidnap anyone today.”

  “So you do kidnap people, huh?” Seraphine snapped, tails lashing.

  “Yes,” Sora answered. “But for different reasons. I have no part in this. I only follow my master’s orders.”

  “I’d like to see your boss!!” Seraphine barked.

  Sora glanced at Akitsu. “Who’s this flying fox? I don’t remember anything about her.”

  “I’m not a flying fox!” Seraphine shouted, floating upward, fur bristling. “I’m a kitsune!”

  “Seeing Amamiya’s boss is useless,” Akitsu said firmly. “There’s no point—he didn’t do it.”

  “But still!” Seraphine protested. “I don’t trust him! Villains will always be villains! Villains are filthy lying scum!”

  “This fox has an attitude,” Sora muttered under his breath.

  “STOP IT, YOU TWO!!” Akitsu’s spiritual energy flared, spilling into the alley. Both froze.

  “If you don’t like him,” Akitsu said coldly, “go see who’s in charge yourself. And you—we are rescheduling the duel to another day, understand?!”

  They both nodded instantly.

  “First of all,” Akitsu continued, voice steady despite exhaustion, “we will find Kaoru. We won’t do anything else until then.”

  Sora slowly raised a hand. “…Speak up.”

  “My boss sent me here to escort you to him,” Sora said nervously. “He wanted to tell you something.”

  “And why is that?” Akitsu asked.

  “I don’t know. I’m just following orders,” Sora replied. “But I think it’s important. Something you need to hear.”

  Akitsu exhaled, tension easing slightly. “…Alright. Lead the way.”

  Sora turned, walking toward an empty bar at the edge of town. Akitsu Shouga and Seraphine Orion followed silently behind, ready for whatever lay ahead.