The central square of the capital had completely transformed for the Festival of Harmony. Blue lanterns floated endlessly through the evening sky like scattered diamonds, illuminating the streets beneath them with soft waves of shimmering light. Some drifted lazily above the rooftops while others rose higher and higher until they disappeared among the stars, leaving the entire city glowing beautifully.
Long banners stretched across the streets overhead, dancing gently in the night breeze. Every single one carried the image of the God of Harmony, a woman with flowing, light blue hair and calm eyes that almost seemed alive beneath the lantern light. Her painted expression looked warm enough to soothe even the most restless hearts. Music echoed through every corner of the square as groups of people danced in circles, children ran across the cobblestones holding glowing toys, and couples laughed beneath the sea of blue lights.
The festival felt alive, warm, and bright. At least, it did for Alina.
"Nuri! Hurry up!"
She excitedly dragged him from one food stall to another, happily trying almost everything she could find. Meanwhile, Nuri simply followed a step behind her, carrying several bags in complete silence.
Truthfully, he felt terrible. The overwhelming crowd pressing around him from every direction made him feel trapped, suffocating beneath the forced cheer. Even now, days later, Nuri could not forget the expression in Caelan's eyes during their conversation earlier that week. It almost felt as though the captain's unblinking, amethyst gaze was still watching him from somewhere deep within the throng of bodies.
Nuri quietly lowered his eyes, and as he did, he began to notice something strange. At first glance, the festival appeared perfect, everyone was smiling, laughing, and celebrating together. Yet hidden beyond the bright lantern lights, there were people quietly standing within the shadows, watching.
Some stared toward the square with resentment burning deep in their eyes; others whispered among themselves before turning away bitterly. Nuri couldn't understand it. This festival was meant for everyone. Why did the city feel so divided? Why were some people celebrating while others looked completely detached from the joy surrounding them?
The more Nuri thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He let out a soft sigh, trying to steady his breathing. There was no point in trying to force himself to understand everything right now. Answers came slowly, and he simply needed time.
As he tried to clear his mind, Nuri noticed a large crowd gathered ahead, their attention fixated on someone near the center of the walkway. Curious, he slowly pushed through the dense press of people.
Then he saw him.
It made sense why people were staring. Standing beneath the countless blue lanterns was one of the most beautiful men Nuri had ever seen.
The Heretic.
Lucien wore a dark blue robe with wide, flowing sleeves that swayed elegantly with his movements, accented by strange green patterns that spread across the fabric like living vines illuminated by moonlight. His golden hair had been tied into an intricate bun, accented by several delicate braids resting neatly beneath it. Under the festival lights, he looked entirely unreal. Looking at him, nobody in the crowd could possibly imagine the terrifying truth hidden beneath that flawless appearance.
Just as Nuri instinctively prepared to turn on his heel and leave before being spotted, Lucien’s gaze snapped directly toward him.
The blonde man smiled.
"Dear knight," he said softly. "How unexpected."
In the next moment, Lucien somehow already stood directly before him, his tall frame cutting off any hope of escape. Nuri unconsciously stiffened, feeling utterly dwarfed by the man's sheer presence, much like he had felt in the captain's office.
"How come you're here?" Lucien asked lightly, tilting his head. "Could it be that you've been following me?"
"I'm not—"
"Hey! Who's that?" Alina suddenly appeared beside Nuri, looking curiously at Lucien. "Nuri, is this someone you know?"
Before Nuri could even begin to construct a lie, Lucien spoke first. "Of course," he replied smoothly, his tone warm and perfectly ordinary. "We know each other very well."
Nuri stared blankly at him, entirely thrown by how easily the man put on the facade of a kind, everyday citizen.
"Oh, really?" Alina's eyes immediately brightened. "It's nice knowing Nuri has such a good friend!" She looked directly at Lucien, offering a bright smile. "What's your name?"
"I'm Lucien."
"Ah! I'm Alina!"
Lucien smiled warmly, bowing his head slightly. "A pleasure meeting you."
Nuri looked back and forth between the two of them in utter disbelief. How were they already getting along so quickly?
Then, to his absolute horror, Alina asked, "Would you like to come with us?"
"How delightful," Lucien replied immediately. "I appreciate the invitation."
And just like that, their group of two unexpectedly became three.
As time passed, Nuri's anxiety only spiked higher. Alina and Lucien were getting along absurdly well, their conversations flowing naturally without a single awkward pause, almost as if they had known each other for years. The longer Nuri watched them, the more conflicted he became. Lucien was dangerous, Nuri knew that better than anyone, yet this same person had saved his life in the void. That contradiction made his thoughts unbearably complicated.
"I see you're doing well, Nuri."
Lucien's calm voice suddenly cut through his spiral. Nuri looked up to find those golden eyes resting upon him with that same all-knowing, mocking gaze. It felt like salt being rubbed directly into an open wound.
Nuri's heart hammered against his ribs, but he forced his voice to remain steady. "Yeah," he answered stiffly, stepping closer to Lucien under the guise of looking at a stall. "I'm actually doing great."
Taking a quiet, sharp breath, Nuri leaned in slightly and lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. "In fact, I know your good friend is searching for you. You should really be careful."
The moment the warning left his lips, Nuri immediately walked away toward Alina, who had stopped nearby to buy food from a vendor.
Behind him, Lucien's expression subtly twitched. A faint vein appeared near his neck. Slowly, Lucien closed the distance, stepping up behind Nuri and lowering his head until his breath brushed against the young knight's hair.
"You should be careful as well," he whispered, his voice completely stripped of all festival warmth, leaving only a razor-sharp chill. "I'm sure you already know exactly what I am by now."
Nuri’s body tensed instantly, a cold shiver running down his spine. But before Lucien could continue the threat, Alina happily returned, carrying several skewers of roasted meat.
"Here!" She smiled brightly at Lucien. "Thank you for waiting!"
Lucien straightened immediately, the terrifying coldness vanishing from his face as he smiled gently at her once more. "Thank you for this."
"No problem!" Alina laughed lightly. "This is the least I can do for one of Nuri's good friends!"
Nuri nearly choked on his own breath hearing those words.
As the three continued walking through the festival, Nuri kept a close eye on the blonde man. He realized Lucien was not truly paying attention to the brightly lit stalls or the merchandise. Instead, his gaze continuously drifted toward the same shadowed corners Nuri had noticed earlier, toward the resentful, forgotten people quietly watching the wealth of the capital from afar.
Just what is he planning? Nuri thought, a quiet sense of exhaustion washing over him. Of course Lucien had a hidden objective. People like him never acted without a reason. Still, Nuri honestly lacked the energy to care anymore. Even if Lucien planned something terrible, what exactly could a regular knight do to stop a man who chained gods? Nothing.
Without even realizing it, the three eventually arrived at the very center of the festival square. The atmosphere there was electric; children danced joyfully to the music while bright laughter echoed off the cathedral walls. For many of them, this was probably the happiest day of the year.
Nuri turned toward Lucien once more, intending to tell his sister it was time to leave, but he froze.
For the first time, he noticed something entirely different within those golden eyes.
Sympathy.
Lucien was quietly watching the dancing children beneath the sea of blue lanterns. The emotion only appeared for a brief, fleeting moment, but Nuri saw it with absolute clarity. Why? Nuri wondered, his chest tightening. Why would someone who wielded such terrifying, blasphemous power look at them that way?
Nuri instinctively opened his mouth to ask, but the moment he looked away to check on his sister for a fraction of a second, Lucien was gone. He had vanished completely into the crowd.