The shadow glided along the marble walls, weaving between the pale blue glow of floating chandeliers. Each one pulsed faintly with stored mana, casting light that left almost no dark corners. Still, the shadow knew how to slip where the light didn’t quite reach—along cracks, under rugs, through thin lines of shade.
Ahead, two armored guards stood near a crystal sconce, their spears upright. The crystals embedded in their armor glimmered faintly with protective runes.
The shadow froze, flattening itself so thin it was almost invisible. One of the guards frowned suddenly, eyes darting around.
"...Did you see that?"
The other sighed. "See what?"
"Thought something moved."
"Nothing moves here except us. Quit being paranoid."
The suspicious guard didn’t look convinced, but the shadow was already gone—slipping past their boots, dissolving into a passing ripple across the polished floor.
Deeper into the estate, the shadow crept into the servant quarters. A young maid was folding sheets under the pale light of a chandelier crystal when she stiffened. On the wall behind her, her own shadow smiled.
Her heart jumped into her throat. "W-what—"
The sheets tumbled from her hands as she stumbled back, whispering prayers. But when she looked again, her shadow was perfectly normal, unmoving in the crystal light.
"...I need more sleep," she muttered, clutching her chest.
By then, Nyx was already gone.
The shadow darted across the hall, slipped under the tall double doors, and entered the kitchen. Rows of enchanted ice-boxes hummed faintly, and shelves stacked with bread, fruits, and cured meats filled the air with faint aromas. Nyx quivered—mission accomplished.
Moments later, the shadow retraced its path, dodging guards and slipping through glows of crystal light, until it returned to Zane’s feet.
Zane raised a brow. "Back already, huh?" he whispered, crouching slightly. "So you did find it." A grin tugged at his lips. "Good work, little buddy."