It was that time again.
Once every six months, the Monster Hunt began in the North.
A cursed season when darkness fell deeper than usual—three consecutive nights when the sky turned pitch black, blotting out even the stars. That was when the monsters came, slipping through the veil and into towns under cover of night.
But the North was prepared.It always had been.
The Black Knights, trained solely for this, stood guard—silent, lethal, relentless.
For years, Abigel had led them with Theo at his side. The same rhythm, the same blood-soaked routine. But now...
Theo would not ride this time.
And the royals who had so eagerly gathered days ago? They had already fled back to the safety of their palaces.
"I'll fight with Abigel," Kaelen said, stepping forward.
His Cerulean Aura—a striking blue light—was rare and powerful. Monsters feared it.But not as much as Red Aura—Theo's. The raw flame that could incinerate demons in seconds.
And the monsters... they could sense its absence now.
"They'll come in greater numbers," Theo muttered grimly, his gaze sharp. "They know I won't be there."
Then he looked at Kaelen—and said something that made the air go still.
"I want Aria to go."
Kaelen froze.
"She's never done anything like this," he said slowly, almost in disbelief. "She's not... that kind of girl."
Tea parties. Book clubs. Banquets.Aria had always been the southern kind of noble—delicate, bright, untouched by war. Even if Kaelen had read in letters about her training, even if he'd seen flickers of power—this was not what he wanted for his daughter.
"No," he said firmly. "Aria won't be going."
But Theo's voice was colder now, more resolute.
"I'll ask her what she wants," he replied. "She didn't come to the North to hide, Kaelen."
Kaelen's jaw tightened.
"You think sending her into that chaos will help? She doesn't even know what she's doing, Theodore!"
"That's why I'm sending her," Theo said. His voice didn't rise—but it cut. "Because one day, she will have to face worse than this. And you know it too."
A long silence fell between them.
Kaelen's fists clenched, his breath heavy.
But Theo didn't flinch. He turned to his butler.
"Alwin. Bring Aria."
"Right away, Your Grace."
As Alwin left the room, the old walls of the Northern mansion seemed to groan with the weight of what was to come.
Outside, the darkness was already gathering.
The training ground echoed with the clang of steel and the grunts of effort.
Aria moved gracefully, her blade slicing through the air with a precision honed through weeks of relentless practice. But she was still not fast enough.
With a swift strike, Isaac, one of the most seasoned Black Knights, disarmed her and knocked her to the ground. His blade rested at her throat, gleaming with the finality of defeat.
She let out a breathless laugh.
"Fine, I lost, Isaac."
He chuckled and offered his hand.
"You're getting better, my lady. Much better."
As Aria stood and dusted herself off, she glanced around. The other knights—grizzled veterans of the North—nodded in agreement. Not out of courtesy. Out of respect.
Before she could respond, Alwin appeared at the edge of the arena.
"My lady, His Grace is asking for you. I'll take you to him."
Aria wiped sweat from her brow.
"Can I freshen up before I see Uncle?"
"No time. We must go immediately. Black Knights—prepare to ride tonight," Alwin ordered.
Aria's heart skipped a beat. Tonight?
Inside the Northern office, the air was heavy.
Kaelen stood with arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Abigel leaned silently against the wall. And at the head of the room, Theo sat upright—his body failing him, but his presence as commanding as ever.
"Aria," he began, "this will be your first real battle."
Her eyes widened—but she didn't speak. She simply stood straighter, swallowing the spike of nerves that hit her gut.
"The Monster Hunt begins tonight. You and Abigel will lead one squad. Kaelen will take the other half of the Black Knights."
"I can't fight this time. So I'm trusting our North to you."
"Yes, Uncle," she said, the words escaping with more confidence than she felt.
But Theo's expression hardened.
"Listen carefully. If you're injured, do not use your aura to heal yourself."
Her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Your aura is still unstable. I don't want it triggered in the field. You'll rely on your sword—and your mind. Not your magic."
Aria felt the cold coil of fear wrap around her chest.
No aura? Then what if... What if I can't survive?
Even Icarus wouldn't be there to save her this time.
Theo's gaze pierced her hesitation.
"Do you have anything to say?"
Aria's mouth opened, then closed again.
Nothing came out.
So, she just nodded.
"Good," Theo said. "Then get ready."
The room was quiet—too quiet for a night like this.
Aria stood before the mirror, adjusting the last strap of her dark leather armor. Her silver hair, usually soft and cascading, was now tightly twisted into a bun. Her sword hung steady at her side; a dagger nestled against her thigh.
The reflection staring back at her looked older than the girl she remembered.
Just as she reached for her gloves, the door creaked open.
It was Kaelen.
He didn't say a word at first—just stepped in and looked at her, really looked at her. His little girl, now armored for war. His eyes glinted, not with fear, but with something heavier. Regret.
Without asking permission, he walked over and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I'm proud of you," he said, voice low. "But part of me wishes I could lock you away from all this."
Aria didn't reply. She just held him tighter. In his arms, for a moment, she wasn't a warrior. She was just his daughter.
"I'll be fine," she whispered. "You raised me well, Father."
Kaelen pulled back and placed his hand gently on her cheek.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
He left before his emotions could show.
Aria stood alone again.
But not quite.
She took one last deep breath and turned toward the window where the Northern sky bled red into dark.
"System," she called out.
A soft chime echoed in her head.
— [SYSTEM ONLINE]—
"AM I READY ?."
> [USER: ARIA ALTHAEA]> Aura: Locked (Golden — Unstable)> Combat Efficiency: 67%> Mental Focus: 84%> Risk Level: HIGH> Recommended Action: Caution. Avoid prolonged exposure to aura-sensitive threats.
Aria exhaled sharply. "FINE LETS DO THIS".