BETRAYAL IN THE SHADOWS

Keito made his way down the quiet corridor to Ragra's room, his footsteps echoing faintly on the tiled floor. Reaching the door, he knocked firmly. A moment later, Ragra opened it, his expression calm but guarded.

"You okay?" Keito asked, his voice steady.

"Yeah, I'm good," Ragra replied, stepping aside to let Keito in.

Keito didn't waste time. "I'm sure you know why I'm here," he said bluntly.

Ragra nodded, leaning against the wall. "Yeah. What is it you want to know?"

Keito's gaze was sharp as he got straight to the point. "Do you know why those mages were after you?"

Ragra's face hardened. "No, I have no clue. I've never encountered mages before and haven't heard much about them either." His tone was serious, leaving no room for doubt.

"Well," Keito said, his arms crossed, "they wanted to capture you because they believe you hold vital information."

"Vital information about what?" Ragra asked, his brows furrowing.

"They claim they're trying to open up a portal to bring the Gods down to punish us for using inner," Keito explained.

Ragra tilted his head slightly, his expression contemplative. "Hmmm… it does all seem linked, you know," he muttered after a moment.

"Linked how?" Keito asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.

"Well, I'm sure you're aware that we Beserkers are forbidden from using inner. It's always been that way," Ragra began, his voice tinged with frustration. "I'm not entirely sure of the exact reason, but it's something deeply ingrained in our history. I know there's a sacred library within the royal castle in Nordia that supposedly holds secrets about the world, including why inner is forbidden to us. But I've never been inside it myself."

Keito's eyes narrowed as the pieces began to fall into place. "That makes a lot of sense. If there's vital information locked away in that library, the mages must be trying to use you as a key to access it."

Ragra frowned. "But that's impossible. There's no way they could have intel on our secrets. Mages have never set foot in Nordia; they stay far from our lands."

Keito shook his head. "Actually, that's not true. Recently, there was a mage known as 'The Father.' He was killing beasts in Delria and snooping around Nordia too. He's one of the most dangerous and high-profile mages we've been tracking. The Beast Organization managed to take out most of his subordinates, but he escaped. We don't know what his exact purpose was down there, but I'm positive it's connected to all of this."

Ragra's expression darkened. "The Father… I've heard whispers of his name, but I never thought he'd be bold enough to tread near Nordia."

Keito nodded grimly. "Whatever he's after, it's tied to this forbidden knowledge in Nordia. If they're trying to summon the Gods, it's possible he's already uncovered part of the key."

The two stood in silence for a moment, the gravity of the situation settling over them.

"We need to figure this out," Keito said finally, his tone resolute. "If they're after Nordia's secrets, then this isn't just about the mages versus us. This is about something much bigger."

Ragra nodded, his jaw clenched. "Agreed. But we'll need to tread carefully. If they're willing to go to these lengths, they won't stop until they get what they want."

"There's a strong chance you'll be sent back to the agency," Keito said, his tone calm but edged with seriousness. "The higher-ups are concerned it's too risky for you to stay here. If the mages came for you once, they could come again—and next time, it might be worse."

Ragra frowned, frustration flashing across his face. "That's just great," he said, crossing his arms. "I've been making real progress here. I haven't even been on an actual mission yet, and now they're just going to send me back? Feels like a waste."

"I get it," Keito replied. "But it's not just about your progress. It's about keeping you—and everyone else—safe."

Ragra hesitated before asking, "Why me, though? Why do they think I'm such a risk?"

Keito exhaled deeply, glancing at him with a grave expression. "That's the other thing I needed to tell you. One of the mages said something… disturbing. They claimed the agency is the reason they knew you were here. Think about it, Ragra. How else would they have known?"

Ragra's expression shifted from frustration to unease. "That doesn't make sense," he said, shaking his head. "The agency would never sell out one of their own. That's insane. There has to be some other explanation—a coincidence, maybe."

"I want to believe that too," Keito said evenly. "But think about it. Not only did they know you were here, but you were also recommended to us even before the showcase. That feels like more than just bad luck."

Ragra swallowed hard, his confidence faltering. "You're saying the agency—the people who recruited me—might have betrayed me? No way. That's impossible."

Keito's gaze hardened. "I hope you're right. But we can't ignore the possibility. If they did give up your location, it changes everything. That's why, if the higher-ups decide to send you back, I'm going to insist they keep your return under wraps until you're back in Labre. We can't take any risks. If the agency is compromised, telling them you're on the way could set you up for an ambush."

Ragra clenched his fists, his frustration giving way to a mix of fear and anger. "So, what do I do?"

"For now," Keito said, his voice steady, "you stay ready. Keep training, stay sharp, and prepare for whatever decision the higher-ups make. If they do send you back, keep your eyes open. Trust no one—not until we know who's pulling the strings."

Ragra nodded slowly, the weight of the situation sinking in. "Got it. But if the agency really did sell me out… someone's going to pay for it."

Keito smirked faintly. "That's the spirit. Now stay focused. I'll report back to the higher-ups and make sure they handle this carefully."

As Keito turned to leave, Ragra stared at the door, the uneasy feeling settling deep in his gut. He had trusted the agency without question. Now, for the first time, he wasn't so sure.