In a quaint, mist-cloaked village nestled amidst the rolling hills of England’s countryside, an ominous tale began to unfold. The village of Windermere, known for its peaceful charm, had become a place of whispered dread. One by one, the children began to vanish, leaving behind only echoes of laughter that once filled the cobbled streets. Yet, no trace of them could be found. Fear gripped the hearts of the villagers, but none dared speak of it.

And so, our tale begins with Rosé, a young woman with eyes sharp as a hawk’s, and a mind twice as keen. Sent by the crown under mysterious circumstances, she arrived in Windermere not for leisure, but to unravel the enigma of the missing children.

Rose: The Missing Children

The air in Windermere hung heavy, the mist curling tighter as if to suffocate the courage from those who dared to defy it. The villagers gathered in the square, their faces pale, their eyes darting nervously. Whispers flitted from one to another like frightened birds, each voice carrying the weight of their collective dread. 


Rosé stood at the center, her expression carved from stone, though within her chest, her heart beat with a furious rhythm. Helene lingered at her side, her body a broken shadow of its former self, yet her single hand rested firmly upon the hilt of her sword, its edge dull with disuse but her grip still firm. 


The silence shattered with the chime of a bell—a singular, haunting note that echoed across the square. The mist parted, and from its depths stepped a figure cloaked in shadow. Joker had returned. 


CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE FIRST RIDDLE