Cerberus & Wastu

From behind the trees, the three of them watched the gates of Niagara.

Tall. Solid. Surrounded by black iron fences that rose like fangs. Dozens of armed guards checked every visitor one by one. No one passed without being questioned. Without being inspected.

Arion took a deep breath.

Entering the city under these conditions… was nearly impossible.

Meeting the Master Alchemy—just as his father instructed—would be far more difficult than he thought.

And he couldn't explain anything to Aria or Nari.

They didn't yet know that he was now a fugitive of the kingdom.

Didn't know that the blood of an Aetherlyn prince ran through his veins.

As he was still thinking of a way to enter without raising suspicion, the wind blew a crumpled flyer that got caught in a tree branch.

Curious, Arion reached for it.

The flyer… made his blood freeze for a moment.

WANTED

Name: Arion

Features: Bright blue eyes, silver hair, teenage.

Reward: 88 million Qualun.

"They're throwing away this much money... just to catch me?"

Arion clenched the flyer tightly. Something was wrong.

This wasn't about escape. This... was a hunt.

He quickly tore the flyer before Aria or Nari could see it.

But before he could think further, the mysterious sword wrapped in cloth on his back began to glow.

A soft light seeped through the fabric, as if signaling.

Urging them to enter the city.

But the light only lasted for a moment—then faded, like the last breath of a tired creature.

"Aria… can I borrow your cloak."

Arion spoke in a quiet but serious tone.

Aria looked at him in confusion for a moment, but eventually handed over her cloak without many questions.

She knew, when Arion spoke like that... it wasn't for something trivial.

With the cloak covering his body and the hood hiding his face, Arion blended into the crowd lining up at the gate.

Aria and Nari stayed by his side, keeping just enough distance—not suspicious, but close enough if anything happened.

When it was their turn, a guard looked at them with sharp suspicion.

His eyes caught a glimpse of blue light under Arion's hood.

And in that instant, his suspicion grew. Burned.

But fate played its hand again.

A commotion broke out at the back of the line. Two visitors arguing furiously, nearly killing each other.

The guards turned away.

That fleeting moment was enough.

"Now!" Arion whispered, and the three of them slipped quickly past the checkpoint, entering the heart of Niagara.

The streets were crowded. Towering buildings stood tall, but in every corner, royal spies were lurking.

Arion kept his face hidden beneath the hood.

He hadn't returned Aria's cloak.

He couldn't—not yet.

Because in this city… one wrong look, one wrong step—and everything could fall apart.