Javien could only offer a faint smile, staring into the empty space, keeping the secret of the black contract that had twisted the world’s timeline to himself.

He swore to protect this second chance with his life, even if the price was his sight leaving him unable to see his old companion.

In the suffocating silence of the night, against the cold walls where they stood, one of the small, scarf-wearing creatures nearby began to move slowly toward Olivia.

Olivia held her breath. Her heart hammered against her chest as she watched it approach, as if it had something incredibly important to say.

"Olivia... thank goodness you’re here just in time."

The creature spoke, its voice sounding relieved.

Olivia blinked in the darkness. Her eyes went wide with pure shock.

Wait... they can talk?!

Olivia screamed in her head. She went completely blank, not knowing how to respond because, in her mind, spirits like these only ever appeared to stare.

In her confusion, Olivia slowly turned toward Javien to see his reaction. But before she could speak, the atmosphere in the room shifted drastically.

One by one, more creatures emerged! Some stepped out from small, black portals opening in the air, while others slowly crawled out from the dark shadows of the room.

Zasss!

Olivia gasped. Her survival instinct kicked in, and she immediately ran to hide behind Javien’s solid back, gripping his clothes tightly.

Feeling her sudden change, Javien frowned. His body, which had been standing straight facing the wall, tensed up again.

"What is it...?" Javien asked, his deep voice sounding confused by Olivia’s behavior.

With a look of bewilderment and fear, Olivia peeked out from behind his shoulder. Her index finger trembled as she pointed forward.

"The-there... they’ve all appeared..." Olivia said, her voice stuck in her throat.

Javien’s brow furrowed even deeper.

"Huh?"

Javien turned his head, staring at the empty air in front of them.

But with his pale purple eyes blinded by the cost of the contract he saw nothing but the darkness of the room.

Suddenly, all the mysterious entities filling the silent space bowed their heads in unison. They bowed with deep, solemn respect.

But strangely, they weren’t bowing to Javien... they were bowing directly to Olivia! Even so, they still gestured a sign of respect toward Javien, even though they knew he could no longer see or hear them.

Olivia stood frozen. She watched their actions, her brain still loading.

Huh... why are they bowing to me?

She whispered in her heart, growing more confused by the bizarre situation.

Suddenly, one of the entities, which looked like a demon, spoke in a silent tone, as if it could read the little maid’s thoughts.

"Thank you for saving our master..."

The voice echoed softly in Olivia’s ears. She froze again, unable to believe what she heard.

"Your master...?" Olivia asked softly, without thinking, answering the entity’s words.

"Yeees..." the figure that looked like the leader of the creatures replied from the dim night.

Hearing Olivia suddenly talking to herself toward the empty space, Javien turned his head back.

He stared right at Olivia’s face, watching as her expressions flickered from shock to confusion and fear in just a few seconds.

"Olivia...?" Javien called out, his forehead creased with worry.

As he called her name, he waved his solid hand in front of her face, trying to snap her out of the trance that seemed to have pulled her into another world within the dark room.

His pale purple eyes remained fixed on her, trying to read the rapidly changing expressions on her face in the dim light.

Olivia gave a strange smile.

Did I hear that right?

She thought to herself, her eyes darting between each of the entities.

Why don’t you talk directly to your master... why talk to me?

Olivia wondered, tilting her head slightly as if she couldn’t grasp the logic behind this weird situation. Why did a mere human like her have to be the middleman?

The creatures looked at each other in silence. The room felt paused for a moment before one of the entities behind them spoke softly.

"For now, we cannot say anything due to our master’s request..."

Olivia nodded slowly. Even though she didn’t know what they meant, she just nodded, pretending to understand.

Perhaps there was a contract or a great secret that Javien had locked away from everyone, including himself.

The creatures stood back up politely. Under the dim, flickering light, Olivia could finally see their features clearly.

Their faces and bodies were actually like normal humans, but they were distinguished by slightly sharp nails and long ears not quite like pure elves, but unique, with an aura of their own.

While Olivia was busy examining the scarf-wearing ghosts, Javien suddenly pulled her hand gently. The sudden touch startled her.

"Olivia... I’ve been calling you for a while... why were you so quiet?"

Javien asked, his face full of concern. Olivia shook her head, but her eyes were still fixed on the empty space.

Javien, without saying much, seemed to realize something instantly.

"Olivia... I think you should return to your room now," Javien said, looking seriously at Olivia in the darkness.

His deep voice sounded firm, but there was a hint of worry hidden in his eyes.

Olivia cleared her throat, trying to shake off the awkwardness that had suddenly returned.

"Oh, you’re right..." Olivia replied softly. She then bowed her head slightly toward the scarf-wearing creatures as a sign of respect.

I have to go now...

She whispered in her heart, directing the words to the mysterious guardians. Instantly, all the creatures nodded slowly in the dark, as if they understood and were giving her their blessing.

Olivia turned back to the man in front of her.

"If that’s the case, good night, Javien..."

She said her goodbye and turned to leave.

But just as she was about to take a step, Javien reached out and caught her wrist, stopping the little maid from walking away.

Olivia’s brows knit together. She looked back with a face that was half-puzzled, half-confused.

Eh, What now...?

She thought.

Javien bowed his head in the dim night, his eyes fixed on Olivia’s hand in his grip.

He didn’t let go. In Javien’s mind, still cluttered with the trauma of the past, his fear was overwhelming.

It was as if he didn’t want to let Olivia go alone that night, thinking... she would disappear again in the blink of an eye if he didn’t see her reach her room with his own eyes.

"Let me escort you!" Javien said in a very low tone, sounding both possessive and fragile at the same time.

Olivia raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by the sudden offer from such a top-tier General or should she call him Ophilia’s personal knight? who wanted to escort a mere maid back to the servants’ quarters.

But seeing the remnants of paleness on his face and the hopeful look in his eyes, Olivia finally nodded slowly.

"Alright... let’s go."

_______________

During their walk to Olivia’s room, which was quite a distance away.

Javien didn’t release his grip on her wrist. In fact, his hold felt even tighter as soon as they stepped out of his large, cold chamber.

The atmosphere in the residence corridor at that late hour was completely silent. Only the sound of Javien’s boots and the soft tap of Olivia’s shoes against the stone floor could be heard.

The torchlight on the walls flickered in the night breeze, casting their shadows long and ahead of them.

Olivia walked beside Javien, feeling a mix of emotions. Her face still flushed with embarrassment at being escorted home, but at the same time, she couldn’t keep her eyes still.

Every few seconds, she would glance behind her through the corner of her eye.

And her guess was right! The scarf-wearing creatures were actually still following them from behind! They moved slowly through the dim night light, shifting from one pillar shadow to another, incredibly silent.

Some landed on the floor with their long nails, but they all followed in an orderly fashion, as if they were guarding a prince and princess.

They are truly loyal to Javien...

Olivia whispered in her heart, a sudden sense of sadness tugging at her chest.

But it’s a pity for Javien, because of what happened earlier, he doesn’t even realize they are behind him.

Olivia turned to look at Javien’s profile.

His jaw was set, and his pale purple eyes looked straight ahead, focused on finding the way to the servants’ block.

Javien looked so serious, as if he was on the most critical mission of his life as a knight ensuring Olivia reached her destination safely without disappearing again.

He held her wrist, and they walked down the long, silent residence corridor.

The night was so quiet; only the sound of their footsteps drifted through the night air.

Behind them, the creatures weren’t following in a large group like a parade. Only one or two of them followed from a distance.

Olivia glanced at her wrist, still held firmly by Javien. She tilted her head, studying his face before speaking.

"Javien... you don’t really have to walk me all the way to my door. The servants’ block is just ahead. Besides, I’m used to walking these corridors alone at night."

Javien didn’t stop. He kept walking, his pale purple eyes fixed on the dark path ahead.

His jaw moved slightly before he replied in a very low, deep voice.

"No, Olivia... all sorts of things can happen on a quiet night like this."

Hearing the short but firm answer from a knight so filled with a protective aura, Olivia fell silent. His words sounded so final that she didn’t know how to respond anymore.

Because the corridor was quite narrow, Javien had to walk slightly ahead to lead the way, changing his grip on her.

Now, Javien was only holding the end of Olivia’s long sleeve gently, pulling her softly so they could walk side by side.

Due to that position, Olivia’s gaze automatically fell on Javien’s back.

From behind, under the dim torchlight, Olivia began to study Javien’s solid frame without realizing it.

His shoulders looked so broad and steady, while his posture as a knight emphasized the dense, solid body beneath his dark-colored uniform.

Oh my god...

Olivia whispered in her heart, her face suddenly feeling hot. Her heart, which had calmed down from the ghosts, began to race again because of something else entirely!

She kept staring at his solid back in silence as their feet continued to walk toward the servants’ block in the silence of the night.

Time had passed so quickly, the once small and pathetic boy was now standing before her as a brave, formidable man. She smiled to herself.

Olivia looked at the faint scar on Javien’s hand that was slightly exposed from his sleeve a silent witness to the seven years that were lost, and all the pain the man had endured to change their fate.