After delivering some important documents, Haze walked to Dryad's house. He also bought some sweets along the way. Haze always treated her as a little sister. He did have a big sister. But then he thought that maybe having a little sister would be fun too.

He looked up to the sky, the drizzling rain made the atmosphere around the town darker than usual. He could see the gray clouds above and wondered how much longer was going to be a bad day.

After a while, he noticed someone familiar wearing a green coat and an umbrella.

He frowned "Dryad?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned to him. She blinked, "Haze?"

Haze sighed and quickly approached her. He placed his hands on his hips, "what are you doing here?" he questioned. "I was about to visit your house."

"Really?" Dryad raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Sir Alvard said you're unwell, so I came to check on you. Anyway, here!" he handed her a bag full of sweets. "How have you been? Are you feeling better now?"

"Hum... yeah, not really.. still a bit light headed, though. And a bit burning up."
Dryad received the bags and smiled brightly. She opened the bag a little and peeked inside while continuing her words, "Oh, wow, thanks! You're a nice guy!"

"So why are you here? Where are you going? It's cold outside," Haze asked.

"I'm going to the grand library, of course!" She walked again and Haze followed suit.

"Seriously, Dryad, why? You should get back home. It's almost sunset, anyway. Sir Alvard gave you permission not to work for today, right?"

"Yes. But it's okay. Besides, there is an infirmary inside the mansion complex, right? I'll stop by there first."

Haze sighed. "Well... I think I have no choice but to go back to the mansion with you."
He was actually planning to go home right after visiting her, but looking at her pale complexion and going out alone... he decided he might as well accompany her.

"Oh, Haze, I don't want to trouble you. I can go alone, though," Dryad suggested, but Haze waved off the idea.

"It's fine, really. Let's just head back together. After all, it's a gentleman's job to help a damsel in distress, true?" he smiled at her.

She chuckled and nodded back. She walked beside him as they both started making their way to the mansion.

______________________________________

As they arrived, they immediately felt that something amiss.

"So silent... where is everybody?" Dryad whispered to herself.

They noticed that there was indeed nobody in the mansion. They could only hear their footsteps echoing through the hall and felt a cold breeze of wind outside. The place seemed empty... but something about it feels ominous... like there's an unsettling feeling that they cannot shake off.

Haze scratched the back of his neck, puzzled. Though it was stormy outside this morning, he knew it was quite bustling inside the mansion before he went out to the post office.

Dryad turned to Hazard who was walking side by side with her.
"This is... odd," she said.

Haze looked at her, his face serious.
"It's true... something is not right. This place usually has people by this time but I don't see anyone. We should go and check if everything is alright. Let me check again outside and see if I can find someone." He started walking towards the door that led outside one more time.

As he checked on outside, meanwhile Dryad wandered around the mansion, only to find no one. She opened the window, peeked out and glanced below at him. "How is it? Anyone outside?" She asked, almost shouted.

He looked up too as he noticed her gaze from the window. Their eyes met, sharing the same confusion. His expression was still serious but now there's a hint of worry in it. He shook his head.
"It seems that we are alone..."

"Huh? This is indeed strange." She frowned and started to go upstairs to the third story. But... no one.

As she walked upstairs, she heard a faint noise coming from the stairs below.

"Hey! wait.." Haze called out for her as he climbed up the stairs behind her.

She turned around, "Ah! It's you, Haze! You scared me there."

He sighed, "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I was just worried that we are the only ones left here..."

"Now that there is no one in the mansion, let's go check the library!" she said.

Haze nodded in agreement and they stepped again downstairs. They walked through the corridor that led to the Grand Library. Only the soft light of sunset passed through the grand window beside them. All lamps and candles died out.

As she opened the door, the sight shocked them!

Everything was in disaster, as if a storm was just passing by.

"W...what on earth?!" Dryad gasped and covered her mouth.

Haze looked around the room in shock, taking everything in. The tables and chairs were turned over and there was a huge crack on one of the walls. There were also signs of broken glass from what seems to be some sort of fight. "What happened here?! I only left for several hours!"

Her heartbeat raced as they walked and inspected the library. Even the heavy eight rounded table was turned over! They stepped on the scattered papers and books.

She gasped in fear as she noticed blood on the floor. She started to panic. "No...no..."
She took a few steps back and then rushed to check on further.

"no... Sir Alvard?! Where are you?!" She called. But there was no response to her call, and the silence in the library is deafening. "Virgil?!"

Haze's eyebrows knitted together, thinking hard. He kneeled down, placing a hand on the floor to take a look closer at the sight.
"What might have happened while I'm away?" he whispered to himself. He then caught sight of a small bottle. He didn't know that it was an antidote which was dropped by Lord Vlad.

"Dryad!" He called and stood up. Dryad came closer frantically.
"Dryad, calm down.." He asked softly.

"Let's split up and look for Master Alvard! Quick! Something's not right! Definitely not right!" She was clearly panicking.

He nodded and agreed, "I know. But cool your head down. Be careful." He split up from her to look around the library, checking every corner and rooms.

She could hear him calling out for Sir Alvard too.

"Sir Alvard! Virgil! Where are you?" Haze called.

She hurriedly went upstairs, opening the Head Librarian's office. But Sir Alvard was not there either. It was all empty.

Haze inspected the study room...meeting room...every nook and cranny. He noticed the books on the shelves were knocked over and there was a broken chair lying on the floor too.

"Sir Alvard! Virgil!" He called again. "Where could they be?" He asked himself, still searching for his superior and a friend.

Dryad felt dreadful, she was searching for them while sobbing.

He heard the sound of her sobbing and stopped for a while. He walked towards her, concerned.
"Stop it. Don't cry," His voice is full of worry.

"No..." she wiped her tears abruptly "I'm scared... thinking that something bad happened to them... What should we do now?" She spoke between her sobbing.

He sighed and wiped his face. He was also worried sick and wanted to scream if he could, but as a man he tried to appear strong for her sake. Besides, he ever faced a worse situation than this.
"Don't worry, I will not let anything happen to you. But we need to calm down first. Alright? Let's try looking for them again and check if we can find any clue about what happened here," his voice is reassuring though a bit shaken.

Haze glanced to the floor on his side and his eyes accidentally caught something. A pocket watch! He walked and picked up the item, then inspected it.

Yes, in fact, that pocket watch indeed belonged to Sir Alvard, he accidentally dropped it during the chaotic fight.

Haze turned his attention towards her again.
"You recognize this, right?" he asked.

Her eyes widened, "That's... That's Master Alvard's pocket watch!"

"Yes. That's true... I knew he never dropped it so carelessly like this. Never let anyone touch it. It is a precious memento for him," He said, holding the pocket watch tight as he knew the history behind this item. He caressed the initial engraved in the back with his thumb. AV, stands for Alexey Vasilliev. He remembered the two brothers exchanged their watches. His expression turned somber. He still couldn't move on from the loss, knowing that he was partially responsible for Alexey's death.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. But he still felt the guilt. His eyes are now filled with tears as well as his gaze pinned to the earth.
"I... I'm so sorry... that was all my fault... I caused you to face death. Now, I couldn't save your brother too.. I even don't know anything about what happened to your brother," he whispered as if talking directly to the late Alexey.

Dryad stared at him with sympathy, unable to find the right words to comfort him.

He wiped away his tears.
"I'm sorry, Dryad. Sorry for appearing like this. I told you to calm down, but in fact, I myself can't help but feel dreadful as well. I'm worried sick and scared like you do. Sir Alvard was always like a father to me."

"Haze, let's focus on finding them now. I think there are still places that we haven't checked on yet."

He nodded, determined to find the truth behind what happened here.
"You're right. Let's not give up until we know the truth!" Haze's voice sounded stronger now as he raised his chin up again and started looking around once more with Dryad.