On the day of the massacre, when Tyler first donned the shadow armor, a living shadow, a pure darkness so deep it defied the human eye, clung to his body like an ocean of infinite abyss. At that very moment, a surge of raw power erupted into the air, bursting upward and unfurling into the sky like a colossal hurricane cloud. But this was no ordinary tempest; it was a swirling mass of pure darkness, so thick it blotted out the stars above.

Within that darkness flickered faint, ghostly wisps of white, resembling steam rising from cold water, but these were stains, subtle blotches that marred the ebony veil. The night seemed swallowed whole, the very sky bleeding shadows.

Meanwhile, far away in Lyria, Grone sat on a rough-hewn wooden chair across from his mother-in-law, Lisa's mother. Her short, grey-white hair framed a face etched with wrinkles, each line a testament to her years. In the cramped warmth of the small house, they had been deep in conversation for some time.

Grone always felt trapped by Lisa's mother's endless chatter. Once she began speaking, it was as if she commandeered every moment, shifting swiftly from one subject to another, like an unstoppable river of words. Her voice carried a familiar edge of devotion, the name of the goddess weaving into the fabric of her speech like a sacred thread, drawing every conversation relentlessly back to faith.

Grone smiled politely and nodded as the woman's words flowed without pause. She shifted the subject yet again. "You should be grateful. I told you going to the Temple, to pray to the Goddess, would bring you fortune."

A small, somewhat hollow laugh escaped from Grone. "Yes, and it did," he said, though the truth was far from that. He rarely set foot inside the Temple; if anything, he went there only to fetch holy water for his wife, who in turn mainly used it for her mother. The thought of admitting to Lisa's mother that he barely visited the Temple was enough to spark a fresh round of sermons on its benefits.

Of course, Grone didn't fully believe. The Goddess might bring luck and fortune, but his faith rested more in hard work, unyielding, physical effort. Years of experience had taught him that pray and hope alone wouldn't carry anyone forward.

Lisa's mother continued undeterred, "Which level are you again? I keep forgetting."

Grone answered with a modest smile and a hint of pride, "I'm level 71 now. Nearing B-rank."

The grandmother chuckled warmly. "Yes, right! You were stuck at D-rank for quite some time. And now, look at you, climbing into C-rank and nearing B. Praise the Goddess indeed."

Grone repeated, his voice carrying a faint strain beneath the practiced words, "Praise the Goddess."

Lisa's mother, Greta, shifted the conversation with a small smile. "Speaking of the temple, son," she said gently, "would you mind going back to Veridia and bringing me some more holy water?"

Grone cleared his throat and replied with a soft nod, "Um, of course. I'd be happy to."

Greta's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you. You know, back in my younger days, when I was still working at the temple as a saint, we used to give out holy water everywhere. We'd go door to door, purifying the water and handing out blessings to the people."

She sighed wistfully. "These days, the saints have become lazy. All they do is stay at the temple and ask for large sums of money whenever they're asked to clear monster zones. And that's only if the hunters want the zones cleared, after all, it's what brings in the funds."

Grone nodded silently. "If they purified every monster zones," he said quietly, "there wouldn't be a need for most of us hunters. Most of us would probably just join the army and fight in the east."

Greta agreed with a nod. "That's true. Our work has changed, and not for the better."

Their conversation wound on, drifting through other topics, as Lisa was in the backyard, removing the dried clothes she had hung on a wire. The clothes, washed earlier that day, were a mix of her mother's and her own, most of them simple, worn garments. As she methodically gathered each piece and placed it into a wooden bucket, she sighed softly.

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Thoughts weighed heavy on her. With a quiet voice filled with weariness, she muttered to herself, "We should be safe here, but… we can't live in the same house with mother. I know how Grone can't handle her."

She continued removing clothes, moving along the line as her thoughts drifted inward. *If my abilities weren't sealed, I would have been helping him... She shook her head slightly, the doubt creeping in. *No, who would take care of Heather? I guess mother could... but...*

Suddenly, Boom shattered the quiet, distant yet shockingly close. The sound echoed sharply through the air, cutting through the peaceful afternoon. Startled, she spun towards the source, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Far off, a massive swirling cloud of darkness loomed, vast and ominous. Though miles away, it dwarfed everything around it, stretching out like a living shadow. The cloud had clearly risen from the direction of Aria, engulfing the entire town beneath its shroud.

Neighbors began to panic. People poured from their homes, voices rising in alarm, calling out to loved ones and pointing toward the growing darkness overhead. It was no ordinary cloud, it was pure shadow, a darkness that swallowed the sky.

Lisa's voice trembled, quiet yet filled with awe and terror. "What is that?"

Grone burst out of the house, alerted by the noise. Greta called out, her voice sharp with concern, "What was that?"

Grone's eyes locked on the swirling dark mass, widening with mounting dread. "I don't know," he breathed, the question heavy on his lips.

He stared fixedly in the direction of Aria, muttering under his breath, "What is going on?" Then, urgency in his voice, he called Lisa's name and ran toward the backyard, where Lisa was already moving toward him.

They met briefly by the side of the house.

Grone grasped Lisa's hand gently and asked, "Are you alright?"

Lisa nodded, though her voice trembled slightly. "I'm fine. What is that?"

Grone's eyes fixed on the shadow in the sky. "I don't know."

Lisa glanced toward the front of the house. "Heather, she's inside."

They stepped outside and saw Lisa's mother standing there, already outdoors. She held Heather in her arms, the child still asleep, resting peacefully against her chest. Her gaze lingered on the dark shadow above, and she murmured, "Oh great Goddess, what is that?"

They hurried to the front of the house and saw Lisa's mother standing there, already outdoors. She held Heather in her arms, the child still asleep, resting peacefully against her chest. Her gaze lingered on the dark shadow above, and she murmured, "Oh great Goddess, what is that?"

Lisa approached and took Heather from her mother. Suddenly, their attention snapped back to the shadow. It was retreating, shrinking rapidly. Not only that, it seemed to pour downward in a straight stream toward the far distance, as if being pulled by some invisible force.

Then, just like that, it vanished.

Grone's mind raced. *It's gone… but what was that thing?*

He took a step closer to Lisa. She looked up at him and asked quietly, "Where did it come from?"

Greta spoke softly, "I thought you'd be the one to know, since you were outside. Was it the thing that caused that loud noise before?"

Lisa nodded. "Yes."

She turned to Grone, her voice edged with worry. "What if… do you think it could be a monster?"

Grone shook his head slowly. "A monster? I don't know of any monster that can do that. It'd have to be powerful, stronger than a normal S-rank."

Lisa gasped, voice trembling. "But if it's a monster on that scale, then that means…"

Grone nodded, finishing the thought quietly. "Yes."

"...That would mean the Pale Reapers, or one of the Heroes, would be sent to deal with this threat," Grone finished, his voice tight with worry.

Greta's face had lost all color. "Oh, dear God… That's not good at all." Her gaze was fixed on the distant horizon. The fear that she felt, seemed to be the true emotion that she, and everyone felt at the moment.

Grone's jaw clenched. "Yes. It's most likely happening in Aria."

Lisa's voice was thin. She cradled her baby close, her eyes darting between her husband and mother, her worry for Heather etched across her face.

Grone's hands clenched into fists.

"Damn it. We're leaving. Now."

"What?" Greta's voice was a strangled gasp.

"Yes," Grone said, the urgency a physical force in his voice. "It's the only way to keep her safe. We don't even know what it is out there. A monster? A demon? Or something worse. What if…it comes here? We can't risk it. We leave. Quickly."

Lisa turned to her mother, her eyes wide, desperate. "Yes, Mother. You could come with us."

Greta stared, a flicker of confusion passing over her features. "Come with you? Where?"

"Tarnia," Grone said, the name a pronouncement, sharp and final.

Greta frowned, considering. "Tarnia? That's a long journey. And…very far."

"It's our best chance," Grone pressed, his voice laced with desperation. "Small town. Hardly anything ever happens. There's even a Yellow Tier Monster Zone, and not a single bizarre thing ever happens. I was there once, I can confirm. We have to go. Now."

Greta then said, "Wait! You can't leave now. You should wait until morning. There won't be any transport wagons available at this hour. How will you carry everything?"

Grone sighed, the weight of the decision settling on his shoulders. "Alright. But we have to pack everything right now. Every single thing. So there's no wasted time when we leave at first light."

Greta nodded, already turning towards the house. "All right. I'll start with the packing." She walked away from them, disappearing inside.

Lisa looked at Grone, Heather nestled in her arms. "Do we really have to go all the way to Tarnia?"

Grone met her gaze, his eyes full of resolve. "Yes, we do. It's much safer there. Nothing will happen to us, not while I'm here. Nothing at all." He pulled her close, embracing both her and Heather. "You know I would do anything, *anything* to protect you both."

Lisa's voice caught. "I know," she said softly, embracing him back, the baby stirring contentedly between them. "Please…don't push yourself. Don't shoulder all of it. Let me know if there's anything at all I can do to help."

Grone shook his head, holding them tighter. "Don't worry. Neither of you are a burden. You are both the greatest gifts I could ever ask for. I love you."

"I love you, too." Lisa whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Heather hummed and shifted between them.

Grone pulled away, a smile gracing his lips. "Alright. Let's go inside and help your mother. Get everything ready. We'll leave tomorrow."

They turned toward the house, the night sky a canvas of inky blackness, knowing that they had to leave tomorrow.

In the bedroom of Lisa and Grone, Greta moved with a practiced efficiency. She filled a large sack with clothes, carefully folding each garment. As she worked, a familiar thought echoed in her mind. *I can't go with them. I will only be a burden, slowing them down. I can't leave this place.. Its my home.*

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