When midnight had passed and all the children had gone to their rooms, Cain quietly made his way down to the basement.
Even with his keen night vision, walking through the basement in the dead of night wasn’t easy. He traced the wall with his fingers and murmured under his breath.
“Rogers.”
“…Cain?”
The reply came from the second room. Cain moved toward it and reached for the doorknob. As expected, it was locked.
“I don’t have the key, so I can’t get you out right now.”
“Can’t be helped… Anything going on outside?”
“The old man called for Satin, but he still hasn’t come back.”
Robin had come to get Satin around dinnertime. It had already been over five hours since then, and there was still no sign of him.
Is this the food hatch?
Cain felt along the door until something caught under his hand. He pushed it aside, revealing a long, narrow slit running across the center of the door. Rogers reached through it and muttered,
“Not even a newborn could squeeze through this…”
“Just stay put for now.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to the old man. Looks like he’s figured out we’re working together.”
“But… isn’t that dangerous? If you get caught too…”
Rogers trailed off, unable to give his approval.
Satin had thrown himself down the stairs to save Cain, not knowing if he’d even survive. Cain couldn’t stand by while still owing him for that.
Maybe he sensed Cain’s thoughts from the silence, because Rogers sighed and said,
“Still, how did he even find out?”
There was no telling. But somehow, he must have.
Maybe someone had overheard their conversation outside the door. Or maybe someone had seen the three of them together. It wasn’t hard to imagine someone discovering they were plotting something and using that knowledge to curry favor with the old man.
If it’s to save their own skin, there’s nothing people won’t sell out.
In any case, Rogers was safe, so there was no reason to linger. Just as Cain turned to leave, he hesitated and said,
“If nothing happens, I’ll come back to let you know.”
“Mm, be careful.”
Even though neither of them knew what might happen, Rogers still voiced his concern. Cain didn’t reply and made his way out of the basement.
Two hostages.
The old man’s real target was Cain. Satin and Rogers weren’t suitable for his experiments. Keeping them captive served no purpose—except as bait. He’d taken them deliberately, just to show Cain.
He’s waiting for me to come to him.
It would be foolish to play right into the old man’s hands when his intent was so obvious.
No—not just foolish. Downright idiotic.
And yet, even thinking that, Cain crossed the corridor and climbed the stairs. He forced himself into an optimistic mindset with each heavy step.
You never know.
Maybe the Templar Knights would arrive soon. Maybe the letter had reached the temple safely, and the old man’s true identity was being exposed. Maybe they were already right outside the school gates.
Wishful thinking. Help never arrives so conveniently. Cain had never been that lucky in his life. He was just searching for a reason to justify a stupid decision.
What if he ran away alone?
Not a good idea. An enraged old man might burn Rogers alive and lie to the others, saying he’d escaped.
Would he let Satin go? Hardly. He’d likely use him again, just like last time. Satin had already been made into a test subject once—there was no reason he wouldn’t be used again. Probably for some other magical experiment this time.
And even if Cain did go, there was no guarantee he’d let the other two go free. Why would he trust kids who had already defied him? What if he accused them of conspiring with a dark mage?
If none of the options were safe, then Cain had to choose the one that gave him the best odds—at the very least, a way to protect himself.
But before he realized it, his feet had brought him to the laboratory door. Standing in the silent hallway, he was about to offer his head to whatever horror waited in that secret room.
Knock, knock—the sound of his knock echoed unnaturally loud. And the time it took for the door to open felt strangely long.
“You’re early. No one got in your way tonight?”
The old man greeted Cain with a pleasant smile. His words were laced with unmistakable mockery, but Cain said nothing and simply stood there in silence.
More than that, he had expected to see Satin here—but he was nowhere to be found. Could it be… already?
“Come in.”
The old man turned his back without hesitation and walked inside, showing no fear at all. Cain imagined wrapping his hands around the man’s neck from behind as he stepped into the laboratory.
At that moment, someone emerged from behind the door and grabbed both of Cain’s arms.
“What the—!”
Startled, Cain turned around—only to be shocked again.
The one holding him down was none other than Satin.
No way this was some kind of friendly gesture. He must’ve been acting on the old man’s orders. Avoiding Cain’s gaze, Satin murmured,
“…Sorry.”
What was that supposed to mean? There was no time to think. Satin suddenly shoved Cain’s body against the wall.
“Let go of me!”
Cain struggled to break free from Satin’s grip, but it was no use. Satin was taller, and with him pinning Cain from behind, it was almost impossible to move. Cain felt a coarse rope brushing against his wrists.
“I said let go!”
Satin ignored him and, using all his strength, pinned Cain in place while wrapping the rope around his wrists. The bindings coiled tightly, winding around both wrists until the tension dug into his skin. As he finished tying the knot, Satin muttered,
“If you don’t do as the teacher says, he’ll kill Rogers.”
“So I can die, then?”
“You won’t die. I didn’t die either. So you probably… you’ll be fine too.”
“Oh, and that’s supposed to make it okay?!”
Satin stepped back, but Cain still couldn’t move his arms. Agitated, he thrashed until he lost his balance and toppled to the side. The carpet cushioned the fall, sparing him from injury, but it made it even harder to move.
“You bastard!”
Satin pretended not to hear Cain’s furious shout and held out his hand to the old man.
“You promised, Teacher.”
“Of course.”
The old man handed him a key. Satin took it in his hand, gripping it tightly before heading out of the room.
Just before the door closed, he looked into Cain’s eyes for a brief moment. His lips moved soundlessly. I’ll be back soon.
No, he wouldn’t. Cain was certain those words were nothing but a pathetic attempt to ease his guilt. Just like a snake. He should’ve known this betrayal was coming.
Why the hell did I come here?
Screaming would only wear him out. Cain swallowed his ragged breathing and forced himself to calm down.
What now?
On the way here, Cain had imagined being captured in exchange for Satin and Rogers being freed. The events hadn’t gone exactly as he’d pictured, but the result wasn’t all that different.
He didn’t need to care about anyone else now. All that mattered was finding a way to get out on his own.
As if that’s even possible.
Cain steadied his breathing again. The old man gazed down at him with a slow, measured smile.
“Being calm in any situation… that’s a virtue.”
Was that meant to be mockery? Cain glared at him without saying a word.
“You should trust what Satin said. I didn’t summon you here to kill you.”
Of course not. If he’d wanted to kill him, he could’ve used one of the many spells at his disposal. The kids who’d died so far were likely just collateral—failed experiments. Killing them hadn’t been the old man’s goal to begin with.
“I even considered making you my apprentice. But now I see… that won’t work.”
Cain frowned, not understanding what he meant. The old man clicked his tongue.
“Someone who deliberately throws themselves into danger to save others… doesn’t seem like the type to suit me.”
“So what are you going to do with me?”
“Relax. Resisting the magic won’t do you any good. If you accept it calmly, the success rate will increase. And if the magic succeeds… you have a higher chance of survival.”
Hearing the old man’s words stirred conflicting emotions in Cain. Part of him wanted to resist and ruin the experiment, but another part clung to the idea of surviving—even if it meant doing what the old man said.
“This time, I’m sure of it. It’ll work. I will succeed.”
The old man muttered like he was reciting a prayer, then dragged Cain’s body across the floor and laid him in the center of the lab. The crumpled carpet didn’t matter—he began chanting regardless.
“Star. Wave. Blue. ○○. Eighteen. One. Desert. Dream. ×××. Faintness. Yesterday. Prayer. ○.”
A series of seemingly random words. Some weren’t even intelligible. It was the incantation—formulas used by mages.
So this is magic.
That was Cain’s last thought before he blacked out. Just before his eyes closed, he thought he saw a flash of light outside the window.
***
Satin hurried down the stairs, calling out for Rogers.
“Rogers!”
“…Satin?”
The reply came from the second penance room. Using the key he got from the teacher, Satin fumbled to open the door. It was so dark that he scratched the wrong spot several times before finding the keyhole.
As soon as the door creaked open, Rogers cried out in relief,
“You’re okay!”
“I am. But Cain got caught in my place.”
“What? How?”
Satin didn’t explain. He simply grabbed Rogers and pulled him along.
As they climbed the stairs, Satin gave him instructions.
“Don’t go back to your room. Get out of here. Find someone—ask for help.”
“Someone?”
“The Templar Knights. They’re close by.”
“W-What? How do you know that?”
Even without seeing his face, Satin could tell Rogers was stunned. Satin gave a sheepish smile and dodged the question.
“I just… know.”
