Rio didn't know how long he had been walking.
Time outside felt different.
Inside the facility, everything had been contained—walls, corridors, silence pressing in from all sides. Out here, the space was open, stretching far beyond what he could immediately see.
And yet—
It didn't feel any less suffocating.
The structure behind him barely looked like anything important.
Half-collapsed. Covered in rust and debris. From the outside, it blended perfectly with the rest of the ruined industrial zone.
No markings.
No warnings.
Nothing to suggest what lay beneath it.
"…Hidden."
The word came out quietly.
Intentional.
Whatever that place had been, it wasn't meant to be found.
Rio exhaled slowly and turned away.
The air felt different out here.
Colder.
Not artificial like the lab.
Natural—but still wrong in a way he couldn't fully explain.
The ground crunched beneath his feet as he walked.
Fragments of metal, shattered concrete, pieces of something that had once been functional. Some of it looked old—weathered, worn down by time.
But not all of it.
Some of the damage was fresh.
"…Something happened here."
He slowed slightly.
The silence stretched too far.
No wind.
No distant movement.
No signs of life.
"…I need to find someone."
The thought came instinctively.
Then—
"…Or maybe I don't."
His gaze dropped to his hands.
Still normal.
Still steady.
For now.
The memory of the control room returned immediately.
Fire spreading from his arm.
Frost cracking across metal.
That pressure—
That overwhelming, crushing pressure.
"…If that happens again…"
He didn't finish the thought.
Because he didn't need to.
His steps slowed.
"…Not near people."
A faint sound broke the silence.
Rio stopped.
Metal.
Shifting.
"…That wasn't wind."
He turned slightly, listening.
There.
Again.
Closer this time.
Something was moving.
His body tensed instinctively.
Not fully.
But enough.
"…Don't react."
The feeling in his chest stirred faintly in response.
"…Not now."
He stayed still.
Listening.
Waiting.
Nothing.
"…Where…"
The thought didn't finish.
Because suddenly—
Something cold touched his neck.
Rio froze.
Completely.
A blade rested lightly against his skin.
Sharp.
Not cutting.
But close enough that even the slightest movement would be enough.
"…Don't move."
The voice came from behind him.
Cold.
Controlled.
Not loud.
But absolute.
Rio's eyes trembled slightly.
"…I didn't even see her…"
His breathing slowed.
"…If I move, I die."
The thought was clear.
He didn't turn immediately.
Didn't speak.
He just stayed still.
Then, slowly—
Carefully—
He shifted his gaze.
And saw her.
She stood just behind him.
Close enough that he could feel her presence without needing to move.
Long white hair fell cleanly down her back, untouched by the dust around them.
Her eyes—
A sharp, piercing blue.
Not just cold.
Focused.
Like she was looking through him rather than at him.
Her face was flawless.
Not in a soft way—
But in a precise, almost distant way.
Sharp features. Calm expression. No wasted emotion.
She wore a white knight's uniform, fitted cleanly over her frame.
Light armor layered with silver accents, designed for movement rather than bulk. It looked elegant, almost ceremonial—but the blade in her hand made its purpose obvious.
On her chest—
A symbol.
A lotus.
Etched in silver.
Rio's eyes widened slightly.
"…No way…"
His throat tightened.
He recognized her.
Not from this world.
From the novel.
"…The Sword Saintess…"
Elara Von Astra.
An SS-rank swordmaster.
One of the strongest figures introduced early in the story.
Precise.
Efficient.
Unforgiving.
And right now—
Her blade was at his neck.
"Who are you."
Her voice cut through his thoughts.
Sharp.
Direct.
Rio's mouth opened slightly.
Nothing came out.
"Speak."
The blade pressed just slightly closer.
A thin line of pressure formed against his skin.
"…Think."
Fast.
"I—"
His voice faltered.
"My name is… Noctis."
Silence.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Noctis?"
No recognition.
Good.
"Which house are you affiliated with?"
Of course.
In this world, power meant status.
And status meant houses.
"…None."
"I'm a commoner."
A brief pause.
The air shifted.
"…She doesn't believe me."
Of course she didn't.
A commoner—
Alone—
In a restricted zone—
Near something that clearly wasn't normal—
"…Say something else."
But anything more would make it worse.
Anything less—
Would get him killed.
"…Turn around."
Rio hesitated for a fraction of a second.
The blade shifted slightly.
Enough.
He turned.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Now facing her directly.
Up close—
She looked even more unreal.
Her gaze locked onto his.
Unwavering.
Assessing.
Rio felt it immediately.
Like being examined.
"…She's looking for something."
Something wrong.
Something hidden.
His chest tightened slightly.
"…Don't react."
Her eyes shifted briefly—
To his arm.
Rio's breath nearly caught.
But she didn't react.
Her gaze returned to his face.
"…You're lying."
The words were simple.
Certain.
Rio's stomach dropped.
"I'm not."
Even he knew it wasn't convincing.
The blade lifted slightly.
Not away.
Just enough to move.
"Then explain."
Rio hesitated.
"…Think."
"I woke up there."
He gestured slightly toward the ruined structure behind him.
"I don't remember anything before that."
That part—
Wasn't entirely a lie.
A pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
The blade lowered.
Not fully.
But enough.
Rio exhaled quietly.
Not relief.
Just less immediate danger.
Then—
She spoke again.
This time, louder.
Clear.
Commanding.
"Emma. Make sure you check the entire laboratory."
Her tone carried authority without effort.
"I want a proper detail of everything."
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A figure dropped from above.
Light.
Effortless.
She landed a short distance away, straightening with a lazy stretch.
Her hair was darker, tied loosely, a few strands falling messily across her face. Her expression carried none of Elara's sharp precision—only mild annoyance.
She clicked her tongue softly.
"Tsk… that's too much work for me."
Her tone was casual.
Almost playful.
Completely out of place.
Elara didn't respond immediately.
She just looked at her.
A single glance.
Cold.
Sharp.
Enough.
The other woman stiffened slightly.
"…F-fine."
She looked away, muttering under her breath as she turned toward the structure.
"…Always giving me the worst jobs…"
And just like that—
She moved.
Gone from sight within seconds.
Rio stood there.
Silent.
Watching.
"…There's more of them."
Not just one.
An organization.
Or at least a group.
Which meant—
"…This just got worse."
Elara's attention returned to him.
"…You're coming with me."
No hesitation.
No room to argue.
Rio blinked once.
"…What?"
"You're not supposed to be here."
Her voice didn't change.
"And I don't leave unknown variables behind."
Variable.
Not person.
Rio felt that clearly.
"…Right."
That made sense.
To her—
He wasn't someone to trust.
He was something to assess.
"…Still better than dying here."
Rio nodded slightly.
"…Alright."
He didn't resist.
Didn't argue.
Because right now—
Following her—
Was the safest option.
Even if it didn't feel safe.
As he stepped forward—
The faint sensation returned.
That instability.
Quiet.
Waiting.
Rio's expression didn't change.
But his thoughts did.
"…Don't lose control."
Because if something happened now—
With someone like her this close—
He wouldn't get a second chance.
[End of Chapter 4]