Reborn In Shadows: Belphie's Second Chance Chapter 5: The Silent Warning

The chill of the night air clung to Markus as he moved through the castle grounds. The encounter with the cloaked figure had left him uneasy. Every step felt heavier, as if the darkness itself was pressing down on him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched—by more than just the figure from earlier. Belphie had said nothing after the stranger disappeared, but Markus could see the tension in his eyes. They both knew things were escalating. Yet, despite his own fear, Markus couldn’t let Belphie fall into reckless revenge. He had promised to be by his side, but he also promised to keep him grounded. They needed a plan.

Back in the safety of Belphie’s chambers, the air felt thick with unspoken worries. Belphie paced back and forth, his face calm, but his clenched fists told a different story.

Belphie Berifiguro

“They’re starting to close in,” (Belphie muttered, more to himself than to Markus.) “Whoever that was… they weren’t here to kill us. They were here to send a message.”

Markus Heart (Belphie's best friend)

(Markus leaned against the door.) “What kind of message?” (His voice was quieter than usual, trying to keep the growing unease from taking over.)

Belphie Berifiguro

(Belphie stopped pacing and looked Markus directly in the eye, his voice low and cold.) “That they’re watching us. That they know everything we’re doing.”

Markus Heart (Belphie's best friend)

(Markus frowned, feeling a twist of anxiety in his gut.) “You think it’s from Alaric and Quincy?”

Belphie Berifiguro

(Belphie shook his head.) “No. This is someone else. Alaric wouldn’t be this subtle. He’d make a show of power. And Quincy… Quincy would’ve left something behind—an obvious clue, a trap. Whoever sent this warning, they want us scared.”

A cold silence settled between them. Markus knew Belphie was right. Whoever they were dealing with now was playing a much more dangerous game than Alaric and Quincy ever could. The rules had changed, and they were walking into the unknown.

Markus Heart (Belphie's best friend)

(Markus sighed, running a hand through his hair.) “So, what do we do now?”

Belphie Berifiguro

(Belphie’s expression hardened.) “We don’t let them scare us. We stay one step ahead. If they’re watching us, then we make sure they see exactly what we want them to see.”

Markus Heart (Belphie's best friend)

(Markus’s eyes widened slightly.) “You want to set a trap for them?”

Belphie Berifiguro

(A slow, cold smile spread across Belphie’s face.) “Exactly. They think they’re in control, that we’re scrambling in the dark. But we’re going to turn the tables. They won’t expect us to fight back.”

Markus Heart (Belphie's best friend)

(Markus hesitated, feeling a pit form in his stomach.) “Belphie, this is dangerous. We don’t know who they are, or what they’re capable of.”

Belphie Berifiguro

(Belphie’s eyes flashed with the same dangerous determination that had driven him since his rebirth.) “I don’t care. We’ve come too far to back down now. Whoever they are, they’ll regret thinking they can play games with us.”

Markus opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. He knew Belphie wouldn’t change his mind. And deep down, he couldn’t deny that the idea of turning the tables excited him. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that this new enemy wasn’t like Alaric or Quincy. This was something darker—something that didn’t just threaten their lives, but everything they stood for.

Belphie Berifiguro

(Belphie moved to the window, staring out into the night.) “We’ll start tomorrow. Spread rumors. Make them think we’re on the defensive, panicking. Let them believe they’re winning.”

Markus Heart (Belphie's best friend)

“And when they bite?” ( Markus asked quietly.)

Belphie Berifiguro

(Belphie’s smile widened, his reflection in the glass sharp and menacing.) “We’ll crush them.”

Markus nodded slowly, his mind racing. He didn’t like this, but he couldn’t turn back now. He had promised to stay by Belphie’s side, no matter how dangerous the path became. But the shadow of that cloaked figure still haunted his thoughts. He couldn’t shake the feeling that, no matter how careful they were, they were being pulled into something far bigger than they understood. Just as Markus was about to speak again, a faint knock echoed through the room. He and Belphie froze, exchanging a tense glance. It was too late for visitors—no one should’ve known they were meeting. Belphie moved silently toward the door, his hand gripping the dagger at his side. Markus followed closely, his heart pounding as the knock came again, this time louder. Belphie opened the door a crack, and both their breaths caught. There, lying on the floor in front of them, was a single black feather, its edges soaked in blood.

Belphie Berifiguro

(Belphie’s face went cold, his grip on the dagger tightening.)

Markus Heart (Belphie's best friend)

(Markus’s voice was barely a whisper.) “What does it mean?”

Belphie Berifiguro

(Belphie stared at the feather, his eyes dark with realization.) “It means they’re already ahead of us.”

Markus swallowed hard as Belphie closed the door, locking it behind him. Whoever their enemy was, they weren’t just watching. They were sending a clear message. And if they didn’t act fast, it might already be too late.