Ebony Castle

On the morning of the audition, Doha opened the curtains and froze. He had forgotten to check the weather forecast for several days, and under the dark blue light of dawn, the world had been blanketed in white. The snowstorm was so heavy that it was difficult to see the shop across the street.The cold air seeping in through the window touched his face. It wasn’t until his hand gripping the curtains started to go numb that he came to his senses.After washing with hot water, he ate a bowl of instant oatmeal and warmed up his hands briefly. He fixed the central pedal on the piano to mute the sound and also pressed the left soft pedal. With a light touch, he repeated scales. He paused and listened, but thankfully, there were no sounds from the neighboring apartment.He laid out the sheet music for the three pieces he would play today, going over the beginnings, endings, and any tricky parts. That’s when Niklas called. His voice was hoarse, as if he had just woken up.“Eden, it’s snowing a lot, right? I’m getting ready to head to work now. Do you want me to pick you up in front of your place?”“…Are you sure it’s okay to drive in this weather?”“Of course! I put on new winter tires last month. You’d get crushed by the crowd if you took the subway in this weather.”Doha didn’t need to see to know how packed the subway station would be during rush hour on a snowy day. After a moment of hesitation, he answered.“Alright, thank you. I’ll be ready and waiting.”“I’m not sure exactly when I’ll arrive, with all the traffic, but I’ll call you on the way.”“Okay.”“See you soon.”Niklas yawned loudly into the phone before hanging up. Doha, feeling like something might have changed in the meantime, opened the curtains again, only to see the snowstorm still raging. He sat back down on the piano stool.Niklas arrived about twenty minutes later than expected. After pacing around the room while waiting, Doha got the message and headed downstairs. Niklas’ car, which he hadn’t seen in a while, was parked across the street, blocking the road at a strange angle rather than in a proper parking space.“Eden! Get in, quick!”Seeing a car coming from behind, Niklas stuck his head out the window, frantically waving. Doha dashed across the street without even having time to open his umbrella. His hood, hastily thrown on, was whipped off by the wind.“I’m going to start driving!”As soon as Doha got into the passenger seat, Niklas shouted. The small car wobbled as it reversed on the snow-covered road, then swayed again as it moved forward. Amidst all this, Wagner’s symphony blared chaotically from the car’s speakers.Once they reached the main road, Niklas finally looked over at Doha with a bright smile.“It’s been a while!”“It has.”“I almost didn’t recognize you! You look so much healthier! Is your bag uncomfortable? What are you carrying so much stuff for?”As Niklas pointed out, Doha’s backpack was so large that it didn’t fit in the footwell. Doha adjusted his posture, hugging the backpack, and replied.“I’m going straight to Heathrow from the office.”“Oh, is that your luggage for Scotland? I’m not sure the plane will take off today, with this weather.”He reached over to adjust the radio dial. The music cut off, and after cycling through a few channels, they landed on the weather and traffic report. A dry-voiced announcer was listing the roads that had been closed due to the snowstorm. Listening intently, Niklas clicked his tongue.“The snow really needs to stop.”“Did you let Richard know when we’ll arrive?”“Yeah, I told him we’d be late. Aren’t you tired from waking up early, Eden? You should get some rest. It’s going to be bumper-to-bumper from here on out.”The bag on his lap felt heavy, and the heater’s warm air was stifling. Doha stared blankly at the congested road, his eyes unfocused. The windshield wipers squeaked as they struggled to clear the accumulating snow.He hadn’t planned on sleeping, but the sound of the car engine shutting off woke him up. The low hum of the music and the heater’s noise had also stopped.“…Ah, sorry. Are we already here?”Familiar company buildings were visible through the snow accumulating at the bottom of the windshield. It seemed he had fallen asleep after all. As he ran a hand over his dry face, Niklas suddenly spoke.“Eden.”His voice was unusually serious. Doha, who had been about to open the door, paused and turned to look at the man with tousled curls. Niklas, looking increasingly awkward, scratched the back of his neck and spoke, his gaze fixed on the cupholder below, rather than on Doha.“Well… I just wanted to wish you good luck.”“Thank you.”“Because, you know, Eden, you were the first artist I managed after I joined the company, and lately I’ve developed a bit of an interest in classical music. I listened to your CD again, and it’s really great. I didn’t realize you were that famous before you joined Neim. I’d love to keep working with you in the future, but…”“…”“But, you know, when you work at a company, you hear things, right? From what I’ve seen, though, Eden, I think you’ll do well even if it’s not at this company. So… no matter what happens today, I hope you don’t feel too bad about it.”His sincerity was undeniable, though Doha wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry at his words. He answered just as seriously.“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”“Alright, then. Go get ’em!”Relieved, Niklas unlocked the car door for him. Doha carefully pulled up his hood, shouldered his backpack, and opened the door. The wind stung his face as it whipped snowflakes against him. The snow seemed to have gotten even heavier.***The so-called audition was hardly worthy of the name. As Doha and Niklas entered the company building, Richard Evans and the CEO, who looked like they had just arrived, came down from the second floor. Along with Niklas, the three of them sat on the couch in front of the grand piano in the lobby. The office, which had only recently turned on the heater, felt as cold as a school during winter break. Doha glanced around the bright lobby, took off his coat, and pulled out the piano stool.The Steinway piano, which he hadn’t seen in a while, was in good condition and well-tuned. After lightly running through a few scales, Richard seemed surprised to see how well Doha’s fingers were moving.“You were so withdrawn…”He approached and looked closely at Doha’s hands, as if trying to find some kind of trick.“Is your hand fully recovered?”“Not completely.”One of the three pieces he would play was from his old repertoire, so Richard would be able to judge his recovery for himself. After Richard let go of his hand, Doha sat back down on the stool. He adjusted the height and distance, flexed and relaxed his fingers a few times.“Start whenever you’re ready,” Richard said with a shrug. Niklas and the CEO, who still seemed half-asleep, clapped from the back row. Niklas, his eyes sparkling, looked as if he had come to cheer at a school sports day.The performance went smoothly, considering the condition of his hands. It had been more than ten days since he returned from the mansion, so his fingers were slightly stiffer than when he first arrived in London, but it wasn’t enough to use as an excuse. The large, high-ceilinged lobby reflected sound from every angle.He began with Bach, moved to Chopin, and finished with Scriabin. Though he only played short pieces or selected movements, it was a textbook selection that could fit a university practical exam’s period requirements. One piece was from his old repertoire, while the other two were newly selected and practiced. This was the moment he had to submit the work of the past two and a half years.In the past, he would have spent weeks berating himself over a missed touch, but now it didn’t bother him as much. Understanding Richard’s thoughts made him feel more at ease. He could hear Niklas clapping after each piece. It was a humble, almost ridiculous occasion to call a performance, but it was still Doha’s first time on stage in two and a half years. Before starting the final piece, he reflected for a moment in the silence.Perhaps Tristan was right in saying that the stage could, in fact, hinder the completion of music. It was a place where calculations, vanity, power disguised as tradition, competition, jealousy, and greed gathered—all the imperfect and ugly things in the world. Only now, having left it behind, did he understand that the value to be found there was like a small gem, only obtainable after days of sifting through dirt.And yet, why did he still love the stage?The audience’s gaze fixed on his fingers above the keys, the quiet sound of their breaths waiting for the music. Just as a restaurant was to Jean, the stage was the only moment of connection Doha knew. No matter how much else he gained, or how much he gave up, Doha didn’t want to live in a world without an audience.It ultimately meant that he would never truly be able to stay by Tristan Locke’s side for life. Even though they were connected by a thin thread, the world Tristan lived in and the one he belonged to would remain different. Like two parallel lines, their lives followed different paths. For both him and Tristan, it would be a lifetime of repeated farewells.His chest burned with pain. As he pressed the final keys, his body began to tremble, and it felt like his pulse was echoing in his ears.“…Bravo!”Niklas’s small shout brought him back to reality. Doha blinked to clear the darkness from his vision, turning his head. Richard, who had stood up in the front row, was extending his hand with a peculiar expression.“Well done.”“…Thank you.”Doha grasped his hand and gave it a light squeeze. As Niklas approached and shook his other hand vigorously, he asked with enthusiasm:“Eden, that was wonderful. What time is your flight? Want to grab lunch before you leave?”“…No, I should head out right away.”After the CEO exchanged a formal handshake and a word of courtesy, Doha approached the chair where he had left his coat and bag. The time was later than expected. The roads would be congested on the way to the airport, and he was pressed for time.“I’ll be going now.”He spoke to Richard and Niklas as he put on his coat. Niklas, who had been fiddling with his phone, extended an arm to block Doha.“Wait a minute, Eden. Look at this.”On the screen Niklas held out, there was a live display of flights departing from Heathrow Airport. Doha’s flight to Inverness was listed. The airline logo, terminal number, destination—everything was there. But at the end of the table, in bright red, was the word “CANCELLED” next to every departing flight.***There wasn’t a single empty seat in the café at the far end of the airport. Even strangers were awkwardly squeezed together at small tables. Suitcases and scattered umbrellas filled every inch between the tables, leaving no room to step. The line from the counter extended outside the café.Doha left without buying anything. The benches and chairs throughout the airport were also full, but just as he was about to give up, he saw someone stand up from a long bench nearby. He took off his backpack, which had been digging into his shoulders, and squeezed in between a large man and a girl who seemed to be about elementary school age.His head felt foggy, and it took him a moment to notice his phone vibrating in his coat pocket. When he checked, he saw a series of messages from Niklas.EdenStill in line?I just saw the airport on the news.What’s happening?Before he could reply, Niklas’s patience ran out, and a call came through. Doha put the phone to his ear and spoke without a greeting.“I still don’t know.”— Ah… Are you still at the airport?“Yes.”— How long will you be there? Wouldn’t it be better to head back today?From where Doha sat, if he craned his neck uncomfortably, he could see the departure board showing the status of flights. Every flight was still marked with “CANCELLED” or “DELAYED” in red. He habitually scanned the board, hoping for a change, but answered calmly.“I’m going to wait a little longer.”After six hours of standing in line at the airport, the airline staff he finally met could only repeat mechanically that while the evening flight had not been cancelled, nothing was certain. They couldn’t give a definite answer on when the flight would take off or how long the delay might be. People leaving the line all had the same exhausted expressions, and the staff looked just as worn out.— Eden.Niklas muttered in a dispirited voice.— Can’t you just go home? In my experience, flights don’t take off again for hours in situations like this. Even if they clear the runways, they’ll prioritize long-haul flights over short ones. Waiting is pointless.“I know. But just in case… There’s still time before the last train, so don’t worry.”The people sitting around Doha were likely clinging to the same hope or simply had nowhere else to go. When Doha didn’t give in, Niklas ended the call dejectedly. He probably felt guilty, as this situation was the result of the audition being postponed by a few days.A little after 11 PM, the delayed status for the Inverness flight finally changed to “CANCELLED.” Doha, who had moved to a seat where he could clearly see the board, sat for a moment before gathering his things and standing up. At least he had found out before the last train left.***The next day, the situation was the same. The airport was even more crowded than the day before, and although Doha had arrived early, the line in front of the counters was even longer. People’s frustrations had grown, and there were frequent outbursts of raised voices directed at airline and airport staff. Through the airport’s large windows, nothing could be seen due to the snowstorm.The problem was that a couple of planes had managed to depart that afternoon, giving everyone hope. Some passengers had disembarked from arriving flights, and rumors spread that delayed flights from other airlines were slowly taking off from other terminals. There was a growing sense that everything would be resolved soon. So Doha ate the sandwiches he had packed from home and drank vending machine coffee for lunch and dinner, waiting by the airline check-in counters. He listened to music or occasionally pulled out sheet music from his bag. Despite the airline’s promise to update him via text or email, there had been no contact all day.As the evening wore on, the airport began to take on the appearance of an impromptu shelter. People who had been sitting upright were now half-reclining across the middle armrests of benches or using travel pillows and blankets to settle in. The sight was so familiar that airline staff passed by, handing out small bottles of water, one per person.“Inverness?”When Doha caught a staff member handing out water and asked, she replied apologetically.“I can check the status for you if you give me your flight number, but most flights are in the same situation right now. We can’t prepare for takeoff until other planes arrive, but with the weather, both landings and takeoffs are significantly delayed. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”Just a few steps away, the staff member was stopped by someone else, and Doha heard her repeating the same scripted apology in almost the exact same order. He twisted open the plastic cap of the water bottle she’d given him and took a sip, the cold liquid soothing the cracks in his dry lips.He hadn’t planned on spending the night at the airport, but as he kept waiting, the last train’s departure time drew closer and eventually passed. The noise that had filled the airport slowly faded into silence.After returning from a bathroom break, Doha found someone had taken the seat he’d been using. There was no choice but to sling his bag over his shoulder and turn back. The same scene played out everywhere: all the seating areas were full of people lying down, and even the floors were scattered with those who had sprawled out.“……”As Doha carefully navigated his way through the crowd, avoiding stepping on anyone, his vision blurred for a moment. The light seeping from behind the translucent shutters of the duty-free store became hazy. His ears faintly rang as his heart raced.A few seconds later, his vision cleared again. Doha stood still, unsure of what had just happened, before spotting a narrow bench tucked behind a pillar in the corner. It was dark and isolated, so there weren’t any people nearby.He set down his bag, removed his shoes, and climbed onto the hard bench, pulling his legs up. His unbrushed teeth felt grimy, and his face was sticky with sweat. He lay down for a while, then sat up and pulled out a sweater and hoodie from his backpack, draping them over himself like a makeshift blanket.It seemed he had fallen asleep. His body ached, and when he awoke from tossing and turning, it was 3 AM. After that, he kept waking up every twenty or thirty minutes in a panic. Each time he checked the board, but the flight statuses hadn’t changed at all.A souvenir shop nearby raised its shutters early in the morning. Doha massaged his throbbing head and went in to buy a toothbrush. After brushing his teeth in the restroom, his phone buzzed in his pocket.“Ah—.”After a couple of rings, the call ended. Doha returned to his seat, pulled the sweater back over his knees, and dialed the missed call.“Jean, it’s me. Did you call by mistake?”— Eden! You’re awake.Jean’s voice was soft and cheerful, like it was coming from far away.— After I called, I thought you might still be sleeping, so I hung up. I don’t know what time you wake up in London.“Ah… it’s about the same as when I’m there.”— You sound like you just woke up, though.“No, it’s just…” Doha cleared his throat, trying to smooth out his voice, but ended up coughing. Jean asked with concern:— The weather’s pretty bad, right? Your flight got cancelled?“Yes. Is it snowing over there, too?”— It’s crazy here. This winter is awful. At this rate, we might not see each other for a while, Eden.

Although it was said in jest, for Doha, who had once been isolated in the mansion, those words felt terrifyingly realistic. After all, even if a flight to Inverness took off, getting to the mansion from there would be another problem. If the roads were frozen, it was clear that Peter wouldn’t come to pick him up at the airport.“Has it… already piled up a lot?”— Yes, it has piled up quite a bit. Well, it’s fine as long as it’s piled up, but the problem arises when it melts a bit and then freezes solid again. Eden, since this has happened, just relax and stay in London. There are four seasons in a year, so the weather can’t stay like this forever, right? There’s no need to stress yourself out too much.“That’s true.”Although it was all correct, why did he feel like he would be in big trouble if he couldn’t return to Jean? As morning came, the airport terminal he stared at with a blank expression was slowly coming to life. A line was forming in front of the service counter, and people could be seen wandering around with disheveled hair and travel pillows around their necks. The announcement repeating the delay, simply changing the flight numbers, flowed from the speakers.It seemed that sounds were trickling in through the receiver. Jean asked in a dazed voice.— Eden, are you at the airport?“…Yes.”— So early at this hour?“I came a bit early. I saw that the line for tickets was long yesterday.”— Oh dear… You’re going through a lot.Jean clicked his tongue worriedly.— No one here blames you for coming late, so just relax and stay there. You could come with Scott too. I heard Scott is going to London soon for a chef candidate interview, but that depends on the weather. Once that’s sorted out, I can go back to London too…“Jean.”Doha spoke without realizing it. A question he had suppressed while exchanging messages with the secretary yesterday bubbled up and flowed out between his lips.“How is Mr. Locke…?”— Mr. Locke?“…Is he doing well?”After a brief silence, Jean replied, “Hmm…” and trailed off.— Well, I suppose so? I haven’t seen him much lately except when preparing meals. But that was always the case before Eden came.“…I see.”— Let’s see, Hazel caught a cold but has recovered. Scott is busy even though there’s not much work. Ulysses is doing well, and I am too. Except for the fact that it’s quiet at home without Eden. It feels oddly empty with music playing and then stopping.“I’ll get there as soon as I can.”— Don’t push yourself too hard; just come back at a reasonable pace.After Jean promised to relay Doha’s situation to the secretary and hung up, Doha sat down with his nearly out-of-battery phone. His fingertips tingled as they hovered over the screen. He knew that if he scrolled down a bit, he would find Tristan Locke’s number, but just thinking about him made his heart heavy, as if he were guilty of something.Even if he called, he would only end up repeating that nothing was certain, just like the airline staff. It was his own greed to want to ask about his well-being without any assurance. In the end, Doha put his phone in his bag. He didn’t have the courage to make the call.***Jean hurried out of the kitchen and bumped into Hazel, who was making a sullen face in the dark entry hall. He stopped her as she was about to nod and pass by.“Have you been in touch with the food supplier?”“Yes. They said it would be difficult even if we doubled the payment.”“Goodness… At least it’s fortunate that we stocked up on supplies last time. The weather should clear up before we starve. Oh, I just called Eden.”Hazel, who had been about to pass by while only half-listening to Jean’s words, stopped. Encouraged by the rare reaction from someone, Jean continued.“He’s at the airport right now. It seems the flight hasn’t taken off yet.”“Poor thing.”A flicker of concern crossed Hazel’s usually indifferent face.“With the weather being like this, it’s going to take time for the airport to get back to normal… London is quite far away. It would be nice if he were a bit closer.”“Indeed.”“It feels like it’s been about a week since he left, and I’m worried about how he’s doing.”Jean blinked. Now that he thought about it, Eden used to come for treatments regularly, which was something he hadn’t considered before. Watching him after he got better, he found it hard to recall how he had looked when he first arrived. Now, no matter what he was served, he cleaned his plate completely, while back then, he could barely finish a bowl of soup.“Well, a week isn’t too long, anyway.”After speaking, he wasn’t sure if it was true.“There’s no way something will go wrong right after ten days, right? We’ll probably have some buffer time.”He thought he should have asked if Eden was eating well or digesting properly. There were a couple of decent restaurants in Heathrow, but their terminals were likely different, and it was too hectic to go eat there now.“Dr. Hunt is in London, so he’ll take good care of Eden and make sure no issues arise.”Hazel calmly responded.“Actually, more than him…”“More than him, what?”“…Never mind.”“Locke? Why are you worrying about someone who’s not even around like Neim?”To Jean, it was ridiculous. Some people had their careers ruined and were likely struggling at the airport because of Tristan Locke’s name, so hearing this felt absurd. Hazel, who had been staring at Jean, sighed.“Fine.”Was it the difference between watching someone for just a year at the mansion versus since childhood? While Jean couldn’t see it, Hazel noticed every little unusual sign.By now, it was too late to regret the day Eden Yeon first came to the mansion. All Hazel could hope for was that the guest would return before the fragile balance holding Tristan Locke together broke.***By chance, the first things Doha bought with Tristan Locke’s card were a blanket and a neck pillow. As he shivered, even with the hood of his padded jacket on, he couldn’t help but notice people around him wrapped in blankets or what looked like sleeping bags. After a moment of hesitation, Doha impulsively went into a nearby shop, picked up a blanket and neck pillow, and paid with Tristan’s card. He could afford it himself, but somehow, he just felt like doing it.The snow outside stopped and started again. Some planes had finally begun taking off slowly in the afternoon, perhaps due to the de-icing of runways and aircraft. Only a few out of the thousand planes that usually passed through Heathrow daily, and as Niklas had said, they weren’t for short flights.Even after lunchtime, there was no news from the airline. Wrapped snugly in the soft blanket he bought with Tristan’s money, and with the neck pillow on, Doha did some searching. After about five minutes of deliberation, he made up his mind and stood up. Even if a plane took off today, there was no guarantee he’d get a seat. His flight had been canceled, and he couldn’t just take the seat of someone booked on today’s flight, so it might take a few more days.While walking quickly to catch the Piccadilly line, he messaged Niklas, hoping to stop the useless weather screenshots he’d been sending every few hours.As soon as he surfaced at King’s Cross station, several messages from Niklas came flooding in.“A train??

Yeah… I guess trains are still running,

But it’s going to take forever, isn’t it?”A few moments later, another message came in:“Eden really likes Scotland, huh?”Doha had no idea what that meant, but he was in too much of a rush to think about it. He slipped his phone into his pocket and hurried into the crowd at King’s Cross.Just as he had searched earlier, the only direct train to Inverness had already left, but there were other trains that required one or two transfers. Doha snatched a seat on the 3 o’clock train to Edinburgh and dashed across the wide station.Barely finding the ticket gate, he passed through, checked the platform and car number, and boarded the train. As soon as he sat down on the red seat, the train departed. If he’d hesitated for even a few minutes, he would have missed it.“…….”As his breath gradually steadied and his body thawed in the warm air, Doha glanced around the surprisingly quiet carriage. He struggled to take off his backpack and leaned his head back against the seat.When the dizziness subsided and he opened his eyes again, the train had just emerged from a dark tunnel, cutting across a snow-covered landscape. Snowy rooftops in the outskirts of London flew past the window. The further they went, the fewer buildings there were, and soon, flat white fields spread out. The soundless, colorless scenery was indifferent but beautiful.Only then did Doha begin to feel at ease. He preferred this slow movement over waiting at the airport. The heavy weight that had been pressing down on his chest began to lift.He took out his phone and sent Niklas a belated reply:“I’m on the train now,

Thanks for looking out for me these past few days.”He had written, “Let’s meet when I get back,” but deleted it. Depending on how the audition went, he might never see Niklas again.It would take four and a half hours to Edinburgh, and then another three and a half hours to Inverness. Even if everything went according to plan, he wouldn’t arrive until after 11 p.m. It was too late to ask Peter to pick him up, and he wasn’t even sure what the weather would be like there. Entering the village today or tomorrow might be impossible, but he still felt more at ease waiting in Inverness than in London, being closer to the mansion.Doha pulled out the blanket and neck pillow he had bought with Tristan’s card. The gray sky outside the window was already dim. Snow-covered fields stretched endlessly, erasing the horizon.***The vibration of his phone woke him from sleep. As he pulled the blanket back up to his knees and checked his phone, he was surprised to see Daniel Hunt’s name on the screen. He stared at it for a moment, thinking it was a dream, before answering the call.“Yes, Dr. Hunt?”— Eden, I heard your flight was delayed, and you’ve had a tough time at the airport. How are you now?“Oh… I’m on a train now.”— A train?Daniel’s voice rose in surprise. Doha shook off his drowsiness and sat up straighter. It was still pitch dark outside, but when he checked the time, it was only half past five. There were still two hours left until he had to transfer trains in Edinburgh.— Doesn’t it take a long time by train?“I thought it would, but it’s only about eight hours.”— That sounds quite exhausting. I thought you were still at the airport, so I called to see if I could help. There’s a lounge where you could wait more comfortably if you need it.Daniel’s tone was so polite that Doha couldn’t help but be impressed.— If you need anything next time, please don’t hesitate to let me know.“…Thank you.”— How are you feeling?Finally, a doctor’s question. Doha looked down at his hand resting on his knee. He bent and stretched each finger and habitually pressed his fingertips together. Though not as sensitive as he’d like, it wasn’t bad compared to how he’d been recently. It was manageable.“I’m still okay. It’s only been two weeks… Even if I get delayed a few more days in Inverness, it shouldn’t be a problem.”— I see. That’s a relief. As I’ve mentioned before, until you receive treatment from Tristan, it’s best to keep the rehabilitation very light. If your senses dull, you won’t notice damage, and it’ll be easy to overexert yourself.“Yes.”— This winter has been particularly harsh for you because of the weather.Listening to Daniel’s comforting voice, Doha thought that this was likely how every winter would be going forward. This level of snowfall wasn’t even that rare. The real issue wasn’t the weather but the sheer distance from London, a journey that took far too long to reach its destination.As he absentmindedly pictured the winters of next year and the year after that, Daniel lightly joked.— At least the train is still running. Maybe Tristan’s been waiting for you, anxious for your return?“…That’s unlikely.”Doha nearly laughed at the unexpected comment. The expression “anxiously waiting” didn’t suit Tristan Locke at all. Even when they had engaged in intense physical confrontations by the lakeside, Tristan had never shown any strong emotions. He wasn’t the kind of person who would be particularly disturbed by a few days of delay.It was at that moment, thinking about Tristan Locke, that a sudden prickle surged up Doha’s lower back where the Neim was. A brief dizziness overtook him, as if something had flashed before his eyes. Doha momentarily held his breath and remembered that a doctor was still on the other end of the call.“Dr. Hunt… could it be…”— Yes?“It’s not time for Neim symptoms to appear yet, is it? I mean, I’ve spent a long time in Scotland recently, and my hands are fine….”— Where are you feeling unwell?Daniel’s voice quickly sharpened with professional concern.“It’s nothing serious, but I think I’ve been feeling a bit dizzy.”— Have you been eating properly lately?“…I’m not sure.”Daniel’s silence felt like a quiet reprimand. Doha couldn’t think of an excuse and kept his mouth shut. He thought he had been doing reasonably well, but admittedly, his meals were still less substantial than when Jean had been preparing them at the mansion.After a brief pause, Daniel spoke again.— I can’t say for sure without examining you, but we can’t rule out Neim symptoms. You’ve been diligent in maintaining your ten-day and three-day cycles, but the weather has thrown things off considerably, hasn’t it? It’s been about three weeks since you stayed in Scotland, right?“…Yes.”— And you’ve stayed in London longer than usual this time as well. As you know, regular contact with a Neim counterpart—preferably daily, but at least periodically—is crucial. It’s possible that the sudden disruption in your cycle is causing your body to experience… a sort of Tristan withdrawal, if you will.Doha blinked in surprise at the diagnosis delivered in Daniel’s steady voice. Sensing the awkwardness of the statement, Daniel added:— Saying it out loud, it sounds a bit like an addiction. Anyway, if the symptoms persist after you meet with Tristan and receive treatment, please let me know. My guess is it’s just anemia, but we’ll figure it out when you’re next in London.“Yes. Thank you.”— No problem at all.Daniel waited until Doha ended the call. Checking his phone, Doha saw the battery had dropped to 7%. He turned his gaze to the window, where the shadows of bare, black trees flickered by. By now, the dining room at the mansion would be warm with candlelight and the smell of food.Once awake, he couldn’t fall back asleep. The train occasionally stopped at stations with names that were faintly familiar, where Doha could glimpse dimly lit platforms through the window. As they passed Newcastle and entered Scotland, the carriage became emptier.Doha finished the book he had been reading and then, as Edinburgh neared, began to study sheet music again. Though it wasn’t as convenient as having a keyboard in front of him, reading the music and mentally replaying the notes allowed him to practice sections or learn pieces in advance—a method he’d often relied on when he was a student, short on time but with plenty of music to memorize.He finished revisiting Scriabin’s Sonata No. 8, which he had played at the audition, and was about to move on to the more difficult Sonata No. 9 when something unexpected happened. His fingers, grasping the edge of the sheet music, slipped.“…Ah—.”At first, Doha thought there must be some slick liquid on the paper. It felt as if a thick layer of glass was wedged between his skin and the sheet. His fingertips had become numb.Startled, he raised his hand to examine it, but there was nothing. His fingers simply weren’t responding, as if they were paralyzed.In a moment of panic, he shook his hand as if trying to shake off the numbness. Pins and needles shot through his skin as sensation returned, causing his hand to tingle. His heart was racing.Feeling his right-hand fingertips with his left, he was relieved to find that everything seemed back to normal. Breathing a sigh of relief, Doha’s heart rate began to slow down. Something was clearly wrong with his body. All he could hope for now was that his delay in Inverness wouldn’t be too long, and that he could return to the mansion as soon as possible to receive treatment.The train jolted once, then began to decelerate. A bright voice over the speakers announced:“This train is now approaching Edinburgh Waverley Station. This is the final stop for this service. We will soon be arriving at Edinburgh Waverley Station.”Through the window, Doha saw the lights of the large station and the silhouette of the castle on the hill. They arrived just one minute later than scheduled. He had ten minutes to find the next platform and board the train to Inverness.The train came to a complete stop. He noticed a woman, who had been sitting across from him, rise and move briskly towards the door. From her hurried pace, Doha guessed she was likely catching the same train.Watching people disembark onto the platform through the window, Doha grabbed his backpack and stood up from his seat.“…Ah—.”And in that instant, the world went black.His knees buckled. His outstretched hand slid off the back of the seat, and he collapsed onto the floor, kneeling on the seat as though he were praying. It felt as if his airway had closed, and he couldn’t breathe.Bile surged up from his throat, filling his mouth. In his hazy vision, he looked around, thinking numbly that this wasn’t the place, and now wasn’t the time.“Hhh… Ah—.”His hand reflexively reached for his bag, but he knew there was no painkiller inside—it hadn’t been necessary for months. His vision blinked in and out. The train jolted as if it were about to depart with Doha still on board. Trembling, he grabbed onto the backpack’s handle and managed to stagger to his feet.The carriage was empty. Supporting himself with the backs of the seats, he barely made it onto the platform, where the cold wind cruelly cut through him.Doha instinctively looked around before steadying himself. He couldn’t afford to collapse or ask for help. If he were taken to the hospital, it would be easy for them to discover the presence of Neim, and that could put Tristan Locke in danger. His call logs had his name and number saved.