The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a blood-orange hue across the capital as the last light of day faded.
Somewhere far below, within the city walls, Kael stormed through the stone corridors of the royal barracks, his face twisted in rage.
"These goddamn humans... how dare they throw stones at me?" he hissed, kicking a stool aside. "Each one of them... I'll make sure they die screaming beneath my feet."
But the sun kept falling. Darkness crept in—slowly, surely.
And then, the scene changed.
Atop a solitary mountain that overlooked the entire capital, a lone figure stood against the twilight wind. His white hair, streaked faintly with grey, rustled gently in the breeze. Chin-length strands framed his sharp features, curling lightly around his face. The rest of his hair was tied into a low ponytail at his nape, held with a simple black band. His eyes—cold, calculating—burned violet as they fixed upon the capital below.
He wore a sleek black cloak, long and flowing. Beneath it, a fitted white shirt traced his form beneath dark, reinforced leather straps. His black pants were tucked neatly into his boots, armored at the soles for silent movement, designed for war yet styled with eerie elegance. The silhouette alone gave the sense of a man who had returned from death to claim vengeance.
It was Leo.
He said nothing. He simply watched.
Then, footsteps approached. From behind, Lili emerged from the misted path, her gaze calm yet sharp.
"You're ready?" she asked, her tone quiet, but heavy with resolve. "Tonight, we move on the capital."
A second presence arrived—Lyra. Without a word, she came to stand beside Leo and gently took his hand. Her grip was firm, her voice trembling only slightly.
"Leo... it's time to save the rest of our family."
For a moment, silence lingered on the mountaintop.
Then, Leo's gaze hardened as he looked upon the city drowning in corruption. The wind blew his cloak like a banner of judgment.
In his mind, a single thought echoed—cold, sharp, and final.
"Hide behind your thrones, your walls, your heroes... it won't matter. Tonight, your sins meet their reckoning."
Night had finally come.
The sky above the capital darkened into a deep indigo, stars glittering faintly as cold wind blew across the land.
Standing at the mountaintop, Leo narrowed his eyes at the distant city lights. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he turned toward his companions.
"You two ready?" he asked, voice low and composed.
Lili gave her usual carefree grin. "Always."
Lyra nodded beside her. "Let's bring them down."
With a quiet murmur, Leo raised his hand and activated his teleportation spell. A faint surge of violet runes encircled them—and in an instant, they vanished.
Flash.
They reappeared just outside the massive stone gates of the capital, the walls towering like a fortress before them.
"Huh?" Lyra blinked, surprised. "Why are we outside? Couldn't we have just teleported straight in? You can bypass detection barriers now, right?"
"We could," Leo said calmly. "But if we sneak in unnoticed, and someone senses the disturbance, they'll investigate. We're not here to hide. We're here to start something—and that means moving wisely."
Lyra and Lili exchanged glances, then nodded.
Soon, they joined the crowd approaching the gates—some were merchants, others tired villagers, a few worn-out adventurers. But as they reached the gate, two armored guards stepped forward and crossed their halberds.
"Hold up. Haven't seen you three before," one said, eyeing them suspiciously. "You new here? What's your business in the capital?"
Leo nodded with a calm expression. "We came to register as adventurers."
"Hmph. Bad timing," the second guard muttered.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"The king announced today that anyone who wants to stay in the capital has to pay a temporary tax. Four thousand gold coins—just for today. After that, it goes back to normal, ten gold per week or so."
Leo's eyes narrowed. "Four thousand? Who the hell can afford that? The poor would be crushed."
The first guard shrugged. "That's the point. His Majesty says only the rich should live in the capital. You've got one week. Pay the tax or leave... or get executed."
Leo clenched his fist in silence.
Then, before he could speak again, Lili stepped forward with a bright smile.
"Leave this to me, handsome."
Leo blinked. "Wait, what—"
She walked up to the guards, flipping her now human-like hair and giggling. "Oh my~ you two look so strong. Standing all night here... don't your shoulders get stiff? Muscles like yours must need... relaxation."
The guards went from stern-faced to stunned in seconds.
"I-I mean, uh... it's part of the job," one stammered, his cheeks turning red.
"Oh~ but it's such a dangerous job, right?" Lili pouted dramatically. "Protecting the capital... so brave. I love brave men."
Both guards stood like statues, unsure if they were melting or dreaming.
Then Lili leaned closer, fluttering her lashes. "So... could you do me a teensy favor and let me and my friends through? We're just poor harmless travelers~"
The first guard gulped. "Uh... y-yeah, sure. You can go in."
"Absolutely!" the second one blurted, practically stepping aside.
"Thank you!" Lili said with a wink, spinning on her heel and skipping back to Leo and Lyra.
Leo stared at her. "How... what... how did that even work?"
Lili smirked, flicking her hair. "Ahmph~ I am very beautiful, you know."
Leo sighed. "Yeah, yeah... I'll give you that."
Lyra tried not to laugh, but the corners of her mouth twitched.
The three stepped past the gates, leaving the dazed guards behind them—and entered the cursed capital.
As Leo, Lili, and Lyra stepped through the towering gates, the capital unfolded before them like a stage set for a grand illusion.
Even though it was night, the city shimmered with artificial charm. Lanterns bathed the streets in warm golden light, laughter echoed from open taverns, music played in the distance, and children chased each other between vendor stalls. It looked… perfect.
Too perfect.
Leo's eyes narrowed as he scanned the surroundings.
The left side of the capital gleamed. Elegant stone buildings, polished windows, fountains that ran with fresh water, and people dressed in rich silks and clean tunics walked without worry. They smiled, chatted, and drank wine under hanging lanterns. Opulence lived here.
But the right side—barely hidden in the same street—was a stark contrast.
Wooden shacks leaned against crumbling stone, patched roofs barely held back the wind, and faces in the shadows looked tired, hollow, and fearful. Their clothes were worn, some without shoes. And though they pretended to smile or greet travelers, their eyes were clouded with something darker.
Fear.
Leo slowed his pace, then closed his eyes for a moment.
Teleknesis activated subtly—except this time, he sharpened it to reach into the minds and recent thoughts of those around him. One whisper. Two thoughts. Dozens. Then hundreds.
"Smile, or they'll kill you."
"The high officials said pretend everything's fine. If we break the illusion, we're dead."
"They said new people would come, and we must act like the capital is paradise…"
His purple eyes opened slowly, glowing faintly under the streetlights. A storm brewed behind them.
"…I see," Leo muttered.
Lili, walking beside him, had a rare grim look on her face. Her usual teasing expression faded.
She turned toward Leo and whispered, "You saw it too?"
Leo nodded, voice cold. "Yeah. This place is nothing but a painted corpse."
Lyra, unaware of the mental exchange, glanced between them, her grip tightening on Leo's hand.
Leo didn't lash out. Not yet.
But inside, something was bubbling.
Something deep. Something old. Something hungry.
He clenched his fists beneath the cloak as his eyes scanned the beautiful nightmare around him"
''Smile for the guests."
"Lie or die."
He didn't need to say more.
Lili met his eyes and nodded.
Lyra felt the silent shift in the air and pressed closer to Leo.
This city had no idea what had just entered its walls.