Evening
At dawn, the group walked toward the town's exit. A creaky wooden cart rattled along the road, old horses straining under the load.
The driver called out, "Heading south? There's room in the back. Free of charge."
Ari squinted. "We can walk."
The driver's smile was calm—too calm. "I insist. No payment necessary."
Tracey shrugged. "Free is free."
Gray observed the driver silently, noting the way his eyes lingered just a little too long on each of them. He said nothing, climbing aboard with the others.
The cart began moving, rocking over the uneven path. For hours, the four sat quietly, blending with other travelers.
Then a subtle wrongness prickled at Gray's senses—a pulse in the air, a shift in pressure, the faintest whiff of magical interference.
Ari's eyes narrowed. Tracey tried to stand, but Ari gently pressed his arm down, shaking her head. She rose alone, blade gleaming in the sunlight.
With a single swift motion—shing!—the cart's roof was sliced clean off, flying into the air and smashing onto the roadside. Dust billowed, and the horses whinnied.
Every passenger turned toward them, surrounding the group in tense silence, not in fear—but in deliberate, hostile attention.
Gray smirked faintly. "Knew something was off the moment we sat down. Too quiet. Too… coordinated."
Dawn stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Enough games. Who are you—and what exactly was your plan for us?"
A tall figure stepped forward from the shadows—it was the driver. His stance calm, but his eyes sharp.
Gray's eyes narrowed immediately. "I know you… you're Finn, the vice-captain from Imperial's brother's squad. What are you doing here?"
Finn's expression remained neutral, hands relaxed at his sides. "We are not here to harm or provoke. We follow the orders of our lord."
All four of them instinctively raised their guards, weapons ready, eyes scanning every movement.
Dawn's voice cut through the tension, cautious but firm. "Lord? Who are you referring to?"
Finn's gaze flicked briefly toward the horizon, then back. "You've been summoned… by the Four Emperors themselves. There is to be a discussion concerning the Red-Marked Imperial."
Tracey tensed, stepping slightly forward. "Summoned? By the emperors? That… can't be good."
Gray's jaw tightened, eyes cold as he studied Finn. "Then we don't have a choice. Whatever this discussion is, it's a trap waiting to happen. But we need some answer from them too. Right Ari?"
Ari's eyes narrowed, but she gave a curt nod. "Fine. For now, we follow… but one wrong move, and we fight."
Finn smirked faintly, shaking his head. "Men… I expected a little more resistance. I thought we'd at least need a fight to bring you to them."
Without another word, he raised his hands, signaling his squad. Each of his men grasped hands, forming a small circle. A faint shimmer of magic rippled through the air, crackling with energy.
Tracey tensed, fingers twitching toward his weapon. Dawn's eyes glowed subtly, ready for any sudden attack. Gray's expression remained unreadable, calculating. Ari's blade twitched in her hand, anticipation sharp.
Finn's voice cut through the electric hum. "Hold on tight. Teleportation begins now."
A bright, swirling vortex of light and energy enveloped the group. The air around them twisted, the ground vanished, and the sound of rushing wind roared in their ears.
Moments later, darkness swallowed them. The world snapped into black silence, only the faint hum of residual magic vibrating through the air. Slowly, shapes formed. They were in a vast, dimly lit chamber. Shadows stretched across the walls like claws, and the smell of cold stone and dust filled their nostrils.
Gray's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the space. "A dark room… minimal visibility. They want to disorient us. Classic intimidation."
Ari's blade glinted faintly in the dim light, her eyes darting across every shadow. "Stay alert. One wrong move and we're sitting ducks."
Tracey muttered under his breath, trying to pierce the gloom. "Dark room, dark intentions… I don't like this one bit."
Dawn stepped closer to Gray, her voice quiet but firm. "Everyone, stay together. There's magic here… I can feel it. Whoever summoned us is testing us."
Finn stepped back, hands folded behind him, a faint smirk lingering. "Welcome… to the meeting. The emperors are expecting you."
Gray's jaw tightened. "Emperors or traps—it doesn't matter. We handle whatever comes next."
Ari adjusted her stance, muscles coiled. "Let them come. We're ready."
The room seemed to pulse with anticipation, shadows twisting as though alive. Every creak of stone echoed like a warning. The four friends exchanged silent glances—trust, caution, and readiness mingling.
Somewhere deep in the darkness, the Four Emperors waited, their intentions unknown, their power palpable. And now, there was no turning back.
Suddenly, Finn vanished in a swirl of shimmering magic, leaving the group alone in the dark chamber. For a heartbeat, silence pressed against them like a living thing. Then, soft, ambient lights flickered on, revealing the full expanse of the room.
Ari, Gray, Dawn, and Tracey instinctively spread out slightly, blades ready, eyes scanning every corner. The room was vast, with high ceilings that disappeared into shadow, and the walls lined with arcane symbols that pulsed faintly with power.
At the far end, a long, polished obsidian table gleamed under the gentle light. Seated behind it were four figures, each exuding a presence that made the air itself seem heavier.
Queen Seraphina Vale, regal and commanding, her sharp gaze piercing every shadow ,her dark green robes trimmed with silver.. Beside her,
Queen Celestia Emberheart, watched with a calm expression, her blue-and-white attire flowing gently with every breeze, like ripples on water aura radiating warmth and authority, yet tinged with lethal precision.
King Malrik Duskwind, wind tousling his coat and hair despite the still air. His presence carried a quiet sharpness., his mere posture radiating cold strategy and strength. And finally, Lord Magnus Thorne, silent and calculating, the embodiment of quiet menace.
Ari's hand tightened on her blade, and Gray's eyes flicked between the four rulers, analyzing their stances, their magic signatures, every subtle twitch. Dawn instinctively stepped closer to him, her expression tense, while Tracey muttered under his breath, visibly unnerved but trying not to show it.
A hushed, expectant silence fell over the room. The Four Emperors' eyes swept over the group, taking in each figure, their posture, their aura, and the faint flicker of magic radiating from them. The air seemed charged, waiting for the first words, the first move.
Finally, Celestia's voice cut through the quiet, smooth yet commanding. "Welcome. We have brought you here for a discussion… regarding the Red-Marked Imperial."
Gray's jaw tightened. Ari's stance shifted subtly, prepared for anything. Dawn's hands flexed at her sides, ready to react. And Tracey—well, Tracey muttered something about the room being too fancy to get destroyed, but kept his guard up.
The Four Emperors waited their expressions unreadable, their intentions hidden beneath layers of authority, power, and subtle threat.
Celestia tapped her fingers lightly against the obsidian table.
Thum.
In an instant, a book materialized at the center — old, worn… and undeniably familiar.
Ari and the others stiffened.
Magnus leaned back in his chair, smirking. "I assume you recognize it. One of its copies used to be in your group's possession, correct?"
They exchanged confused glances. How do they know about that book?
Malrik spoke next, voice stern. "The reason we summoned you here… is to discuss the threat of the Red Marked. Before he achieves what he desires — he must be eliminated."
He straightened, gaze sweeping across the group.
"As Emperors, it is our duty to preserve order. And this time, that threat… is a single man."
Celestia clasped her hands. "We intend to form a coalition to eliminate Imperial — the Red Marked. We know where he is. But before you decide to trust us… I believe you have questions."
She opened the book — pages glowing with ancient inscriptions.
"Ari," she said softly. "You can read this, can't you? Please. For us — and for your friends."
Ari didn't hesitate. She stepped forward.
But the moment her eyes landed on the page — her expression shifted.
Still, she forced a calm tone. "Yes. I can."
Gray noticed her hesitation. Strange, he thought. Back when Dawn's village gave her that book, she couldn't read it at all. Now she suddenly can?
Subtly, he released his magic. Transparent waves spread across the room — unseen to the naked eye, but gently scanning.
Ari began to read aloud.
"The battle that changed the fate of the Three Realms. A war between two brothers that shattered the world's balance.
One, bearing the Will of Light, saved the world with his life.
The other, consumed by Darkness, destroyed it."
Her voice trembled as she continued.
"Now… that Darkness returns — to finish what he could not.
If he succeeds, the future of all realms will fall."
Gasps echoed across the chamber.
Ari flipped to the next line — her pulse racing.
"One who inherits both Lightning and Darkness shall bring ruin upon the world once more."
Celestia suddenly cleared her throat.
A deliberate interruption.
Ari froze for a heartbeat — a strange glitch running through her mind — like something had forcefully nudged her focus away from the truth.
She blinked.
Ignored it.
And continued reading.
After a few minutes, Ari closed the book and took a step back.
Magnus watched her for a moment before speaking. "We know your group attacked two of our bases — the ones where we were creating Hollowborn. I imagine you have questions. Let me answer them."
He leaned forward, voice low and steady. "The Hollowborn are born from the magic of the Darkened One — the same being you read about in that book. He has chosen the Red Marked as his successor to complete the world's destruction. Because Hollowborn are woven from his power, they are immune to his direct influence. That is precisely why we created them: to act as a countermeasure."
A faint bitterness touched his words. "Defeating a god's successor with a mere army is impossible.
Or to be more precise , "He want to become a God". So even an imperfect tool can buy time. If our Hollowborn combine their strength, they can at least stall him — hold him back long enough for other plans to be put into motion. That was our hope."
A shadow crossed his face. "As for the innocents who were changed… we did not take those lives lightly. They were—are—sacrifices in the name of preserving millions. We framed it as saving others, but the truth is harsher: those who became Hollowborn survived, yes, but at the cost of their former lives."
He met the group's eyes. "We keep this secret because the world cannot know. Panic would spread. Revolt would follow. So we do what must be done, quietly
A few heavy seconds pass after Magnus finished. The room hummed with undercurrents—questions left unasked, thinly veiled doubts that would be a barrier to any fragile trust the Emperors expected.
Gray broke the silence. "Then why isn't Emperor Kai Alden here? He's an Emperor too. Is this—connected to the sudden abdication of the previous ruler of the Central Empire?"
Celestia's eyes flicked to Gray with a curious, unreadable expression. This kid thinks too fast, she thought, surprised. No wonder Magnus rated him so highly.
Magnus's jaw tightened for an instant, then he answered evenly. "Emperor Kai was only recently crowned. He was not made aware of these matters, which is why he isn't present. If the situation requires it, we will involve him." He glanced at the others. "As for your second question — about that sudden abdication — we don't have concrete answers from our side either. It happened quickly; the cause is still unclear."
He folded his hands. "Any more questions, or shall we move to the reason we called you here?"
Ari's reply was short and steady. "Yeah, Let's move to the real discussion."
Celestia watched her with a faint, private disapproval. Such an arrogant girl, she thought. So wrapped in her anger.
Magnus nodded and leaned forward. "We are assembling a taskforce — the strongest mages from each empire, except the Central Empire for the moment. Together they will form a force capable of confronting the Red Mark."
He stared at them, voice hardening. "Our goal is not merely to kill him. We intend to capture him, to study and harness his power. Dark magic—according to that book—has capabilities beyond our current understanding. If wielded correctly, it can achieve nearly anything. We lack the knowledge to use it safely ourselves, but with the Red Mark contained we can learn how to counter or even use that power to protect the World."