She entered the courtroom shackled, each step heavier than the one before. The iron around her wrists bit into her skin, yet it was the weight of fear that truly dragged her down.
Sera dared to lift her gaze — to the left.
There they were.
Peter.
Lucas.
Nereus.
Marcus.
Each of their faces reflected the same fear, the same silent ache that gripped her heart.
Up above, like a carved statue of judgment, stood Ilarious, resting his usual feathered fan against his shoulder, expression unreadable, red eyes fixed on the scene below.
And before her — at the far end of the grand hall — sat the Emperor, cloaked in shadow, his throne carved from cold, pale stone.
To his side stood Aqua, tall and sharp like a blade drawn in silence.
He stepped forward, voice calm, too calm.
"As I am present… and gifted with the ability to read thoughts… this trial should be rather simple."
Murmurs rippled through the hall. Sera clenched her fists against the chains, the cold metal trembling slightly.
Aqua continued, without pause:
"That would be true—if the accused were an ordinary person."
Sera's breath caught. A storm gathered in her chest.
"But she is not. She possesses psychic power… the ability to manipulate the minds of others. Just as she did to many of our knights. She made them forget. Erased what should never be forgotten."
Her eyes widened, lips parted in horror.
From across the courtroom, Peter shouted:
"You could say that—if she were facing an ordinary person! But you are not ordinary, Aqua!"
The clatter of swords echoed harshly as guards drew their blades on him.
"Silence," the Emperor commanded, his voice low, dangerous.
Peter's jaw tensed, but he stepped back.
Aqua's gaze didn't flicker.
"You do not speak unless permitted. This is a court. Not a tavern."
He turned back toward the throne.
"Peter is nothing but a rat. Immoral. Filthy. He could easily stand in her place."
Peter's eyes blazed with fury, but Aqua paid him no mind. He turned to Sera again.
"Now… tell us in detail. What did you do last night, after His Highness Ilarious granted you leave?"
Sera's voice trembled.
"I… I left the palace. Walked around for a while. But I never reached the city center… I swear. I never harmed anyone. I didn't kill any noble!"
Aqua's eyes narrowed.
"Weak. Hollow. A poor lie from someone who's already been caught."
"I'm not lying!" she cried.
"So you're saying," Aqua said coolly, "you didn't meet your dear friend, Peter?"
Her heart stopped. Her eyes flicked to Peter.
Peter turned instantly, glaring at Valerian, who was smiling — calm and cruel.
Sera gasped, then confessed:
"I did meet Peter… But I was with him the entire time! I didn't hurt anyone!"
Peter shouted:
"I was with her! I'm a witness!"
Aqua's lips curled.
"Then you're also an accomplice."
"No!" Sera screamed, voice rising with desperation. "We didn't kill anyone! You're trying to trap us! Why?! Is it because you're trying to cover your own filth?! You don't want the truth! You just want someone to blame!
Is this your justice?! Or are you just trying to run from it?!
Because I swear— even if you cut our heads off today,
you will not escape punishment for this injustice!"
Silence.
The courtroom went still — breathless.
Aqua stared at her, cold and unmoved. Then, he spoke:
"I have served this kingdom… since before you were born. I gave my life to it.
And now, a street rat dares accuse me?
How poetic.
This is what rodents do when they fear death."
He stepped forward and bowed before the Emperor.
"His Majesty has entrusted me with judgment.
And so, with full authority, I pronounce:
Death.
By beheading. For both of them."
Gasps filled the air.
Sera's knees weakened.
She turned to Peter — eyes wide, guilt clawing her from within.
This was her fault.
He would die… because of her.
Marcus screamed:
"Tyrant! This kingdom is cursed! This verdict is cursed!"
Lucas stood silent, soul emptied.
He was about to lose his brother — the only family he had.
Nereus… collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest, trembling with something no one could see.
Sera's gaze met Peter's.
Peter's met hers.
They only saw each other.
And Ilarious…
Watched them with a gaze no one could quite understand.
Jealousy? Pain?
Something… unsettling.
Then Aqua declared:
"Execution to be carried out in three days.
Before the eyes of the entire kingdom."
⸻
That night, Sera was dragged back to her cell.
Later, the door opened—Peter was thrown in beside her.
She ran to him, arms wrapping around his frame, sobs shaking her body.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… It's all my fault. They caught us because of me.
You're going to die… because of me…"
Peter held her tightly, his own tears falling, yet silent.
He didn't understand what she meant.
But he didn't ask.
There was no room for questions now.
Only emotion.
"I'm scared," he whispered. "But maybe… something better waits after death.
At least… maybe I'll see my mother again."
Sera's voice cracked:
"I wasn't a good person.
I don't deserve anything better."
Peter cupped her head gently, brushing her hair back.
"You're the kindest soul I've ever met.
Don't you dare believe otherwise."
⸻
The sun rose, golden and indifferent.
They hadn't slept. Not for a moment.
And then—
The door slammed open.
A guard entered with a mocking grin.
"On your feet."
"Why?!" Sera cried.
"Why else?" he laughed.
"It's time for your execution."
"But— it's supposed to be in three days!" Peter protested.
"Plans changed. The Emperor doesn't like waiting."
⸻
They were dragged into the execution square.
Thousands had gathered.
Screaming, laughing, hungry for blood.
"Kill them! Cut their heads off!"
Ilarious wasn't there.
Nor was Valerian.
But everyone else was.
The executioners lifted their blades—
And then—
One second…
Then the ground trembled—as if something buried deep within had finally awakened after an eternity of imprisonment.
A low, guttural rumble surged from beneath their feet…
BOOM — the executioners' heads burst all at once, blood spraying across the courtyard like a storm of crimson.
Screams erupted.
"W-What is this?!"
Panic.
People ran—tripped—fell over each other, clawing their way out.
And Sera… stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the source.
Nereus.
He stood alone. His body shaking violently. Black veins, thick and pulsing, writhed beneath his skin like some demonic web come to life.
Everything around him… was dying.
Even the air turned heavy… poisoned.
Heads began to burst like balloons filled with rage.
Screams filled the square.
Blood rained like a curse.
And fear reigned—undisputed.
Yet Sera, Peter, Lucas, and Marcus… remained untouched.
The chains binding them… shattered without a hand being raised.
"No…" Peter whispered, his voice broken. "Please… Nereus, don't…"
Sera covered her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"If he knew what he was doing… he'd kill himself.
Nereus… doesn't deserve this…"
Knights rushed in—one after another. But as soon as one neared, their head would explode.
They fell—like leaves caught in a storm of vengeance.
In seconds, the entire square was empty.
No one dared approach.
Aqua arrived—rushing in with Darius Kain, Gerald, and Lauren.
But what they saw… was hell itself.
Torn heads.
Charred bodies from within.
Black veins seeping from the ground, pulsing like an angry heart.
Lauren gasped. Then murmured under her breath:
"So this… this is what he meant,
when he told me…
'If something happens to them… it will be terrifying.'"
Aqua, with a twisted smile, whispered:
"This is no ordinary magic…
It's a curse… seeping into the very air…"
Then his gaze shifted—to Sera, Peter, and the others.
"But why… why aren't they affected…?"
⸻
Peter stood, trembling.
His eyes clouded… lost in memory.
He remembered.
Everything.
That distant day…
They were just children.
And Nereus had been new among them—
A quiet little boy they found abandoned beside garbage bins, with a gentle soul…
Even though no one wanted him.
But Peter did.
"He'll be our brother, Lucas.
He won't be alone anymore."
And they took him home.
Years passed…
Nereus was kinder than a thousand brothers.
Until that day.
He was six years old.
A drunken man had beaten Lucas in the marketplace—mercilessly.
Lucas fell, blood dripping from his face…
And Nereus screamed.
A scream from the depths of his soul.
And then… the black veins came—
From his feet.
His palms.
Even his eyes.
And in an instant… the man was dead.
His skull crushed as if someone had poured raw fury into it.
But the price…
Nereus's eyes began to bleed.
"Nereus?" Peter whispered, running to him.
But Nereus was reaching out—feeling the empty air…
"Where are you…?
Why can't I see you…?!"
He had gone blind.
That day… his sight was extinguished.
And for many long nights, Nereus cried—
His voice dissolving in the dark, choked and trembling…
Peter thought he was crying because of the blindness.
But one day… Nereus whispered, his voice shattered:
"Peter… please…
If it ever happens again…
Kill me.
Don't let me kill anyone else.
I don't want to be a monster… I don't…"
And in that moment, Peter understood.
Nereus wasn't crying for his lost sight.
He was crying… because he had killed.
⸻
The present.
Peter walked through the chaos, trembling, his hand reaching down to pick up a sword—
from a fallen knight.
He looked at Nereus…
And whispered, his eyes brimming with tears:
"Not again…"
He remembered.
⸻
Flashback.
He was seven years old.
They were fishing.
Peter.
And Lucas.
The lake was nearly dry.
Peter kicked the empty bucket in frustration.
"How can we buy medicine for Mom when there's NOTHING!?"
Lucas sighed.
"I'll go beg… maybe someone will pity us."
"No! I won't beg from heartless pigs!" Peter shouted, storming off.
He returned home, only to find his mother coughing, too weak to move.
Still, she smiled.
"I'm sorry, love… I couldn't cook anything today…"
Peter held back tears.
"I don't want food. I just want you to get better…"
But the days passed.
And she only worsened.
Her skin began to rot, little by little.
Each touch left something behind.
She was decaying… alive.
Then one day…
She reached for his hand, eyes dim with pain.
"Kill me."
Peter froze.
"W-What…?"
"This pain… is more than I can bear. Please…
You'll be better off without me. You won't have to beg for medicine that doesn't work…"
"No! I can't! You're my mother! I— I—" he sobbed.
"I know it's too much to ask from a child…
But I know you're strong.
Look after Lucas… he's reckless… and—" she smiled, weak and beautiful,
"—I love you. So much. I'll always be proud of you…"
Peter cried and shook his head.
"No! I'll find a cure! You'll be okay!"
"There is no cure… I knew it for a long time.
But I stayed… for you two.
I gave everything for you…
Can't you give this, for me…?"
He stared at her skin… falling apart.
His small hand gripped the knife—
And the world shattered.