✦ The Cult's Hidden Chamber✦
A hooded person appeared before a throne surrounded by dark, shadowy auras.
In front of the throne stood a large table, and on it rested a glowing crystal ball.
The hooded figure knelt down respectfully before the sphere.
"My lord, the plan you set to kill him through the prince… it's done. But—" the hooded figure said.
"But what?" a deep, unknown voice echoed from within the crystal ball.
"My lord, the target was killed, but there were others with him—people who weren't part of the plan. We managed to kill one, and the other two were badly injured, but we couldn't finish them. They may become a threat to us."
"Were they that powerful?" the voice asked.
"No, my lord, they were weak. But a team of royal guards and some adventurers arrived unexpectedly," the hooded man explained.
"Hmm… then leave them. They won't pose any threat to us," the voice replied coldly.
The deep voice spoke again, its tone growing heavier.
"And yes, there is something else you must know. As the general of many cult members, you must be aware of this."
"Yes, my lord," the hooded figure answered.
"The magic crystal within the circle is losing its power," the voice continued.
"Recently, something unusual happened—the magic circle began to glow for a moment, cracking the crystal as if something was trying to attract it. If the myth is true, and the Demon Queen awakens before our preparations are complete, it will destroy not only our cult… but this entire world. You must hasten the preparations."
"Yes, my lord," the hooded figure replied solemnly.
---
✦A Morning of Sorrow✦
"Hey, Ryu! Wake up! It's already late!" Akari shouted.
"Ahh, sister… I want to sleep a bit more," Ryu mumbled.
Akari pulled the blanket off him. "Hey, sleepyhead! Wake up already. We need to go to the town hall today for the conference," she teased.
"Aah… fine, sister. I'm getting up now," Ryu sighed.
"That's better. Go get ready quickly—and yes, Mom can't come with us today," Akari said.
"Ah, it's okay, sister. That's better for her too," Ryu replied, emotionless.
He stood up and went to wash his face, his expression distant and sorrowful.
Akari watched him quietly, noticing that he hadn't been playful like before—ever since the tragedy a week ago.
When Ryu came back, Akari gently hugged him.
"Hey, little brother. Are you still thinking about Father's death? You're too young to fall into depression," she said softly.
"But, sister—" Ryu began, but Akari interrupted him.
"No excuses, Ryu. I've faced the same thing. My parents died in a burning house right before my eyes when I was seven or eight. I don't want you to forget your father, but you can't waste your life drowning in grief. You must live to take revenge someday."
Ryu looked down, then nodded slowly. "I'll try to do better, sister. Let's get ready for the town hall."
---
✦Farewell to a Father✦
When they arrived, Kenji's coffin was displayed at the center of the hall.
The moment Ryu saw it, he ran forward.
"Father…" Ryu cried, rushing to the coffin and falling to his knees, pressing his head against it.
Akari came closer and gently wrapped her arms around him, tears falling from her eyes as well.
"I never thought I'd face this same pain again…" she whispered.
She gave Ryu a reassuring pat. "Be strong, little brother. Be ready for the future battle."
The town chief gave a short speech, and the scene shifted to the graveyard.
Ryu sat under a tree in front of Kenji's grave. Akari approached him quietly.
"Hey, little brother, let's go home. It's getting late," she said.
"Yes… but, sister, I still can't accept the reality," Ryu murmured.
Akari gently took his hand and led him to the grave. "Father, I'll protect Mother and Ryu. When Ryu grows stronger, we'll avenge you," Akari said, voice trembling.
Ryu clenched his fists, tears falling again. "Father… I'll become the most powerful and take your revenge!"
---
✦ Visitors from the Past✦
Weeks passed. Ryu still seemed broken, unable to focus on training.
Amelia was nearing childbirth, just a few weeks away.
That morning, Kenji's surviving teammates came to visit the house. Though still healing, their adventurer bodies helped them recover faster.
They stopped at the main door, bowing their heads in sorrow.
"Hey, Kai… how do we even face them?" Zara asked.
"We can't change the past," Kyros replied quietly.
Just then, Akari and Ryu returned from training.
"Hello—may I know who you are?" Akari asked.
"Aah, yes. We were Kenji's teammates. We were with him on his last mission," Kyros said, lowering his head.
"Are you Ryu's magic teacher?" he asked.
"Yes. You can call me his sister, though not by blood," Akari said. "But let's not stand outside. Please, come in."
They entered the living room, where Amelia greeted them warmly.
"Zara, Kai… are you two alright?" she asked with a faint smile.
"Yes, Amelia. We're sorry we couldn't save Kenji that night. The cult ambushed us while we slept. There were too many," Kyros said with regret.
"Don't blame yourselves," Amelia replied gently. "An adventurer's life is always in danger. I know you must have fought with everything you had."
"Well, I know you both were injured badly, and one of your teammates… didn't make it," Akari said quietly.
"Yes, but how could you know that?" Zara asked.
"I saw it all through my shadow vision," Akari replied calmly.
"What!? S-Shadow Vision!?" both Zara and Kyros exclaimed.
"Even I'm not a mage, but I know about it—it's a forbidden spell!" Kyros said in disbelief.
"But that spell was lost thousands of years ago, during the Great Tragedy!" Zara added.
"Yes, I've heard rumors about that tragedy," Akari said. "Do you know more about it?"
Zara nodded. "About 5,000 years ago, a Demon Queen was awakened by the Dark Cult. She destroyed the cult but then began annihilating the world. Mages from across the lands joined forces to seal her within a magic circle. Some cultists survived and rebuilt the cult over millennia. But well… it's just a myth."
"Ohh… I see," Akari said. "But did you notice anything strange during the attack?"
Kyros thought for a moment. "It felt… planned. I think they wanted to kill the prince. But it makes no sense—why target the third prince instead of the first? And the number of enemies was too large. They knew we were strong, so they came prepared."
"I understand," Akari said softly.
Before they could continue, Amelia spoke up. "Let's stop this talk for now. Come, have lunch."
"Ah, we almost forgot why we came," Zara said. "The king sent this letter for you."
Amelia opened it and read aloud. "The King invites us to live in the royal capital, under royal protection."
"That could be good," Akari said. "There's also the Yujin Academy there. What do you think, Mom?"
"It's a good opportunity," Amelia agreed. "Ryu could study there."
"The king has arranged royal escorts for your journey," Kyros added. "He especially wants to meet Ryu."
"The royal carriage will arrive tomorrow morning," Zara said.
"Then we should start packing," Akari said.
---
✦A Mother's Memories✦
It was around 9 PM. Amelia sat silently in the living room.
Akari came out after her bath and noticed her mother's expression.
"Mom, you're not asleep yet?" she asked, sitting beside her.
"Oh, Akari… I was just remembering old memories," Amelia said softly.
"Yes, Mom. Tomorrow we leave this house—it holds so many of your memories," Akari replied.
"That's true," Amelia whispered. "Kenji and I built our life here. We made so many memories before and after our marriage. This pendant—he gave it to me on our anniversary. Ryu was born here, grew up here… and now it's all gone in a few seconds. Sometimes I just want to escape reality…" Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Akari placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mom, even though I'm not related by blood, I feel the same pain. My heart aches too."
Amelia smiled faintly. "Yes… but we can't change the past. It's late, dear. Let's get some sleep or we'll be tired tomorrow."
"Yes, Mom," Akari said, and left for her room.
---
✦ A Promise Under the Moon✦
When she entered, she saw that Ryu wasn't in bed.
Looking around, she found him sitting on the balcony.
"Hey, little brother, why aren't you sleeping? It's so late," she asked.
"Ah, sister… I was just watching the moon. It looks so peaceful," Ryu replied.
Akari sat beside him. "We're leaving tomorrow."
"Yes… heading to the royal capital. But it's sad that Father won't be with us," he murmured.
"Well, Ryu, there's something I want to tell you," Akari said quietly. "It's about a forbidden spell and a book that my master once protected with her life. I secretly read it once—it seemed like a myth, but I'm not sure if it's true."
"What's it about, sister?" Ryu asked curiously.
"You'll know once you're stronger. I still have the book," she said.
"Then I'll train harder, sister," Ryu promised.
"But promise me one thing first," Akari said.
"What is it, sister?"
"You'll hide your dark element. No one—not even your teachers—should know about it," she said seriously.
"But why, sister?"
"Because you possess both light and dark elements. That makes you unique—and dangerous. If people find out, especially the cult, they'll come for you. You can't hide the light element, but you can conceal the dark. Promise me."
"I understand, sister. I promise," Ryu replied.
"Good. I'll secretly train you in dark-element skills after class. You'll practice your normal abilities at the academy," Akari said.
"Yes, sister," Ryu nodded. "But when I try to control the dark element, I fail. The power gets cut off by my ring."
"The artifact we accidentally created?" Akari asked.
"Yes."
"Then we'll analyze it properly once we're in the capital," Akari said. "Now, sleep. Tomorrow's a big day."
"Yes, sister," Ryu said softly.
As she lay down, Akari looked at him and thought, "Ryu is still just a child… this will be so hard for him."
---
✦Journey to the Royal Capital✦
The next morning, everyone prepared for departure.
"Ryu, are you ready?" Amelia asked.
"Yes, Mom," he replied.
"I wonder why the king wants to meet you," she whispered.
Akari overheard her and thought silently, "What could the king want? He's kind, but still… I must stay cautious."
As the carriage rolled, Zara spoke up.
"Akari, could you teach me some ancient spells? I felt so weak during the cult attack. I want to be stronger."
"Oh, Miss Zara, you're my elder—how could I teach you?" Akari replied modestly.
"Please, at least share a few techniques," Zara pleaded.
"Wow, the arrogant Zara is actually requesting someone!" Kyros teased.
"Hey, Kai! Mind your own business!" Zara snapped back.
"Hey, little Ryu, look at this mad woman!" Kyros joked.
"Who are you calling a mad woman, old man!?" Zara shot back.
Amelia laughed. "You two haven't changed one bit."
"Oh, Amelia, you sound like a mother again," they both replied in unison.
Akari leaned toward Ryu and whispered, "See, they're just like children."
Ryu smiled for the first time in weeks. "After so long, I finally saw him smile," Akari thought, smiling herself.
That evening, they camped in a forest clearing.
"Hey, Ryu, let's have a friendly sparring match," Kyros said. "I want to see your skills."
"Yes, brother. Let's do it," Ryu said excitedly.
Ryu attacked first, but Kyros easily blocked it. Again and again, Ryu struck, but none of his attacks landed.
"Brother, how are you blocking all my attacks?" Ryu asked.
"Because strength alone isn't enough. To win, you must be unpredictable. Always think ahead in a sword fight," Kyros explained.
"Even though Kai acts playful, he's deadly serious in battle," Amelia said.
"Yes, Kenji was unbeatable," Zara added softly.
Amelia chuckled. "Zara, don't pretend. You like Kai, don't you?"
Zara blushed. "Amelia! Please don't say that aloud!"
Amelia grinned. "He likes you too. But both of you are too stubborn to admit it."
Zara sighed, smiling shyly. "Maybe you're right."
Meanwhile, Kyros patted Ryu's head. "You learn fast, little one."
"Thanks, brother Kai," Ryu said.
"Let's practice again tomorrow," Kyros smiled.
---
✦ The Capital and the King's Gift✦
"We're here," Kyros said as the grand gates rose before them.
"The journey's finally over," Amelia sighed.
The King himself awaited them at the gate.
They bowed respectfully as he welcomed them to the royal palace.
"Ryuken Leonheart," the King said warmly. "Meet me in the evening. I have something important to tell you."
"Yes, your majesty," Ryu replied.
They were offered royal quarters within the castle.
As they explored, Ryu whispered, "So this is where Father once served as a knight…"
Later, while wandering, Ryu met a boy around seventeen.
"Hey, little brother! What's your name?" the boy asked kindly.
"My name's Ryuken Leonheart, but you can call me Ryu," he replied.
"Ryu, huh? Nice name," the boy smiled. "Father sent me to bring you to him. Your sister's there too."
"Wait… are you the prince?" Ryu asked, startled.
"Yes, I'm Prince Kael," he said, laughing. "But don't be so formal, little brother."
"Oh—thank you, brother Kael!" Ryu said brightly.
"Here, take this emblem," Kael said, handing him a golden plate engraved with the royal crest. "It's a VIP pass for Yujin Academy. You'll need it."
"Thank you, brother Kael!" Ryu said gratefully.
They talked while walking to the King's chamber.
"Father told me your dad was a legend," Kael said. "He trained with our family."
Ryu's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yes," Kael nodded, before entering the King's room. "Father, Ryu's here."
"Good. Kael, go lead the knights to investigate the forest. A monster was seen there yesterday," the King ordered.
"Yes, Father," Kael said and left.
"Ryu," the King said softly, "don't be so formal with me. Your father and I were best friends in our youth. You may call me Uncle Azel."
"Alright, Uncle Azel," Ryu said respectfully.
"Come with me. I'll show you something," the King said. "Akari, you too."
They walked through long corridors as the King spoke.
"Your father was gifted—brilliant, brave, and strategic. I owe many victories to his mind."
"Oh, Uncle, Father was really that great," Ryu said with pride.
"Yes," the King said fondly. "We both trained under Ava Frostblade—the Ice God Princess of the battlefield. She was a swordswoman so fast her blade felt like a winter wind. After I became king, I funded Yujin Academy and made her a teacher there."
"Wow! I wish I could be her student," Ryu said excitedly.
"Sadly, she retired 17 years ago. No one knows where she went," the King said.
"That's sad," Ryu murmured.
They reached a sealed chamber.
"Akari, please wait here. I need to speak to Ryu alone," the King said.
"Yes, your majesty," Akari replied.
The King and Ryu entered. Inside glowed an ancient magic circle.
The King chanted a spell, and a dimensional rift opened—revealing a shining red-crystal sword and a bracelet-like artifact.
"Ryu," the King said solemnly, "your father wanted you to have these. The armor is being reforged, but this sword has been restored by the best blacksmiths and enchanted by royal mages. Wear this artifact—it's fused with your father's legacy."
"Uncle…" Ryu whispered, overwhelmed, kneeling before the sword. He could feel Kenji's aura from it.
"Keep this secret," the King said gently. "Tell no one but Akari."
Then he left the room.
"Akari, you may enter now," he said outside.
Akari stepped in and found Ryu kneeling, tears falling as he clutched the sword.
"Hey, Ryu, what happened?" she asked softly.
Ryu explained everything and said, "Sister, please store this sword in your dimension. Give it to me when I need it."
Akari smiled faintly. "Of course, little brother."
---