**The Capital City, Randor**
Amidst the city's roar and the clamor of street vendors, two figures moved through the crowds. One had jet-black hair, sharp brows, and piercing blue eyes, with a long scythe strapped to his back. This was none other than Maimun.
Walking beside him with a boyish face and messy brown hair was his friend, Ramber. He walked with his hands behind his head, looking perfectly at ease, a black-sheathed sword swinging at his right hip.
"Maimun," Ramber began, "which of the five princes do you think will inherit the throne? And more importantly, who do you *want* to inherit it?"
Maimun kept his gaze on their surroundings. "I don't care who takes the throne. I only hope whoever it is proves useful to the Kingdom."
Ramber snickered. "What a liar! Look at you, talking about the welfare of the Kingdom. You execute your missions with such laziness; if it weren't for the Captain, you'd have been sacked ages ago." Ramber went silent for a moment before adding, "Tell me, Maimun... do you act this way because you don't belong to this Kingdom?"
Maimun turned toward a mobile juice cart. "A cup of lemon juice, please." After placing the order, he turned back to Ramber. "I only do these missions for the Captain. If it weren't for him, I would have left this place a long time ago."
As he spoke, Maimun's gaze seemed to drift to a distant, forgotten memory.
"Your order, young man," the vendor said.
Maimun placed three metallic 'Solar' coins on the counter and lifted the wooden cup. "Will you be staying here?"
The vendor looked surprised. "Yes."
"Good. I'll bring the cup back when I'm finished."
"No problem, Sir Knight," the vendor replied, recognizing Maimun's status.
"Do you ever think about leaving if you regain your memory?" Ramber asked.
Maimun countered with a question of his own. "What would you do?"
"I'm asking you, you idiot, and you answer me with a question?"
"You don't understand. I'm asking: if you were in my shoes, what would you do?"
Ramber gazed at the rooftops bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. "I would leave," he answered quietly.
Maimun smiled. "Then I am like you. I will leave."
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Maimun returned the cup to the vendor. Suddenly, a rhythmic chirping sound echoed between them.
*Ring... Ring... Ring...*
Maimun reached into his gear and pulled out a small sunflower. He pressed a specific leaf to open the line. A voice crackled through the device:
"Maimun, Ramber, you're near the Plaza. Go there immediately. Someone is causing trouble near the fountain—"
"Understood," Maimun cut the line short.
"Waaaaagh!" A shout erupted from the distance. "Blast it, Maimun! I was going to tell you not to kill anyone!"
***
**The Royal Palace**
Inside the palace's Great Hall, a polished marble floor was covered by a long red carpet leading to two thrones atop a raised dais. The thrones were medium-sized, intricately carved with ancient gold leaf. There sat the King and Queen. Two guards stood beside them, holding spears taller than themselves.
The King appeared to be in his late fifties, with a thick black beard. He wore a silver crown inlaid with brilliant jewels, a red robe embroidered with gold and blue hearts, and puffed white trousers. The Queen's face was veiled by a thin white fabric, topped with a small golden crown. Her gown was a vertical blend of crimson and royal blue, embroidered with floral patterns and gold lines.
Behind the thrones, between two windows draped in gold curtains, hung the banner of the **Union of Nations Church**—the pillar of authority in the room.
A man in his forties stood before them, his hands behind his back. He had a formidable build, with a brown beard that matched his short hair. He wore a sharp black suit with a white vest and a matching black tie.
"Your Majesty," the man said, "everything is prepared as you commanded. The Army and the Knights are stationed everywhere. We are ready to erase any external threat that might harm the festival."
The King responded with an indifferent tone. "I hope all goes well. Many influential figures are coming; I want no trouble that could damage our sovereignty in their eyes. I am counting on you, **Felix**."
"Do not worry, Your Majesty. We are doing everything in our power to ensure the festival's success and the city's security."
"Has **Noble Daurana** arrived yet, Felix?"
"It seems she has not arrived yet, Your Majesty."
"Very well. When she does, see to her with special care. She is the most important guest attending this festival."
Felix bowed deeply. "Understood. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."
***
**The Streets of Randor**
The sun was slowly retreating, and a faint glow began to emanate from the oil lanterns hanging by shop doors. Yousafer and Yuray navigated through the crowds of children whose faces were bright with anticipation for the coming event.
"Since we need to find a place to stay and rest from our travels, we still have some time to move," Yousafer said to Yuray.
"You're right," Yuray replied. "Sunset is near. This city... it seems somewhat safe."
Yousafer scoffed. "Didn't you see the Union Church banners everywhere? No wonder it's safe; they've taken over the place. Besides, this is the smallest kingdom on the continent. You won't find one smaller; that's what I gathered from the maps."
Yuray murmured, "I suspect our mission won't be easy at all."
"No matter," Yousafer replied. "Scaling a mountain with great effort and overcoming many obstacles makes the view from the peak worth it. It's different than if the path were paved." He paused. "But I don't think there are any easy paths in this world."
"Just don't be reckless, Yousafer. This is only the beginning."
Yousafer looked at Yuray with a mocking grin. "Look who's talking about recklessness."
Yuray smiled, noting Yousafer's expression, then fell silent.
Yousafer placed a hand on his chin, thinking. "How will we take *that thing*? And is it truly in this Kingdom?"
Yuray coughed lightly. "We have two problems: first, if it even exists here. Second, how to take it."
Yousafer whispered, looking around, "If we find it, we steal it and vanish. That's the plan." He let out a muffled laugh, and Yuray joined him.
They reached the center of a large Plaza. In its middle stood a fountain featuring a statue of a stag with interlocking antlers. Water of different colors sprayed from the antlers, forming a small rainbow. A black bird perched on the stag's back, water flowing from its beak.
Near the fountain, a crowd had gathered to watch a dispute between two men. What started as a shouting match had escalated into a sword fight. Despite the crowd's attempts to intervene, the two men refused to stop.
As Yousafer and Yuray approached, the sound of a whistle pierced the air from a distance. The crowd turned to see two figures in dark blue uniforms with black shells descending from either side.
"It's the Royal Knights! They're actually here!"
"Those two men are finished," another bystander whispered. "Fighting is strictly forbidden during the festival. One mistake could cost a man his life."
The two middle-aged fighters swallowed hard as the two young men approached.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ramber barked. "Don't you know fighting is banned in the Kingdom at this time of year?"
"He started it!" one of the men yelled. "He bumped into me and refused to apologize!"
Ramber groaned. "What a pathetic excuse. You're fighting over *that*? You're coming with us."
"Go with you? Why?" one said arrogantly. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Neither am I," the other added.
Ramber grit his teeth, about to snap, but Maimun stepped forward, his eyes locking onto the two men. His voice was laced with an icy chill. "There's no need to take them. They can stay here. Isn't that what you want? I don't care who started it or what trivial nonsense you're spewing. You knew the ban, and yet you chose to ignore it. You placed yourselves above the laws of the Kingdom. Furthermore, you refused our request to leave quietly. This is exactly what I wanted."
Ramber's expression shifted. "Maimun, you bastard... what are you doing?"
Maimun reached behind his back, drawing the long scythe. It was taller than Maimun himself. Ramber tried to grab him, but Maimun had already moved.
One of the men turned to flee, but Maimun was behind him in a flash. With a casual flick of the scythe, the man's head was sent spinning into the air. Droplets of blood sprayed as the razor-sharp blade sliced through him.
The crowd stood frozen, not understanding what had happened until they saw the head roll across the stones and stop at the feet of a woman. She clutched her head and let out a piercing scream. "AAAAAAAGHHHHHH!"
The crowd recoiled. "He actually killed him!"
Fear gripped the onlookers as they stared at the blood-dripping scythe and the cold indifference in Maimun's blue eyes.
"Don't you know who that is?"
"Who doesn't? That's Maimun, the **Soul Reaper**."
"Is that the Soul Reaper of the Royal Knights? His name is Maimun, right?"
"Yes, that's him," another answered, shivering. "He's terrifying."
"I've heard the name, but why do they call him the Soul Reaper?"
"Don't you know about the incident two years ago? A hundred bandits in the mountains. He told his comrades to run and stood alone against a hundred men."
"A hundred against one!" someone gasped.
"He was the only survivor. When they found him, he was unconscious in a sea of corpses, covered in blood, his scythe beside him. Ever since then, they've called him the Soul Reaper."
Yousafer and Yuray watched the scene, listening to the whispers.
"What have I gotten myself into...!" The second man, seeing the fate of the first, turned pale. He fell to his knees, weeping. "I'll go with you! I'll go with you!"
"Stand up," Maimun said. "Where is that arrogance from before? When you started fighting, didn't you think of this moment? If we let this slide, chaos will rule the Kingdom. Everyone will do as they please."
The man couldn't stop shaking, his sobs turning into incoherent stammers. "I... I... s... s... n..."
Suddenly, a cold sensation pierced the man's chest. He looked down to see the scythe buried in his heart. Blood erupted from his mouth as he stared into Maimun's eyes. He slumped to the side, dead.
**End of Chapter**