Morning coolness had begun to settle over the village.But the chill in the air would never be enough to extinguish the fire in their hearts.
From the window of her home, Lily caught a familiar scent—The scent of magic.
Pure. Refined. Trained for tracking.
Her eyes widened.
"They're here," she whispered.
And then—dust clouds rose from the dirt road.
Horses. Armor. Robes embroidered with threads of golden blue...
The Royal Guard.
At the front, a towering figure rode tall.
His long cloak swept the earth, and his gaze was as cold as carved stone.A pauldron made of dragon hide rested on one shoulder.His eyes didn't search the village…They searched for one house alone.
King Ruthgard Veylor.Elizabeth's father.
Meanwhile – Zeoth's Home
Zeoth closed an old rune book and stood.He had been preparing to visit Elizabeth.
He threw a simple cloak over his shoulders and slipped a few rune stones into his pocket.Then he stepped outside.
But after only a few paces—He saw them.
Royal armor. The kingdom's crest.And at the front… him.
His eyes widened.His heart jumped.
"Elizabeth…"
And with all his strength, he ran.
Lily's House – That Moment
The traces of magic shimmered in front of the house.
A voice shouted,"The trail ends here! She's inside!"
And from the distance—another voice cut through the air:
"STOP! Don't take Elizabeth!"
Zeoth crashed onto the scene, kicking up dust and gravel.He stood before the soldiers, trembling—but not from fear.
His stance was unshaken.His eyes burned with resolve.
From within the house, Elizabeth and Lily rushed to the door.
And there they saw him.
Zeoth, standing alone before the Royal Guard—dust-covered, defiant.
Elizabeth's heart pounded wildly.
"Is this… goodbye?"
The thought buckled her knees.
Lily narrowed her eyes."What nonsense have you gotten into this time, Zeoth…"
The King gazed down at him from his horse.
"A boy who kidnaps my daughter…And dares speak to me this way?"
He scoffed.
"Such insolence warrants death.But first… return my daughter to me."
Elizabeth burst forward.
"No! Don't hurt him!"
The King turned to her, shocked.
"Your clothes… your face… look at yourself, Elizabeth!What disgrace is this? What has he done to you?Speak! What did he threaten you with!?"
Elizabeth stepped forward, trembling—Tears welled in her eyes.
"I… I ran away, Father.Zeoth never harmed me.He helped me. He hid me.He treated me like a friend…And he protected me.If it weren't for him… I'd still be suffocating inside the palace's golden walls.Please… don't hurt him."
The King's brow furrowed.
But something flickered in his gaze.Her tears struck him deeper than any blade.
He began to dismount.
But before his foot touched the ground—Zeoth stepped forward.
"Wait! Can't you see how scared she is? How much pain she's in?Why are you still trying to take her back to a place she fears?"
The King turned, his voice sharper.
"Meddling in matters between a king and his daughter…That is not wise, boy.
Don't make me spill your blood."
But then…He looked Zeoth in the eyes.
And in that instant—He saw something.
Yes, the boy was afraid.
But beneath that fear…Was a flame that refused to die.
He smiled.
"Well now… look at this child."
"In that case—For the sake of my daughter's tears,I shall give you a chance to prove yourself."
He raised a gloved hand.
"Choose any one of my elite men.If you can land even a single blow—I will acknowledge you…as someone worthy to protect her."
Elizabeth gasped."No… don't do this…"
But before she could finish—
"I ACCEPT!" Zeoth shouted."SEND YOUR STRONGEST!"
A towering man stepped forward.
Hair tied back in a tight ponytail.Eyes cold, void of emotion.He radiated silent violence.
Tharion, Captain of the Royal Guard.
"I'll assign you a mid-tier warrior," the King said."You'll face him."
From the crowd, a figure emerged.Middle-aged. Scars carved into his face.He held a wooden training sword.
"A command is a command," the man said softly."No hard feelings, boy."
Elizabeth stood frozen.Her eyes locked on Zeoth.
"No… please… you'll be hurt…"
Lily walked toward the King with casual steps, her hands in her pockets.
"Zeoth is a troublemaker.He's reckless.But with that look in his eyes…I've never once seen him lose."
She shrugged.
"Still… to pit a child against one of your warriors?Is this what nobility looks like?"
The King chuckled.
"There's no harm in teaching children who don't know their place…a bit of fear."
The wooden sword was held out toward Zeoth.
But Zeoth took a step back.
"No.I'm a mage.I don't know how to wield a sword."
Lily shouted suddenly—
"Zeoth! Stop this nonsense!You were born with a body that cannot channel magic!"
Silence.
Time froze.
Elizabeth's eyes widened.
"…What?"
"Zeoth…He trains every day.If he can't use magic…Why did he practice so tirelessly?And why did he always look… so happy while doing it?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I never knew… he was carrying such a burden…"
The King also smiled.
"Hah… a boy who can't cast magic…pretending to be a mage.Refusing even a sword.
No wonder my daughter… finds him so intriguing."
His opponent rested the wooden blade on his shoulder.
"You'll regret this, boy."
Elizabeth whispered silently to herself—
"Why do you always hide your pain, Zeoth…If you had told me from the beginning…I would have still loved you."
And as the first blow was about to fall—
The stage goes dark.