Erika and Draco held the battlefield, fending off Morgan, Lucy, Ben, and Gravio with unyielding skill.
Elara and Ryne carefully carried the unconscious Imperial through the shattered forest, searching for safety.
At the command of Lord Magnus, the four enemies suddenly halted and silently retreated.
Morgan, Lucy, and Ben froze mid-attack. Their bodies tensed, fists and arms suspended in the air.
Gravio's fist surged toward Erika .
Lucy's voice rang out, cold and sharp:
"stop Gravio , it's an Order from Lord Magnus."
he stopped.
Gravio blinked, then relaxed. Mercury, sand, and sound dissipated. The four enemies gave no words, no hesitation—they turned and retreated, vanishing into the forest.
Erika and Draco lowered their defenses, watching silently as the threat disappeared.
The forest grew quiet. Smoke and debris hung in the air. Sparks of magic faded.
…Ten days later.
Imperial lay in a simple bed, eyes closed. His breathing even, though still weak.
He stirred. Slowly opened his eyes. Light streamed through a small window. He blinked, taking in the view.
Outside, a village hummed with life.
People moved about, tending fields, hammering stones to break them into pieces, loading them into carts. Others carried baskets, sweeping the streets, laughing quietly. Life continued, simple and ordinary.
Imperial's gaze lingered. He tried to rise, but his body protested. He stayed still for a moment, absorbing the quietness, the normalcy.
A little girl ran past the villagers, eyes wide.
She froze when she saw him. Her steps faltered. Then, with a gasp, she sprinted toward him.
Imperial's eyes softened, just slightly.
The girl stopped a few feet away, staring up at him.
"Big bro… you awake? Are you feeling better?"
Imperial froze for a moment. Then Erika stepped forward.
"You're awake."
Imperial: "Where… am I?"
Erika explained softly. "Elara and Ryne carried you to this village, far from the forest where you were fighting Gravio and the others. It's been ten days. They told me your magic seemed stable today… and they were right."
At that moment, Elara and Ryne appeared. Elara wrapped Imperial in a gentle hug.
"My love… are you okay? You made me so tense, my lord."
Imperial slowly returned the hug, careful not to hurt her.
The little girl's eyes widened as she ran forward.
"Big bro… you're friends with my brother, right?"
Imperial tilted his head, confused.
Her parents arrived shortly after.
Father: "Thank God you're awake, young man. We've been so worried about you."
Mother: "Let me prepare some nutritional meat for you."
Imperial's eyes softened as he realized they had been caring for him all these ten days. He thanked them sincerely.
Erika scooped Emi up in her arms. "Come on, let's go outside."
Imperial turned to Emi's father. "Why was she asking about her brother? Do I know him?"
Father: "Emi's brother is the same age as you. A few months ago, he joined a job offered by the Solria Empire. I'm sure you know what happened there… our son became one of their experimental subjects."
Imperial noticed the calm in the father's eyes despite the pain—and he was genuinely surprised.
Imperial: "I am really sorry, sir. But trust me, the one behind this isn't my father—it's…"
Father: "Don't explain outside, young man. We know the truth. You can rest easy. No one here holds a grudge. In fact, we're grateful you saved your father and exposed the royal army. They deserved the dishonor for what they did."
Erika returned to the room, Emi in her arms.
"Imperial, I have to go now. Take care of yourself, okay?"
She left, smiling, leaving Imperial with Emi.
Imperial spent the rest of the day teaching Emi small magic tricks. Laughter filled the room as Ryne and Elara watched, joining in the fun. Imperial wanted her to be happy—to feel joy despite her brother's loss.
Evening came. Imperial carried Emi on his back as a group of royal soldiers arrived at the village.
"Emi… why are they here?" he asked.
She laughed. "Big bro, they're just taking the stones and paying us for them."
Imperial chuckled, smiling. "I see… you're clever, Emi."
He noticed tension between the soldiers and villagers but ignored it. He didn't want Emi caught in any argument. Instead, he leaned down and whispered, "Ready for another magic move?"
Emi's eyes sparkled. "Promise?"
Imperial: "Promise."
He smiled.
The village buzzed with life—simple, peaceful, yet full of warmth. Imperial laughed as he helped the villagers with daily chores.
He joined the farmers in the fields, tossing hay bales and helping carry heavy baskets. He tried his hand at breaking stones alongside the villagers, deliberately exaggerating his strength so the children giggled at his "failures."
He taught the little ones simple magic tricks, small sparks and glowing orbs, making them shriek and clap with delight. Emi was his favorite student, her eyes wide with wonder every time he showed her something new.
Even Ryne and Elara loosened their guards, joining in, sharing quiet smiles as they helped carry baskets, lifted hay, or taught the children safe tricks.
Mealtimes became a feast of laughter. Imperial sat with the villagers, sharing stories from his travels, listening to theirs. He learned their names, their dreams, their worries—moments of pure connection.
At night, he sat by the fire with Emi, showing her how to make tiny flames dance like butterflies. Ryne and Elara watched silently, proud and content.
The village, so simple and humble, had become a sanctuary—a memory of joy, laughter, and care. Imperial felt a rare peace, one that would stay with him even in the days to come.
Three days later, it was time to leave. Imperial knelt to Emi, brushing her hair gently.
"I'll come back, Emi. I promise. Next time, I'll take you to my home and show you even more amazing things in my empire."
"Promise?" she whispered, hugging him tightly.
"Promise," he said, smiling.
With a final wave, Imperial, Elara, and Ryne set off.
Minutes later, Imperial crossed paths with a convoy of royal army carts heading in the same direction as the village. He glanced at them briefly, ignoring them, and pressed forward toward his intended destination.
Elara looked at him curiously. "Where to now, Lord?"
Imperial: "Coastal town… Virelyn."
Ryne frowned. "That place? But why?"
Imperial's expression hardened. "There's something I need to check."
They resumed their journey, the wind and road blurring past them.
Minutes later, a sudden, sharp instinct pricked at Imperial's senses—a warning, a pulse of danger he couldn't ignore. His eyes widened, body tensed.
Something was wrong.
He didn't hesitate. With lightning speed, Imperial surged forward.
"Elara! Ryne!" he called, urgency in his voice.
They followed closely as he raced back toward Emi's village, his mind fixed on the warning that something terrible was about to happen.
Imperial arrived at the village—and froze.
Flames devoured homes. Smoke choked the air. Screams pierced the chaos.
His heart clenched as he saw Emi standing terrified, facing a group of royal soldiers. Behind her, her parents lay on the ground, injured but alive.
"Run, Emi! Don't… don't come near us!" her parents cried, their voices strained with pain. Emi's small frame wavered, torn between fear and instinct.
One of the soldiers sneered. "Burn her… with her parents."
A searing fireball shot toward Emi.
Without hesitation, Imperial surged forward, strings of dark magic snapping through the air toward the soldiers. Emi, scared but determined, raised her hands and whispered, "Dark Magic: Dark Sphere!"
A dark, spinning sphere shot from her palm, colliding with the fireball. Sparks and shadows erupted. The flame dissolved.
Within a heartbeat, Imperial's blades flashed. Steel met flesh and armor—soldiers fell in a blur of crimson and sparks.
Elara swooped in, pulling Emi to safety, her eyes wide with worry. Ryne lifted her parents onto his shoulders, cradling them carefully as they retreated.
Imperial's chest heaved. His magic flared, dense and chaotic. Emi shivered, nearly unconscious from the force radiating off him. Soldiers nearest him were blasted backward, fainting from the intensity.
"Who… is behind this?" Imperial growled, voice low and deadly.
From afar, a man stepped forward, cold and arrogant.
"You are in our way. Emperor's orders… I am a Vice General. Obey or die."
Before the words left his mouth, Imperial's blade moved faster than thought. In the blink of an eye, the Vice General's head rolled to the ground.
Rage consumed him. His blades slashed through the soldiers, but to his shock, their bodies regenerated—limbs rejoining, wounds closing.
Imperial's eyes burned. He struck again and again, faster, sharper, relentless. Each time they reformed, he cut them down anew, a storm of steel and fury.
The village burned around him, smoke and screams filling the air, yet he didn't stop—an unstoppable whirlwind against an endless tide of regenerating enemies.
Ryne's voice was quiet, awe-filled: "His blade… it's really a curse to souls."
Moments passed. Flames still raged, but now the village was drenched in blood, ash, and smoke.
Imperial stood above the fallen Vice General, chest heaving, eyes burning with uncontrollable rage. His magic still pulsed violently around him, a storm of vengeance and power, as the village he had come to cherish lay in ruin.
Erika arrived as the last of the soldiers fell, smoke and flames curling around the ruined village.
Imperial ran through the debris, reaching Emi's parents. They were barely conscious, bloodied and trembling. His hands shook as he held their hands.
"You… you can rest now," he whispered, tears sliding down his cheeks. "I promise… I will take care of Emi. You don't have to worry anymore. Be at peace."
They looked at him, a faint relief in their eyes. Emi's mother whispered, "Thank… you, young man," before closing her eyes. Emi's father gave a weak nod, a faint smile breaking through the pain. And then… silence.
Imperial's heart clenched. He gently lifted Emi, holding her close as she buried her face against him, trembling.
"I'll keep my promise," he murmured to himself, voice tight with emotion.
He looked at Erika, who had been watching quietly. "Take her back to the empire. When I return, she will live with me. Until then… please, keep her safe."
Erika nodded solemnly. "I will. Don't worry."
Imperial gave Emi one last reassuring smile, then allowed Erika to carry her away. He watched them go, the weight of his vow pressing heavily on his heart. The village lay in ruins, the smoke and blood a reminder of the cost—but he would protect Emi, no matter what.