The storm clouds rumbled overhead as Leo stood atop a towering steeple in the heart of the capital. His cloak flared in the wind, hiding a masked face twisted with steel determination.
His eyes locked on the castle.
"That's the place... just one window away from ending it all."
With a sudden leap, he dashed across rooftops, his footsteps silent. Reaching the summit of the castle's upper wall, he propelled himself high into the air and smashed through the grand stained-glass window. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the throne wing like a death knell.
Inside, a squad of elite Holy Knights—the personal guard of the king—was already waiting.
Each of them had defeated monsters, commanded battalions, and protected royalty for generations. They were humanity's finest.
But Leo didn't hesitate. With the snap of his wrist, shadows flared.
"I won't fight. I'll kill the king and leave."
He faded into the wall.
But before he could advance another step, his magic cut out completely. His cloak fluttered as he slipped from the shadows and reappeared in the open hall.
The knights' eyes widened.
Leo didn't flinch. "Oh. I forgot... this kingdom has an anti-magic barrier."
The knights lunged at once.
Leo grit his teeth and raised his daggers. A storm of blades began.
Leo parried a sweeping halberd with his forearm blade and spun low, carving through another knight's thigh. A spear jabbed toward his chest—he twisted midair, vaulting off the wall and planting his foot on the attacker's helmet.
They crashed down.
Even without magic, his body was sharpened from Jack's punishing training. He moved like a blur, every kick, punch, and strike honed for killing.
One knight slashed his back—Leo slid beneath the sword and swept his leg, sending the attacker sprawling. The room echoed with grunts, clashing steel, and bones breaking.
By the time the last knight fell, blood stained the polished floors.
Upstairs, the king stirred.
"My lord, someone has breached the castle!" a Holy Knight cried, rushing into the chamber. He quickly began ushering the royal family out. "Please don't move—we'll protect you!"
But it was too late.
Leo broke down the throne room doors.
The remaining guards shielded the king and attacked—but Leo was merciless. He danced between them, breaking swords with bare hands and cutting tendons with a flick of his fingers.
The king attempted to strike him with a ceremonial saber—but Leo twisted and drove a blade across the king's face.
Blood flew.
The king cried out—his right eye gone.
"No—Father!!" a small voice sobbed.
The king's daughter had grabbed his hand, shaking, tears streaming.
Leo froze.
He stared at her, shivering under her father's cloak.
A wave of hesitation struck his chest.
What… am I doing?
A second later, the Knight Captain struck from behind—his blade cutting deep into Leo's back.
Leo screamed, blood splashing the marble. He leapt out the shattered window, vanishing into the night.
---
In the Rain
Hours passed. Blood seeped from the wound.
Leo sat under a tree outside the capital gates, rain soaking his cloak, the poison digging deeper into his body with every beat of his heart.
"What's wrong with me?"
"I was supposed to finish it... I froze. I saw her face and…"
He staggered to his feet.
I have to leave the city.
His vision blurred. His knees buckled.
"Oh… right. That sword definitely had poison on it," he murmured with a tired chuckle. "So... I'm going to die again, huh? Heh... I wish I could've seen Eno again."
But suddenly, images flashed through his mind.
Memories of Sylren.
Her smile. Her kindness. Her innocence. Her tears.
Every memory of Eno—the laughter, the shared meals, the quiet moments—blurred into Sylren's form.
And he heard her voice again.
"I'll wait for you, Master."
Leo collapsed to the mud.
"...Sylren… I—I'm sorr…"
Darkness took him.
Inside the inn, Sylren prayed silently beside a small lantern.
Thunder cracked. Rain fell in sheets outside the window.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Her heart skipped.
She rushed to open it—and gasped.
Leo stood in the doorway, drenched and covered in blood. He stumbled inside and collapsed onto the bed without a word.
"Master! What happened?!"
Leo didn't reply.
He removed his tattered black mantle—revealing a deep, jagged wound carved across his back.
Sylren's eyes filled with tears. "Master… you're hurt!"
He whispered, "Go. Move. Go away from me."
But she approached carefully, lighting a small orb of healing light in her hands.
Leo growled—and shoved her away violently.
She crashed to the floor, eyes wide with fear, trembling.
Tears dripped from her chin as she whispered, "I'm sorry… I just wanted to help..."
Leo was shaking. Angry. Humiliated. Broken.
His first mission had failed.
But then Jack's voice echoed in his head.
"Leo, we walk this path not because it's pure—but because it's necessary. We'll kill many. Even innocents. We don't have the luxury of righteousness. The gods abandoned it long ago. If there's blood in the path to peace—then spill it, or be crushed beneath it."
He looked down at Sylren—still huddled on the floor.
Her small frame. Her trembling. Her tears.
He staggered forward.
"Sylren…"
She looked up into his bloodshot eyes—and saw not anger, but shame, pain, and regret.
He collapsed into her arms.
"I'm sorry…"
She held him tightly. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're here."
Leo explained how he survived: when he passed out near the city gates, he regained consciousness for just a moment.
With sheer will, he forced every element in his body to flow through his bloodstream. Like igniting a storm inside his veins, the elemental energy circulated fast enough to break the poison's grip—half of it burned out, the rest weakened.
The price? A devastated body.
Now, slumped on the bed, he felt the poison creeping again.
Sylren laid her hands on his chest. Green light glowed.
Healing and purification.
The venom faded. His pulse steadied.
"You… can use healing magic?" Leo asked, shocked.
"I'm an elf," Sylren said gently. "That's our gift."
Leo looked at her, eyes softening. "You saved me…"
"Please don't apologize," she whispered, hugging him again.
"Sylren… Just tell me what you want."
"I don't want anything, Master," she said. "I just want to live with you. Stay at your side for the rest of my life."
Leo's voice cracked. "Why... why... whyyyyy would you want to live with me? I'm not a good person...!"
"...I don't care," she whispered. "I just want to be with you."
Leo took off his mask slowly.
Sylren gasped—seeing his face for the first time.
"So… Master, you trust me now?"
Leo's voice was quiet. "No."
A pause.
Then he stood, gripping his blade.
"Sylren. Wait for me. I'm coming back."
"Where… where are you going?"
"There's unfinished work."
He left.
This time, Leo didn't hesitate.
He returned to the castle.
This time, he didn't sneak.
He walked through the front gate—and slaughtered everyone in his path.
Guards screamed as shadows pierced their chests. Barricades burned. Arrows melted in midair.
He moved like vengeance personified.
He found the king's sons—and executed each one.
He found the wives—each died by a clean stroke.
He cornered the king in the throne room.
No mercy. No hesitation.
"I'll kill everything… to protect her."
Blood. Silence.
Then he walked out of the burning castle.
Later, on the road to the hideout, Leo told Sylren everything.
How he died.
How Eno was murdered.
How Jack found him.
The pain. The fury. The reason he followed this path.
When they arrived, Jack and Necros were waiting.
Jack's eyes narrowed. "And this elf is…?"
Leo answered calmly, "She is Sylren. She's my slave. She says she loves me."
Necros scowled. "And you believe that?"
Sylren hid behind Leo.
Jack raised a hand. "Enough."
He looked Leo in the eyes.
Jack turned to Leo, his voice heavy with purpose. "Leo, don't forget our goal. We have only one—change."
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming yet calm.
"We sacrificed our old lives, our emotions, even our names… to change the world. To protect those who were abandoned. It's a long, cursed road—where we may be hated, hunted, and misunderstood. But if, somewhere along that path, you find someone who gives you peace... then don't let go."
Leo stared at Jack for a long moment. His mind returned to Sylren's voice.
"I just want to stay by your side… for the rest of my life."
Jack added gently, "Enjoy the flame while it burns, Leo. But never forget why you lit it."
"I won't," Leo replied.
Then Jack's gaze shifted toward Sylren, standing nervously behind Leo.
"So you're an elf," he said evenly. "Stay strong. Because the world we aim to reshape… won't be kind to you either."
Jack turned and left the hall. Necros followed, saying nothing more.
Sylren let out the breath she'd been holding. "Master…"
But Leo didn't respond. He stood still, eyes on the corridor Jack had disappeared down.
Then Jack's voice echoed from beyond the door: "Leo, you love her, don't you?"
Sylren blushed furiously.
Leo's expression froze. "…No."
The base grew quiet. Shadows stretched over stone walls as moonlight slipped through arched windows.
Leo sat on his bed, mask on the nightstand, the weight of the day pressing on his chest.
A faint creak.
He turned to see Sylren quietly entering his room and sliding under the covers beside him.
"…Why are you here?"
Sylren peeked from under the blanket. "The room I got is too dark. And scary."
Leo sighed. "Fine…"
A quiet moment passed before Leo asked, "Sylren… can I ask you something?"
She turned toward him. "What is it, Master?"
"I know it's rude but… how old are you?"
She blinked. "Sixteen."
Leo's eyes widened. "What? I thought you were older. Elves live longer, don't they?"
"I'm not…" she whispered, embarrassed. She rolled away, hiding her face.
Leo lay silently for a moment—then gently hugged her from behind.
---
The Next Morning
The sun rose into a clear sky.
Jack stood in the center of the training yard, hands behind his back. Necros leaned casually nearby.
Jack's voice echoed through the compound: "Leo. Sylren. From today... your next phase begins."
Sylren looked up at Leo, who pulled on his cloak once again.
Together, they stepped into the yard—ready for the next chapter.