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That morning, long ago, Jane, the eldest daughter, had gone out to train alone — as she did every day.
Controlling her powers and refining her combat skills without the aid of instructors had become her routine.
She was a prodigy.
While reaching Class (A) was already rare for humans, Jane had achieved Class (A+), an almost unheard-of feat — especially for someone only seventeen at the time.
Determined and self-taught, she had earned everything through her own merit. From a young age, she devoted herself to studying, practicing relentlessly, and mastering every technique to perfection.
Her father, recognizing her strength and dedication, had named her a commander, even if her duties were limited.
Most of the time, Jane only supervised the soldiers' training, took notes, and handled administrative tasks.
But even so, her father trusted her.
He listened to what she had to say, valuing her opinions and ideas.
And yet, Jane could never shake the feeling of being seen as lesser.
The reason was simple: in Valoria, a strictly traditionalist kingdom, only men could rule.
No matter how hard she worked, the laws and customs decreed that the throne should go to her younger brother — Burst.
Jane understood that tradition, but she could not accept it.
A quiet bitterness grew inside her each time she saw her brother receive everything she longed for, while he seemed to despise his own destiny.
Burst was the true heir, but he didn't want to rule. Their upbringings had been completely different.
While Jane had been taught to follow rules and obey, Burst had been forced to train with masters, to study, and to bear the responsibility of the kingdom's future.
Although he suffered under that pressure, it also gave him the freedom to reject it all.
And then… something broke.
Their mother, the queen, was poisoned.
To this day, no one knew who was responsible.
That tragedy left deep scars on both of them — but they reacted in opposite ways.
Jane came to believe that everything had to be controlled; that with strict supervision, that deadly poison would never have reached the queen.
For Burst, however, it was the final blow.
He had been closer to their mother and saw her death as proof that the kingdom was inhuman.
To him, the crown wasn't worth the suffering — nor the danger it brought to those he loved.
Over time, Burst began to drift away from Jane. He couldn't understand how his sister could accept, so passively, a system that oppressed her.
His irritation grew each time he saw her overworked and burdened by responsibilities, never questioning orders.
He thought: How can she live like this without fighting for what she truly wants?
So, he decided to leave. Burst chose to abandon the throne and the castle, even knowing that many would despise him — call him irresponsible, even cowardly.
The bond between them, once close, turned into mutual resentment.
Burst felt Jane hated him for being the heir — and he, in turn, hated her for conforming and being an obedient pawn.
Now, however, the time had come to settle the score.
A letter.
An order:
Come to that place. Your time is up.
Burst knew what it meant.
It was a summons — and Jane intended to bring him back to the castle.
He understood the consequences: if defeated, he would be captured and imprisoned within its walls.
And even so, he went.
Even knowing he had no chance of victory, Burst decided to fight — to defend himself, at least this once, with the hope that maybe, for a fleeting moment, his sister would understand his point of view.
On the other side, Jane waited with confidence.
She knew she would win.
But when she saw her brother — the one she had envied for so long — standing before her, determined to face her, a shiver ran down her spine.
A tightness gripped her chest.
Quietly, she smiled.
'You really are stubborn, my brother…'
The place around them was dark and suffocating.
They stood in a subterranean cavern, hidden beneath a volcano long dormant.
The black stone walls exhaled faint vapors, and the stench of sulfur still lingered in the dense, choking air.
Every sound echoed with strange intensity — as if the cavern itself were watching, waiting for the battle about to unfold.
The [Assassin Princess], Jane, Class (A+), was ready.
Her crimson hair and bronze skin contrasted with the white coat she wore; black-and-scarlet armor bracers gleamed on her arms, and a necklace with a red sphere hung around her neck.
Her hand rested calmly on the hilt of her long sword, her expression unreadable.
Before her stood the [Rebel Prince], Burst, Class (A), unyielding.
With the same bronze skin and red hair, he wore a sleeveless black shirt marked by an orange artifact at the collar, and dark pants fastened by a belt with a glowing charm hanging from the buckle.
The sword at his waist was simple — far inferior to Jane's weapon — yet Burst looked indifferent, as if the weight of the steel meant nothing compared to the battle to come.
Silence stretched between them for a long, heavy moment.
Their eyes locked — no words, only the weight of all that had been left unsaid.
The confrontation was about to begin.
And there, in that dim, breathless cavern, the two siblings would finally decide the fate that had torn them apart.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The two siblings faced each other with fierce eyes, their stances unwavering as their hands tightened around the hilts of their swords.
With a single motion, both drew their blades, holding them before their bodies — each one reflecting the intense gleam of the other's steel.
Ten meters apart, a devastating clash was about to unfold.
But before the first strike could be made, Burst broke the silence.
His voice echoed through the cavern, carrying a faint trace of hesitation.
Was it an attempt to avoid the fight?
No. He simply didn't want the battle to begin in complete silence, as if it were some bitter farewell.
"Are we really doing this?"
Jane blinked, slightly surprised, then softened her expression.
A teasing smile crossed her lips — the kind only she could make look so natural.
"Are you scared?"
Burst let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head.
It was a calm, almost nostalgic sound — as though he wanted to linger in this moment just a little longer before the storm.
A peaceful look rested on his face, a strange contrast for someone about to face a Class (A+) opponent.
"Don't be ridiculous," he replied, drawing a faint smirk from his sister.
For a fleeting moment, that exchange felt like a glimpse of what their bond could have been — no shouting, no orders, just a simple conversation between siblings.
But it ended abruptly.
In the blink of an eye, both vanished, moving at a speed no human eye could follow.
The first collision of their blades unleashed a shockwave that shattered the ground beneath them, splintering rocks and sending dust billowing through the air.
Neither was using their abilities yet — just pure, physical power.
Jane, with cold focus, noticed the strength behind Burst's strikes.
He was matching her blows, even with an ordinary sword — a development she hadn't expected.
They separated briefly, and then a new light enveloped their blades.
Both summoned flames — but of different colors.
Jane's fire burned pink-red, dazzling and vibrant, while Burst's was darker — a deep, menacing crimson.
With precise swings, they hurled the flames toward each other.
The impact ignited a crimson explosion that superheated the air and sent sparks scattering across the cavern.
Moving at blinding speed, they continued their assault.
Burst gave everything he had, his strikes sharp and relentless — a dance of fire and fury.
He used the terrain to his advantage, setting small traps that erupted into circles of flame around Jane.
But to his frustration, she seemed to command the entire battlefield with terrifying ease.
Jane possessed the unique ability [Iansã], a Class (S) skill granting her mastery over wind and surrounding elements, including heat itself.
Every explosion Burst created, she neutralized within seconds, manipulating the air temperature to snuff out his flames.
Even his own ability, [Flames of Ifrit], a Class (A+) power, was useless before her superior control.
He knew [Iansã] made Jane immune to his fire — and even to lightning-based attacks — leaving him at a disadvantage.
She could twist the very air around her, igniting it and turning it against him.
Still, he pressed forward, strike after strike, searching desperately for an opening.
"You really don't hold back, huh?" Burst panted, forcing a frustrated smile.
Jane let out a short, cold laugh.
"What do you mean? I am holding back."
The battle raged on, and Burst began to feel the weight of it.
Jane moved with lethal grace, every step a calculated threat.
He could see cuts forming on his arms — shallow, but multiplying — as he inched closer to her.
The difference between them was undeniable: while Burst was already fighting at his limit, Jane had barely begun to take him seriously.
Surrounded, Burst drove his sword into the ground.
Using his extra skill [Rupture], he triggered a localized quake that shook the entire cavern.
The walls trembled, and the ceiling cracked, raining fragments of stone in every direction.
He meant to use the chaos to his advantage — to catch her off guard and strike when her footing faltered.
But before he could move, a chilling sensation froze him in place.
Jane's voice echoed through the dust, calm and resolute:
"It's over."
A searing pain cut through his chest.
Jane's blade had found its mark.
He collapsed onto his back, his vision blurring as blood spread across the ground.
Jane sheathed her sword without looking back, the air still heavy with smoke and dust.
She turned slowly, leaving her brother lying there and struggling to breathe.
Burst tried to lift himself… but his body refused to obey.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
I kept a cold expression, trying to mask the turmoil in my chest.
I had just struck my brother with all my strength, and now he was lying there, collapsed on the ground, his chest torn open, blood staining the earth.
Should I really be doing this?
But there was no time for doubts.
I had to stick to the plan — heal him with the potion I brought and take him back to the castle. No hesitation.
However, as I turned to apply the potion, my heart skipped a beat.
Before me stood a sight that was nigh impossible: Burst was on his feet.
Blood streamed down his nearly open chest, yet he remained standing, his gaze just as fierce and defiant as it had been at the start of the battle.
Honestly, he had always been stubborn — but this was madness.
'How could he stand after that strike? I was certain he'd be immobilized.'
"Did you really think one strike would be enough to stop me?" he said, his voice hoarse but still laced with provocation, even as blood dripped from his lips.
I sighed, hiding the relief of seeing him still alive.
"Still trying to act cool when you can barely breathe, Burst… seriously?"
But he only gave an even more confident grin.
"Trying? I am cool by nature."
Flames began to dance around his body, and even trembling, he charged at me.
For a moment, I hesitated. He was visibly slower. Part of me almost wanted to let him hit me. But… I had a duty. If I didn't win, everything I'd fought for would be lost. Another strike as strong as the last could be fatal to him.
'I'm sorry, Burst. This is for the kingdom.'
I adjusted my power, focusing my [Iansã] into a containment strike. My blade sliced through the air with precision, meant to push him back without killing him.
His sword shattered, and he was thrown back — or so I thought. My strike hit nothing but empty space.
I sighed in frustration, and as I turned, I realized what had happened.
There he was. A bit taller than I remembered, with black hair falling in soft strands and golden eyes that shone intensely. He wore a white sleeveless shirt and loose black pants, a simple sword at his waist. Beside him floated a lilac sphere — a spirit — who seemed to be watching me with a mildly reproachful expression… or so I assumed.
"Merlin and Victor. You shouldn't be here."
"[She said my name!]" the sphere exclaimed, bursting with joy.
Victor gently laid Burst down on the ground. Most likely, Merlin had cast some kind of protection while Victor pulled him out of my attack's range. I'll admit — he's fast, maybe even as fast as I am with those speed-enhancing tools.
"Sorry for the interruption," Victor said as he rose slowly, his golden eyes fixed on me.
I sighed, letting out a restrained smile. Deep down, I should have expected this.
"Alright then. Hand him over. I don't want to drag this out."
Victor exchanged a glance with Merlin before sighing, a faint smile on his lips. "Unfortunately… that's not going to happen."
I rolled my eyes.
"Of course. So you're going to fight me too?"
"I think so… though I doubt I can actually beat you."
"You do know I'm the princess of this kingdom — and the general of Valoria's armed forces. This decision could cost you your life."
He just gave a bold smile.
"Maybe. But… I suppose that depends on whether you decide to report me."
I laughed at his response. But time wasn't on our side. I don't underestimate Victor — he certainly won't be an easy opponent.
I sighed and took my stance. 'If that's what he wants… then so be it.'
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