At the towering gates of the Asteria royal castle, Raizo stood still, flanked by his three companions—Fenra, Silvia, and Shekiah. The massive iron gates creaked open with a deep groan, revealing the grandeur of the king's court beyond. The guards bowed slightly as the party entered, the heavy air of tension thickening with each step they took.
Marcellus, the king of Asteria, sat atop his throne in a chamber gilded with silver and blue. His cold gaze swept across the hall, settling on Raizo and his party as they approached. Without rising, he raised a hand.
"Come in. Sit down."
Raizo gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. He led his group forward and sat before the king, his companions taking the seats beside him. The room was silent but for the flicker of torches and the soft rustling of the royal banners.
Marcellus leaned forward slightly, holding a parchment in his hand. "So, is this letter true?"
Raizo met his gaze, his brown and crimson eyes steady. He gave a slow nod.
Marcellus's voice dropped lower, more direct. "Did you truly find a hidden cave in the Forest of Alscort?"
Another nod from Raizo. His jaw clenched ever so slightly.
The king wasted no time. "I'll get to the direct point."
Raizo's fists clenched on his lap, his knuckles whitening. The air around him grew heavy.
Marcellus's eyes narrowed. "Did you find the Gem of Resurrection?"
From the line of guards lining the sides of the throne room, one guard—seemingly inconspicuous—grinned faintly, a twitch of arrogance playing on his lips.
Fenra, Silvia, and Shekiah noticed the strange expression almost instantly. Subtly, they shifted, each using their shoulder to nudge Raizo's, alerting him in silence.
Raizo felt the gentle pressure on both sides. He gave a slight, nearly imperceptible nod. They saw it too.
In his thoughts, he processed rapidly. I need to lie to him.
Raizo cleared his throat, then spoke calmly, measuredly.
"No. I didn't find it. I searched the entire cave—checked every shelf, every chest. There was nothing. Even Lloyd's diary… he wrote about many things but never mentioned where it was hidden."
Marcellus tilted his head. "Then can you at least tell us the location of this cave?"
Raizo's eyes sharpened, a flicker of subtle warning in his gaze. "Something happened when I exited the cave. The ground began to tremble, and within moments… the entire cave sank into the earth. It was like it never existed."
Marcellus closed his eyes briefly. A long exhale escaped his lips. "I see… Then that's all."
Without further ceremony, Raizo and his party stood. They turned and walked out of the throne room, tension still hanging in the air like a blade.
Once outside, as they passed through the royal garden path back toward the city streets, Fenra was the first to break the silence.
"Raizo… that one guard. He grinned."
Shekiah nodded. "Yeah. Like he knew something we didn't."
Raizo's expression remained calm, but his tone was laced with calculation. "I have a theory."
The three girls stopped walking, their eyes fixed on him.
Silvia leaned in. "What is it?"
Raizo sighed. "I think that guard… is a fake. He's pretending to be part of the Asterian royal force."
Their eyes widened in collective shock.
Fenra whispered urgently. "Then… the king—Marcellus—he's in danger?"
Raizo shook his head. "No. He's not in danger. I lied. I said I didn't find the gem, remember? That guard might've been watching for signs."
Shekiah's eyes narrowed. "Wait… Raizo… do you actually have the Gem of Resurrection?"
Raizo nodded slowly, confirming their suspicions.
"Yes. I have it."
---
Meanwhile, in the secluded garden behind the castle, the very same guard who grinned stepped behind a thick tree and raised a hand. A swirling vortex of shadow magic formed—a dark portal pulsing with demonic energy.
Without hesitation, he stepped through.
On the other side, far from the borders of the human continent, the demon shed his disguise. The shimmering illusion of armor faded, revealing glistening black skin, curved horns, and crimson eyes burning with hatred.
He knelt on one knee in a vast obsidian throne room, bowing before five towering figures—the Demon Kings of the Five Hells.
"My liege, I bring you news," the demon said.
From the central throne stood Erethor, the second of the five Demon Kings. His presence alone was enough to make lesser demons tremble. He had fought in countless wars—most recently against a human who had barely survived their encounter.
Erethor's voice was deep, calm, and laced with controlled rage. "Is it the same human I fought before?"
The demon glanced up. "I believe so, my liege."
Erethor narrowed his golden eyes. "So… did he find it? The Gem of Resurrection?"
The demon shook his head. "No, my liege. He claimed to have searched the cave thoroughly—chests, shelves, every corner—but found nothing. He said Lloyd's diary gave no hints either. Then, when he left the cave, it collapsed and vanished beneath the earth."
Erethor slammed his gauntleted fist into the side of his throne. The stone cracked.
"Damn it! This makes it even harder to locate the gem and revive our father."
From the side, Zarhovk—the third Demon King—stood and walked forward.
"Don't worry, brother. We'll find that cave ourselves, with or without that human's help. The gem will be ours."
Erethor crossed his arms, his fury simmering just beneath the surface. "We're running out of time. Begin the search again. Comb every shadow of Alscort's forest. I want results."
"As you command," the demon said before vanishing into another portal.
---
Back in Asteria, Raizo and his companions strolled through the bustling city streets. The scent of roasted meat and baked bread wafted from nearby stalls. Children ran past them, playing with wooden swords, and townsfolk bustled around them, whispering in awe at the sight of the rising adventurer party.
Their brief peace was suddenly interrupted.
A shadow fell across their path. A tall figure stood ahead, arms crossed. Behind him stood four other adventurers, each exuding power.
Raizo halted.
Silvia's eyes widened as she whispered to him, her voice trembling.
"Raizo… that's Julius. The leader of the Atomics. The strongest party in Asteria."
Raizo looked up, locking eyes with the man who blocked their way.
Julius smirked, golden eyes sharp.