Twelve years have passed.
In a damp cave smelling of wet earth in the south of the kingdom, the flames of a torch flickered, casting strange shadows on the stone walls. A group of cultists squatted in a circle, chanting a prayer in low, rhythmic voices, as if summoning something from the darkness. Suddenly, the air in the cave trembled. A dry wind seeped through the cracks in the rocks, carrying unnatural sparks of energy. From the darkness of the deepest passage, a figure in a long robe emerged, his face hidden in the shadow of his hood. The sound of his chanting was heavy, like the echo of thunder forced into words.
As the cultists raised their hands, a blue light shot out from the mysterious figure's palm. A loud boom echoed, and a crackle of lightning filled the cave. In an instant, the cultists' bodies convulsed, lifted from the ground, then were consumed by an electric glow that crept slowly like a flaming serpent. Their screams were heart-wrenching, not just cries of pain, but wails of despair from souls who knew their end had come. They stared at the mysterious figure with eyes full of terror, their bodies shaking with tears and panic.
"Don't... don't do this to us!" a cultist screamed, his voice nearly breaking as he stared at the dark robe before him.
"We... we will give you everything... please, don't kill us!" another cultist lamented, bowing his head, sweat mixed with tears streaming down his face.
"Who... who are you? Why us?" shrieked a young woman, her body trembling violently, her hands fumbling on the floor for protection.
"We... we don't know... we were just... just worshipping... please... spare us!" a man's voice was hoarse with panic and desperation.
The robed figure remained silent, not uttering a single word. The flashes of lightning from his palm grew brighter, as if their pleas were nothing but meaningless echoes.
"Our god... we have sinned, but please don't let us perish like this. Forgive us!" a cultist cried out, his voice trembling with sincerity.
The robed figure remained silent for a moment, then his voice, heavy and cold, echoed in the cave.
"You plead to your god... but it is futile. He will not help you. In his eyes, you are merely pawns, small things to be crushed or discarded at his whim. Do not hope for mercy, for no one will come to save you."
Their despair mounted, trapped before the mysterious man who seemed untouched by their prayers and screams. He looked down at the broken bodies of the cultists and whispered, his tone cold and almost cynical,
"Pathetic."
Without waiting for a response, the robed figure stepped forward, grabbing the treasures and loot the cultists had brought, then disappeared into the darkness of the cave.
Silence enveloped the place, with only scattered ashes and the smell of burnt flesh marking their destruction. The prayers they had once uttered hung in the air, unheard, unanswered, as if the world and their god had closed their eyes.
...
Inside his office in the Royal Palace, the King, Wilhelm, sat upright, his face showing a firmness that rarely wavered. At his side, his old butler and aide, Sebas, bowed respectfully, carrying the latest notes and reports. King Wilhelm gazed far out the large window overlooking the palace garden, his eyes seemingly weighing something that was difficult to express.
"It has been a year since this person surfaced," Wilhelm said in a calm yet attentive tone.
Sebas nodded, tapping the notes in his hand.
"Your Majesty, every report from the southern regions notes his trail. The cultists... all of them destroyed. The villages once filled with dark rituals are now free from their influence. No one has been able to stop him."
Wilhelm leaned forward slightly, his eyes shining with a hint of satisfaction.
"Those cultists have spread darkness and fear for years. If a mysterious man can eliminate them, even in a horrifying way, then I cannot reject that power. At least, for now, he is not a threat to the kingdom."
Sebas looked at the King with a curious expression, holding back the worry he felt in his chest. "Your Majesty, does the second Prince, Elric, know the identity of this person?"
Wilhelm straightened his posture for a moment, his gaze distant as if weighing his next words. His breathing was calm, but there was a burden hidden in his eyes.
"No, Sebas. I asked him directly at the party half a year ago, but he said he didn't know."
Sebas raised an eyebrow, waiting for further explanation.
"I suspect this is Adrian's doing, but this man is a mage, not a swordsman," Wilhelm added, his tone flat but full of consideration.
As the King's current and former aide, Sebas was one of the few who knew Elric's secret. He had never met Adrian in person but knew of his incredible talent from Wilhelm's words, who had secretly visited Velmara, the last time being three years ago.
"So, Your Majesty, we will continue to monitor this man ourselves, without involving the royal family?"
Wilhelm sighed, his lips tightening into a thin, confident smile. "Correct. We must maintain this balance ourselves. That man, though mysterious, is currently an undesirable, yet valuable, ally. It is difficult to track the hideouts of cultists who have yet to launch a major attack on the city."
"And keep an eye on the southern and western nobles who might have the potential to interfere with or exploit him."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
...
On the same night, in an office at Melvian's house, two men were talking.
"You look satisfied," said Elric, his eyes fixed on me.
"Of course, Father. I got a lot of money from their loot," I answered calmly, a faint smile on my lips.
Elric leaned forward slightly, serious.
"I'm sure you know, people from the underworld figures are starting to notice you."
I gave a small smile, looking at him calmly.
"It doesn't matter. Besides, they don't know that the mysterious man they're watching and I are the same person."
Elric looked at me seriously, his brow furrowed slightly. "In that case, you must be careful, the underworld figures can be a problem. But there is something else more pressing. The party at Duke Evermont's residence is in a month, are you planning to attend?"
I leaned forward a bit, the faint smile never leaving my face.
"Of course. It's a good opportunity to show myself, or should I say, make my debut in the world of noble? I won't cause any trouble, just observe."
Elric nodded slowly, still a hint of worry in his eyes.
"Thank goodness, you finally intend to go out..."
"Why do you sound like you're seeing an introverted son starting to explore the outside world?" I asked, slightly annoyed.
"You were supposed to appear at noble events since you were eight, but you always refused, saying it wasn't time yet," he replied with a faint smile.
"Come on, Father. At least I'm familiar with a few people in Velmara. Not a complete introvert, okay?"
"You mean just playing around in this territory?" Elric asked.
"At least I know some people outside the house," I replied firmly.
Elric nodded, smiling faintly.
"Alright, you're not wrong. But I suggest you don't ask too many girls to dance. Don't let your name become famous as a playboy."
I looked at him, half-annoyed.
"Don't worry, Father. Just because I'm handsome, doesn't mean I'm a playboy." I answered.
...
Back in my room, I sat down and began to think about the upcoming party.
"Finally... the event I've been waiting for is approaching," I muttered.
The birthday party of Duke Evermont, the duke who rules the southern region of the kingdom, was about to be held. For most nobles, this was probably just another ordinary party. But for me, it was different. This party was the one most frequently discussed in the game's story, a place where several important characters would appear, and now I had the chance to witness it firsthand.
Hmm...
For now, I should rest, so I can be ready for a walk with my younger sister, Rosaline, tomorrow.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Thanks for the Golden Ticket : @Amy_Mcclung