Stepping through the heavy palace doors, Yui tried to soften the sound of her footsteps as she quietly made her way through the corridors. Light streaming down from the high ceilings struck the stone walls, and the shifting shadows almost seemed alive. Her heart was still racing—partly from exhaustion, partly from the weight of everything that had happened.
When she reached Arisawa's room, she stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. Her fingers tapped the door three times. Silence. No response from inside. Frowning, she placed her hand on the handle and slowly pushed the door open.
— Not inside, huh…?
The door creaked open—and her eyes widened. In the middle of the room, on top of a large desk, a man was lying down. Arisawa, the most disciplined person in the entire palace… was fast asleep.
Yui's lips parted slightly.
— Is this guy serious? He's really sleeping?
She approached carefully, a trace of hesitation in her steps, though curiosity quickly took over. Looking at his face, she noticed how the normally sharp expression had softened in sleep. She reached out—her fingers brushed lightly against his arm.
Suddenly, Arisawa jolted upright.
— HAH!
His shout echoed through the room. Yui screamed and jumped back.
— Ahhh! What are you doing?!
Rubbing his eyes, Arisawa blinked in confusion, then spoke with a faint, tired smile.
— Oh… it's you. Sorry if I scared you.
Yui tried to steady her breathing.
— It's fine… but sleeping like this here isn't really a good idea.
Arisawa's eyes sharpened instantly, his tone shifting.
— It doesn't matter where I sleep. What matters is that I sleep.
Yui flinched slightly.
— Y-yes, you're right…
For a moment, the room fell silent again. Then Arisawa frowned.
— So, why are you here? What happened with the mission?
Yui straightened her posture and began her report.
— The mission was… half successful, half a failure. When we arrived, the two envoys were already dead. But we managed to save Council Member Sorane's students and brought them back.
Arisawa gave a short nod.
— I see. Where are your teammates?
— They're injured, but nothing serious. I didn't bring them to the palace.
— And where are they now?
— I left them with someone I know near the forest. If they don't return within five days, I'll go and get them myself.
— Five days? That's too long.
— The man I left them with runs a dojo. He only has one student. I think he wants to train them for those five days.
Arisawa thought for a moment, then spoke in a firm tone.
— Understood. But this is your responsibility. If they don't come back within five days, you'll personally deal with it.
— Of course.
— Until your teammates return, I won't assign you any new missions. We'll train here instead. For now, go to your room and rest.
Yui bowed her head slightly.
— Understood. Call me if you need anything.
Just as she turned to leave, Arisawa's voice filled the room.
— Wait… Yui, who are you really?
Yui froze. Her heart raced, but she forced a faint smile and turned back.
— I'm Yui. I don't understand what you mean.
Arisawa narrowed his eyes, thinking. That expression… just like that girl's. She's definitely hiding something.
— Alright. You can go.
As Yui closed the door and walked away, she thought to herself:
This man… is dangerous.
Her footsteps echoed through the corridor as she made her way to her room.
At the same time, deep within the misty forest, in the courtyard of a dojo…
Akira and Raiga stood drenched in sweat, gripping their wooden swords tightly as they faced Morvan, breathing heavily.
"Hey…" Akira panted, trying to catch his breath.
— Can't we… rest a little?
A faint smirk appeared on Morvan's face.
— What? Already tired? We've only just begun.
The moment he finished speaking, his wooden sword sliced through the air in a swift motion. Akira failed to block in time and stumbled as the strike hit his leg.
"Ahhh!" he cried out in pain.
Raiga clenched his teeth in anger and charged forward.
— You bastard! Look over here!
Morvan turned his head slightly, lips curling.
— If you shout like that, what's the point of a sneak attack?
In a split second, he spun around, deflected Raiga's strike, and landed a powerful blow. The dull crack of wood echoed through the courtyard. Raiga was sent flying several meters before crashing onto the ground.
"Ughhh…" Blood trickled from his lip as his breathing grew uneven.
Akira gritted his teeth and shouted.
— Morvan's right, you idiot! If you're going to sneak attack, then don't yell first!
— Shut up! — Raiga growled back.
Morvan stepped toward them, planting his sword against the ground.
— You're both still at the beginning. Your enemies won't shout, won't show mercy, won't stop. The moment you show weakness… you die.
The instant he finished speaking, his eyes sharpened, and he lunged forward again like lightning.
Akira instinctively raised his sword, but Morvan's strikes rained down like a storm. Each impact echoed through the courtyard, wooden blades clashing with deafening force. Akira's arms trembled, his breath quickened, his legs began to give out.
Raiga pushed himself up again. "Don't forget about me!" he roared, charging from the side. Together, the two launched an all-out assault on Morvan.
But Morvan's eyes gleamed with lethal precision. Every motion was clean, deadly. He dodged Raiga's strike, deflected Akira's in a single motion, and suddenly increased his speed, forcing both of them backward.
The sound of clashing wood filled the courtyard, dust rising around them, breaths growing heavier.
Morvan's voice thundered:
— In a real fight, one moment of hesitation will cost your life! Attack! Faster! Stronger! If you fall, stand back up again!
Akira and Raiga locked eyes. They were exhausted, yet neither of them wanted to retreat. In their eyes burned a stubborn flame. Once again, they charged forward.
In the dojo garden, the sound of wooden swords clashing filled the night like an echo piercing through the dark. Sweat dripped down the young men's faces; their breaths came out short and rough. But Morvan stood firm before them—like a mountain that knew no exhaustion. Every strike, every step he took left them breathless.
Akira lifted his sword once more to block Morvan's strike. His arms were trembling violently. Gasping for breath, he managed to speak with effort:
— Morvan… you… you might even be stronger than Arisawa…
Morvan's eyes narrowed, yet there was not the slightest hint of pride on his face. He answered in a cold, flat tone:
— I don't know who you're talking about. Also… talking while fighting is not a good habit.
The moment he finished, he moved like lightning. His wooden sword came down hard on Akira's arm; the pain made Akira stumble back. Without a moment's pause, Morvan turned and countered Raiga's attack, his sword colliding with Raiga's in a heavy thud that echoed through the yard. Raiga gritted his teeth and stepped back.
Raiga shouted angrily:
— Our blue-haired guy is a council member!
Morvan held his sword parallel to the ground and let out a short laugh.
— I don't know him. But if he's a council member… he must be strong, right?
Akira narrowed his eyes and lunged forward again.
— Yeah! Arisawa's insanely strong. But judging by the way you move… you might even be stronger than him!
While deflecting their swords, a shadow seemed to fall over Morvan's face.
— Council members usually don't join battles. But when I was young… I fought in a lot of them.
Raiga couldn't hold back a laugh.
— When you were young? You talk like some old geezer!
Morvan's expression suddenly turned serious.
— I'm a hundred and thirty years old.
Akira and Raiga's eyes widened at the same time. They froze, almost forgetting the swords in their hands. Even Kian, who had been watching, flinched—his eyes wide as he stared at Morvan.
Raiga retorted mockingly:
— That's not even funny!
Akira joined in.
— Yeah, yeah! Stop trying to fool us!
But Kian spoke with a trembling yet certain tone:
— You've never told me that before… But Morvan never lies.
Raiga scoffed dismissively.
— He's messing with us, don't take it so seriously.
Kian didn't back down, his eyes shining.
— No! Morvan never lies!
Akira's voice trembled.
— T-then… y-you mean…
Morvan rested his sword on his shoulder and took a deep breath.
— Yes. You heard right. I'm a hundred and thirty years old. Which means I've lived through a lot of wars.
Raiga burst out laughing.
— Hah! Then I'll start calling you old man!
Kian turned to him angrily.
— Don't make fun of Morvan!
A flood of questions filled Akira's mind.
— But how is that even possible? You don't look old… or weak.
Morvan's gaze darkened.
— Actually… it's a technique only a few people can use.
Akira whispered in shock.
— Wait… like the Spirit Technique?
Morvan nodded.
— Yes. Like the Spirit Technique… but with more drawbacks.
Akira and Kian both asked at once:
— What do you mean?
Morvan's voice grew heavier.
— When you use the Spirit Technique, your power is halved, but it never fades until the end of time. My technique is different… I reversed my age by a hundred years, so I can only use half my strength. And the more time passes… the weaker I become.
Akira's eyes widened in shock.
— Whaaat?! Only half?! And even so…
Kian's voice trembled.
— T-that's… incredible!
Raiga spoke with a mocking tone.
— This old man's definitely messing with us.
Morvan's gaze hardened.
— The worst part of this technique is… the moment your rejuvenating power runs out, you die.
Worry spread across Kian's face.
— Then… why didn't you just use the Spirit Technique?
Morvan went silent for a moment. His eyes seemed lost in the darkness of the past.
— Because… never mind. Let's continue training.
Raiga growled, swinging his sword.
— Fine, old man… but why are you training us anyway? We've only just met you.
Morvan turned his eyes toward Akira.
— Because Akira told me… about the spirit you fought.
Akira looked up.
— Yeah, I told you. But what does that have to do with anything?
Morvan's voice suddenly sharpened.
— It means Chaos has started to move.
Raiga and Kian froze, their voices overlapping in shock:
— Chaos… has started to move?
Akira cut in, startled.
— Chaos? But didn't all the Volgrath brothers die already?
Morvan shook his head slowly.
— I don't know. But I believe some of them used the Spirit Technique.
Rage flared across Raiga and Kian's faces. Gritting their teeth, they shouted together:
— I'll find them and kill them!!!
Kian turned to Raiga.
— You… why do you want to kill them?
Raiga's eyes gleamed, his voice trembling with fury.
— They killed my family… the Chaos of the Desert! I'll definitely kill him!
Kian lowered his head, a dark shadow crossing his eyes.
— I see.
Raiga looked at him suspiciously.
— What about you?
Kian clenched his fists.
— The Hatred of the Desert… killed my family. Morvan saved me and brought me here.
Akira muttered in surprise.
— So that's why you live here with Morvan.
Kian's face lit up with excitement.
— Yes! Morvan can kill them. And if I become as strong as him…
Raiga narrowed his eyes.
— Can you really kill them?
Morvan quietly shook his head.
— In my current state… I can't kill the Chaos of the Desert or the Chaos of Ice. Even at my best, I couldn't kill the Desert one.
Kian's voice was determined.
— Then one day, I'll surpass you! And I'll be the one to kill the Desert Chaos!
A shadow fell across Morvan's face, the light fading from his eyes. Akira noticed it.
— The Chaos of the Desert… how strong is he?
Morvan exhaled deeply.
— After him… there's one who's even stronger.
All three froze.
Akira asked.
— Him? Who do you mean by "him"?
Kian's face stiffened in terror.
— W-what? There's someone stronger?!
Morvan looked down.
— Forget it.
Akira didn't back off.
— No! I want to know! Even Valtherion won't tell me. He keeps mentioning "him"… who is that?
Morvan's voice was hard as stone.
— Ask him. One day… he'll tell you the truth.
The three of them insisted, hoping Morvan would break his silence. But he kept his lips tightly sealed. That dark secret was not ready to be spoken.
And through the night, the sound of clashing swords echoed again. Every strike was a herald of the greater war hiding in the shadows.
After a long, exhausting day, training in the dojo finally ended. Akira and Raiga, their bodies covered in bruises and wounds, stumbled back inside. The marks from the wooden swords still burned on their arms and shoulders.
Raiga growled through clenched teeth:
— That old man… he almost killed us!
Akira, panting, sank to the ground.
— T-that training… was brutal…
Meanwhile, Kian was preparing their small floor beds. His face was calm but resolute. He looked up and spoke:
— Morvan's training is harsh, but he's a good person.
Akira glared at him while rubbing his sore arm.
— A good person?! We're covered in bruises! And you… do you go through this every day?!
Kian replied without hesitation.
— Yes.
Raiga squinted at him in disbelief, stepping closer.
— How… are you even still alive, kid?!
Kian gave a gentle smile and shrugged.
— I'm used to it now.
Akira thought for a moment, then spoke in a tired tone:
— But… I think you're right about him being a good person. He said Chaos is moving… he just wants to make us stronger.
Kian's eyes shone with respect.
— Yes. That's why he's a good person. He always thinks of others first.
Raiga, lying down on his bed, asked curiously:
— Do you know anything about his past?
Kian shook his head.
— No. I knew he was old, but… I just found out he's a hundred and thirty.
Akira took a deep breath.
— He doesn't like talking about himself. Must've gone through something terrible.
Kian fell silent, then looked at Akira.
— By the way… he didn't seem to get along with your friend.
"You mean Yui," Akira said.
— He told us too… that they met in the capital but had a falling out because of a friend.
Kian shook his head.
— I don't believe that.
Raiga muttered, half-asleep:
— Why not?
Kian's face turned serious.
— That kid's hiding something.
Akira looked doubtful.
— I don't think so… but I'll ask Yui when we see him again.
Kian smiled faintly.
— Thank you.
Just then, Akira turned to talk to Raiga but noticed he had already fallen asleep—his mouth slightly open, breathing uneven.
— How does he fall asleep that fast?! We weren't even done talking!
Kian chuckled quietly.
— Anyway… we should sleep too. Tomorrow's training will be just as tough.
Akira sighed, staring at the ceiling.
— Ughhh…
Soon his eyelids grew heavy, and within minutes, he drifted into sleep.
Three days passed. Akira and Raiga spent each one enduring the same merciless training. Every blow, every clash made them stronger—but pushed their bodies to their limits. Finally, the day came for their last training before returning to the palace.
Early in the morning, Akira nudged Raiga.
— Raiga, wake up! It's our last training… then we're heading back to the palace.
Raiga groaned, burying his face in the pillow.
— Shut up… let me sleep…
Akira's patience snapped.
— There's no time to sleep, idiot!
— Quiet… five more minutes.
— Idiot!
Just then, the dojo door creaked open. Morvan entered.
Akira straightened up in surprise.
— M-Morvan!
Raiga jumped to his feet instantly.
— Y-yes, sir!
Morvan nodded coldly.
— Come. I'm waiting for you outside.
Reluctantly, the two got dressed and stepped into the dojo yard. Kian, as usual, sat quietly at the side, watching.
Morvan's voice was firm:
— Take your swords and your uniforms.
Akira and Raiga replied in unison:
— Got it!
Morvan lowered his sword.
— Now… attack.
Akira rushed forward, swinging his sword with all his strength. But Morvan blocked it with one hand and sent Akira flying backward.
"Ahhh!" Akira staggered and fell.
Raiga charged next—his strikes slower but heavier. Still, they couldn't even make Morvan flinch. The master easily parried every blow.
Akira gritted his teeth and stood up.
— Ahhh… four days of training and we still can't touch you!
Morvan's tone was calm but instructive.
— Don't expect results in four days. You'll learn strength through battles… through experience.
Akira caught his breath.
— You're right… fighting Chaos will make us stronger, help us grow.
Raiga stepped forward, his voice sharp.
— Then tell us, old man… what happens if we ever meet that Desert Chaos or the "him" you mentioned before?
Morvan's face stiffened. His reply came cold as ice:
— You'll die. Don't even bother resisting.
Akira and Raiga froze. Silence filled the yard for a few seconds before Akira shouted in anger:
— So you're saying we should just accept death when we see them?! Or beg for mercy like cowards?!
Morvan's gaze locked on Akira. And in an instant, memories of a dark past flooded his mind.
A small house engulfed in flames. The sky choked with black smoke. People screaming, running for their lives.
Morvan was on his knees, covered in blood. His parents trembled beside him. Before them stood a man whose face was hidden in shadow, holding a bloodstained sword.
The man's voice cut through them like an icy wind.
— Morvan, right?
Morvan trembled. He couldn't answer.
The man stepped closer.
— You're strong… and lucky. Because killing you would go against my ideals.
Morvan lifted his head, his voice trembling with desperate hope.
— R-really?
In an instant, the man appeared before him and placed the bloody sword in Morvan's hands. His face was veiled by darkness, his voice cold as death.
— Yes. I'll spare your life… on one condition.
Morvan's lips quivered.
— W-what do you want?
The man turned the sword toward his parents.
— Kill them.
Morvan's eyes froze. In that moment, his world shattered.
In the dojo yard, a tear slid down Morvan's cheek as he looked at Akira. He shouted:
— What's so wrong about wanting to live?! When you're facing someone you can't defeat, begging for your life isn't a crime!
Akira, Raiga, and Kian froze. Seeing Morvan's tear, something heavy filled their hearts.
— Morvan… are you alright?
Akira asked anxiously.
Morvan took a deep breath and lowered his gaze.
— That's enough training for today. Prepare the horses. I'll see you off soon.
Akira nodded.
— Alright.
The three went to the stable to prepare the horses. As Kian helped, he finally spoke.
— I wonder… what did that old man go through?
Kian shook his head.
— I don't know. And I don't think we'll ever find out.
Akira tightened the reins.
— Horses are ready… we can go now.
Kian turned to them.
— Want me to explain the route again?
Raiga laughed smugly.
— No need! I know it perfectly.
Akira immediately protested.
— What?! If it were up to you, we'd get lost in the forest for sure!
Raiga barked back.
— Shut up, idiot!
The horses were ready. Morvan approached slowly.
— So, you're ready.
Akira nodded.
— Yes.
Both mounted their horses.
Morvan's eyes softened slightly.
— I'll be waiting for your return. My door is always open to my students.
Akira bowed respectfully.
— Thank you, Mor—
Raiga cut him off.
— Like we're ever coming back, old man! You almost killed us!
— Hey, Raiga! Be polite!
Akira snapped.
Kian laughed.
— See you!
"See you," Akira said, smiling.
As the two rode away, Kian and Morvan stood at the edge of the forest, waving.
Once they exited the forest, Raiga suddenly stopped.
— Hey hey! We're out of the forest, but… how do we get to the palace?!
Akira scratched his head.
— Right… I didn't think of that. But… I think it's this way.
Raiga grumbled.
— Like I'd trust you, idiot!
Akira pouted.
— Fine, don't. I'll go, and you can stay here.
Raiga groaned, following him.
— Alright, alright, I'm coming!
The two rode for four hours, arguing the entire way. Every quarrel broke the silence of the long road. Finally, the tall palace walls appeared on the horizon.
Akira took a deep breath, a tired but satisfied smile forming on his face.
— Ohhh… we finally made it.