Arisawa knew the road to Eldravon by heart, having traveled it several times before. But this time was different. His body was covered in blood, and with every breath, the smell of burning flesh hit his nostrils. He rode for hours; every jolt of the horse sent shudders of pain through him. The sun was setting, painting the sky red, gradually fading into purple and finally black.
His mind wouldn't quiet. He couldn't help but think.
— Did they really abandon me? Or was there another reason? Maybe… maybe they did it to protect me… maybe…
But deep in his heart, he knew that was a lie.
After traveling a while longer, the massive gates of Eldravon came into view. A majestic entrance wedged between towering stone walls. Squinting his eyes, he held his breath. Guards stood at the gate. He slipped through the crowd unnoticed and entered.
Once inside, he could hardly believe his eyes. Eldravon shimmered as always. Despite the evening, lanterns lit every street, the city lights competing with the stars. People wandered in crowds, finishing up their shopping in the marketplaces.
But Arisawa… was different.
His burnt, blackened, bloodied body terrified anyone who saw him. People quickly stepped aside, pulled their children close, and averted their eyes. Whispers rose.
— Look at him… who is that?
— Like a monster…
— Burned… how is he still alive?
Arisawa didn't care. He walked without pause. Near the twelve palaces, he remembered the house his father had bought for emergencies. His heart raced as he approached it. Perhaps… perhaps they were really there.
Seeing the house, he dismounted. A small, two-story home, ordinary in appearance, on the corner of a street. At that moment, it felt more valuable to him than a palace. His breath trembled, hands sweating.
He stopped at the door, hesitating before knocking.
— What if they don't want me? Or… what if I misunderstood everything?
But whatever happened, he wanted to know the truth. He raised his fist and knocked several times. Footsteps approached from inside. When the door opened, he saw… his mother.
She froze, eyes wide, hands trembling, as if seeing a ghost.
Arisawa forced a smile.
— Mother… I'm home.
She swallowed hard.
— A-a… Arisawa… h-how…
He opened his arms to hug her. But she stepped back. Fear filled her eyes.
Arisawa was shocked.
— M-mother?
At that moment, his father's voice came from inside.
— Honey, who's there?
His mother stammered.
— Y-you need to see this.
His father appeared. As his eyes met Arisawa's, his face froze. The burnt, blackened body was unrecognizable. Yet… it wasn't hard to tell who it was.
Arisawa whispered hoarsely.
— Father…
A moment of silence. Then, his father's expression changed. The stunned look was replaced with contempt. His lips formed a cold line.
And he spoke sharply.
— I have no child. I am not your father. I don't know you.
Arisawa's world crumbled. His knees gave way.
— I… I… A-Arisawa… f-father… what are you saying?
But his father said nothing. He slammed the door shut.
At that moment, Arisawa understood. He had truly been abandoned.
But where could he go? He had no home, no one to turn to. So he sat down at the doorstep. Collapsing, he fell asleep there.
When morning came, sunlight pierced his eyelids as the door creaked open. His parents stepped outside. Seeing them, Arisawa sprang to his feet, running to embrace his father.
He knew he had been abandoned. But he refused to accept it.
— Father… please…
His father shoved him harshly.
— GUARDS!! — he shouted.
Arisawa froze in shock.
— F-father, what are you doing?!
Two soldiers arrived quickly.
— What is it, sir?
His father pointed at Arisawa.
— I don't know this child. But he's been bothering us since last night. Take him away! Don't let him return.
The soldiers asked no questions. They grabbed Arisawa by the arms. He struggled.
— No! Let me go!! Father!! FATHER!!
But it was futile. They dragged him out of the house. At the corner of the street, they threw him to the ground.
— Count yourself lucky we didn't kill you, kid.
Without a backward glance, they left.
Arisawa lay on the stone ground. Wounded, bloodied, broken. Nothing remained inside him. No family, no money. Helpless, he curled up in a corner, hoping… perhaps someone would come, help him.
But evening came. The sun set, and the cold night descended on the city. The wind howled through the streets. Arisawa lay down, pulling a piece of cardboard over himself, shivering as he tried to close his eyes.
Then… he heard a voice. A little girl's voice.
— Are you okay? Why are you out at night? It's so cold.
He turned his head. A red-haired girl, about his age, stood there, eyes full of concern.
Arisawa replied in a low voice.
— My family… abandoned me. I have nowhere to go.
The girl looked shocked. Tears formed in her eyes.
— I see… that must be hard. My name is Mira. What's yours?
— My name… is Arisawa.
At that moment, the girl's father appeared.
— Come on, Mira, let's go.
Mira turned to him, pleading.
— But father! Arisawa is cold and has nowhere to go!
Her father sighed.
— There's nothing we can do. What can we do?
But Mira was persistent.
— Please, father… let him stay with us. At least for a while… please.
The man thought for a moment. Finally, he nodded.
— Alright, alright. He can stay for a while. Your mother will be upset, though…
Mira's eyes lit up.
— Thank you, father!!
Arisawa bowed gratefully.
— Th-thank you…
Without hesitation, Mira took his hand, helped him to his feet, and ran off joyfully.
From that day onward… Arisawa's life would change completely.
⸻
On the battlefield, the roar of black flames echoed. The ground smelled of burning earth, smoke blotted out the moonlight. Arisawa glanced at Akira for a moment.
Akira noticed immediately.
— Did something happen, Master Arisawa?
Arisawa was silent for a moment, then replied calmly.
— Nothing. Let me finish this battle first, then I'll talk to you.
Akira's eyes widened slightly.
— Is it about my sister?
Arisawa nodded.
— Yes.
Spirit was still in shock at the sight before him. Anger and fear spread across his face simultaneously.
— What do you mean by your body's adaptation!?
Instead of answering, Arisawa slowly opened his hands. Suddenly, the black flames Spirit had controlled burst from Arisawa's hands as if taken from him. The dark flames shot skyward with a reverberating roar.
Raiga's mouth hung open in disbelief.
— How… how is this possible!?
Spirit couldn't contain his fury.
— This is nonsense!
With his eyes glowing red in anger, he lunged, delivering a lethal kick to Arisawa's stomach. The force could have shattered stone. The kick hit… but something incredible happened.
Arisawa stood unshaken. He merely glanced at the direction of the attack, smirking mockingly. Then he grabbed Spirit's leg and, with unbelievable strength, hurled him meters into the air.
Spirit hit the ground with a crack, the earth flying into the air. His eyes were wide, voice trembling.
— Y-you… don't feel pain!?
Arisawa stepped forward slowly, his voice cold, sharp, terrifying.
— I haven't felt pain for seventeen years.
Spirit's lips trembled.
— Y-your limits… don't you have any!?
Arisawa laughed. It wasn't arrogance in his voice, but absolute supremacy.
— You're too weak to see the limits of my adaptation.
Spirit's knees buckled. Fear of death shone in his eyes. In his mind, he screamed silently:
— I… I have to run! If I stay, I'll die here!
He turned and ran with all his might.
Raiga shouted angrily.
— Coward, running away!
But his escape was short. In the blink of an eye, Arisawa appeared before him. His hands, controlling the black flames, shot toward Spirit's body. Instantly, Spirit was engulfed, his body burning to pieces.
Spirit writhed in agony.
— A-ahhh! I'm going to die! I'm going to die!
Suddenly, his eyes caught something glinting on the ground. The legendary sword Setsuna… desperately, he reached for it. Believing it his only salvation, he grasped it, trying to pull it from its sheath.
But then, a horrifying thing happened. His right arm fell to the ground, severed from his shoulder.
Spirit's eyes widened in shock.
— H-how…
Arisawa spoke with a cold smile.
— It was clear the legendary sword wouldn't choose you. You're weak.
Spirit panicked.
— Stop! You can't—
But before he could finish, Arisawa struck his heart with a single blow. Spirit's body shattered, pieces blending with the black flames and disappearing.
— "N-no… this… can't be…" he whispered, fading into nothingness.
Silence fell. Nothing could be heard but the crackling flames and scorched earth.
Arisawa picked up the sword and returned to his team.
— It's done. We can return.
Akira looked on in awe.
— Incredible!!
Raiga shoved his hands in his pockets, turning away.
— Well… it was good you helped, but…
Yui chuckled softly.
— Unlike you, we're weak.
Arisawa nodded.
— If you train, you could even surpass me.
Akira thought for a moment, then spoke.
— That will be very hard… Master Arisawa, can I go train with the old man in Misty Forest?
Raiga immediately protested.
— What?! You're really going to the old man?!
Akira nodded firmly.
— I need to get stronger.
Arisawa studied him carefully, then agreed.
— Alright. But only for a week at most. I have tasks for you.
Akira nodded.
— Understood.
Arisawa gripped his sword and took a deep breath, silently thinking: his debt to Akabane was finally settled.
But then something strange happened. Akira's eyes fixed on the sword. A peculiar feeling stirred in him, his heart racing.
Yui noticed.
— Akira, is something wrong?
Akira stepped closer to Arisawa.
— I sense energy from the sword… as if it's calling me.
Arisawa frowned.
— Akira, what are you doing?
Akira reached for the sword. Instantly, it began to glow.
Raiga shouted in disbelief.
— What nonsense is this?!
Arisawa shouted, concerned.
— Akira! Stop, what are you doing?!
Yui cried out in panic.
— Akira! You need to pull it with the other hand, or—
But she didn't finish. Akira drew the sword with his right hand. Everyone held their breath. The cursed blade that had severed Ruh's arm now glowed in Akira's hand.
Raiga froze.
— T-the stupid sword… it chose him?!
Yui's eyes were wide, struggling to breathe.
Akira looked at the sword in shock, then calmly sheathed it.
— Looks like I have a new sword.
Arisawa exhaled deeply, smiling.
— Its choice… really surprised me, Akira.
Akira turned to the still-shocked Yui.
— Yui? I understand your surprise, but isn't this a bit exaggerated?
Raiga glanced at Yui with a mocking smirk.
— Definitely nothing to be this surprised about. Stupid swords choose stupidly. Weren't you just saying something about the other hand?
Akira nodded.
— Yes, I heard you say I should use the other hand.
Yui took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
— I didn't say that. I'm just surprised it chose someone after a hundred years.
A brief silence followed. Everyone looked at each other. Finally, Arisawa spoke.
— Akira, you can take the sword and go. Be careful on your journey. You'll also report back about this "chaos" you mentioned.
Raiga laughed.
— Fine by me, blue guy.
And so, the four mounted their horses, heading back to Granithold. Behind them lay the ruins, ashes of the black flames, and Ruh's destruction.
Upon reaching Granithold, Arisawa, Yui, and Raiga headed straight for the palace. Akira, however, took a different path. After a long and exhausting journey, he finally reached the Misty Forest, shrouded in fog and surrounded by shadowy trees. The sound of his horse's hooves was muffled by the mist; the forest seemed to hold its breath in silence.
Akira's eyes were determined. Without hesitation, he made his way to Morvan's house. Soon, he saw the old but grand house in the heart of the forest. Dismounting, he tied his reins and knocked three times on the large wooden door.
The door opened instantly. Kian stood there, eyes wide in surprise.
— Akira! What are you doing here?!
Akira spoke in a serious tone.
— I came to see Old Man Morvan. Is he inside?
Kian nodded.
— Yes, he's inside, meditating.
Akira leaned against the edge of the door.
— May I come in?
Kian smiled and stepped aside.
— Of course, you can.
Akira stepped inside. After securely tying his horse, he headed toward the house. Kian watched him, still smiling.
— It hasn't been long since we last met. Is everything alright?
— Yes, everything's fine, — Akira replied briefly.
Kian raised his eyebrows, his voice mocking.
— Then why do you want to see Morvan? Missing a good beating, perhaps? Haha.
Akira didn't smile; his face hardened with seriousness.
— Chaos… has moved again.
The smile on Kian's face froze.
— Another spirit sent by Chaos?
— Yes. It seems we'll encounter them more often. That's why I need to know the truth.
Kian took a deep breath and smiled, though worry was visible in his eyes.
— I don't think the old man will tell you the truth.
— I need to hear it from him. Where is he?
— In the dojo. I'll take you there.
Akira's face fell.
— I know that place very well…
They walked toward the dojo together. When Kian opened the door, they stepped inside. Morvan was meditating, eyes closed. The atmosphere of the room was heavy, with old weapons hanging on the walls.
When the door opened, Morvan squinted. Without opening his eyes, he spoke:
— This… legendary sword.
Kian looked around in surprise.
— What are you saying? There's no legendary sword. Akira is here.
A small smile appeared on Morvan's lips.
— I know. Akira carries the legendary sword with him.
Kian's eyes widened as he turned to Akira. Akira shrugged.
— You're impressive, old man. You recognized it without even opening your eyes.
Kian whispered:
— C-could it be… the one from the legends…
Akira turned to him, touching the hilt of his sword.
— Yes. This legendary sword is Setsuna.
Morvan didn't seem surprised. He simply said quietly:
— It chose you, then.
Akira nodded in confirmation.
Morvan opened his eyes slightly.
— May I see the sword?
Akira drew the sword from its sheath with his right hand. Instantly, the blade glowed a deep crimson, filling the room with a red aura.
Morvan opened his eyes fully, appearing genuinely surprised for the first time.
— You… hold it with your right hand.
Akira frowned.
— Yes. Yui also said the same. Is there a problem?
Morvan closed his eyes and nodded.
— No. Nothing at all.
A brief silence followed. Finally, Kian spoke:
— Morvan, the Akiras were attacked again by a Chaos spirit.
Morvan's face darkened.
— So you came here to learn the truth, didn't you?
Akira nodded.
— Yes.
Morvan didn't reply. The silence felt suffocating. Akira stepped forward and spoke with determination:
— Morvan, I think this is getting serious. I believe we'll face another one of them soon.
Morvan hesitated. It was clear he paused before speaking.
— … another sent spirit?
Akira sheathed his sword and bowed his head.
— Yes. This time, it was a spirit sent by a man called Lion.
Morvan murmured thoughtfully:
— Why aren't they acting themselves? Are they planning something, or…
Akira shrugged.
— I don't know. You're the one with knowledge about the nine siblings, after all.
Morvan suddenly stood.
— Akira, Kian… follow me.
Both of them stared in surprise, but didn't speak. Morvan walked out of the dojo with heavy steps, heading toward the library. They followed quietly
When they arrived at the library, Kian spoke in a mocking tone:
— Morvan, I've already read all of these books.
Morvan didn't respond. He lifted the wooden panel beside the books. Behind it was a hidden lever. When he pulled it down, the entire bookshelf creaked open to both sides. A dark passage appeared behind it.
Morvan turned and said coolly:
— You haven't read these.
Kian's eyes widened.
— So you've been hiding this from me all this time…
Morvan stepped inside.
— Come in.
The interior was dusty, dark, and seemed untouched for years. Akira began examining the shelves, noticing that most of the books were about ancient myths and legends.
— Morvan, there are only legends here.
Morvan shook his head.
— They're not legends. They're all real.
Akira's eyes widened.
— What?!
Kian whispered:
— A-a-all of this is real?
As Morvan searched the shelves, he finally found the book he was looking for. He sat at an old table and opened it.
— Come here.
Kian asked curiously:
— What did you find?
Akira raised an eyebrow.
— Looks like a normal book.
Morvan turned the pages without answering. At one point, he paused. On the top of the page was a photo folded in half. He slowly opened it.
The photo showed nine young children, a mother, and a father.
Akira and Kian froze.
— C-could these be…
Morvan quietly confirmed:
— Yes. These are the nine Volgrath siblings.
Akira took a deep breath.
— Where did you get this?
— From the Volgrath mansion. You must have been there before, Akira.
Akira thought for a moment, then remembered the large, dark mansion he had seen in his dreams. Excitedly, he shouted:
— Yes! I saw the mansion in a dream before!
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
— I-I remember this.
Akira flinched.
— Who are you?
— Valtherion.
Akira took a deep breath.
— Do you remember this photo? The man in the middle must be you.
— Yes, that's me. I remember having this photo painted by a famous artist. Those were the best years of my life.
— So what happened next? What was the mystery of the Volgrath family?
Valtherion's voice grew heavier.
— One person is missing from this photo. If I remember correctly, they should have been here too.
Akira studied the photo carefully, then realized:
— Right! As Valtherion said… Morvan! This photo is incomplete!
Morvan frowned.
— Did Valtherion say that?
Akira nodded.
— Yes. Look to the right side of the photo. It seems torn.
Kian raised his voice.
— Then where is the torn piece?! Also, there should be nine siblings. It's impossible for this photo to be missing anyone!
Akira pondered.
— What if there's a tenth sibling?
Morvan took a deep breath, then changed the subject.
— That's not important. I brought you here to explain their powers.
Akira stepped forward.
— You'll explain their powers?
Morvan nodded.
— Yes. If a battle occurs, my assistance could be useful to Velmorya.
Kian asked in astonishment:
— So you know all of them?
— I knew all of them. But it's been a long time. I wrote everything down here so I wouldn't forget.
Morvan whispered to himself:
— Forgetting even two of them is impossible…
He opened the book to the page listing the nine siblings, but only four names were written. Pointing with his finger, he began explaining:
— The first child, Kael of Winter, with white hair. One of the most dangerous. His power shapes ice with Chaos. If you see him… you'll die. The one in the middle, the Red-haired Wrath of the Desert. He controls sand with Chaos. Definitely stronger than ice. Even I can't defeat him. The third child, Takeshi, master of Earth's Chaos. And the last child I have information on… Rion Volgrath, who controls fire.
Akira and Kian listened intently.
Akira took a deep breath.
— Are they still alive using soul techniques? Is that certain?
Morvan's voice was firm.
— Yes, certain. I wasn't sure until I saw the Wrath of the Desert… but I saw him twice.
Kian's eyes flared.
— What!! You saw him twice? The one who killed my family!!
Morvan snapped firmly:
— Calm down, Kian. The first time I saw him was when I saved you. The second time was recently. But I didn't fight him.
Akira asked in shock:
— You ran away?
Morvan remained silent, then closed his eyes and whispered:
— Yes. I ran.
Kian clenched his fists, trembling with rage.
— Didn't you hate him?! Why did you run?! Why didn't you try to kill him?!
Morvan's voice was heavy.
— The reason I don't hate him… is that he is connected to the person who killed my family. Also… even if I wanted, I couldn't kill him.
Akira bowed his head.
— If even you can't defeat him… facing him wouldn't be good for us.
Kian clenched his fist angrily.
— For now, yes. But one day… I will kill him!
Morvan fixed his gaze on Akira.
— Probably all the siblings are alive. They may attack Velmorya soon. I want you to tell the council, Akira.
Akira lifted his head.
— Understood!
Morvan added in a serious tone:
— I want you to tell them immediately. Go at once.
Akira frowned.
— I wanted to stay here a week, but…
— "This is serious." — Morvan said firmly.
Akira muttered under his breath.
— Ugh…
Morvan handed the photo he was holding to Akira.
Akira stepped outside and walked to his horse. Gripping the reins tightly, he reluctantly mounted and rode quickly toward the palace.
Dust clouds rose in the depths of the Misty Forest. Akira's heart was tight, knowing that now he would face not only the Chaos spirits but the entire dark legacy of the Volgrath family.