The kingdom of Roddasha was quiet that night. The wind barely moved, and the sky was covered by thin clouds, letting only a pale moonlight touch the rooftops.
Inside a small inn room, Surya sat by the window, lost in thought. Kael stood beside him, breathing heavily after running all the way from the southern border.
"So... Thriller's gone," Surya said quietly.
Kael nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah. Taken by the Order. I couldn't even react… they were too fast."
Neither spoke for a while. The sound of distant bells echoed through the streets below.
Surya finally sighed. "We're still just kids, Kael. We can't fight them yet."
"I know," Kael replied, clenching his fists. "But someday, we will."
They both looked up at the moon through the window. Its glow was soft but distant—like a light too far to reach.
"Hold on, Thriller," Surya murmured. "We'll come for you… just not yet. Please, trust us."
And under that quiet night sky, two young mages made a silent vow, one that would shape the paths they were about to walk.
Days turned into weeks. The sun rose and fell over Roddasha as Surya and Kael devoted themselves to training—under the same woman who once guided Surya when he first started his journey.
Larra.
She had returned to the city after hearing rumors about a boy who defeated the Moon Dragon and the Gambling King. When she found them, she didn't scold or praise—she simply said,
"Looks like I have to polish you two again."
From that day on, their lives became a cycle of sweat, bruises, and light.
Larra's training was merciless. Each dawn, she made them run across the cliffs of Roddasha, their vessels following them from above as targets. In the afternoon, she forced them to cast magic until their mana nearly burned out.
Kael learned to sharpen his wind magic, focusing on control and stability.
Surya, on the other hand, began developing something new—a fusion of light and movement. Larra called it The Step of Radiance, a technique where light mana strengthens the body to move faster than sound.
"You're improving," Larra said one night as they rested near the cliffside. "But remember—strength without reason is just destruction."
Surya looked down at his glowing hands. "I know. That's why I'll get stronger... not just for me, but for our friend."
Kael nodded. "For Thriller."
The stars above flickered faintly, like silent witnesses to their promise.
Deep beneath the surface of the continent, in a place no map dared to mark, the Order gathered.
The air was cold and heavy with mana. A dim blue light shone from torches that never flickered. In the center of a round chamber stood a long black table carved with runes. Upon the wall behind it—the crest of the Order: a broken circle pierced by a single sword, wrapped in chains.
Five figures sat around the table, each cloaked in darkness. Their faces were hidden beneath hoods, their presence sharp enough to make the air itself tremble.
At the end of the table stood another man. His wrists were marked with faint glowing sigils, his eyes dull and lifeless.
It was Thriller.
One of the cloaked figures leaned forward.
"So, the experiment is successful," a cold voice said. "His mind no longer resists."
Another chuckled softly. "A shame. He had potential on his own. Now, he'll serve us better as a weapon."
They turned their attention to him. "Tell us your name."
Thriller spoke, his voice flat, empty of emotion.
"…Thriller. Agent… of the Order."
The torches burned brighter for a moment, reacting to his words.
The one in the middle,clearly the leader—stood. "Good. Then your first mission is simple: find the boy of light. Surya Noor."
The chains around Thriller's arms glowed faintly as he bowed.
"Yes… Master."
As the echo of his voice faded into the dark hall, the sigil of the Order glowed behind him, its chained sword now pulsing faintly, as if feeding on his stolen will.
Five years passed like a storm.
The boys who once struggled to control their vessels were now young men whose names echoed across kingdoms.
Under Larra's relentless guidance, they mastered everything she could teach—and created spells even she hadn't seen before.
Kael, the wind mage, had become swift and sharp as the storms he commanded. His magic carried both speed and precision, earning him the title of Grandmaster.
Surya, on the other hand, walked a path beyond ordinary strength. His control over light magic had evolved into something divine,pure, radiant power that could shape reality itself.
He was recognized as one of the Four Soul Ranks,the North Soul.
A title once belonging to Larra herself.
Larra watched them spar one final time at the training grounds near the cliffs. Each clash of magic shook the air,light and wind colliding like thunder and dawn.
When it was over, Surya's glow faded, Kael's breath heavy.
"You've both grown," Larra said, pride hidden beneath her calm tone. "Not just in strength, but in heart."
Kael smirked. "Still not enough to beat you though."
Larra smiled faintly. "No one ever really beats their teacher. They just... move beyond them."
Surya looked toward the horizon, the sun setting behind the golden clouds.
"It's time," he said quietly. "We've trained long enough. Now we take back what was taken."
Kael nodded, eyes firm. "Thriller… we're coming for you."
And as the final light of day burned across the sky, the two young mages,now stronger than ever,set out toward the shadows that once defeated them.
Together, Surya, Kael, and Larra soared through the skies,three masters, each with their own vessel shining in the morning light.
Surya led the way, riding on his Light Wing Vessel—a radiant construct shaped like golden feathers, glowing softly as it sliced through the clouds. Every flap shimmered with fragments of sunlight, leaving trails of light behind.
Beside him was Kael, standing proudly on his Wind Vessel, Whirlwind. The air beneath his feet spiraled and twisted like a living storm, forming a transparent disk surrounded by streaks of rushing wind. Each gust obeyed his will, keeping him steady and fast.
And just behind them, Larra rode her Plasma Vessel, named Plasma. It was unlike any other,formed from a fusion of overheated air, fire, and volatile matter. It pulsed and flowed like living energy, yet she stood upon it as if it were solid ground. Bright arcs of energy flickered around her as the vessel hummed with immense power.
From above, they looked like three comets streaking across the sky, light, wind, and flame moving in perfect harmony.
Their destination: the hidden base of The Order, the very same group that had stolen their friend.
The hunt for Thriller had begun.
The Order's territory
a place no map dared to mark.
Hidden deep within the Allasta Mountain Range, it stood right in the heart of the three borders: Roddesha, North Krimnaa, and South Krimnaa. A no-man's land where laws clashed, and even nations turned a blind eye.
The mountains there were always covered in mist. Not just from the cold, but from dense mana—thick, heavy, and strange. The sky itself dimmed the closer they got, the air buzzing with pressure that even seasoned mages could feel in their bones.
From above, Surya could see faint glimmers—structures carved directly into the mountainside. Towers, walkways, and strange glowing lines that pulsed faintly, connecting each outpost like veins of energy.
"That's it…" Kael said, his voice low as the wind howled around them. "The Order's base."
Larra narrowed her eyes. "Stay alert. The air itself here isn't normal. It's been tampered with—probably layered with illusion and barrier magic."
Surya nodded, gripping the handle of his vessel tighter.
"Then we'll break through it."
The three vessels began to descend slowly toward the mist-covered valley, where the unknown waited.
They landed quietly on a nearby cliff, the wind carrying only the faint hum of their vessels.
From there, they could see the Order's base below,towers carved from black stone, faint blue light pulsing through cracks like veins. Hooded figures moved in formation, guarding the entrances.
Kael lowered his scope. "There's a lot more of them than we thought."
Larra crossed her arms. "We observe first. No mistakes."
Surya nodded, eyes fixed on the movement below. "We'll wait… and find the right moment to strike."
For now, silence was their best weapon.
Surya focused his light magic, forming a glowing telescope in front of his eye. The image sharpened,he could see every guard, every patrol route, every flicker of light from the base below.
Larra sat beside him, jotting down everything he described. "Two sentries at the east gate… rotating every five minutes," Surya murmured.
"Got it," Larra replied, her handwriting quick and clean.
Kael stood behind them, one hand resting on the hilt of his blade, scanning the cliffs around. "You two focus on the intel. I'll make sure no one sneaks up on us."
The three of them worked in quiet rhythm, steady, focused, and careful.
Surya narrowed his eyes. The guards below were running around in a rush, shouting at each other.
"Something's off…" he muttered. "They're panicking."
Larra looked up from her notes. "Did they spot us?"
Before he could answer, a faint alarm echoed from the base,muffled by distance, but clear enough.
Surya's stomach tightened. "Yeah… they noticed."
Surya focused his sight again and saw a group of guards mounting horse carriages, speeding toward the mountain path.
"They're coming this way," he said, lowering his telescope. "Straight up the cliff."
Kael immediately drew his staff. "Then we're out of time."
Larra folded her notes and stood up. "Good. Let's see how much they've improved in five years."
The three froze as a gust of wind followed the strike,trees split clean in half, leaves scattering like rain.
Surya's eyes widened. "That swing… it cut the air itself."
The man stepped forward, armor glinting faintly beneath the moonlight. His blade rested on his shoulder as he stared them down.
"Now," he said in a low voice, "why don't you tell me what three outsiders are doing near the Order's base?"
Kael whispered, "Great… an elite."
Larra took a step forward, calm but sharp-eyed. "Surya, Kael. Stay sharp. This one isn't just muscle."
The knight swung his blade again,this time, the air itself roared. A violent wave of wind tore through the trees, ripping branches and uprooting the earth around them.
Surya raised his arm, light magic flaring to form a glowing shield in front of them. The shockwave crashed into it, shaking the ground but not breaking through.
Kael steadied himself beside him. "There's no way around this," he muttered. "He's blocking the only path."
Larra nodded, her eyes narrowing as plasma energy began to spark around her.
"Then we fight."
Surya clenched his fists, his vessel light flaring behind him like wings. "Let's finish this quick."
The armored man planted his sword into the ground, its blade humming with power.
"I have two demands," he said, his deep voice echoing through the clearing. "First,only one of you will fight me. The rest stay out of it."
He looked up, his helmet gleaming under the moonlight. "Second—if you win, you must save my friend. He was taken by the Order... but now he fights beside them."
Surya frowned. "Your friend? Who is he?"
The knight shook his head. "You'll know when the time comes."
Silence filled the forest, only the crackle of Larra's plasma and the rustling wind breaking it.
Kael stepped forward slightly, his hand on his sword. "So we just have to beat you first, huh?"
The knight raised his blade and pointed it at them. "That's right. Only then will I tell you everything."
Surya let out a small sigh and smiled back at them. "Yeah, yeah… don't cheer too loud," he said, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward.
Kael laughed. "Hey, don't lose to a walking tin can, alright?"
Larra grinned, folding her arms. "Show him what a Northsoul can do."
Surya nodded once, eyes locking onto the armored man. The air around him shimmered faintly with light magic.
The knight lifted his sword, stance firm. "Come, Northsoul. Show me your resolve."
And with that, the battle began.
Surya raised his hand, light gathering in his palm as he chanted,
"By the radiance of dawn, I command—Light Ray!"
A blinding beam shot forward, splitting the air with a sharp hum. But the knight didn't even flinch. He swung his massive sword once,clean, precise,and the beam shattered like glass, scattering into fading sparks.
Surya's eyes widened. "He… cut through light?"
The knight rested the blade on his shoulder, smirking beneath his helmet. "That technique… belongs to the South Soul rank. You're strong, boy—but not quite there yet."
Kael and Larra's cheers quieted. Surya gritted his teeth, tightening his stance. "Then I'll just have to prove I'm more than a title."
The knight raised his sword again, blocking another burst of Surya's light.
"My ability's called Full Deflection," he said calmly, brushing off the sparks that scattered from the impact. "I can deflect any kind of attack,magic, elemental, physical, doesn't matter."
Surya's light spears shot out one after another, but every strike was effortlessly parried, each one redirected with a flick of the knight's blade.
"But," the knight continued, stepping forward through the glow, "it has one flaw. It needs raw physical strength to master."
Surya clenched his fist, panting slightly. "So that's why… you're not even moving fast. You're just overpowering my magic."
The knight gave a short laugh. "Exactly. Power isn't just about mana, kid. It's about control."
Surya lowered his hand, the glow around him fading. He took a slow breath, staring at the knight.
"Alright," he said, voice steady. "We'll help you save your friend."
The knight blinked, surprised by how easily Surya stopped fighting.
"You… believe me that easily?" he asked.
Surya nodded. "If what you said is true, then your fight isn't with us. We're after the Order too."
The knight let out a deep sigh, lowering his sword. "Name's Grave. And my friend,he's not the same anymore. The Order did something to him."
Kael and Larra stepped closer, watching carefully.
Surya nodded again, more firmly this time. "Then let's make it right. Together."
That night, the air around the mountain was cold and still. The moonlight cut through the mist, making the Order's fortress glow faintly in the dark.
Surya, Kael, Larra, and Grave hid behind the rocks near the base wall, watching.
"The main gate's got guards," Kael whispered. "But they're only on the towers, not on the ground."
Surya narrowed his eyes, focusing on the lights above. "So, we go in low and quiet."
Grave nodded. "There's an old supply tunnel under the west side. The Order stopped using it years ago, but it might still be open."
Larra smirked. "Perfect. Less blood, more brains."
Surya looked up once more, then back at the group. "Alright. We move when the torches on the tower shift. That's our window."
They waited in silence hearts steady, breaths light as the shadow of the towers turned. Then, when the moment came… they moved.
They slipped through the supply tunnel like shadows, breath steady, feet soundless on the cold stone. The moon was low, the fortress quiet—too quiet.
Then a voice cut the dark. Calm. Young.
"Stand right where you are. This is a dead end for the three of you."
A figure stepped out of the archway. Hood up, face hidden. Probably fifteen, maybe sixteen. He moved with the ease of someone who'd trained in silence. When he pulled his weapon, the metal sang: chained hooks, blades at the ends, coiling like hungry snakes.
Grave grunted, planting his sword. "So you're with them," he said, low and tired.
The boy's laugh was cold. "With them? I serve the Order." He flicked his hooks once—thin lines of shadow tracing the air. "No one passes."
Larra's eyes narrowed. She slid a finger along her notes as if counting breaths. "We need to split his attention," she whispered to Surya and Kael. "Distract then close."
Kael tightened his grip on his staff, wind already whispering at his feet. Surya's light gathered in his palms, calm and bright.
"On my mark," Surya breathed.
The chained hooks whistled as the boy launched them forward. The snare struck like lightning, aiming to bind, to cut, to end the night before it began.
They had no choice now but to fight.
Surya froze mid-step, his eyes widening as the chained hooks flashed in the moonlight.
That sound… that pattern of movement… he'd seen it before.
Each swing, each pull too precise, too rhythmic. It wasn't just a random attack. It was a style Surya could never forget.
"Wait…" he muttered under his breath, his light dimming slightly. "That weapon… no way…"
The boy lunged forward again, the chains wrapping around a broken pillar, rebounding toward Surya with deadly accuracy.
Surya's heart sank.
"Thriller…?"
The hooded boy stopped for just a second, the chain rattling to the ground. His hands trembled only for a moment , before tightening the grip again.
His voice came out low, almost emotionless.
"…You shouldn't have come here."
Kael stepped back, shocked. "That voice… it is him."
Larra clenched her fists, whispering, "So this is what the Order did to him…"
Surya lowered his stance, eyes burning with light. "Thriller… if you can hear me, I'll wake you up , no matter what it takes."
The clash echoed through the metal walls — Surya's light beams slicing through the air, Kael's wind bursts deflecting Thriller's spinning chains.
Thriller fought like a storm, wild and relentless. Every swing carried both power and pain. His eyes glowed deeper red as if every strike pulled him farther from who he once was.
"Thriller, stop!" Kael shouted, blocking a whip of chain with a gust of wind. "It's us! Remember?"
Thriller clutched his head suddenly, staggering back. "I… I don't… know anymore…" His chains loosened, his body trembling.
Surya took a careful step forward. "That's it. You can fight it. You're not their weapon, you're—"
Before he could finish, a cold voice cut through the room.
"Don't listen to them."
A ripple of dark mana filled the air. From the shadows, the masked mage appeared — the same one who had kidnapped Thriller years ago. His cloak moved like smoke, the same purple scarf around his neck.
Thriller's eyes widened — then the red light surged violently. "Y-Yes… Master…" he muttered, his body snapping back into motion.
"No!" Kael yelled. "He's controlling him again!"
Thriller's face turned blank emotionless as he lifted his chains once more.
Surya gritted his teeth. "Get behind me, Kael." His light magic flared brighter, forming a shield around them.
The masked mage smirked beneath his scarf. "Let's see if five years was enough for you to challenge the Order."
The battle was no longer just a reunion it was a test of everything they'd become.
The masked mage's smile faded. His gaze sharpened beneath the mask as he stared at Surya at the light radiating from him.
That wasn't normal light magic.
It burned brighter, fiercer, almost… wrong. The air around Surya shimmered like heat waves, but instead of warmth, it carried pressure — heavy and suffocating.
The mage took a step back. "That aura… impossible," he muttered. "Light shouldn't feel dark."
Surya's eyes glowed gold, his expression calm but his presence overwhelming. "You said it yourself," he replied quietly. "Five years is a long time."
The ground beneath him cracked slightly as his mana surged. The light expanded, swallowing the room in radiance so bright that even the mage shielded his eyes.
Kael looked at him in awe. "That's not just light anymore… it's something else."
Surya's voice echoed softly through the glare, steady and chilling.
"I don't need darkness to be terrifying."
As the light slowly faded, silence filled the air. Dust floated gently where the masked mage once stood he had vanished, taking Thriller with him.
Surya stood still, his hand trembling slightly as his aura dimmed back to normal. Kael and Larra ran to his side, both wide-eyed but saying nothing.
He looked at the empty space ahead, his voice low.
"Next time… I'm bringing him back."
The wind blew through the trees, carrying away the last traces of battle.
The night was quiet again but none of them could shake the feeling that the real fight had just begun.