The sky above the Exelio Estate was heavy with clouds, blocking even the faintest hint of light to pass through. The wind swooshed over the trees, the branches and leaves danced, and thunder loudly roared across the sky as if giving everyone a warning.
The air smelled of rain and blood.
Inside the estate, hundreds of lifeless bodies were lying on the ground. The sound of swords clashing echoed through the halls, mixing with the cries of those who were wounded.
Flames flickered along the windows, painting the grand corridor of the once luxurious castle in red and black.
At the center of it all stood Lionel. The Young Duke of the estate. His armor was now dented, and his silver sword was dripping with blood. His breathing was ragged, while his body was trembling with exhaustion.
He could see his men around, falling to their deaths one after another.
He had once called this place home.
Now, it was nothing but a mere grave.
"Lionel Silvestre Exelio!"
The voice came from the grand staircase. Lionel turned his head to the side, only to meet the cold and proud gaze of his cousin. It was the crown prince of the Empire, Cassian Alexander Vaeloria.
Cassian walked down the steps slowly. His silver armor shone under the burning chandeliers. Behind him, there were rows of royal guards. All of them were holding onto their own swords, ready to strike if given permission.
"You're already surrounded," Cassian said calmly as the sides of his lips rose to a small smile.
"Surrender your sword. By the order of the crown, you are charged with treason."
"Treason? Are you high?" Lionel let out a bitter laugh.
"You plotted against the Emperor. You stole money from the empire's treasury. You fed secrets to our enemies. What else would you call it?" Cassian's smirk didn't fade.
Lionel's grip tightened on his sword. "That's all lies. It's you who did tha—"
"Enough!" Cassian snapped out loud. "Just admit it, Lionel. You've always wanted more than your place!"
Lightning flashed through the shattered windows just after saying those words. In that short burst of light, Lionel saw something in Cassian's eyes. Hunger.
So this was it.
The betrayal he never thought would come.
"Cassian…" Lionel said quietly, almost in disbelief. "You planned all of this..."
"You should've stayed under my shadows, Lionel. Never for the world to know." Cassian tilted his head slightly. He raised his hand, and the guards behind him quickly rushed forward.
Lionel roared and met them head-on. Sword crashed against sword. The floor became covered with blood as he fought desperately to stay alive. He struck down soldier after soldier, but there were just too many.
A spear grazed his shoulder. A sword cut across his leg. Pain burned through him, but still he refused to fall.
Not until Cassian drew his own blade.
Their swords met with a deafening clash. The two fought fiercely. Each swing of sword they made was filled with anger, pride, and years of hidden contempt.
"You always thought you were better than me," Cassian hissed out loud before forcing Lionel back.
"What can I do? I was indeed better than you," Lionel growled, blocking the next blow.
Cassian smiled darkly. "Not anymore."
He faked a step to the left, then drove his sword into Lionel's side.
"Hah," Lionel gasped as he fell to one knee. His sword slipped from his hand while his eyes stared at the sword embedded in his chest.
Cassian leaned close to his face and whispered, "Remember this, Lionel. The kingdom will remember you as a traitor. And I'll make sure no one dares speak your name again."
Cassian let out a short laugh afterward. It echoed across the burning estate.
He straightened his back and wiped the blood from his sword with a cloth handed to him by one of his guards. Then, before turning away, he glanced at Lionel for the last time.
"Tell me, Lionel," Cassian said, his smile widening. "Do you still remember the death of your father?"
Lionel completely froze. His breathing stopped for a moment.
"And your mother… who was poisoned. Such a tragedy, wasn't it?"
Lionel's eyes widened.
"Poor Lionel. The loyal duke who never even knew that his beloved cousin was the one who planned it all." Cassian grinned.
Something inside Lionel broke. His chest tightened as anger surged through him, hotter than the flames around them.
"Y-you…" his voice trembled, rough and weak. "You bastard!"
He tried to grab his sword, his hand shaking as he reached for it. His fingers brushed on the hilt, but his strength failed him. He just collapsed onto the cold floor again, his breathing shallow and his vision fading.
He wanted to stand.
He wanted to kill Cassian.
He wanted to tear him apart for what he said.
But his body wouldn't move.
Blood soaked through his armor, dripping down to the floor below him. He clenched his teeth. A faint sound escaped his throat as tears and blood mixed on his face.
Cassian only looked down at him and laughed again, louder this time. It was as if instead of pitying, he was even enjoying what he was seeing.
"Poor cousin," Cassian said. "The great Duke Lionel of House Exelio, who was respected by all, was now lying below me, clinging to the little life he had left."
Lionel tried to speak, but no sound came out of his lips except a grunt of pain.
Cassian turned his back, his cape brushing across the floor. "End this," he ordered his guards. "Kill everyone left in this mansion. Leave nothing standing. Tomorrow, we will announce to the whole empire that the accused has rebelled against the crown."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
With that, Cassian walked away, his laughter fading as he disappeared into the corridor.
Lionel's vision blurred again. All he could hear now was the guards marching around and the screams of his remaining people in pain as they were killed.
Alone in the main hall of the estate, Lionel stared at the grand ceiling above him. There was nothing left. All he could see was the flames engulfing around, making everything around him hot.
Then, something glowed.
From his chest, a faint blue light began to glow. His necklace, which was given by his mother, suddenly shone.
Lionel's half-closed eyes widened slightly.
"W-what… i-is t-this?" he whispered weakly.
Just then, the blue light grew stronger, almost blinding. It flew in the air, and suddenly, a blue hourglass appeared in front of him.
Instinctively, his trembling hand reached toward the light. The glow suddenly surrounded his fingers too.
Before he could even understand what was happening, the blue hourglass floated higher. It began to turn slowly in the air, the sand inside falling upward instead of down.
Lionel's body became more heavy each passing second. His eyelids started to close, and his heartbeat slowed down after every breath.
And in his mind, he only had one thought.
He didn't want to die.
Not like this.
No… not here… not like this…
"I don't want to die like this… Let me return… to the past." His voice trembled as he spoke.
The hourglass turned again, and the light around it grew brighter.
"Yes… just like that hourglass," he muttered weakly, his eyes fixed on the glowing blue sand. "If I could go back… I'll change everything…"
The hourglass turned more after every word he let out.
"I won't be deceived by you, Cassian…" he said through gritted teeth, "I'll save my parents… and… and—"
Before he could finish, the hourglass flipped completely. It's blue light completely blinded Lionel's vision until everything darkened.
Then—
"Lionel! Are you listening to what your father has been saying?"
Huh?
Lionel's eyes snapped open completely.
The smell of smoke and blood was suddenly gone. Instead, he smelled fresh bread and roasted meat.
Lionel blinked.
Am I dreaming?
He was now sitting at a long dining table. Across from him was his mother, who was smiling softly and his father who had his forehead creased as he watched Lionel closely.
The two looked tall in his sight.
Lionel froze, his hands trembling on the table.
This… this couldn't be real.
"Lionel, are you feeling unwell? Was your training too harsh? I told the captain to take it easy since you've been working hard these past few days." His father's worried voice reached his ears.
Lionel's lips parted open. He wanted to say something, but no words came out. He looked between his parents. They were alive, breathing, and were even smiling!
His heart pounded in disbelief.
He was back.