Boarding the elevator, I soon get bored.
"How the hell is it taking so long?"
I was starting to get impatient. My gaze wandered around the small compartment. Looking at my reflection on the silver walls of the elevator.
"Damn! I sure look—
Ting!
And,
Just as I was about to compliment myself, I heard a soft 'ting,' and the doors opened.
"Oh, I finally reached the 100th floor."
A long corridor with doors on one side and windows on the other, with moonlight phasing through, gently illuminated the corridor. The window frames cast a shadow over the ground, making the scene look like a beautiful painting.
Nearing one of the windows, I gaze outside. The city below stretched for miles, yet it looked so small when seen from this point. The leaves of the tree rustling and swaying in the wind, sometimes falling slowly down.
"No wonder the King lives up here."
I started walking along the corridor, unsure of the destination, but I was sure I would find the place.
Bang-!
And I was right, as I heard muffled banging and the shouts of the soldiers from a distance. I followed the sound while admiring the paintings hanging on the walls.
"This is…"
I stopped in my tracks as I soon saw a familiar figure. She is shorter, her baby fat still clinging to her cheeks, a bright smile blooming on her face. Her hair was tied in twin tails.
Beside her stood a boy, much taller than her, probably around his late teens; he looked similar to Samantha, except his hair was blonde instead of red.
Both stood side by side holding each other's hands while their parents stood behind them.
"…A family photo. She never talked about having a brother."
But what confused me was that she never mentioned having a brother. Even when talking with Julie when she was sad, she would just talk about her mother and father.
There was no mention of…
Her brother.
"I guess she also has family issues."
I thought that while moving towards the source of the clashing sounds, my thoughts were drifting further and further.
I didn't know why, but…
'There is more to it.'
I knew that a simple family issue would not keep Samantha from talking about him. At least from the Samantha that I knew.
She was kind, helpful, and sometimes a bit of a teaser.
Snapping me out of my thoughts was the ceasing of sounds.
"…Did they finish already?"
Quickening my pace, I headed forward to where the noises had once been coming from.
"There it is."
A large golden door with lots of intricate design featuring animals was etched on it, and it remained open.
Beyond it, knights with their weapons drawn stood calmly, gazing at the figure in the front.
He had vertical irises with long blond hair. He looked much older, but his hands were wrapped around Samantha's neck.
That…
"Is it a fight for the throne that they are fighting? But isn't it a bit excessive?"
Indeed, it was excessive. To declare your sister a traitor and then try to kill her.
Sweeping my gaze around the ruined hall, I strode forward.
'I will make a great show.'
***
Samantha's brother strangled Samantha, his grip tightening by the second.
The hall was silent.
Everyone's attention is on him.
But…
Tak~
A soft sound of boots hitting the marble floor echoed in the hall. Tilting his head, he saw a small figure.
The figure wore a suit as dark as a midnight sky; his red tie, which seemed like it was drenched in blood, was dangling over his crisp white shirt. A long sword twice his size with a bit of a curve rested on his shoulder, while a demonic mask hid his face.
Gazing at his figure, Samantha's brother grew apprehensive. That was because…
'…Why didn't I sense his presence earlier?'
It was quite confusing for him how the one with a demonic mask came into the hall, yet he didn't feel anything until he heard the clicking sound of the boots against the floor.
His gaze swept through the hall. The knights were still unaware of the intruder, their attention focused on him.
That didn't help him, as he grew even more apprehensive. His grip loosened as his eyes shimmered with a yellow hue.
He tried to pry into the intruder's mind, but all attempts were in vain as he failed repeatedly.
But what he did learn was…
'…He doesn't seem powerful.'
He didn't feel the raw power that radiates from someone strong; far from that, he almost seemed too normal.
That made him feel relieved.
'He doesn't look like someone powerful. Did he come here for a show or is he—'
But…
Seeing the reaction of people who didn't react at all, Liam felt that something was wrong.
Why were they not reacting to his presence?
Sensing something wrong, he paused in his tracks and focused on himself.
'Ah, I forgot to remove the disguise on my mana core and purity.'
As Liam removed the disguises of his mana. Heads snapped in his direction, staring at him with what seemed to be a look of fear.
…his thoughts were cut short as his head flicked in the demonic figure's direction. He was free from Samantha's neck.
He watched as a power surge of mana erupted from the demonic figure.
Tak~
Tak~
A weight crushing him under it, as he sank deeper and deeper into what felt like a depth of cold ocean.
His heart palpitated, drumming in his mind, threatening to pierce through it. Samantha's brother's breath hitched as he looked at the walking figure of a demon.
Each step echoed against the walls of the spacious throne hall, his presence overwhelming them all under its suffocating aura.
The figure stopped and looked directly into his eyes; his stomach flipped, and dread crawled under his skin. Questions spiraling through his mind.
Who is he? Why did he come here? Why didn't they inform me about him? What is going on?
Calming his beating heart, he reassured himself and looked at the demon's eye, or what seemed to be its eyes.
Right…
'I still have that I don't need to be afraid. They gave it to me in case anything went wrong.'
Both stared at each other for a moment in silence, but for the knights who looked at the exchange between the two, they had paled, and that brief moment felt like eternity.
Finally…
"Do you know there used to be two brothers?"
Breaking the silence was the demon. His voice reverberated through the confines of the hall.
The demon's voice was deep, cold, and majestic.
No one uttered a word in response to his question.
Sweeping his eyes over them and seeing no response from the people, Liam continued his talk.
"They were royalty. Born from the same womb, they ate, fought, laughed, and grew up together. They lived happily, content with what they had, but life is cruel. It sometimes throws curveballs at us. Enjoying our misery and struggles."
"Their father came and offered them his throne, but there was only one chair and only one room. Greed came over one of the brothers, and he wanted to usurp the throne, while the other brother had no regard for the throne. He was just happy with his current life."
Samantha listened while an incredulous look was displayed on her face.
'…What the hell is he talking about?'
"The greedy brother bought some poison and mixed it with his brother's food, lying that he had mixed it with some rare spices, so it may taste different. His brother, unaware of the poison, happily ate the food given by his brother."
While Liam was speaking, Samantha's brother slowly pulled an injection from his pocket, waiting for the right answer.
"The greedy one watched as his brother ate the food happily. He felt something stir in his heart. At that time, he didn't know that what he did would change his life."
"The greedy one's life changed once his brother passed away, and he took the throne. Life became boring—managing the nobles, maintaining the diplomatic relationship with other nations, and doing what was demanded of a king."
"The joy and the laughter he had were gone, his life becoming like a machine, doing the work monotonously. That time, he learned the significance of his actions when he killed his one and only brother; the joy also left with it."
"So—
"hiekeks!!!!"