I.The Highest Spire and the Princess's
I stood atop the highest spire of the kingdom, the wind biting through my clothes and whipping my hair like blue fire. Every gust carried the scent of rain, stone, and distant mana. My chest burned—not from the cold, but from the unspent rage and exhaustion coiling in my soul.
For ten minutes, I let myself vent. Each word a jagged arrow, aimed at the other half of me.
"You know what, Night?" I shouted into the void of my own mind, voice hoarse, jagged. "You talk about being a Sovereign, a monster of power, but where were you when my ribs were shattering? Huh? Just sitting back while I got pulverized like a ragdoll?"
For a heartbeat, nothing. Silence.
"Say something!" I barked, pounding my chest with a clenched fist, each impact a miniature shockwave through the empty spire. "You always have these legendary dialogues, then leave me to get destroyed!"
The void stayed still. I could almost see Night's eyes narrow inside my mind, dark and calculating, a predator caught off guard.
A twinge of guilt hit me.
"Fine… sorry, man," I muttered, softer now. "I was angry… but if it weren't for you, Yumi, Hina, and Lyara—they'd be dead. I owe my life to you all. So… thanks."
A low, dry chuckle echoed in my skull.
"It's fine, brat. I'll let it slide this once."
I drew a sharp breath, feeling every fiber of my body alive again. "Night… tell me everything about the Heroes. I need to know who I'm facing."
His tone shifted. Rare. Serious. Weighty. "Honestly… I know as much as you do. But Lyara… Rank 5. Avoid her. She'll break your bones, yes—but her real weapon? Your mind. Mentally. Crippling. You won't even notice until it's too late."
"Why do you sound scared? Is she some kind of mountain or something?" I mocked, smirk cutting through exhaustion.
"When the time is right, I'll tell you everything. For now… go to hell," Night snapped.
I didn't hesitate. I stepped off the spire, letting the void swallow me.
"Night, take control!" I yelled. Instantly, he seized my motor functions, stabilizing my body in mid-air. Pain exploded through every nerve, but for the first time in weeks, I landed upright. Alive. Whole. Ready.
The Princess's Inquisition
The palace was eerily quiet. Polished marble reflected torchlight in slow, deliberate glimmers. Every footstep I took echoed like a drumbeat in the tense silence.
The throne room was a stage of scrutiny. The King, Princess, High Minister, and Lyara—all present. Hina and Yumi hovered near, their auras flaring with protective precision.
The Princess's gaze found me first. Sharp, precise, measuring every inch of my aura. Her voice cut the silence like slicing wind:
"Night," she said, clipped, courteous—but her curiosity was lethal. "How can one wield multiple elements? History says a Sovereign is bound to a single element. Yet… I sensed Wind. Powers that shouldn't exist in one person."
I noted her aura—keen, dissecting, methodical. Every flicker of her mana was like a scanner across my soul.
Then, Lyara moved. She sat beside me, dangerously close, eyes alight with intense attachment, gratitude, and unspoken intensity. Her aura shimmered soft pink, flowing with every micro-movement of her body. Her grip on my hand was firm, grounding, like a tether between chaos and focus.
"Thank you, Night… for saving my life," she whispered, voice quiet but steady.
"Thank you too," I replied, locking eyes. "You saved mine as well."
The Princess's gaze returned, sharper than before. "Did you learn anything about the enemy? Many soldiers were lost… worse, a traitor among our ranks. Will you continue to help, Night?"
Before I could respond, another Valkyrie stepped forward. Aura rigid, posture disciplined—but her eyes betrayed unwavering determination.
"Our orders are to escort you to the First Kingdom. Rank 5 Lyara wants a personal meeting. We will follow, wherever you go first, but leaving you unguarded is impossible."
I groaned inwardly. So much for freedom. Constant vigilance—every step tracked, every move calculated.
"I'll answer soon," I said. "For now, no attacks. Losses were catastrophic enough."
Turning to Lyara, I asked, "What happened to those monsters… that creature?"
Her expression darkened. Shadows flickered over her features, aura dense with suppressed fury and relentless determination, but the pink aura around her shimmered defiantly, radiating hope amid fear.
"When you collapsed, I destroyed part of the arena to escape. That creature… a Demon Lord, maybe a General. Caught my father, melted him… I want his head."
Fear was there, yes—but under it lay a steel resolve, unyielding. This was the kind of ally I needed.
"The artificial soldiers?" I asked.
"Destroyed. But they left a 'Switch'—a self-destruct. With luck, the facility is ash now."
Turning back to the Princess, I calculated. "They won't strike again soon. Before I passed out, I heard someone scream about 'years of work ruined.' Their progress has stalled. But I need knowledge. Who knows the deepest truths of this world? Who can guide me against enemies who play with reality?"
The room froze. Every noble, warrior, Valkyrie leader—eyes fixed on me. Not just observation—calculation, analysis, judgment. Weapon or threat? Only I could decide now.
I clenched my fists, jaw tight.
This is it. The next step isn't easy—but now, I lead. Now, I decide.