Achlys collapsed to his knees.
The thunder of jeers behind him faded into static. The world narrowed, blurred, drowned in the sound of his own heartbeat. His fingers clenched the marble floor, eyes lowered, a broken whisper trembling from his lips.
"Why did I fight…? Why did I protect? Why… did I prevail…?"
The air was thick, suffocating. And in that silence, he lifted his head—eyes hollow with betrayal—and stared at the man retreating toward the castle's grand exit.
"I trusted you, Akatsuki…" His voice cracked. "You… BETRAYED ME!"
With a surge of anguish, Achlys leapt toward him, fury igniting in every muscle—but Saria intercepted him mid-air, arms locking tightly around his frame. Before he could resist, she leaned close and whispered something only he could hear.
The rage left his body like breath in winter.
His trembling knees buckled again, and this time, he stood—barely—propped up by the very woman who'd helped deliver the sentence.
They walked together through the grand archway, out into the city's evening breeze. Achlys held onto her, a man broken but still upright.
"I'm sorry…" he murmured, voice hoarse. "For everything, Saria."
Behind them, hurried footsteps echoed on the cobblestones.
"ACHLYS!"
They turned just as Tiabishi collided into his chest, her sobs muffled against his shirt. Her arms trembled as she clung to him like the world might tear her away if she let go.
He placed a hand gently atop her head, his voice quiet, fragile.
"It's okay… I'll come back. One day."
Tears slipped down his cheek as he said it. He didn't know if it was a promise or a lie.
Saria wrapped her arms around them both. "Tiabishi," she said softly, "Achlys won't be alone. Cryo will be by his side."
Achlys blinked. He reached up instinctively, only to find his shoulder empty.
"Wait… where is Cryo?"
Saria pointed.
Near the castle's gate, a tall boy stood—blue-haired, smirking, arms crossed. "I'm here, idiot," he said with a teasing grin.
Achlys let out a breath of relief, just as the marking on his cheek glowed faintly. Bellona's voice echoed in his mind, soft this time.
"I'll miss you, Achy… but we'll meet again." Tiabishi hugged him tighter.
"I'll train every day until we meet again… I'll rival your power."
Achlys smiled through tears and kissed her forehead. "I'll be waiting for it."
He turned, stepping forward, past Cryo—who gave the women a wave—then followed in his master's footsteps.
Saria stood alone, hand lifted in farewell. She looked up as the moonlight caught her eyes, and a single tear slipped free.
"I'll miss you… Achlys."
It fell, and as it neared the stone below, it shimmered once—and vanished.
............................................................................
One Hour Earlier
The castle was silent.
Saria sat across from Akatsuki in his chamber. The air was tense, unspoken truths stretching thin like glass.
Akatsuki sat on the bed, fingers laced, eyes distant.
"Saria… the power of the marking… It's strong. It could protect this empire. Hold it together."
Saria kept her face unreadable. "My king… the marking is just one of many in this world. You know that."
He smiled faintly. "And the Sword of Mist… Most think it's a myth. But the truth is, it's incomplete—it needs a second piece. The…"
The wind burst through the open window, swallowing his final word.
But Saria heard it. And she understood.
"This isn't the only reason you called me here," she said coldly. "It's about Achlys."
He didn't deny it.
"…For the empire to survive," Akatsuki murmured, "he must leave."
Saria's fists clenched.
"May I ask… who exactly is after him?"
Akatsuki hesitated.
Then—quietly—he answered.
"Time Masters. And… the Radiant Dawn."
Saria's breath caught.
She sank to the floor. "Why would they…?"
Akatsuki stared at the floor, voice low. "Radiant Dawn… they want a Marker. A controlled one. And with their influence, with how close they are to becoming their own kingdom… we cannot let them find him. Not yet."
Saria grit her teeth. "If only the damn priests hadn't turned on the very shadows that helped them…"
She shook her head, grounding herself.
"We have to help Achlys. And help the kingdom. Both."
Akatsuki rose and looked out the window beside her.
"…Today is his last day in Liopetras."
............................................................................
Saria's jaw was tight. "Let's visit Mariola."
Tiabishi hesitated, looking once more toward where Achlys had stood.
"…This isn't fair. He protected this kingdom with his blood. And now he's being cast out."
Saria looked at her calmly, but her eyes burned.
"He deserves it, Tiabishi."
"What?"
"The freedom."
Tiabishi fell silent, eyes lowered. She followed Saria without another word.
............................................................................
Achlys walked across the golden fields, Cryo beside him, the suns Ra and Surya now dipping beneath the earth.
Behind them, the moons of Ofratrea rose, casting a pearly silver glow across the fields.
"Let's get into the night, partner," Achlys whispered.
Together, they ran—into starlight, into exile.
............................................................................
They traveled for days—across hills and forests, up mountains and through streams—until at last, they reached a village suspended above a colossal pit.
Stone pillars jutted from the abyss like broken teeth, holding entire homes in place. Wooden bridges stretched between them, while thick ropes dipped into the hole—villagers climbing up and down with ease.
A man in green greeted them with a pickaxe slung over his back. A glowing red gem sat in its center.
"Welcome to Mura no Ana," he said. "You came from Liopetras, didn't you?"
Achlys nodded. "I'm Achlys. This is Cryo."
Cryo—perched lazily on his head in phoenix form—blinked awake and transformed, landing beside him in his human form.
A woman with long white hair approached, a blue-and-white pickaxe resting across her shoulder.
"Who are they, honey?" she asked.
Her eyes locked on Cryo.
She stared. Hard.
Cryo fidgeted.
"…Ma'am? Something wrong with my slave?" Achlys asked sarcastically, stepping between them.
She blinked, surprised. "It's just… we haven't seen anyone with blue hair in a long time."
Achlys raised a brow. "Right…"
He held out his hand.
"I'm Achlys. And you are?"
"Tria," she said with a small smile, shaking his hand. "And this is Hipe."
She looked at Cryo with amusement. "And who might this be?"
Achlys smirked. "Oh, this? This is the god of idiots. King of airheads. Lord of all morons: Cryo."
Cryo slapped him on the head.
"You're just describing yourself," he muttered.
Hipe looked at the sword on Achlys's hip.
"If I were you, I'd hide that stick," he warned.
Achlys handed it to Cryo without protest. Cryo snapped his fingers, freezing it into nothingness.
"Done."
............................................................................
They wandered the bridges of the village, searching for a place to stay, until they found a massive house crowned with two pickaxes on the roof.
Achlys knocked.
"Who dares wake me from my nap?!" a voice roared from within.
Achlys and Cryo exchanged a glance and took a step back.
"Uh… We're looking for a place to stay?"
The door creaked open.
A young woman with magenta hair, pink eyes, and brown skin stared out.
Her gaze dropped to the glowing mark on his cheek.
"…The Order of Swords," she whispered, stepping back.
The door opened wide. "Come in. You… and the blue-haired one."
Inside, the house smelled of ash and iron. Pickaxes of every shape and size lined the walls—some ancient, some enchanted.
Achlys's eyes narrowed.
He saw the mark glowing faintly on her nose—a pickaxe.
He stiffened.
"You're one of them…"
The woman nodded slowly. "Order of Pickaxe."
Achlys tensed, reaching for a heavy black-and-brown tool near the door.
"How do you know my name?" he asked, voice cold.
The marking on the woman's face flared, and a second voice echoed in the room—a voice not her own.
"Dis Pater."
Achlys's heart stopped.
He looked down at his own glowing mark.
And Bellona spoke in his mind, sharp and sudden.
"Be careful. She knows too much."
............................................................................