Chapter 05
(The Guardian promise )
The sky was painted with shades of orange and crimson as the sun dipped behind the mountains, and the cool wind brushed through the trees surrounding the Upper Cast boundaries. Birds returned to their nests, and everything felt peaceful — but deep inside, a storm was about to rise.
Rex had been looking after Mika carefully ever since the last battle. Later that evening, he met Sam outside the training arena.
"Sam, come home with me today."
Rex's voice sounded soft but tired.
Sam looked at him and nodded. "Alright, I'll come."
At Rex's Home
Rex led Sam to his house. The warm smell of burning wood and fresh food filled the air. It felt safe — something Sam rarely experienced.
The first person Sam met was Mika.
Mika looked weak, sitting near the window, wrapped in a shawl.
Sam sat beside her. "How are you feeling now?"
Mika smiled gently.
"I've heard so much about you, Sam… They say you've killed many demons. You're my brother's closest friend."
Sam lowered his eyes. "Yes, I am. But I don't know what's wrong with Rex… Since the last two days he barely talks. He trains alone and keeps disappearing."
Mika sighed.
"Even at home he speaks less… I don't know what happened to him, he stays alone most of the time."
Before Sam could reply, Rex called out loudly: "Sam! Come for dinner."
An Emotional Dinner
Rex's mother Ruhana entered. Sam stood respectfully and touched her feet.
Ruhana immediately pulled him into a tight hug, tears in her eyes.
"Thank you, Sam… You saved my daughter's life. I don't know how to repay you."
Sam stepped back and shook his head. "Please don't thank me. Mika is my sister too. Can't a brother protect his sister? Now please… feed me food, I'm very hungry."
Ruhana laughed softly and made him sit.
She fed him with her own hands, lovingly.
The moment Sam tasted the food, his eyes filled with tears.
Ruhana stopped and touched his arm.
"What happened, dear?"
Sam's voice broke. "I… I never had a mother. No one has ever fed me like this."
Ruhana placed her hand on his head firmly. "Who said you don't have a mother? I am your mother now. From today, I have three children."
Sam held her tightly and whispered through tears: "Maa…"
The room filled with silence — a warm silence of belonging.
The Upper Cast
Later, Rex took Mika to the Upper Cast. The marble pathways glowed in moonlight, and silver lanterns hung from tall stone pillars. It was Mika's first time seeing the Upper Cast from inside.
Rex led Mika to Sensei, who stood near the ancient temple of warriors.
When Sensei looked at Mika for the first time, something cold ran through him.
The moment Mika touched his feet, a sudden violent vision struck him.
Vision
Bodies everywhere.
Blood drowning the ground.
A massive demon breaking chains, eyes burning like fire.
Screams echoing into endless darkness.
Sensei gasped and stepped back.
"Sensei, what happened?" Sam asked.
Sensei whispered: "I've seen this before… Mika is the girl that demon has been searching for. She is the key to his freedom."
Sam's face turned white with fear. "If the demon gets Mika… he will be free?"
Sensei nodded slowly. "And once he is free, he will kill every living being in this universe."
Sam swallowed hard.
"Then what must we do?"
Sensei looked directly into Sam's eyes.
"If needed… Mika must be killed. It's the only way to save the universe."
Sam's heart shook.
"But Rex will never allow this. He loves his sister more than anything."
Sensei's voice turned cold. "One life cannot be worth the lives of billions."
Sam clenched his fists. "What if there is another way?"
Sensei turned away.
"Come with me. There is something you must see."
The Prophecy
Sensei took Sam to his home. The room was dark, lit only by a single candle flickering against ancient stone walls. Sensei pulled out an old, dusty book bound in dragon skin.
He opened it slowly.
"Thousands of years ago, a prophecy was written. It said a great darkness will rise to destroy the universe. But a child will be born in the royal bloodline — the chosen one — destined to stop it."
He looked at Sam intensely.
"And that child… is you, Sam."
Sam staggered back.
"Me? How can I stop such power?"
Sensei placed a hand on his shoulder. "Because only you carry the power of the Fire Flaming Sword. And you must protect the universe — even if it means hiding this truth from Rex."
Sam hesitated. "I can't hide something so big from him… he's my brother."
Sensei's voice hardened. "We cannot risk every life for one person's feelings."
Sam finally nodded. "Fine, Sensei. I won't tell Rex."
Rex & Ahana
Meanwhile, Rex sat under a silent tree with Ahana. The night wind was cold, and leaves rustled softly.
Ahana looked at Rex. "Rex… what's happening to you? You've changed. You're too quiet."
Rex stared at the ground. "Do you remember that village I visited? Sensei sent me there."
Ahana nodded. "Yes, the village where I was giving food and clothes. You came there that day."
Rex exhaled deeply. "When I returned there, I found the same clothes lying in blood. I found the old grandmother dying… she begged me to save her granddaughter."
His voice shook. "A demon killed that child right in front of me… and no one did anything. Even I… couldn't save her."
Ahana touched his hand gently, tears forming.
Rex continued, his voice cracking: "That reminded me of my childhood. The whole village hated me. They called me the son of a coward. They beat me. They abandoned me. And my father… he left us. I never understood why."
He looked up at the sky.
"Because of him, I never had a friend. I never trusted anyone… until I met one girl."
Ahana blinked. "A girl?"
Rex smiled faintly. "Yes. When I was young, she was my only friend. We played, laughed, ate together. Then one day she disappeared. She was neither from lower nor upper cast — she was from outside. She was beautiful… and kind."
Ahana swallowed. "Do you remember her name?"
Rex looked ahead, eyes shining.
"Yes… her name was Lyra."
The wind went silent.
And somewhere far beyond, a dark force awakened.