A full year had passed, The sun rose over the Kingdom of Kathelyn, casting warm light over the bustling streets. Three figures strolled side by side through the marketplace, clad in new gear—sleek leather, reinforced cloth, enchanted bracers. Rael, Sela, and Nadia had been through a lot together. A full year of requests, near-death fights, and countless hours traveling together had forged a bond deeper than any of them expected.
"I heard there's a Rank Promotion request posted in the guild," Nadia said, arms crossed as she scanned the stalls. "If we get to it first, maybe we can finally get out of F-Rank."
"I'm tired of chasing cats and collecting herbs," she muttered.
Rael stretched his arms lazily. "Yeah, same here. But before we take on another job, I vote we eat. I'm starving."
"You're always starving," Sela said, rolling her eyes. "We do all the work and you just eat like a king."
Rael smirked. "Hey, someone has to look good while holding the bag of coins."
"You're a clown," Nadia laughed.
They eventually arrived at their favorite spot—a cozy eatery near the southern gate. A warm aroma of stew and roasted bread filled the air.
Behind the counter, the familiar middle-aged woman lit up at the sight of them. "Hey, kids! Hungry again, aren't we, Rael?"
Rael leaned on the counter dramatically. "When you do as many requests as me, you tend to be hungry a lot."
"He means 'when you sit and watch us do the work,'" Sela cut in.
"Shut up, Sela."
The woman chuckled. "Same as always?"
"Yeah," Rael nodded. "Three plates of meat stew and extra bread."
As they sat at their table, food in front of them, the mood grew more relaxed.
Rael took a bite and then spoke between chews. "So before we head out, y'all wanna stop by the gear shop?"
"Rael," Sela said dryly. "We're still F-Rank. We literally can't buy anything better until we're E."
"Ugh... stupid guild rules." He slumped in his chair. "I feel like a B-Rank, though."
"Well, you look like a low-tier boss," Nadia teased.
As laughter filled the tavern, a quiet pause came over them. Their smiles faded just a little.
"I miss him," Rael finally said.
Sela looked down. "Yeah... me too."
Nadia looked between them. "We don't even know if he's still alive."
"He is," Rael said firmly, as if saying it would make it true. "He has to be."
---
Meanwhile, in the grand Royal Library of Herene, Liora sat surrounded by ancient tomes. Her pale blue eyes danced with fascination as she flipped through a worn leather-bound book titled The Children of the Stars. A sphere of water floated above her palm, shifting into delicate shapes—birds, swords, constellations.
She read aloud to herself: "Thalora, the constellation of water... fought in the War of the Stars alongside the celestial houses... Three children born under her legacy, each bearing fragments of her blessing..."
"Cool..." she whispered, reshaping the water into a dragon. "And she's still the General of Celestia..."
Suddenly, the library doors burst open.
"Liora, my baby girl!" boomed a familiar voice.
The water splashed across the table. "Dad! You scared me—"
The king grinned as he walked over, arms open. "Aren't you excited?"
"I'm as excited as I can get," Liora said, trying to refocus on her book.
"You sure don't seem excited."
"I am, really."
"You should be way happier—you're turning 14 tomorrow! That's huge!"
"I'm already a teenager, Dad. I'm 13."
"Nope."
"What?"
"Doesn't count."
"Yes it does!"
"Nu-uh."
"Dad—" She facepalmed as he chuckled.
---
Elsewhere in the palace, Queen Elenora and King Hadrian sipped wine by the fireplace.
"Another village was raided," Elenora said grimly. "Eastern Ostara this time."
"The elven skirmishes are escalating," Hadrian replied. "If we respond too harshly, we'll provoke war."
"And if we do nothing, we let our people burn."
---
Beneath the palace, the light was dim and cold. In the heavily fortified dungeon, five elite guards sat watch, each positioned carefully around a single reinforced cell.
Inside, a young man sat cross-legged on the stone floor. His brown hair was longer now, his face older, leaner, with thin scars across his arms and chest. His eyes held something dangerous—something forged over the past year.
Lif.
A guard approached with a tray of food. "Here, kid."
"I'm not hungry," Lif said without looking up.
"You sure? You look like you could use it."
"I said no."
The guard sighed and placed the tray near him before stepping back.
Lif stood slowly. His eyes scanned the cell—each bar, each torch-lit guard.
"i hope you know." he said aloud, voice calm.
"Know what?" one guard asked.
"That I'm not staying here anymore."
Before anyone could react, Lif placed a hand on the iron bars. In a flash, frost spread across the metal—thick, pale-blue ice creeping upward until the bars froze solid.
"Kid," one of the guards warned. "Don't do this—"
Lif clenched his fist—and shattered the frozen bars into jagged shards.
"GET HIM!" one shouted.
Vines erupted from the floor beneath Lif, but he pulled them from the ground with raw strength, snapping them like twigs. He dashed forward—his figure a blur.
Mana surged through his legs as he vanished in a flash of movement—appearing before a guard and slamming his fist into the man's chestplate.
BOOM.
The force sent the man flying into the wall, his armor dented, eyes rolled back.
Lif grabbed the guard's sword, spinning it in his hands as three others attacked. One launched a fireball—Lif raised his hand and summoned a thick wall of ice, extinguishing the flames.
Another came from behind—Lif turned, frost swirling at his feet as he swept his blade low, creating a trail of ice across the ground. The guard slipped and hit the ground hard.
"MOVE!" the last shouted, slashing at him.
Lif ducked, parried, and sent a freezing shockwave from the sword—the man's blade froze, then shattered.
Soon, all five guards were down—alive, but groaning.
"I told you," Lif said, panting. "I'm leaving."
He turned to the stone wall behind his cell, now free.
Mana surged into his arm and the sword—its edge glowed blue, coated in frost.
With one strike, he obliterated the wall. Ice exploded outward as sunlight poured in.
---
The outer kingdom lit up with alarm. Bells rang, guards shouted, arrows loosed.
Lif sprinted through the streets, weaving through flames, wind blasts, arrows and lightning. He used walls of ice to block, spikes to counter, fog to escape. Mana drained fast.
Above, Liora stood atop a tower, eyes wide.
"...Lif?" she whispered. Her chest tightened.
She watched as he fought—how he commanded ice. But... he never told her he had magic. He lied.
And he looked so tired. So hurt.
Guards were surrounding him.
"Stop him!" someone yelled.
Lif looked up for a moment and saw Liora's eyes. Hurt. Confused.
He turned away and ran.
Hello!! Chapter 1 volume 2 has appeared, sadly well hope you liked it and you returned to read ttotik in this chapter we might get more into politics sorry If You wont enjoy the theme of this volume but its a big part of the novel! Well thank You for coming back