The grand hall of Koha's royal castle was silent — heavy and suffocating. The air trembled with unease, and the faint echo of footsteps faded into the endless marble corridors. The torches flickered weakly, casting wavering shadows across the golden pillars and the obsidian floor.
Yami, the new King of Koha, sat upon his throne — the same seat where his father once ruled — his eyes narrow, cold, and gleaming beneath the crown's shadow. The weight of the crown seemed to have changed him.
Before him stood two men, both restrained, their clothes worn from travel — Rui Yamazaki, the blade of three nations, the King of Velvet, and his companion, Lucas. Shackles bound their wrists, yet their stance remained proud, defiant even beneath the piercing gaze of Koha's soldiers.
"R... Rui, why are... you here?" Yami's voice finally broke the stillness, echoing through the vast chamber. His tone was curious but laced with tension. "Would you like to elaborate?"
The tension thickened; even the guards dared not breathe.
"Well, my king," Rui said calmly, lifting his head, his voice steady despite the pressure. "I'm here because I want you to stop the war."
The silence that followed was deafening — even the faint crackle of torches vanished as if the room itself held its breath.
"War?" Yami's lips curved into a smirk, a dark chuckle escaping him. "Haha... with whom, may I ask?"
"King Yami," Rui replied, his tone calm but hollow, "you know what I'm talking about. The people of Filtine and Yarmuk — they're suffering. And with your war upon them, they will surely not survive."
Yami leaned back in his throne, resting his chin on his hand, his grin spreading wider. "Hmm... there is an incorrection," he said, his voice cold, deliberate. "It is not a war, you see, Rui. It is their destruction. We had already given them a chance — to become part of Koha or die. And they, it seems, rather like death."
The torches dimmed with the weight of his words.
"King Yami," Rui said softly, his expression blank, eyes like frozen glass. "Please reconsider your decision. Maybe... it's not good for you."
"What?" Yami chuckled, tilting his head slightly. "Are you... threatening me?" His smirk returned, sharp as a blade. "Well, whatever it is, you may leave now." He raised his hand lazily. "Guards, free them from their shackles and make sure they safely get to Velvet. Our talk is done."
A heavy silence followed — but the voice that came next wasn't Rui's.
"Then believe me, my king," Lucas said, his tone like ice. "We will fight. I am the hand of the sword who protects the three nations — and you know better than I, if King Rui wished it, you'd be dead by now."
The hall erupted with movement; the guards immediately unsheathed their swords, metal ringing in the tense air.
"How dare you—" one shouted, but Yami raised his hand, stopping them.
"Hold it," Yami said. His smirk faded into something colder. "Alright then. Be my guest. We'll see who is the better king. Until then... goodbye."
The guards hesitated, lowering their weapons. Rui and Lucas, faces shadowed, fists clenched tight, turned away from the throne and began walking toward the exit.
Yami exhaled sharply, slumping back into his throne. "Ooh man... what a hassle."
But before his sigh could settle — the throne trembled.
"What the—?" Yami straightened instantly. "Why is the throne shaking?" He looked around. "No... it's the whole castle."
Dust drifted from the chandeliers as the marble floor quivered. Somewhere in the distance, bells rang — deep and urgent.
Outside, Rui and Lucas were already leaving the castle's gates when the tremor faded. The golden roofs of Murakami shimmered beneath the evening sun as they walked down the grand stairs, the cold wind brushing their faces.
"Now what, Rui?" Lucas finally broke the silence. "Are you really going to go against Koha and the other nations just for some small ones? Let them take it. Let them have what they want. Can't we just... mind our own business? War will only cause more chaos."
Rui stopped walking, his eyes still on the horizon. "Surely it will," he said quietly. "You should tell that to Yami, not me. I'm not the one starting this war. If it's what he wants... then he'll see my face."
Lucas frowned. "What then? What should we do?"
"I'll write to Doer and the nation of Wandland," Rui said firmly. "They must withdraw from the war. No one will benefit from this."
"And if... if they deny?" Lucas asked hesitantly. "Then what?"
Rui turned to him, his expression calm. He gently tapped his fist against Lucas's chest. "We shall protect the weak," he said softly, "even if it kills us. Will you help me? My hand?"
Lucas stared for a moment before chuckling, shaking his head. "Well, how are you supposed to fight with a hand? I have to."
Rui smiled faintly, "I'm glad, his gaze softening.
"For what?" Lucas asked.
"For you," Rui said. "You, Lucas — you're my best friend."
Lucas scratched his head, embarrassed. "Hey now, don't make it embarrassing... L-let's go. Let's go home now."
They walked on as the wind howled past them, carrying the faint scent of smoke and steel — the world already shifting toward conflict.
---
Meanwhile, far away, in a land yet untouched by this new storm — the nation of Wandland stood in the shadow of its great fortress. Beneath the crimson sky, thousands of soldiers gathered across the plains, their armor blackened with the mark of the Fallen Ones.
At the center stood Sai Soleman, their leader, his cloak fluttering in the wind like the wings of a raven. His voice rose above the crowd — sharp, burning with hatred.
"I, Sai Soleman, take this oath!" he declared. "To protect this nation from our greatest threat — Rui Yamazaki!"
His words ignited the army like fire.
"So I ask you," his voice thundered. "Are you ready? The army of the fallen ones — are you prepared to die? To kill that bastard? To finally bring peace to our land — our only land, Wandland?"
The soldiers roared in unison, their chants shaking the earth.
"All these years," Soleman continued, his eyes gleaming with fury, "we acted as allies to Velvet. But now — now is the time to end that act! To end the man who ruined our lives simply by being born!"
His voice broke into a scream. "So I ask again — are you prepared?!"
The reply came like thunder rolling through the darkening sky:
"Yesssssssssssss! We are ready! Ready to die! To die! To die! To kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!"
The chant became wild — maddening — like a single monstrous heartbeat.
"Yes!" Soleman shouted, his voice merging with the storm. "To kill that man! Prepare yourselves! Velvet — we are coming!"
The banners of Wandland rose high against the crimson horizon, fluttering like torn wings. The army began to move, a tide of iron and vengeance rolling toward Rui's kingdom.
---
Back in Velvet, Rui and Lucas had just arrived. The air here felt calmer — yet something distant, something unseen, was already stirring beneath the peace.
"Now," Rui said, stepping into the royal study, "the only thing to do is send this to Doer first."
Lucas watched him dip his pen into ink, writing steadily. "But Rui..." he said hesitantly, "what you... you wrote on that letter... Aren't you...?"
Rui interrupted with a small smile. "I know. But there's no worry. I'm sure the King of Doer will understand."
Lucas sighed. "Now that only leaves Wandland."
Rui paused, eyes thoughtful. "I know. Even though Wandland may show they're friends, they haven't forgotten their loss — the defeat I gave them. The battle where I earned the name Sword of Three Nations."
"I know," Lucas said. "And I'm sure they haven't forgotten either. But do you really think they'll understand?"
Rui nodded slowly. "If I try, they will."
"Will they though?" Lucas murmured.
"Don't worry," Rui said lightly. "It's just a letter."
Lucas looked down, his eyes dark. It's not that, he thought. Why do I feel they're plotting something? And somehow... Doer is in this too.
He looked toward Rui, who was now sealing the letter with wax. I can't tell him, Lucas thought. But I have to watch out. I have to protect my dumb friend.
"Rui," Lucas said aloud, "I'll head outside. You do what you need to. If you need me, I'll be back."
"Well," Rui replied, glancing up briefly, "don't go too far."
"Don't worry," Lucas said with a faint smile as he turned toward the door.
The wind outside howled again, carrying with it a faint trace of ash — the first whisper of the war to come.
And somewhere beyond the horizon, unseen and silent, destiny was already writing the final words of their story.
Kage... this is where everything started — Hakari, Nicolas, everyone. Now I'm going to reveal the reason behind... the death of Rui Yamazaki.