The sound of footsteps echoed through the stone corridors. Darel's boots struck the floor with deliberate weight as he entered the Guild's grand hall. Broken men lay scattered across the ground, their clothes torn, their eyes frozen wide with fear.
On the throne-like chair at the far end, the Guildmaster, an old man named Vassor, trembled as he rose. His gaze could not escape the sword Darel carried—Zereth, its edge shimmering faintly in the shadows.
Darel's voice cut the silence, cold and sharp.
> "I did not look at the faces of the beaten. But I seek one in particular."
Vassor's throat tightened. His words scraped out like dry leaves.
> "Wh–who are you looking for, my lord?"
Darel stepped forward. His eyes glowed faintly, crimson glimmers piercing the dark.
> "A boy. Gray hair, crimson eyes. He may be called Liven… or by another name. Have you seen him?"
Vassor swallowed hard. For a moment, silence. Then, avoiding his gaze, he whispered:
> "No, my lord… I swear, I do not know him."
Darel leaned forward, his shadow falling over the old man.
> "Are you certain?"
The air shifted. The hall grew colder. Zereth sparked faintly with blue light.
Vassor collapsed to his knees, shaking.
> "Yes, my lord! I swear on my life! No such boy has ever been here!"
Darel regarded him for a long, quiet moment. Then he spoke a single word.
> "Very well."
Behind him, Neriah appeared, her face tense with unease.
> "We should leave."
Darel's eyes lingered on Vassor a moment longer, then he turned away.
> "So be it."
And together they vanished into the night, leaving only silence in their wake.
---
[The Village Outskirts – Morning]
Kael sat at a small wooden table, a bowl of steaming soup before him. His sword rested at his back, his gaze restless, scanning the streets.
He muttered to himself:
> "That boy… he's still here, somewhere."
---
[Forest Path – Morning]
Elya walked swiftly, her breath heavy with worry. She hadn't looked back once since leaving the village. Something gnawed at her chest, a certainty.
She whispered into the mist:
> "Wait for me, Liven…"
---
[Ruins of the Old Village – Dusk]
Among crumbled stones and broken homes, Liven wandered. The earth bore no trace of old footprints, the walls barely standing. At the foundation of his home, he stopped.
A gust of wind stirred. Between the stones, a whisper—his mother's voice.
> "I am here, Liven."
His lips trembled. No tears came. Gray hair swayed in the wind as he whispered back:
> "I've come…"
Night fell. Liven knelt, clutching his mother's necklace in his hand. The chain swayed, gleaming faintly. His face was cold, but his eyes were weary.
Footsteps approached.
Without turning, he muttered:
> "I knew you would return…"
Elya's voice quivered, yet held firm.
> "I don't think you were waiting for me. But… I came anyway."
Liven rose slowly, slipping the necklace into his pocket. When he turned, sorrow—and shadow—burned in his gaze.
> "Why are you here? Did the Guild send you?"
> "No," she said, stepping closer. "No one sent me. I came because I had to. Because the path you're walking… leads only to darkness."
His eyes fell.
> "Maybe that darkness is mine. I wasn't forced there. I chose it."
Her voice sharpened, trembling.
> "No! You didn't choose! The boy who watched his mother burn never had a choice. He was just… left behind."
The words struck deep. His jaw tightened. His voice cracked.
> "I… was strong. I didn't want pity."
> "But you're still hurting, aren't you?"
Silence.
Elya drew out a small, torn cloth and held it out.
> "I found this among the ruins. You hid it, didn't you?"
Liven's eyes fixed on it, breath shuddering.
> "These things… mean nothing now."
Her voice broke.
> "And me? Do I mean nothing too?"
His eyes lifted, crimson bleeding into them. The demon stirred, not with fury, but confusion.
> "I don't know… Elya."
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
> "Then I'll stay. Until you do."
---
[The Forest's Edge – Watching]
Kael crouched among stones, mist curling around him. This was no clash of steel—it was quieter, sharper.
> "Will the monster win… or the child?" he thought.
For a moment, Liven's red gaze pierced the fog, locking onto Kael. The warrior's breath caught.
---
[Far Away – On the Road]
Darel halted. Neriah nearly collided with him.
> "What is it?"
His hand gripped Zereth's hilt.
> "Someone… approaches the boy."
The blade quivered faintly. The wind wailed.
> "Time is running out," he murmured.
---
[The Forest – Nightfall]
Mist swirled thick. Liven ran, breath ragged. The scream echoed in his head—but the demon's voice was gone.
"Speak!" he cried inwardly. "Where are you?!"
Silence.
Then—a voice, cold, clear.
> "Listen to me now."
> "I am Vel. From this moment, I am your voice. And I will not leave you."
Liven clutched his head.
> "No… you'll replace him? Replace the demon?"
> "No. I am not like him. I am your destiny."
His knees buckled. He tore at his own hair.
"Get out! I'm human—I'M HUMAN!"
His scream split the night. Blood streamed from his eyes. His aura seethed, crimson smoke engulfing him.
> "You will fight for me. Grow stronger. Become my weapon."
"LEAVE ME!"
The roar shattered the silence.
Then—steel. A ringing chime. The ground trembled, trees collapsing.
Vel smiled faintly, stroking the cat in his arms.
> "So… the Captain of God arrives. Will this child shatter… or be born anew?"
---
[DAREL]
Through the mist, Darel emerged. Zereth glowed faintly at his side.
And there he saw him.
Liven knelt, torn hair falling around him, blood streaming from his eyes. His voice was a whisper.
"Who am I… what am I… I don't want this anymore…"
For the first time, Darel hesitated. Zereth trembled in his grasp. Something within him stirred, clawing free.
Liven raised his head. Their eyes met.
The boy who once called him father.
"Why… did you leave me alone?"
The words pierced deeper than any blade. Darel's chest tightened. His lips parted—but no words came.
Only silence.
And slowly, inevitably, Zereth lifted into the air, gleaming with cold, merciless light.
The moment of reckoning had come.
---
⚔️ End of Chapter
---