Iris, commander of the Union's armies and a scion of the Siren clan, walked through the endless corridors of his family's royal palace. To a stranger, the countless turns and intersections would be disorienting. But to him, this place was home.
He entered the royal family's private wing. At the entrance lay a grand dining hall.
The walls were painted white, carved with intricate murals that depicted the clan's history. Along the sides stood tall columns, stretching from the lofty ceiling all the way down to the marble floor.
Servants waited silently between the pillars, ready to attend any member of the esteemed family who might arrive to dine.
At the center, a massive dining table dominated the room. It was always prepared for visiting royal guests, should they appear at any moment. Yet for a family of only three, its size felt excessive.
Iris strode quickly past the hall and continued toward their chambers of rest. At the far end of the royal wing lay a room set apart from the others. That was his destination.
He opened the door.
Inside, Ethios slept peacefully upon his bed. The only sound in the room was the faint rhythm of his weary, shallow breaths.
Iris approached his son, sat beside him, and gently ran his fingers through his hair.
Yes—this was Iris: Alexa's husband and Ethios's father. A man of great stature, his name carried weight across the Union.
He was commander of the armies formed by the three clans: Siren, Etherio, and Kenta. Like others of his bloodline, he bore long silver hair that fell to his shoulders, and his piercing silver eyes, framed by sharp features, revealed the harsh trials of years past.
His frame was powerful and tall—so tall that even by Akimo standards, his stature was striking.
Noticing that the balcony door was open, Iris rose from his son's bedside and walked toward it.
He brushed aside the drapes and stepped outside.
Alexa stood at the edge of the balcony, arms crossed, gazing over the kingdom with a faint scowl.
Iris came to her side and spoke softly.
"How was the journey?"
Her frown deepened.
"I wouldn't call it the best. But… it was decent, overall."
Iris nodded gently. Perhaps he already understood what she had endured.
"You met people on the way, didn't you?"
Alexa turned her gaze away.
"Yes."
Iris exhaled slowly, eyes dropping to the floor. When he looked back at her, he was braced for grim news.
"And you…?"
She cut him off sharply.
"I killed them."
Her voice faltered after a pause.
"They were five poor hunters. I never wanted to do it… but they had already seen Ethios. They might have even recognized him. I had no choice."
Iris turned, leaning his back against the balcony's edge. He set his hands upon it, then lifted himself to sit.
"Sometimes a little freedom can cost a war."
The words sank into silence. Both drifted deep into their thoughts, haunted by past mistakes. How they wished to turn back time—perhaps then, they might have made things right.
Alexa pushed such thoughts aside and asked quietly,
"How long? How long must we keep lying, keep hiding him? Ethios… his curiosity grows stronger by the day. He doesn't say it aloud, but his eyes—they ask me every time I look at them."
Her question pulled Iris from his endless stream of thoughts. He studied her face for a moment, waiting for her to continue.
Alexa drew a deep breath.
"His eyes tell me you're hiding something. All the time. Whenever I look at him."
Iris sighed. He, too, carried unwelcome news.
"I… have an assignment. I must leave tomorrow."
Alexa's eyes widened in shock. In a time like this, she needed Iris by her side more than ever.
For the Akimo, assignments were daily tasks entrusted to those with the strength to fight, typically members of the pureblood houses or the nobility.
The missions varied in rank—four levels in total: first, second, third, and fourth.
An assignment worthy of summoning someone like Iris could only be one of the first rank.
Alexa swallowed hard before asking,
"When will you return?"
Iris landed lightly back on the floor, a gentle smile touching his lips.
"To be honest, I don't know. But when I return, I'll see to it that Ethios enters the Academy. He'll learn to fight—and make many friends."
Joy flickered in Alexa's heart, only to fade just as swiftly. She knew such a decision was never theirs alone to make.
Iris saw the doubt in her eyes. He cupped her face tenderly in his hands and looked into her gaze.
"Ethios will go to the Academy. I promise you—I'll make sure of it."
Alexa smiled faintly.
"Do you swear it?"
He lowered his hands from her cheeks.
"Yes. I swear."
Then, with a powerful leap, Iris vaulted onto the balcony's edge and hurled himself downward.
As he fell, the only thing Alexa could hear was his fading voice—
"Wait for me… until I return".