**Long ago, all beings lived driven by their desires. Some came to understand the true nature of this world; others ignored it. Thought always began with a cause—and in most cases, that cause was fear.
But why fear?
With most people ignorant of the origin of this world, every living creature recognized the inevitable end awaiting them. They called it the Bringer of the End. This truth was so clear that even the smallest child knew: the destined day when the Bringer would be born was unavoidable.
Some called him the King of the End, others the Night of Doom—the name varied across cultures. But one name was etched in every being's mind, without error: the White Raven.
As each day drew closer to the birth of that raven, the world fell deeper into corruption, as if regressing to primal instincts. Fear, anger, sorrow, despair, madness—all these emotions rose as that fated day neared.
The wise foretold that seventeen years would pass from the raven's birth to the End. And ten years before that birth, a war ignited between humans and jinn: sparked when Tora—a soldier and a chief among the First King's jinn army—stole a sacred sword. His act ignited the greatest war ever recorded between humans and jinn. There was no clear reason, and no hope for resolution.
Though the First King could have ended it swiftly, he merely watched for ten years.
The year of the raven's birth began—and chaos enveloped the world, all awaiting the arrival of that ominous White Raven.
---
In Ghawa village, near York, the jinn had made their stronghold. Humans under forty were enslaved; those older were killed or used for entertainment and gratification. Their lives had no value. Those who enslaved them were not driven by hatred or contempt, but by a desire for pleasure—as though humans were nothing but beasts following their impulses. It was a society stripped of morality, crimes devoid of humanity.
In front of the jinn's main headquarters, Hero sat alone in a metal cage, waiting out the day, his sword taken, hunger his only companion. His tattered clothing barely concealed his thin frame. Yet despite it all, there was no sign of despair. He sat calmly, like a man waiting at a café for his tea, eyes fixed on a young girl carrying a large bucket of water—too big for her to manage—making her way toward a mighty flame in the village center. She poured the water onto the fire, with no effect, then rushed back to the lake for more. Her sky-blue dyed hair veiled her determined eyes.
Hero watched her like one watches a beloved team battle an overwhelmingly strong opponent, hoping they prevail.
A girl appeared before the cage, dressed in a sleek black suit with shiny yellow hair covering her right eye. A hat and round glasses gave her an air of mystery. She smiled lightly.
"I can't believe it turned out the way I thought. Are you okay?"
Hero lifted his gaze.
"My head's still on my shoulders, so yeah—still okay. But I don't think it'll last much longer."
She glanced at the girl fighting the fire.
"Execution… what chaotic justice is this? When did we fall so far from morals? But seriously, how did you end up here so fast?"
He pointed at the girl by the fire.
"Because of her."
The newcomer was surprised.
"That girl?! What happened?"
"Well… I'm still trying to figure that out. But we'll see when I arrived this morning."
...
---
A few hours earlier—near the First King's army base, outside Leo, near Ghawa.
Hero sought a wagon heading to Ghawa to reach a jinn outpost. He knew it was nearly impossible for a human to get in, but he tried anyway.
People avoided him like he was cursed. Then a girl in black, with a black hat and round glasses, yellow hair covering her right eye and a vivid blue left eye, approached him. She tapped his shoulder like an old friend.
"Yo, looks like you're having trouble. Need help?"
Hero was suspicious—why would anyone help him?
"Actually, yeah. I need a wagon to Ghawa, but no one will talk to me."
The girl sighed, unsurprised.
"Because of those horns, right? But isn't it odd? I've never seen an Akani walking around like this. You okay?"
Hero was stunned: she recognized him.
"I'm not an Akani—I'm a jinn. That's why people fear me."
She raised an eyebrow.
"How can you be a jinn without wings? This seems like a joke."
He explained: born a jinn but without wings, with horns like Akani.
She laughed.
"A special case, huh? I'm special too—I have no heart."
He frowned, used to such sarcasm.
She said, serious:
"I believe you. Everyone has their own circumstances."
Hero was surprised by her trust.
"Well… thanks. I'm heading to Ghawa. Want to join?"
He paused, then nodded.
"If I can, thank you."
She led him to a grand, fortified wagon bearing the First King's army crest, guarded by four soldiers. Hero hesitated; his appearance made him uneasy.
She realized she forgot to introduce herself:
"I'm a courier in the Third Division of the King's army. We're heading to jinn territory—standard procedure."
Hero asked if she was important.
"Not really—just a mail carrier. But letters I carry… they matter."
She offered her name: Wendy. He told her his alias, "Titus," but she mocked him as unfit. He admitted it wasn't his name, and introduced himself properly as Hero. She smiled.
"Now that's a good name. Enjoy the ride, Hero."
---
On the wagon crossing a bridge, two hulking guards squeezed Hero against the wood. Wendy sat opposite him, leaning on the window, gazing at the river.
"You enjoying that?" she teased.
"All thanks to you, milady," he replied, managing a smile.
She asked why he was going to Ghawa.
"To meet someone."
"Someone you know?"
"No—someone I want to ask something."
She nodded, respecting his secrecy.
When they arrived, Hero thanked her.
"If you need anything, come to my home in Ozaria," she offered, handing him an address.
He was deeply touched.
"Why help me?" he asked.
She shrugged, laughing.
"It wasn't a big effort—just one more passenger. Besides, thank the horse." Then she departed.
Hero walked through the besieged village, hiding his identity. The square was drenched in blood and filled with corpses, all too familiar to him. Over the hubbub, he heard quiet laughter and approached. A small crowd had gathered around a young human girl—blue-haired, red-eyed, a traveler's garb, a white staff topped with a red gem—performing a fiery show. She shaped fire into golems, puppets, spectacles; animals, warriors, fireworks—bringing joy to the children. Her smile as she amazed them captivated Hero.
Suddenly, a jinn commander and his cavalry attacked. They drove back the humans and surrounded the blue‑haired girl. The commander stepped forward, furious.
"Hours ago, a jinn commander was found burned to death outside the village. The mark burned into his body… no one here has power like that. Tell me, young lady—do you know who did this?"
The girl protested her innocence: she just arrived. The soldiers prepared to seize her. She readied herself to fight. Fire erupted around a soldier—it happened without her moving.
A masked figure had intervened, racing through the crowd. Thinking he was an ally, the commander focused on him.
"Capture that girl! I'll handle the other one."
The figure was Hero, trying to help her. The intervention failed. The commander chased Hero, who tried to show he wasn't an Akani.
"I'm not—" He was cut off as the commander seized him, horrified at his horns:
"You're Akani! You did it!"
They restrained him, binding him hard.
"What about this girl?" someone asked.
"Leave her. She's powerful—handling her will take time and sacrifice. Now, is the First Commander in the palace?"
They admitted he'd gone to Oralia on urgent business.
"If he doesn't return before dawn, we kill the jinn."
They dragged Hero to a sunlit cell outside the jinn headquarters.
---
Moments later, the blue-haired girl approached Hero's cage. A soldier tried to stop her, but the commander allowed it.
She stood before him, light in her eyes, unsure what to say.
"Who are you?" she finally asked.
Startled, Hero answered:
"Who's asking?"
Each felt discomfort and recognition.
"I'm a runaway from my fate, who lost her path. And you?"
"I…" Hero hesitated. "I have no place in this world."
She laughed.
"You're like me!"
She introduced herself:
"I'm Stella. Strange as it sounds, I am a phoenix—even if I look like this. I travel alone…" She blushed, flustered and shy with strangers.
Hero smiled.
"Stella, it's a pleasure."
She asked why he tried to save her at the square.
"I saw your performance… I knew you weren't responsible."
He gestured to his horns.
"Do I seem kind enough to do such a thing?"
Stella looked puzzled:
"Is there really something odd about your appearance? You're special—but is that strange here?"
He replied:
"Don't you know the Akani? Of course, they're rare—but I'm not one. I'm a jinn."
"Oh," she said slowly. "I get it... but I still don't understand."
She fell silent. Hero thought she might be mocking him, but realized she was simply innocent—childishly so.
He sighed.
"It's not important. I helped because I felt... something—when I saw you. Not because of logic."
She nodded.
"You saved me—I would've died otherwise. So…"
He waved it off:
"Don't worry about it. Besides, you're blocking the sun—can you step back?"
Stella's face hardened at his tone.
"How can you just let yourself die like this? I believe you. Isn't that enough?"
She stormed away to the commander.
Hero muttered: "What is her problem?"
---
Stella confronted the commander; soldiers tried to stop her, she braced for combat.
"I want to see your leader! Let him free that man!"
The commander sneered.
"A jinn killed one of ours—why should I?"
Stella squared her shoulders.
"He tried to save me, not kill anyone. Please."
The commander had an idea.
"Would you like a show tonight?" The soldiers cheered.
He led her to a mound of bodies and doused it with black oil. He set it ablaze.
"That man's guilt is like this fire. If you wish to erase it, you'll have to extinguish it." He handed her a bucket and left water shut off around the village—except the distant lake.
"You have until sunset. Fail, and both of you die. Agreed?"
Stella grabbed the bucket and bowed.
"Thank you for this chance."
Five hours later, the jinn watched as Stella struggled—carrying buckets, mocked, pelted with stones, yet never faltering. Each time, she returned more determined to quench the inferno.
After Hiro finished recounting what had happened to him, he sighed loudly and said,
"And that's why I'm here now."
Wendy grew more curious about the girl and said as she looked at her,
"How ridiculous... to have your life end over something so foolish.
You two are really hopeless idiots. Even though you knew the consequences of your actions, you didn't hesitate to help a stranger you'd just met.
But I think I like Stella—she seems like that foolish protagonist type, the one with those ideals that make her help anyone she meets.
Don't you think she's a bit entertaining?"
Wendy was sitting on the ground near the cage, smiling a lot as she listened to Hiro's words and laughed at how foolish both of them were.
"You seem to be enjoying this quite a bit. This isn't some comedy play, you know.
And don't you have anything better to do than sit around laughing at the lives of fools like us?"
The girl laughed out loud and replied,
"You're right—comedies usually aren't this entertaining.
Besides, I finished my work for today, so I'm free to laze around until the end of the week."
Hiro tried to keep up with her banter but gave up quickly after that topic ended. He threw himself to the ground, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes as if ready to sleep.
"Must be nice, being so carefree.
Well, I won't deny it—it's kind of funny in a way."
"What? You're just going to sleep now?
Don't be like that, you jerk. You could at least listen to me.
It's not like you have anything better to do anyway."
Hiro ignored her words and started snoring loudly, pretending he was already asleep and couldn't hear her anymore.
Wendy began acting like an annoying little sister being ignored by her older brother.
"I didn't know you were such a mean person, brother.
Ignoring an innocent girl like me—unforgivable!
I don't care anymore. When you die, I won't water your grave. I'll leave you to die of thirst in the afterlife. Hmph!"
Her playful attempt to make him laugh didn't work. Then she looked at the girl again and said,
"By the way, did she tell you who she really is?"
"She said she's a Phoenix, but this is the first time I've ever seen one, so I don't really know."
Wendy was oddly surprised when she heard the word "Phoenix," which made Hiro wonder if he had said something wrong.
"A Phoenix?! That's impossible.
She doesn't have wings, and I don't see any crown mark on her head either."
"A crown?!
Wait, Phoenixes have wings?"
"Of course they do.
But unlike the Elves, Phoenix wings aren't that unique in appearance.
What makes them special is their beauty—and they're the only wings that can actually fly in this world.
Unlike Elves, Phoenixes can survive without their wings, but without the crown that sets them apart from other creatures, they're just long-lived humans."
Wendy was eager to know more about what kind of person Stella really was.
"I don't get it. Is that mark really that important? Is it something special?"
After hearing those words, Wendy looked at Hiro with disappointment and said sarcastically,
"You said earlier that you've never met someone as clueless as that girl.
Maybe that's just because you've never looked in the mirror."
"Sorry I'm this stupid.
Would you mind enlightening this poor fool, Lady Wendy?"
He said it sarcastically, visibly annoyed, while Wendy laughed at his reaction.
"What, were you living in a cave or something?
Anyway, think of it like the value wings have for Elves.
Can you tell me why wings are important to your kind?"
Hiro didn't really understand the question, but he answered anyway.
"Because wings have always been a source of great power for us.
We Elves can't fly with them, but they're not just for show—each wing grants a unique gift.
The first wing grants eternal youth. Some Elves live for 500 years without showing any signs of aging.
The second helps understand emotions, communicate, process and store information, and expands one's awareness and intellect—it represents wisdom.
The third connects to the spirit world. It's dangerous because you might encounter monster spirits, but it gives immense power by forming a contract with one. It's called the Curse.
The fourth… uh… what did it do again?"
While Hiro was thinking, Wendy finished for him,
"The fourth allows the spirit of the monster to manifest in this world. It's called Incarnation.
And the fifth, I think, represents immortality—turning an Elf into a new kind of beast.
Something like that. I'm no expert on Elves anyway."
Hiro was surprised by how much Wendy knew.
"You really know a lot about this stuff."
"You could say it's common knowledge.
Although, we don't even know if an Elf with five wings actually exists.
Even the four-winged ones are extremely rare."
Just then, Hiro interrupted her,
"He exists."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the five-winged one. And contrary to what you think, he's quite famous among the Elves."
Wendy was surprised—she couldn't recall hearing any rumors about this.
"Who do you mean? I don't think I've ever heard of that."
"I'm talking about Uranos, the King of the Elves.
He's the only one who currently has five wings."
"Uranos, huh... that makes sense.
Anyway, the crown for Phoenixes is like the wings for Elves.
It might not grant as much, but it's without a doubt the reason why they're the strongest beings in this world."
Upon hearing that, Hiro felt a strange sense of comfort. He'd found someone like him—stripped of the one thing that defined their identity.
He looked at Stella, still drenched in mud and water, covered in wounds from the stones thrown at her, unable to protect herself.
Yet, behind all that blood and bruises, he saw eyes that still carried hope—eyes still willing to fight for someone else.
It stirred a warmth in his clouded heart, and he smiled warmly, wishing, if nothing else, that she could be his first friend before he died.
"Maybe it's not so bad if we die together here.
It doesn't seem all that terrible."
Wendy's face showed sorrow, though she tried to hide it. Hiro couldn't tell if she was sad because she was powerless… or if there was something else.
Then, a loud laughter echoed from the center of the square.
It was the Elven soldiers, laughing and singing.
Both Wendy and Hiro turned to see Stella lying on the ground, blood pouring from her head. A large bloodied rock sat beside her.
They immediately understood what had happened—but neither could speak. They just watched, rage building in their eyes.
The commander arrived and stood over Stella's head.
"Looks like she finally fell. She was quite stubborn."
Then he placed his foot on her head.
"The sun has set, and you've failed. It's time for your execution."
He raised his foot to crush her skull—but all Hiro could do was scream out words he didn't even understand himself.
No one heard him.
Just before the commander's foot came down, a powerful red light burst from the gem atop Stella's staff.
Everyone turned toward it in shock. Stella's body rose into the air, as if she were flying, and a glowing white sword mark appeared on her forehead.
Slowly, she opened her empty white eyes—eyes that struck terror into the hearts of all who saw them.
The Elves trembled in fear at the sight. Wendy, the only one who understood what was happening, was even more terrified than the rest.
She said, trembling,
"That mark... It's one of the Swords of Light. The Sword of Judgment…
But a girl this young—that's impossible!"
Then Stella spoke in a cold, echoing voice that reached everyone:
"You who seek pleasure and corruption,
You who are the scum of society and the races,
You who made life a game and stripped yourselves of morals and humanity—
If crime is your life, then I am the death that is your punishment!"
Wendy, hearing those words, immediately prepared to flee.
"This is really bad...
I feel terrible for leaving you here, but there's nothing I can do.
I hope that cage is strong enough to protect you.
Sorry… goodbye."
"Wait! At least tell me what's going on!
Are you really abandoning your big brother this easily?!"
She shouted back as she ran at full speed, still playing along with his sarcasm:
"Sorry, but I have to protect the family line!
Don't worry—I'll send your regards to our parents and tell them you died bravely saving me!"
Then, Hiro heard only one last word before losing consciousness:
"Sword of Torment."
A giant sword of light descended with immense force, obliterating the village.
Houses were flung into the sky, and flames burst from the ground, turning the earth into a burning hell.
The cage Hiro was in flew high into the air—he lost consciousness from the sheer impact.
Deep in the darkness, Hiro wasn't aware of his surroundings.
The only thing he could sense were the sounds around him—
Sometimes, screams and cries…
Sometimes, the roar of flames devouring stone and metal…
And sometimes, a haunting silence.
After a short while, he heard a girl's voice calling his name.
He slowly opened his eyes to see his surroundings.
He was still trapped inside the cage, surrounded by burning debris. The flames coiled around him.
Through a small opening, Wendy was calling out to him.
He quickly came to his senses and felt a sharp pain in his head.
He placed his hand on his forehead and felt the blood covering his face.
"What happened here? What's with all this blood…?"
Wendy saw Hiro open his eyes, and relief washed over her. She asked if he was alright.
"Yeah… I think I'm okay.
Anyway, what happened here? Can you tell me?"
Wendy started pushing away the burning rocks with her hands, as if trying to make a path to get him out.
"I'll explain everything later. Right now, you need to get out of there before the fire reaches you."
"But how do I get out?
This cage is stronger than I thought, and the door is still locked."
"You should be thankful for that. If it weren't for the cage, you wouldn't have survived with just a head injury.
Anyway, I found the key to the lock. I'll reach you soon."
"The key?!
How did you get it?"
"I'll explain that later too.
Now hush—let me work."
Half an hour later, Wendy managed to clear a path to the cage.
By the time she finished, it was clear to Hiro just how much she had gone through while he was unconscious.
She stood there barefoot, the ground burning her feet slowly.
Her once-elegant outfit was scorched and torn.
Her hands were covered in burns and blood.
Her tired eye was soaked in blood from her brow.
Hiro couldn't say a word when he saw her.
He lowered his head and shut his eyes tightly.
(I don't understand…
What did I do to deserve this?
I don't remember ever being the kind of person who deserved kindness.
No—there's no way I'm someone worth saving.
So why…?
Why is this girl doing this?
Why is she trying so hard to save someone like me?
No—it's not just Wendy. Stella, Itsuki, my brother… all of them...
Does my life really matter that much to them?
Do I… deserve all this?)
These thoughts swirled in his mind as his heart ached from the weakness he felt.
He couldn't stop the tears from falling as he pressed his forehead to the ground.
That feeling—of being important to someone—
Of being accepted, loved, of belonging somewhere…
The things he had always longed for…
Now made him feel weak and helpless.
As Hiro tried to hide his tears, Wendy spoke, standing in front of the cage door.
"Actually, before I let you out, I want to ask you for something."
Hiro heard her and lifted his head slightly, signaling her to go on.
"I feel like I've done quite a lot to help you,
So I want to ask for something in return.
Of course, you can say no if you don't like it.
It won't change the fact that I'll still get you out of here—so don't worry, I'm not trying to take advantage of you."
She felt a little embarrassed asking that in such a situation.
Hiro replied,
"It's fine. I get what you're trying to say.
So, what do you want in return?"
"It's just one thing.
I want you, just once, to do something for me—no matter the place, time, or situation.
Whenever I ask for that one thing, I want you to do it for me, no matter what it is."
Hiro was surprised by the strange request.
Though he had many questions, he didn't care. He said,
"That's all you want from me?"
"Yes. If you can promise me that,
I'll owe you."
"Let's say you hadn't saved me, and left me here instead—and somehow I survived.
Even then, if you asked me again, I'd still do it… even if it cost me my life.
You don't know what it means to me—that someone would do all this for someone like me.
So, for you and only you, I promise—whatever it is, wherever or whenever you ask, I'll do it with all my heart."
Wendy let out a small sigh and smiled widely, as if she had accomplished something great.
"Then it's a deal."
She opened the cage door and helped him out of that dark place.
What Hiro saw outside was a scorched land, heavy with the stench of death.
Amid the smoke and smoldering rubble, he saw Stella standing alone.
At that moment, the memories returned—what had happened before he lost consciousness.
"Wendy, before you go…
I remember hearing you mention something about a Sword of Light.
Can you tell me what that means?
How can a young girl like her do all that?"
As they both stared at the burned earth, Wendy replied,
"You know who the Harbinger of the End is, don't you?
The White Crow?
I doubt there's anyone who doesn't know that name."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Long ago, one of the races came up with a way to stop the White Crow—to halt the end of the world.
So they created massive weapons to counter that threat.
It seems they succeeded.
They were called the Three Swords of Light:
The Great Sword of Justice,
The Middle Sword of Torment,
And the Small Sword of Mercy.
That one just now—that was the middle one.
The Sword of Torment: Stella.
Luckily, it seems her ability only affects criminals.
While I was searching, I found many human slaves, a few Elves, and of course, the knights who were with me and my carriage.
I sent a request for transport wagons—they should be arriving now.
But that means we're walking back on foot. Sorry about that."
Hiro realized the enormous responsibility Stella carried in that moment.
Compared to her burden, his problems felt utterly trivial.
He felt foolish for thinking she was just like him.
"Tell me, Wendy…
Are those Swords of Light really enough to stop the White Crow?"
Wendy didn't answer. She just slightly shook her head.
That was enough for Hiro to understand.
He walked slowly toward Stella, the only figure standing amid the fire.
Seeing her alone in that destruction made him realize the suffering that came with such responsibility.
A task that seemed impossible.
An enemy that couldn't be fought.
People who depended on her…
"This is insane. No one would ever agree to a life like this.
So..."
He stood in front of Stella, reached out, and brushed the dust from her hair.
"You did well. Looks like you've been through a lot.
I'm glad you're not seriously hurt, at least."
Stella tried to lift her face and smile, but couldn't. She said,
"You too… I'm glad you're okay.
Thank you. I can walk on my own."
She turned her back to him and began walking away from that place.
Then Hiro raised his voice so she could hear him:
"My name is Hiro.
It's a pleasure to meet you."
Stella smiled faintly and replied,
"It's a pleasure to meet you too."