The journey lasted an entire month.
Through snow, forests, and wastelands, their carriage rolled on—its wheels caked with mud, its roof battered by storms. Yet through every hardship, one thing remained constant: Haru walked beside the carriage, silent, unreadable, and unshaken.
Bandits came on the fifth day—thirty of them, wearing mismatched armor and rotten smiles. They thought the noble carriage was a gift from the gods.
They died before they could even scream.
When the dust cleared, Haru stood at the center of the road, sword dripping crimson. The air itself seemed afraid to move.
Xena peeked her head out of the carriage, eyes wide.
"W–what the hell just happened?!"
Levis wiped the sweat from his neck. "He didn't even use mana…"
Wizz muttered, adjusting his robe, "I told you—he's not human. Not entirely."
---
Two weeks later, deep within the Blackpine Ridge, a monstrous serpent erupted from beneath the earth. Its scales glistened like iron, and its roar split the sky. The carriage horses panicked, rearing in terror.
"Everyone, brace!" Levis shouted, drawing his blade.
But before he could move, Haru was already gone.
A single blur.
A single swing.
And the serpent's head rolled across the frozen dirt.
The monster's body crashed into the forest, snapping trees like twigs.
Seraphina blinked, stunned, as snowflakes landed on her hair.
"W–what kind of strength is that…?"
Wizz gave a low, uneasy chuckle. "That wasn't strength, my dear niece. That was dominance."
---
By the end of the month, the horizon finally broke into the shimmering plains of Varenhold—the heart of the Valtherion Empire. Massive walls of white stone stretched into the sky, gilded by the morning sun. Guard towers lined the battlements, and the banners of the Empire fluttered proudly in the wind.
Xena's voice trembled as she leaned out the carriage window.
"Finally! We're here! My home! T–T!"
Lex laughed, stretching his arms. "Yeah… I've been here a dozen times, but it still hits different. The air, the sight—still can't get used to it."
At the city gates, two armored guards stepped forward. Lex reached into his vest and produced a golden insignia—the Valcrest family crest.
The guards stiffened instantly.
"My apologies, Lord Lex. Please, proceed."
The gates creaked open, revealing the capital—streets of marble, fountains glowing with mana, nobles and merchants bustling beneath towering spires.
Haru gazed at the grandeur in silence, his eyes scanning every arch, every shining wall. To him, it was impressive—but not enough.
He'd seen elven cities before: glowing sanctuaries woven from nature and starlight. Compared to those, even this empire's jewel seemed… ordinary.
---
When the carriage stopped before a vast mansion adorned with silver statues and sapphire banners, an older man stood waiting at the stairs. His presence was commanding—a mountain wrapped in noble cloth.
His hair was streaked with gray, his eyes sharp as a blade. A faint scar ran along his neck, hinting at a life of countless battles.
Levis stepped forward, bowing. "Lord Geral Valcrest."
The man nodded, his gaze shifting toward the carriage as Seraphina stepped out.
"Welcome home, my lady," Geral said respectfully, placing his right hand over his chest in a noble gesture. "Your absence has stirred quite the conversation among the elders of Valcrest."
Seraphina smiled politely. "It's good to be back, Lord Geral. I trust everything has been well in my absence?"
Geral's eyes softened faintly. "As well as can be, my lady. Though…" His tone darkened as he looked past her. "…I see you've brought a guest."
Haru stood silently behind her, cloaked in calm but emanating an aura that made even seasoned knights instinctively step back.
Geral's battle-honed instincts screamed danger.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, testing the stranger's presence.
But what he felt made his pulse quicken—like staring into the heart of a storm that could erase everything in its path.
"…And who," Geral said slowly, his tone respectful but edged with caution, "is this man standing beside my lady?"
Geral's eyes narrowed slightly.
A shiver ran down his spine—a reaction he hadn't felt in decades. Every instinct in his body screamed that this man standing before him was dangerous.
Not just strong… but something beyond comprehension.
Before the tension could thicken further, Seraphina turned toward Haru with her usual grace, her lips curling into a polite—almost playful—smile.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot. May I know your name?"
Haru's gaze remained calm, detached.
"…Just call me Haru."
"Sure then," Seraphina replied, her tone laced with soft sarcasm. "Everyone, this is Haru. He'll be serving as my personal guard from today onward. I hope you all get along with him."
Her words hung in the air like a quiet storm.
Even as she smiled, Geral could feel the weight of the man's presence pressing against the room—the kind of quiet power that could protect them… or erase them without hesitation.
Geral gave a curt nod. "Understood, my lady. To gain such strength under your command is… a rare fortune indeed."
His voice was respectful, but his heart whispered another truth: This man could protect the Valcrest family—or destroy it entirely.
Still, politics demanded composure.
Geral straightened and bowed slightly. "My lady, the Council of Elders awaits your presence in the meeting chamber. They've been expecting your return."
Seraphina gave a graceful nod. "Thank you, Elder Geral."
Then she turned, her golden hair glinting under the light. "Lex, could you show Haru around? Make sure he's comfortable."
"Yes, my lady," Lex said, his voice steady—but his hands betrayed a faint tremor.
As Seraphina walked away with Geral and Wizz following behind, the mage chuckled softly, glancing back at Lex.
"Good luck, boy," Wizz said with a mischievous grin. "You'll need it."
Lex forced a nervous smile, feeling a drop of sweat roll down his neck.
"Y–yeah… sure. Good luck to me."
He turned toward Haru, who stood there silently, expression unreadable. The air around him felt heavy, suffocating—not by malice, but sheer, unshakable presence.
Lex swallowed hard, scratching the back of his neck.
"S–so… should we go now?" he asked carefully.
Haru's eyes flicked toward him, sharp as a blade but calm as still water.
"Lead the way."
And with that, they began to walk through the grand marble halls of House Valcrest—the noble servants whispering as the mysterious stranger passed by, their gazes filled with awe… and fear.