The world is a game of chess, designed so only kings survive and every other piece is fodder.
—"Now it belongs to you."
It all began the moment she gave that to me.
Thud!
The lifeless bodies collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground.
—"It's a gift for my dearest friend."
Slash!
"Aaagh!" A painful cry echoed.
—"Can I… truly keep it?"
—"You can, my friend."
The flames were so fierce that even the blood on the battlefield began to boil.
"He's a monster!" a voice cried out.
A single spell had turned the battleground into a hellish floor of lava, changing the fate of the battle.
"The stench of burning flesh is making me sick… I will put an end to this battle!"
The voice belonged to a woman. Her body was streaked with blood.
Her cold eyes burned with a fury that threatened to consume everything before her.
Amidst the burning blood that soaked the ground, her voice rose like a melody of dancing snow.
"O breath of North, descend and shiver,
Enfold this land in [Eternal Winter]!"
A cold wind swept down from the north, and snow began to fall gently from the sky.
The battlefield shifted from fire to ice; boiling blood congealed into blackened frost.
Lava hissed and cracked as white snow smothered it, bringing silence—a chilling silence where screams had once reigned.
***
The world named Alves had multiple territories divided among the people of different races.
Karvenia Empire, Ragnar Kingdom, and Sylvia Kingdom — these three nations were located in the Redland territory.
What's unique about this place is that blood and corpses are a common sight here.
Originally, these three used to be a single nation called the United Red Empire.
Later, a Great Conflict occurred, which caused the Empire to split into three different nations.
The Karvenia Empire, as the successor of the United Red Empire, was the most powerful of the trio, while the Sylvia Kingdom was the weakest.
But the Karvenians still dreamed of conquering those two kingdoms to revive the United Red Empire once again.
While these three nations often clashed at the borders, most of the battles were small.
But things started to change after a certain incident.
The Sylvia Kingdom acquired something that shook the balance of power in the Redland territory.
It marked the beginning of a new era.
***
The Queen sat upon her throne, one leg elegantly crossed over the other.
Her silver hair shimmered like a cascade of moonlight.
A faint smile curved across her lips.
The Sylvia Kingdom was celebrating its triumph over the Karvenia Empire.
That very day, the Sylvian army had been brought to the brink of collapse... But in the final moment, the Queen's spell turned despair into victory.
The commander of the invading army, the First Prince of the Karvenia Empire, had been utterly defeated by Queen Sylvia.
The Karvenian forces were formidable; they had two Grandmasters, six Spellmasters, and thirty elite mages.
But what caused this sudden war, and how did the Sylvia Kingdom win?
The answers to those questions lingered in the Queen's mind.
Her expression changed as she sank into deep thought.
"Your Majesty, today is a day of glory. Why not join the celebrations?" said the man standing firmly beside her.
"Your troubled look wounds me more than any enemy blade," he added.
The Queen sat idly, her calm eyes restless with worries and endless thoughts.
"Even if we won, it doesn't truly feel like victory. Tell me, Sir Carlon… did we truly win?"
Carlon paused. He seemed to understand the meaning behind the Queen's words.
"Your concern is valid, Your Majesty. We have no assurance that they won't invade again... The Karvenians have always been like that. But what can we do now, Your Majesty?"
"Carlon."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The Karvenians are after the Moonstone. It is among the most powerful Runes in the world. We must protect it regardless of the cost. Because..."
'Moonstone'—a Rune brimming with boundless mana.
It amplifies the wielder's power severalfold; the effect doubles during the night.
It can even lend its wielder divine strength for a brief moment once every night.
But this is not its only power.
"The Moonstone possesses another ability."
"Another power…?" Carlon blinked.
"Yes. It has the power of 'Prophecy.' It is said that the Moonstone can fulfill one of its wielder's wishes. I'm not sure if it's true—but I want to try. My goal is to find a perfect heir for my throne..."
The Moonstone's mysterious ability could fulfill the wielder's desire—and the Queen intended to use it.
"Y-Your Majesty?!"
Though it was a sound plan, Carlon froze upon hearing her unexpected wish.
The Queen's words struck him like a thunderclap.
An heir? Could it be… Has Her Majesty fallen in love with someone?
N-No... Impossible! With her cold nature, that's unthinkable.
His mind raced, unable to make a reply.
Wait… does that mean she's willing to sacrifice herself for the Kingdom? Is that why she wants to leave a successor behind?
After a brief silence, he finally spoke,
"I daresay, Your Majesty, are you not feeling well? Shall I call the Royal Physician?"
"Wait, Carlon, listen to me first." The Queen sighed.
"The Karvenians will invade again, and I will be their first target. Without me, this Kingdom will fall. That's why I must find an heir worthy of the throne."
Hearing this, Carlon made an unexpected proposal,
"Ahem… Your Majesty, please allow me to assist. My humble request—please do not use the Moonstone for this matter. If you give me the command, I shall dispatch our finest agents across the world to seek the perfect groom for you."
It was, on the surface, a very reasonable plan.
But—
"Eh?"
"..."
Blush!
"W-Whaaat?!"
The young Queen of Sylvia flushed red.
It was the first time she failed to control her emotions.
She swiftly raised a handkerchief to hide her flushed face.
"W-What nonsense are you speaking, Sir Carlon?!"
Her voice quivered with embarrassment.
"I wasn't talking about marriage! I meant finding someone whose talent and worth can secure the Kingdom's future!"
"I see... I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty." Carlon bowed slightly.
"My foolish tongue deserves any punishment you decree."
"There's no need for that. It was my poor wording that misled you."
"I remain unworthy nevertheless. Please forgive me."
The Queen ignored his apology, regaining her composure.
"Let us return to the matter at hand. On the night of the full moon, with the proper incantation, the Moonstone shall grant a prophecy about my wish to find an heir."
This is my only goal. I will create an heir who will take my place when I'm no longer here.
"And tonight, Carlon, is that night. Gather the Elite Seven. Prepare for the ritual. The moment my heir is revealed, bring him before me at once."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
***
Shatter!
The glass crashed against the floor.
"Noir!"
The young man trembled before a monstrous figure.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"WHERE IS THE MOONSTONE?"
The figure snatched another glass of wine.
"We were unable to secure the Rune, Your Majesty," Noir said, his head lowered.
"Say it again."
"I—"
Shatter! Another glass burst into shards.
This is all because of that wretched woman, Noir muttered inwardly.
I almost had the Moonstone within my grasp.
"I expected you to return with it, yet you came back empty-handed… a failure." The figure spoke coldly.
A shadow of disappointment clouded his eyes.
"You've done well enough," he said, his voice dripping with false praise. He let out a low, chilling laugh.
Now it is my turn to move. This time, I will destroy her—and the kingdom she holds so dear.
"Noir."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Summon the Red Hawks. At once."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
[Moments later]
"We greet the supreme ruler of the Karvenia Empire!"
The Red Hawks assembled, slightly lowering their heads.
It wasn't out of respect—it was out of fear.
The person before them wasn't a lion of the forest; he was a vicious wolf of the dark night.
The Emperor rose from his throne.
"My Red Hawks! Accompany the First Prince to the Witchlanders for a meeting. The meeting will be held in a border-side village near Nora Mountain...
Be wary of Ragnar's patrol nights during infiltration. One year from now, we will invade Sylvia again.
Offer the Witchlanders two-thirds of Sylvia's land upon victory in exchange for the Moonstone. We will crush them and claim our triumph. Tell them to prepare for war."
The Emperor's instructions were brief.
"Well, he's focused now," one of the Red Hawks muttered under his breath.
"Usually he prioritizes drinking over everything. Tch!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!" the squad replied.
Without delay, the prince and the Red Hawks departed.
***
"Carlon."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Are all the preparations complete?"
"They are all done, Your Majesty."
The ritual had been prepared by the Queen's order.
"Then let the ritual begin!"
The ritual took place in a secluded, moonlit clearing within the private forest of the Royal Family of Sylvia.
Pzzzt!
The Moonstone pulsed softly on a pedestal of obsidian.
Then the Queen stepped forward.
Behind her stood the members of the Elite Seven and her most loyal subject, Carlon Windsor.
A circle was drawn around the Queen—intricate silver channels carved into the ground, filled with water that reflected the moonlight above.
She stood before it, hands outstretched over the stone, and began to recite the incantation that marked the ritual's start:
"By whispers of snow or hopeless dreams,
By nights that crown the dawnless kings!"
Her voice resonated like a low vibration.
Whoosh! A cold wind whistled around the circle.
"By threads that weave the fates of time,
Reveal the one who is bound as mine."
Her body began to glow as silver light curled around her limbs.
The Moonstone brightened, and a mist rose from it—forming a shallow pool of luminescent light.
Then the mist shivered.
The Moonstone pulsed even brighter, spilling silver radiance that carved through the darkness.
Slowly, letters of pure light floated into the air, forming words.
[Between the cliffs of green that kiss the skies,
Where the mist of morning smiles and dies...]
The letters shimmered, rotating gently as if alive.
A miracle unfolded before her eyes; hope flickered within her heart.
Then another verse appeared, quickening her heartbeat.
[...Seek the soul with hair of midnight hue,
Their eyes like the ocean, deep and true.]
The air cooled, carrying the faint scent of frost.
As the words faded, a lingering silver haze remained.
The Queen stood still, mesmerized.
"...jesty."
She barely noticed Carlon's voice.
"Your Majesty."
"Hm?"
"Are you alright? You seem troubled."
"That's nothing. Do as I ordered before," said the Queen as she regained composure.
Carlon turned to the others.
"Elite Seven!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Did you witness the revelation?"
"We did, Sir!"
"And the location?"
"There's only one place in all Redland where the morning mist lingers over cliffs at dawn: Nora Mountain," said Zareth, leader of the Elite Seven.
Nora Mountain, towering between the Ragnar and Sylvia Kingdoms, was breathtakingly beautiful yet deadly.
By day, birds sang in its forests; by night, monsters prowled its depths.
"Your mission is to journey to Nora Mountain and bring back the one foretold by the prophecy—the person with midnight-blue hair and ocean-like eyes."
"Understood, Sir."
"Then depart immediately. The heir's safety is paramount. Nora Mountain is no joke."
Fwoosh!
The Elite Seven vanished, leaving behind only the echo of their footsteps.
A chill breeze swept past the Queen, brushing her silver hair.
She lifted her gaze to the night sky.
I need to prepare for the coming battle.
In that quiet moment, she imagined the wars yet to come between Karvenia and Sylvia.
I cannot afford to lose.
Her chest tightened with a storm of worry, hope, and determination.
The Kingdom, her people, and the fragile promise of the future—all rested in her hands.
***
"My, my, it seems my dear little sister has failed to defeat a mere Elf," the woman said with a smirk.
"Vanessa, what are you talking about? Last week, I almost got her with my powerful magic—"
"Then why did you lose?"
"W-Well, that brat used the Moonstone's power to cast an Eighth-Class spell. It was ridiculously strong."
"Hm?... Was that stronger than my magic?"
"Yes."
Vanessa didn't ask further.
"For now, let's wait for Mother."
Creek! The door opened.
A woman with purple hair entered the room.
Her eyes were red as blood; her body radiated a mysterious aura. She was like a walking disaster, a beautiful calamity.
"Melissa," she said sharply.
"Yes, Mother."
"The report."
"I-I've failed to bring the Moonstone, Mother."
The woman paused for a moment before saying,
"So you failed, huh?"
She didn't seem troubled at all.
"Eh?" Melissa blinked in confusion.
"What's that for? Aren't you angry with me?"
It was only natural for her mother to be furious—but the opposite happened.
"No. I'm not angry. In fact, I'm quite pleased. You held out well. You probably lost because of the Moonstone's Eighth-Class spell, right?"
"Yes, Mother."
Melissa had been sent to the Forest of Seline to steal the Moonstone.
But things hadn't gone as planned, and she failed her mission.
"So, can you explain in detail exactly what happened that night when you confronted the Elven Princess?"
"Um... Sure."
The mother and daughter enjoyed a calm tea time as Melissa began recounting everything that happened that night.
[To be continued...]