The kingdom of Arden slowly returned to peace after the dragon attack.
At the academy, students resumed their classes. The midterm examinations were reorganized and rescheduled. The city repaired its damaged walls and buildings, and life gradually continued.
Taika, Maya, Clare, and Alwin continued their days at the academy.
But this story would not follow them for now.
Far beyond the borders of the kingdom, another path was unfolding.
A much darker one.
Raiden's mission had begun.
Days had already passed since he left Arden. His journey took him through forests, mountains, and abandoned roads where few travelers dared to walk. The land slowly changed the farther he traveled.
Green plains turned into rough volcanic terrain.
The air grew hotter.
Ash occasionally drifted down like gray snow.
Now he stood at the edge of a vast volcanic region. Rivers of cooled lava cut across the land like black scars, and in the distance a towering volcano released thin trails of smoke into the sky.
Raiden walked slowly through the dark forest growing near the volcano's base.
His boots stepped on dry leaves and volcanic dust.
In his hand was the same folded paper with the dark star symbol.
He stopped beside a large stone and opened it again.
The poster was old and partially torn. The writing was faded, but one part remained readable.
A bounty notice.
Not for money.
But for information.
Below the dark star symbol was a line that made Raiden's jaw tighten every time he read it.
"Witnesses report that the woman carrying this symbol was last seen near the southern volcanic territories."
Raiden folded the paper again.
Raiden: "Southern volcanic territories…"
He looked up at the massive volcano.
Raiden: "So that's where you went."
A sudden sound came from deeper in the forest.
Branches snapped.
Something large moved between the trees.
Raiden didn't panic.
Instead, red electricity quietly began crawling across his fingers.
From the shadows, a large creature stepped forward.
It was not a dragon.
But it was close.
A volcanic drake, its scales dark like obsidian with faint glowing cracks between them. Smoke escaped from its mouth with every breath.
The creature growled low, clearly territorial.
Raiden sighed slightly.
Raiden: "Great."
The red lightning around his hand intensified.
Raiden: "First day here and already a welcome party."
The drake lunged forward with a roar.
Red lightning exploded across the forest as Raiden moved.
Far away from the academy and his sister…
Raiden's hunt had officially begun.
The volcanic drake lunged forward with a thunderous roar.
Its massive claws tore through the ground where Raiden had been standing only a second earlier.
A red flash streaked past its side.
Raiden reappeared behind it, lightning crackling along his arm.
Raiden: "Too slow."
The drake swung its heavy tail in retaliation. The impact shattered a nearby tree, splinters scattering across the forest floor.
Raiden slid back several steps, boots carving lines through the ash-covered ground.
The creature opened its jaws.
A burst of molten fire erupted toward him.
Raiden raised his hand.
Red lightning exploded outward, splitting the fire breath apart and scattering it into harmless embers that hissed against the dirt.
The drake hesitated.
It wasn't used to prey that fought back like this.
Raiden's eyes sharpened.
Raiden: "Move."
A glowing summoning circle flashed beneath his feet.
From the circle rose a familiar form.
A small dragon with sharp wings and glowing eyes.
Raiden jumped onto its back in one fluid motion.
The dragon launched upward through the trees.
From above, Raiden looked down at the drake circling below, confused and enraged.
Raiden extended his hand.
Red lightning gathered into a single blade-shaped arc.
Raiden: "Crimson Break."
The lightning slash tore downward like a falling star.
The forest flashed red.
The drake roared once.
Then silence.
Dust and ash settled slowly over the ground.
Raiden's summoned dragon landed nearby. He stepped down calmly and looked at the defeated creature.
Raiden: "Sorry."
He turned away without another glance.
Raiden: "Wrong target."
He continued walking deeper toward the volcanic mountain.
The forest slowly thinned.
Black stone replaced soil.
The ground grew warmer with each step.
Then he saw it.
At the base of the volcano stood something unnatural.
A structure.
Ancient stone pillars half-buried in cooled lava. Symbols carved into the rock, faded by time.
And at the center...
The same symbol from the poster.
The dark star.
Raiden stopped walking.
His red eyes darkened.
Raiden: "...So it's real."
The wind shifted across the volcanic plain.
Ash drifted through the air.
Somewhere inside the ruins...
Someone was watching him.
Raiden stepped closer to the ancient ruins, his boots crunching against the brittle volcanic rock.
The dark star symbol carved into the stone pillar looked even older up close. Cracks ran through it like veins, and faint black residue stained the surrounding rock.
The air around the ruins felt… wrong.
Heavy.
As if the ground itself didn't want anyone there.
Raiden narrowed his eyes.
"…So this is the place."
Just as he took another step—
"Hey! Wait!"
Raiden instantly turned.
Red lightning flickered faintly along his fingers out of instinct.
From behind a crooked tree a man stumbled out. His clothes were dusty, and his face looked exhausted like someone who hadn't slept well in days.
A villager.
The man raised both hands quickly.
"Don't go there!"
Raiden's eyes narrowed slightly.
The villager pointed nervously toward the ruins.
"It's dangerous! We've tried to enter that place before!"
Raiden stayed silent.
The man continued, his voice shaking.
"Some of our people died the moment they stepped inside!"
Raiden's expression changed.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…What?"
The villager swallowed hard.
"I'm serious! We thought it was just an old ruin at first, maybe something valuable inside. But when the first group went in…"
He hesitated.
"They dropped dead."
Raiden looked back toward the entrance of the ruin.
No traps.
No visible magic circles.
Nothing obvious.
But something clearly wasn't normal.
Slowly, Raiden's gaze darkened.
Because the poster he had found in the castle said nothing about this.
Not a single word.
Which meant only two possibilities.
Either the poster was incomplete.
Or…
Someone deliberately left that information out.
Raiden's fingers tightened slightly.
"…I see."
The villager shook his head desperately.
"You should turn back. Whatever is inside that place, it's cursed!"
Raiden stared at the dark entrance for a few seconds longer.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Thank you for the warning."
The villager looked relieved for a moment.
But that relief vanished when Raiden stepped forward again.
The man panicked.
"Hey! Didn't you hear me?! People died in there!"
Raiden didn't stop walking.
Red lightning faintly crawled along his hand again.
His voice was calm.
But cold.
"If people died the moment they entered…"
He looked toward the symbol of the dark star again.
"…then whoever is inside probably knows something about it."
The wind shifted across the volcanic plain.
Raiden stepped closer to the entrance of the ruins.
"…And that means I'm in the right place."
Darkness swallowed Raiden's vision the moment he stepped closer to the ruins.
His body suddenly felt unbearably heavy.
The red lightning around his hand vanished.
Raiden staggered.
"…What…?"
His legs gave out beneath him.
The last thing he saw was the black star carved into the stone pillar… before everything went dark.
Behind him, the villager gasped.
"Hey—!"
Raiden collapsed onto the volcanic ground.
The villager rushed toward him in panic.
"Hey! Wake up! I told you it was dangerous!"
But Raiden didn't respond.
---
Later.
Raiden's eyes slowly opened.
A wooden ceiling greeted him instead of volcanic smoke and ruins.
Soft light entered through a small window.
He was lying on a white bed with a thick blanket covering him.
The air smelled faintly of herbs and warm soup.
"…Where…"
Raiden immediately pushed himself up.
"I don't have time for—"
The moment he tried to stand, the room spun violently.
His legs collapsed again.
Raiden caught himself on the edge of the bed, breathing harder.
"…Damn it."
A voice came from the doorway.
"You shouldn't move yet."
Raiden looked up.
A woman stood there carrying a small wooden bowl. She looked older than the villager from earlier, probably his wife.
She walked closer and set the bowl on a nearby table.
"You collapsed near the ruins. My husband brought you here."
Raiden rubbed the side of his head, still dizzy.
"What happened?"
The woman sighed slightly.
"The ruins are protected by an ancient spell."
She folded her arms gently.
"Anyone who gets too close without preparation is struck by a weakening curse. It drains your strength."
Raiden clenched his teeth.
"…How long?"
"At least a day," she replied calmly. "You won't be able to move properly until then."
Raiden leaned back against the wall, frustrated.
His hand slid up to cover part of his face.
"…Damn it."
All that distance traveled.
All that time searching.
And now he was forced to wait.
The woman studied him quietly before speaking again.
"You don't look like a treasure hunter."
Raiden didn't answer at first.
Then he sighed slowly.
"…You're right."
He lowered his hand.
"Our mother didn't die from illness."
The woman blinked slightly.
Raiden's voice was steady, but anger quietly sat beneath it.
"She was cursed."
The room became silent.
Raiden stared at the wooden floor.
"Someone placed a curse on her. A slow one."
His hands tightened slightly.
"And by the time we realized it… it was too late."
The woman's expression softened.
Raiden continued.
"I have a younger sister."
He looked toward the window.
"She's studying at Galdur Academy."
The woman's eyes widened in surprise.
"Galdur Academy…?"
Raiden nodded.
"She doesn't know the full story."
He leaned his head back slightly against the wall.
"But I do."
His gaze slowly shifted toward the direction of the volcano and the hidden ruins beyond the village.
"The source of that curse…"
His voice lowered.
"…is somewhere inside those ruins."
The woman covered her mouth slightly in shock.
Raiden's eyes hardened again.
"That's why I came here."
He slowly clenched his fist.
"I want answers."
The sky outside slowly darkened as the sun disappeared behind the distant volcanic mountain. The warm orange glow faded into deep blue, and the quiet village lit small lanterns outside their homes.
Inside the wooden house, the smell of cooked food filled the air.
Raiden was still sitting on the edge of the bed, his dizziness slightly better but his body still weak.
From the other room, the woman's voice called out.
"Dinner is ready."
A moment later she appeared at the doorway again, wiping her hands on a small cloth.
"You should eat something," she said gently. "Your body needs strength if you want that curse to wear off faster."
Raiden hesitated.
He didn't like wasting time.
But his body clearly refused to cooperate.
After a moment, he slowly stood up again. This time he managed to stay on his feet, though he had to hold the wall for balance.
The woman noticed and walked beside him.
"Careful."
They walked together into the small dining area.
The room was simple. A wooden table stood in the center with three chairs around it. A warm lantern hung from the ceiling, casting a soft light across the room.
The villager who had warned Raiden earlier was already sitting there.
When he saw Raiden walk in, he gave a relieved nod.
"Good to see you're awake."
Raiden sat down slowly.
On the table were simple dishes. Rice, grilled fish, and a vegetable stew. Nothing fancy, but the food smelled warm and comforting.
The woman sat across from him.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself earlier," she said with a small smile.
"My name is Hanna Faith."
Raiden looked up slightly.
"Hanna… Faith."
She nodded.
"My husband is the one who found you near the ruins."
The man waved a little awkwardly.
"Name's Tom."
Raiden gave a small nod in return.
"…Raiden."
Hanna gently pushed a bowl toward him.
"Eat first. You can worry about ruins and curses later."
Raiden looked at the food quietly for a moment.
Then he finally picked up the spoon.
For a short while, the room stayed peaceful. The three of them ate quietly while the wind outside rustled the trees.
After a few minutes, Tom spoke again.
"You know… not many people go near those ruins anymore."
Raiden glanced up.
Tom continued.
"Those deaths started about two years ago."
Raiden froze slightly.
Two years.
That was around the same time their mother died.
Tom scratched his head.
"At first we thought it was some ancient trap or poison gas. But even people who just stepped inside for a second collapsed."
Hanna sighed softly.
"After that, everyone stopped going there."
Raiden slowly set his spoon down.
His eyes grew darker again.
Two years.
A cursed ruin appearing.
And his mother dying from a curse at the same time.
The connection felt too strong to be coincidence.
Raiden quietly spoke.
"…Did anyone ever come out alive?"
Tom and Hanna looked at each other.
Then Tom nodded slowly.
"…One person."
Raiden's eyes lifted.
Tom continued.
"But he wasn't the same after."
Tom's words hung in the air.
"...One person."
Raiden's eyes stayed fixed on him.
Tom continued slowly.
"But he wasn't the same after."
The lantern above the table flickered gently.
For a moment, everything felt strangely distant to Raiden.
Then....
Something in his mind stirred.
A faint memory.
Blurry.
Broken.
Like a dream trying to surface.
Raiden's hand slowly tightened around the edge of the table.
His breathing grew uneven.
"…Wait."
The room around him faded as the memory forced its way forward.
A house.
Their old house.
Night.
He saw his mother standing in the room.
And someone else.
A man.
Tall.
Wearing a hood that covered most of his face.
Young Raiden stood in the corner of the room, watching.
He couldn't remember why he was hiding.
The hooded man held a baby.
Taika.
Still an infant.
Raiden's mother looked worried, saying something he couldn't hear clearly.
Then the man moved.
His hand reached toward the back of her neck.
He placed something there.
A small glowing mark.
The moment it touched her skin—
His mother collapsed.
Raiden's heart pounded.
In the memory, baby Taika began crying as the hooded man calmly held her.
Young Raiden stepped forward instinctively.
"Mom-"
The hooded man slowly turned.
Even through the shadow of the hood, Raiden could feel the man's eyes staring directly at him.
Then the man walked toward him.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Raiden tried to move.
But his younger self was frozen in fear.
The hooded man stopped in front of him.
He knelt slightly and placed a hand on Raiden's head.
The moment their skin touched—
A surge of strange energy rushed through his mind.
Darkness.
Silence.
The memory shattered.
Back in the present..
Raiden suddenly pushed himself away from the table.
His chair scraped loudly against the floor.
His breathing became fast and uneven.
Hanna stood up quickly.
"Raiden?"
Raiden held his head with one hand.
"…Memory… erasing…"
Tom looked confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Raiden's eyes widened as pieces finally connected.
His mother didn't simply die from a curse.
Someone had placed it.
Someone who had been inside their house.
Someone who had touched him.
And wiped his memory.
Raiden's voice came out almost as a whisper.
"…That man."
His eyes slowly darkened with realization.
"…He was there the night everything happened."
The lantern light flickered again.
Raiden clenched his fist tightly.
The truth he had been chasing for years was no longer just a guess.
Someone had cursed his mother.
Someone had erased his memory.
And somehow…
That same trail led directly to the cursed ruins near the volcano.