Under the blue moon, Lyra materialized outside a diner called Ethereal Cup—lavish,
elegant, glowing with wealth.
Why did he send me here? What is he planning?
Her thoughts churned as she stepped inside.
The faint bell rang. Warm light washed over her.
A hand waved from across the room—the rude customer from earlier, now seated at
a grander table.
As she approached, something in the corner of her eye caught her attention.
A man in a plain hat.
A black shawl.
Nothing remarkable except—
His eyes.
Light blue, tinted with silver.
Eyes she would recognize even in hell.
Kael.
Before she could blink, someone walked past—blocking her view.
When they moved…
He was gone.
"Hello, beautiful," the customer said, smiling confidently. "I'm Silias. Assistant
General of His Majesty's Zilach Command."
Lyra froze. His rank. His authority. His power.
Kael had something to do with this. She felt it.
"Uhm… hi. I'm Lyra Valestra, waitress at Butch and Kani Brothers."
"Well, I don't waste time on small talk," Silias said. "I asked you out tonight for a
reason—marriage. I like you. I want to know you better. So I thought, why not start
by marrying you directly?"
"Sir, but we ha—"
He cut her off.
"Before you decide," he said, leaning forward, "let me tell you your merits… and your
demerits."
"WHAT?!" Lyra yelled. "Are you threatening me to marry you?!"
"You can look at flaws and cry," he said calmly, rising to his feet, "or you can focus
on the merits."
As he stood, everyone in the restaurant stood with him.
Patrons transformed into guards—staring, alert.
"The truth is far more terrifying."
His voice trembled. His body shook.
His eyes… lifeless.
"Seraph is going to be born soon."
"Huh? Who's—"
She froze.
Realization sliced through her.
"N-No… that's impossible. HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO EXIST!" she screamed.
But her voice carried only fear.
"We'll tell you everything at the palace."
"They think they are acting on their own.
That's the beauty of perfect control." said a mysterious voice.
A squad of masked soldiers in navy and green appeared instantly—silent, deadly.
"You know, Lyra… the worst thing about him isn't that he feels nothing," Silias
whispered.
"It's that he savors destruction. Terror. Devastation. If he is born again… the world
ends. Forever."
"I'm sorry. But it's the only way."
He injected her neck.
Cold fire rushed through her veins.
She collapsed.
"Take her in the ca—" Silias never finished his sentence, because out of thin air the
man Lyra had seen earlier suddenly appeared, vaulting over him and slamming a
devastating, bone-rattling kick straight into his chest.
Silias tried to block—but the strength of the Commander of Zilach's Regiment meant
nothing against that mysterious stranger.
Silias was launched across the room, crashing into the wall.
Soldiers charged, drawing short white rods.
White lasers erupted from the tips.
"You all bore me," the man breathed out, almost disappointed.
"Come on, my beauty." He lifted Lyra over his shoulder carefully.
Then he grinned—slow, sharp, unsettling.
"We'll meet again, Silias. Make sure the king knows I said hello."
He snapped his fingers.
BOOM!
The café exploded, flames swallowing everything—along with every soldier inside.
Every person in the café died in an instant…
everyone except Silias.