The atmosphere between the two friends was formal and cold. The balcony—the same place where they once laughed together—had now become a stage where they faced one another with chilling distance. Princess Jina Joul, the second princess, felt sorrow because of this, but she resisted it, forcing herself to smile as she said,
"By the way… I found a way to save the Night family."
Violet Night immediately paid attention and said, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Yet Jina did not feel the same warmth from her anymore. Hiding her sadness, she replied,
"To be honest… I wasn't the one who found it. It was Shion Lan."
Violet's expression changed slightly, and Jina noticed it. Without realizing it, her golden eyes activated.
'Don't tell me you fell in love with Shion…!' Jina thought nervously.
However, what she sensed from Violet's heart was gratitude and relief. Violet even smiled inwardly, which caused Jina herself to relax.
'So it's just gratitude… wait! Why do I even care?! There's no relationship between us!'
Jina pushed those thoughts away and said with a composed face,
"Yes. Shion helped in this matter when he encountered Roto Night's spirit…"
She explained everything Shion had told her in detail. Jina maintained a cold and composed demeanor, but Violet's expressions gradually became gentler and warmer. Eventually, the atmosphere reversed entirely—Jina became the formal one, while Violet turned lively and sweet.
They remained in that strange situation for a while before Jina finally said,
"I believe this can help the Night family, so I would like to meet the family head."
"Of course, Your Highness," Violet replied.
Violet personally went to inform her father. A short while later, she returned.
"The family head has permitted the meeting."
Jina followed her until they reached the family head's office. He looked at her calmly and said,
"Your Highness, my daughter informed me that you have something important to say."
Jina nodded.
"The solution to saving the Night family… I have it."
The family head feigned surprise.
"Really…?"
Then he looked at Violet.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Violet smiled.
"Well, I wanted to surprise you."
However, Princess Jina's expression remained cold as she said,
"Still… I was not the first person to send this report and message."
She was talking for Shion's sake as she didn't like ignoring him like that.
The family head smiled and revealed a sealed scroll.
Jina stared at it in confusion. Just as she considered using her golden eyes, whose aura had already begun to shine, Halm Night interrupted her,
"I don't believe looking directly into a forbidden spell that even affected Roto Night himself would be wise, Your Highness."
Jina stepped back in shock, and Violet was equally stunned.
"Since when did you know?!" they both asked.
Halm pulled out a paper from his desk drawer.
"This letter arrived from Lord Lan. He informed me of everything and also sent a report to the king. However, we deliberately chose not to act openly."
Jina and Violet were both astonished.
"But why didn't you announce it?" Jina asked. "So many problems happened because of this! Because of your brother," Halm answered.
Jina looked at him in confusion.
"You are now the Crown Princess of this kingdom, Your Highness."
"….."
Neither Jina nor Violet understood what he meant at first.
"Me? Crown Princess? What about the succession struggle? What about my brother?"
Halm's expression turned serious.
"As far as I know, you are aware of the rings Jayden uses, correct?"
Jina nodded.
"His Majesty also knew about them. But the problem was… who brought those rings into the kingdom? Who distributed them? How did they pass beneath our noses? And who assisted in all of this?"
He continued,
"These were the questions we needed answers to. All we knew was that Jayden obtained one of the rings. There were suspicions surrounding the Ranus family, but we could not confirm them. Now… everything is beginning to surface."
"How?" Jina asked.
"There is someone distributing the rings throughout the kingdom. We still do not know which kingdom they come from, but the distribution is carried out in extreme secrecy. The users themselves do not know who traded with them."
"Our final lead was Jayden, but after the academy entrance exams and the exposure of his ring, he stopped moving openly. However, with the chaos surrounding the Night family drawing everyone's attention… Jayden has begun contacting certain individuals again, and the distribution has resumed."
Jina thought deeply and Violet asked,
"But what exactly is wrong with the rings and stars?"
Halm answered grimly,
"Artificial objects like those form contracts with their creator. When the time comes, the user cannot resist the creator's commands. It is as though they sell their lives in exchange for fake power.
Many users have already been arrested… and I believe there are still more."
"Who is involved in this?" Jina asked.
Halm's expression darkened.
"Jayden. Several third-rank noble families. Some members of the great Shine family…"
Then he continued in a deadly calm tone,
"Although only certain individuals from other families are involved, the majority of the Ranus and Rizor families are implicated—perhaps all of them. Meanwhile, none of the second-rank noble families appear to be involved."
Jina clenched her fists tightly.
"Uncle Halm… I have a favor to ask of you."
Halm was surprised.
Her Highness and Violet were childhood friends. She used to call me 'uncle,' but she only uses that title now when she wants something personal…
Smiling softly, he asked,
"What is it, little one?"
"The Ranus family. I want you to investigate them thoroughly. Even the smallest violation—I want you to investigate it. And if you have to fabricate a few things against them… then do it."
Halm and Violet were both stunned.
Violet immediately spoke coldly,
"Your Highness, even if the Ranus family is involved, Shion has helped us many times. Is this how we repay him? Even if his brother is garbage, we should not destroy the entire family!"
Jina answered,
"This is Shion's own request. He wants the destruction of the Ranus family."
Violet froze.
"And I want another investigation," Jina added. "I want to know who poisoned Shion when he was cast out of the family."
Halm calmly replied,
"Instead of asking us, ask the Shadow Forces."
Jina looked displeased.
"Although the Shadow Forces belong to the Night family, they serve the royal family. Since you are now the Crown Princess, they will obey your commands. And they specialize in such matters."
Jina nodded slowly.
"Very well."
Then she asked one final question,
"Will you announce that Shion was the one who contributed to this?"
Halm answered,
"We want the kingdom to believe that Princess Jina Joul exposed the corruption. However, if you insist on giving Shion the credit he deserves, we can do so… though it may put him in danger."
Jina's heart trembled.
"How?!"
"As we said before, the creator of these rings comes from another kingdom. If the second princess exposes their plans, they may simply retreat and reorganize. But if a mere third-rank noble named Shion Lan exposes everything…"
His expression darkened.
"…then we may find his corpse the next morning."
Jina's eyes widened in fear.
"But… he has a master! The Radiant Star will protect him!"
Halm spoke calmly,
"In the Shadow Forces' intelligence division, there are many doubts regarding the existence of such a person."
"What?!"
Both Jina and Violet stared at him in shock.
"The intelligence division has never been able to confirm the existence of the Radiant Star even once. However, two things contradict that theory—Shion Lan's rapid growth, and the incident at the Neumann family province.
There was also a witness. Though he saw nothing directly, he confirmed the existence of a powerful individual supporting Shion."
He thought of the head of the Shi family and the power Shion released and continued,
"Even so… we cannot leave everything to assumptions."
Jina fell silent.
Her thoughts were consumed entirely by Shion. She forgot the hidden enemies, forgot her brother's betrayal of the kingdom, and even forgot that she had just become the Crown Princess.
...
That same night, Shion Lan slept deeply. He felt as though his body was sinking into a warm ocean.
'Warm water…? Is this the result of merging fire and water? Have I finally approached true harmony?'
With a movement of his hand, the water around him began to boil violently while the flames moved calmly. Under the influence of his star aura, the elements harmonized without destroying one another.
Shion watched waves of fire and water dance together like blazing tongues. They retained their original properties, yet moved with perfect synchronization.
He recalled the technique (Path of Stellar River)—flames flowing like rivers, sweeping away everything in their path.
He focused entirely on the technique.
At that moment, Shion no longer knew whether he was dreaming or training, but he recognized it as an opportunity for growth and immersed himself completely within it.
Time stretched endlessly.
In reality, his body upon the bed began rearranging the stars within him. The Star of Fire and the Star of Water both shone brilliantly, each surrounded by its own complex magical circle, attracting stardust to form miniature galaxies.
The two galaxies slowly approached one another, as though melting together. Between them, a tiny point of energy began to form.
Shion observed the new power that fused fire and water while preserving both.
Driven by curiosity, he reached out toward it.
The energy emitted the glow of stars, yet when he touched it, nothing happened—as though something prevented him from using its full power.
Still, Shion immediately understood what it was.
"It's incomplete… Sword Aura. But I lack the mind of a mage to stabilize it. Do I need to create a new spell?"
He reviewed the spells he possessed.
"(Water Bomb)… and (Paths of Fire)."
"Water Bomb possesses overwhelming explosive force, while Paths of Fire flows smoothly and freely. Their properties have reversed…"
He smiled.
"And now… let's merge them."
The complex circles began producing countless formulas. Strangely, Shion felt as though he instinctively understood what to do, even without asking Shi Yun Lan.
He sorted through the formulas while recalling the arrangement of the stars, eliminating one possibility after another until only two remained.
"One is weak, but it can easily bring me to the fourth level."
"The other is powerful… but incomplete, difficult, and dangerous. It will also bring me to the fourth level, but it will require far more time and effort."
Then Shion smiled.
"There is no such thing as an easy path for those who seek to become the best. One must struggle with everything they have to reach the level they desire."
Without hesitation, Shion poured all of his strength into engraving the new formula. The complex circles entered a new stage of evolution, releasing an enormous surge of power—
—and a violent headache struck Shion awake from his sleep.