FULTON CHURCH LIBRARY
"The church—home to the history of Fulton,has hundreds of storage rooms filled with the rarest power gemstones, hundreds of demi-humans working day and night.
A place of beauty, this very land holds so much value to us. Approximately three thousand years ago, an ancient city stood on this very site, where our kingdom now thrives.
The history of our land tells the tale of a goddess who brought an end to the darkness and shame that once plagued this place.
This very place was Founded by humans and built by demi-humans used as slaves , this land was a gift from the Goddess Tova, the embodiment of virtue and divinity, the one who removed every human from this very land.
Our forefathers were blessed with this fertile soil, abundant in precious gems found nowhere else in the world. The Goddess Tova's generosity has made our land a treasure trove of riches, renowned across the globe." He closed the book.
Someone clapped.
"You're always buried in history books, Kael," Aria said as she stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "Remember, our job is to keep this place secure,Don't get carried away,especially after what happened last night during your shift."
"Aria, you worry too much, It's just a one-time thing, and it won't happen again"
"How could a single man breach the church unseen by me? If only I could use detection, this wouldn't have happened, If word gets out, Fulton's reputation as the most secure kingdom will be ruined,Hopefully nothing was stolen."
"The intruder from last night—I'm sure he's with Nava now,He'll likely spill all the details: where he got the Shadow Stone, which only lasted a few minutes."
Kael sighed.
"I'm finally off the hook for now, Today's your shift, right, Aria?, I'll head home."
"About last night"
"Never mind, I've got it under control." He smiled.
"Okay, if you say so kael ... just don't overthink it, okay? "
" I won't "
Kael lived alone, haunted by his past, His father had been brutally killed by humans during their escape from Tikka, a kingdom notorious for its slave trade.
Demi-humans were once enslaved, treated as nothing more than tools.
But a new king Dorman Dane Emberfell of Daria brought hope.
He waged war against Tikka and other kingdoms, freeing many demi-humans"
Aria was lost in thoughts .
A sharp scream echoed from the investigation room.
"The scars of the past lingered,.Many demi-humans harbored hatred for humans and sought revenge.
Kael, a member of the Garzel clan, struggled with uncontrollable attacks whenever he saw a human. His eyes, like stars, bore a deep pain.
Ten years ago Kael had arrived in Fulton, fleeing Tikka after his parents' tragic fate. Last night he had nearly killed the intruder, but Nava's timely intervention had saved him from himself.
Kael's handsomeness belied his turmoil,smooth yellow hair, soft-curved lips, and a body honed by struggle.
As the last survivor of the Garzel clan, Kael also possessed the rare ability to wield Dio energy.
But his powers were a double-edged sword, fueled by emotions he couldn't control.
Aria slapped her face to drag herself back to reality.
Get it together, Aria!
Footsteps approached.
Aria turned, "Nava you're done with the investigation"
"Sorry it took longer than usually, the enchantment on him was stronger than I imagined it, I had to break the spells first, it wasn't really an easy tasked, my payment should be higher this time"
" You say that every single time, so tell me , what did you find out while interrogating him, what secret was he holding"
" You know I'm to report to the commander first , you'll have to pay me"
" Fine fine, just tell me already "
Aria and Nava sat in a quiet room. Soft murmurs of voices came from the corridor.
" So Nava, how was the interrogation?" Aria asked.
Nava sighed and rubbed her temples. "He purposely came here to get caught,not to steal anything."
"But why would he risk his life? It doesn't make any sense. What did you see while you were in his mind?"
" First ,the shadow stone he used was not really an original, it's a replication of the original, some how they manage to recreate the shadow stone , but some how it has some flaws and can't last longer than the one we have, in order to get their hand on that, they would have to be a mole in here, someone working for tikka, which would likely cause some commotions over here, this precious gems ain't really allowed out of the country, the only people who have a good amount of this gems is Daria, after the war , After the war, Fulton gifted a large quantity of these gems to Daria in gratitude for their help in fighting for the freedom of demi-humans across the kingdoms. That could be how someone managed to acquire a recreated stone , though Daria is a responsible nation and would likely uphold their agreements, even after all these years."
Nava leaned in, lowering her voice.
"Also it's complicated, This shouldn't get out , Don't ever bring it up with Kael, Unfortunately, his mother is still alive—and she's in Tikka."
Aria gasped. "What? That's... How is that possible? I thought she was dead "
"I think it's a trap—trying to lure Kael back to Tikka, seeing he's the last of the Garzel clan. They know he's the last of his kind," Nava replied, looking out the window.
"And what about his mother?" Aria asked
"They've been forcing themselves on her, trying to produce more of her clan. So far, the offspring have been human." Nava's voice trembled with anger.
Aria's eyes filled with tears.
Nava wiped them away. "You don't have to cry, Aria. We'll get her back,We'll reunite them."
Kael stood outside, overhearing the conversation. His face twisted in anger; hatred for humans rose within him like a tide.
"Mom—she's alive, and they're doing this to her..." Tears rolled down his face as he descended the stairs.
"Hey—Kael? What's wrong with him? He didn't even notice me. Was he crying?" Caspian asked as he climbed the stairs, puzzled.
Caspian entered the room where Aria and Nava had been speaking. "Hey—just saw Kael,He looked terrible,Did you guys say something to him?"
"Kael!" Aria cried. "He must have overheard the whole conversation, I thought he left." She rushed out, trying to stop whatever he might do.
Caspian approached Nava, "What's up? Why are you staring at me? Don't you want to go after them?" He asked
Nava smiled and leaned forward, playing coy. "What brings you here? Did you come all this way just to look at me?" Shecupped her breasts in her hands, as if trying to keep them from spilling over."
"Just got a letter from Lucky about the quantity of gems logged this morning. I'm not here for you," Caspian said.
"How rude. So—are you free today?" Nava tried to charm him. She was of the Sirena clan, gifted with an otherworldly beauty that could seduce men; once under her control, a man's mind could be read like an open book. Sirena were rare now, with only a few remaining.
Caspian, however, belonged to the Veritas clan. Their piercing emerald eyes symbolized a connection to truth and nature; they could see through illusions and were resistant to poisons and enchantments. He was not tempted by Nava's beauty, which frustrated her—she wanted him, and his immunity to her charm only made her more determined.
FULTON MARKET SQUARE ( IRON STREET )
Market noises filled the air: the fountain's water, children's laughter, and shopkeepers bargaining. "Fifty silver ton! That's expensive—how about sixty? That's even higher than the first bid."
"Kael! Hold up!" Aria called, breathless as she ran from the church to the market center.
The fountain splashed; kids ran about; coins clinked loudly.
"Aren't you supposed to be on duty? Why are you here? Do you miss me that much?" Kael teased her
"Nava must have finished the interrogation, So—what did she see?" Tell me about it.
"So many questions,"
"She didn't say, all she said was the ,"commander has to be the first one to know " mimicking Nava's voice
"Then what brings you here?" he asked.
"It's nothing!" Aria shouted, covering her face as she turned and ran back to the church.
FULTON'S LIBRARY
"Did you clear things up with him?" Nava asked, sitting by the window as Aria opened the door.
"That's the thing—he didn't hear a word you said. I spoke to him; he had no idea what you found from the intruder,He looked fine. This is embarrassing. He might think I'm so in love with him, I can't live without him," she said, covering her face.
"Don't you love him?"
"You're not helping, Nava!"
"I could talk to him, or better still—taste him out," she teased.
"No! Don't! I—no. I don't think he likes me," Aria mumbled sadly.
"Why wouldn't he? With looks like yours, Aria, any man would be smitten. I might even be starting to fall for you myself," Nava teased, her tone teasing and bold.
EDEN STREET FULTON
Kael got home , his eyes filled with hatred.
He slammed his fist against the doorframe until his knuckles burned, his voice ragged and raw.
"Mom… I'm so sorry I left you back then , if only I was stronger, I was a coward.
I should've stayed and fought for you.
But I'm coming now, and may their God help them when I do.
I'll make them pay for every night you cried, every shame they heaped on you.
I'll hunt them down one by one.
I'll burn their peace, strip their names from the world.
It starts with the one in our home , and I swear, I won't stop until I've taken everything from them."
---
FULTON LIBRARY
Hours Later
"Hey Aria, your shift is almost over, Aren't you going to visit Kael?" Nava asked while sipping wine.
"Don't say that," Aria blushed.
" Do you intend to keep drinking"
"This wine tastes amazing. Daria does know how to make good wine," Nava praised.
"You like him , you don't have to hide it. There are plenty of girls willing to take him off your hands, you should be open; tell him how you feel."
"If it were that easy, I would have, I don't have your charms, Nava. I'm just a normal, boring person."
"If he loves you, it won't matter whether you're more beautiful than a Sirena or not. Take Caspian, for example, despite my charms, I can't 'taste' him because of his clan ability." Nava paused, studying Aria's face. "You look pretty, Aria.
Don't downplay yourself.
Put a smile on your face.
I'm taking over this shift now—go to him."
"Do I look good in this outfit, or should I wear something else?"
"You look perfect." They laughed.
"Do you think he'll go out with me?"
"He will, It's only a matter of time."
---
FULTON INVESTIGATION ROOM
"Sorry, this area is off-limits. You'll need a authorisation pass, Turn back, Kael," the guard said.
"Come on, for old times' sake, just a minute."
"Sorry, I can't allow you in without a gate pass."
Kael hesitated a moment, then produced a club, a sturdy, rough-hewn wooden stick, about 150 cm long. "Have you ever seen a club? Think that's enough to knock a guard out?"
The guard flinched. Kael dashed in, knocking the guard aside and passing through.
INVESTIGATION ROOM 4, FULTON CHURCH.
"Hey ,wake up buddy, we need to have a long chat " Kael conjures out water as he pours it over the head of the intruder ,
The cold splash of water snapped him awake, as he shivered violently, he coughed.
"You came here to kill me,go on then, monster.
You're nothing but a monster.
Your kind are meant to be killed and used as slaves," the intruder spat.
He laughed ,Unfortunately for him, Kael wasn't Nava.
The intruder laughed too, but Kael's laughter was darker, louder, and it made the intruder uneasy.
"How dare you! You who have never known struggle or pain, look at us with such disdain.
You've never had to hide your face or body, never cursed your existence, never watched loved ones suffer and die.
Yet you call us monsters? You, who have never tried to understand beyond your twisted biases, are the true monster!" Kael's anger boiled over.
He created a sword of Dio energy and pierced the intruder's palm.
The intruder screamed.
Blood poured from his eyes.
"Scream all you want.
No one is coming to save you.
You came knowing you could die, I'm only here to fulfill your wishes, so shhh and don't make so much noise, you know, shouting isn't good for your throat"
As he gave the intruder a big warm smile
The intruder's screams were muffled by Kael's Eno sound-reduction, while Kael's laughter echoed through the room.
He conjured spear after spear, pinning and twisting them with sadistic precision.
The intruder's agony peaked as Kael's Dio energy coursed through his body, and then his life ended.
Seeing a demi-human , making use of Dio creation unsettled the intruder.
" "Don't die on me… wake up. This isn't over yet, the fun is just getting started , Does it hurt so much to live? Or… are you already broken? How pitifully fragile can a human be?" His lips twisted into a cruel smirk, eyes cold and merciless, disappointment laced with something far darker—malice.
His spears vanished leaving behind , a gruesome scene, The intruder's body had been brutally dismembered, limbs and fragments scattered across the room, blood splattering every surface, Eyes had been removed, leaving empty sockets, Hands, fingers, toes—everything was detached. The corpse was almost unrecognizable.
Aria rushed to Kael's place after Nava's suggestion.
EDEN STREET FULTON
"Kael? Are you home?" she knocked, but there was no reply.
She shoved the door open and froze, a gasp tearing from her lips. "No… no, no, this can't be." Panic clawed at her as she raced toward the church , getting to the investigation room, the intruder's cell, the coppery scent of fresh blood guiding her. The walls were smeared with gore, and Kael… he was nowhere to be seen.
INVESTIGATION ROOM
Aria rushed in as she run past Nava, without an explanation, Nava had no choice but to follow up.
Aria stood frozen, unable to believe Kael could do something so horrible.
"Sound the bell , Don't let Kael leave the city!" Nava ordered, Every guard was notified.
"Aria, snap out of it, You're the one closest to Kael, Do you have any idea where he might go?" Nava asked.
Aria collapsed to the floor, dazed. "T... the... grave...yard..." she whispered.
"Why would he want to go there?!" Nava asked.
"Think about it," Aria replied, her voice tight with worry. "We all believed his mother was dead. But now… he knows she's alive. The graveyard… that would have been the first place he visited, the place where he buried her in his heart. He's going there to destroy that grave, to erase the memory of her death. Now that he knows she's alive… he's going back, and he won't stop for anything."
THE GRAVEYARD
"Kael, you're surrounded. You don't have to run anymore!" the guards shouted.
"How did they find me? Ugh—Aria. She told them," Kael muttered.
"Go back,I don't want to hurt anyone, Let me be, Don't come after me!" he shouted.
Within minutes Nava arrived.
"Come on, Kael—don't do this. We've known each other for years," she pleaded.
"You know nothing about me or how I feel. You don't understand this loneliness. I'm going back to Tikka and there's nothing you can do about it. I'm getting my mom out—don't let me hurt you."
"All of you who can use detection, advance forward, Eyes closed—remember he's the last of the Garzel clan.
No harm should come to him,Avoid eye contact.
A single look could end your life," Nava ordered.
A black spear cut through the air, driving straight into a guard's chest.
"AAAHHHH! It… it burns… help me!" the guard screamed, clutching the wound.
The others opened fire, but Kael melted behind a boulder, his hands weaving Eno. With a thought, the boulder crumbled into sand, scattering at his feet. Swiftly, he reshaped the sand into a solid, jagged shield, blocking the hail of arrows
"Eyes closed!" Nava shouted, her voice slicing through the chaos, as Kael's ability flared to life.
Those who met his gaze exploded instantly. Blood rained from the sky as twelve guards exploded instantly.
"Kael, you've gone too far," a man in a black robe said as he stepped behind Kael. With a single word—Sleep—Kael fell to the ground.