The golden glow of dawn was lost behind stormy skies, casting the capital in a steel-colored gloom. Rain had started to fall, light and cold — soaking the stone walls of the palace and washing away the lingering scent of war.
Veltric stood atop the western tower, his sharp eyes focused through a magically-enhanced lens. His expression remained cold, unreadable — but within, a storm brewed.
He had seen it.
The flash.
Zack's power.
He watched as Sereh descended upon the battlefield, the last of the assassins crumbling before her spell. He saw Kira retreating into her ink-born escape, and Zack… holding back, visibly strained, standing protectively in front of Keal.
A whisper broke through the wind
Behind him, a royal guard waited silently. The moment Veltric turned, he gave the order with precision.
"Send a team. Retrieve the two survivors. And burn the rest."
The gates opened slowly as Keal and Zack, battered and bloodied, rode in on the same horse. Their faces were pale, their bodies bruised. Zack wore his signature smirk, but his eyes held a new weight.
The courtiers watched from behind veils and windows.
Whispers spread.
Two boys…
A brothel…
Blood everywhere.
The palace servants rushed to greet them, offering cloth, support, potions.
Zack grinned through the pain. "Where's the food? I nearly died for some grilled lamb."
Keal didn't say a word.
He looked around, noting Veltric wasn't at the gates. Strange. That wasn't like him.
Queen Zellene wasn't present in the capital. She was across the border, leading a diplomatic siege disguised as a peace movement — unaware of the growing shadow behind her back.
Zackline, her younger sister, stood in the war room beside generals and nobles, her heart uneasy.
"Something feels wrong," she whispered to herself, chills crawling up her spine.
Her aunt — the former king's sister, a mid-king tier warrior and advisor — noticed her expression.
"You seem troubled."
Zackline tried to smile. "It's nothing. Just… worried for the capital. For Keal and Zack."
The aunt raised a brow. "The butler and the clown? Why them?"
"The clown is my favorite nephew ,not like veltric"
"And keal "Zackline looked away, whispering, "I'm intrigued by him."
Back in the weton Capital — Inside the Palace Chambers
Zack groaned as he flopped onto the silk-covered bed, shirtless and wrapped in bandages.
"Ow. This sucks."
Keal sat in a chair, arm stitched and ribs bruised. His face was unreadable, gaze fixed on the darkening sky outside the window.
"You nearly died," Keal murmured.
Zack grinned, "Yeah, but did you see me flirt with that assassin girl? Beautiful, deadly, and full of hate. My type."
Keal didn't respond.
Then the door creaked open.
Veltric stepped inside, his boots silent against the marble floor. He looked at them — his golden eyes sharp, full of questions unasked.
Zack sat up, smirking. "Finally visiting your favorite little brother?"
Veltric ignored the sarcasm, eyes shifting from Zack to Keal, then back. "You both look like death."
Keal replied quietly, "Close enough."
Veltric stepped forward, inspecting the wound on Zack's side. "This wasn't just a street fight."
Zack: "You're welcome for the pile of dead bodies."
Veltric didn't laugh. Instead, he spoke in a low voice.
"If either of you are hiding something… now is the time to speak."
Silence.
Zack and Keal exchanged glances. Keal's jaw clenched, but Zack shrugged.
"We're just unlucky bastards," Zack said, softer this time. "Nothing more."
Veltric lingered, staring into Zack's eyes, as if searching for something.
Then, quietly, he nodded. "Get rest. The queen will want answers when she returns."
He turned to leave, but paused at the door. "You were lucky this time."
Zack: "Luck's my middle name."
Veltric left.
As the door shut behind him, Zack's smirk faded slightly. He looked over at Keal.
"He knows."
Keal, still staring out the window: "Let him. We'll be gone soon."
The medical wing of the palace was far quieter than usual. Night had fallen, but two troublemakers were very much awake.
Keal sat shirtless on a bed, his torso wrapped in blood-stained bandages. A medic had just left, warning him not to move too much. Zack, on the other hand, was lounging dramatically on his own bed, one leg elevated, arms folded behind his head, completely unbothered.
"I swear, Zack," Keal muttered, "if you flirt with one more assassin, I'll leave you to die next time."
Zack grinned. "To be fair, Kira had that mysterious 'I-might-kill-you-or-kiss-you' energy. How could I resist?"
"You're lucky she didn't stab you while kissing you."
"Now that's just bad manners. I'd be offended."
Keal rolled his eyes, wincing slightly. "She nearly killed me, you know."
"Yeah, and you nearly killed her. Pretty romantic if you ask me."
Keal sighed, throwing a pillow at Zack, who barely dodged it.
"Hey!" Zack protested. "Wounded here, remember?"
"You were joking during the fight!"
Zack sat up a little, suddenly serious. "It helps me focus."
Keal looked at him, surprised. Zack chuckled and waved it off.
"Nah, just kidding. I just like hearing your angry voice when things explode."
The door creaked open, and a nurse peeked in. "Can you two please stop yelling? You're disturbing the actual patients."
"We are the actual patients!" Zack pointed out.
"Exactly my point," she said and slammed the door shut.
Keal groaned, rubbing his temple. "Why do I put up with you?"
Later, as the torches dimmed and the palace grew quieter, the humor faded just enough for truth to slip in.
"You really scared me today," Keal admitted, looking at the ceiling.
Zack turned his head. "You were the one coughing blood, Keal."
"Yeah, but… that void thing you did. It felt—wrong. Dangerous."
Zack didn't answer right away. Then: "It is."
Silence.
"I'm not sure I should be using it again," Zack whispered.
Keal sat up slowly. "But you will."
Zack met his gaze, serious now. "Only if I need to protect someone."
Keal smiled faintly. "Good. Just... make sure you're around for me to scold you after."
Zack grinned. "Deal. But you're buying the drinks next time we almost die."
Keal laughed — genuinely. "Fine. But next time, no brothels."
Zack held up three fingers. "Scouts' honor."
Keal raised an eyebrow. "You've never been a scout."
"Exactly."
Both burst out laughing, the sound echoing off the palace walls like boys too stubborn to grow up and too brave to give in.
And for that night, at least, they felt safe.
TWO MONTH PASSED
The grand teleportation gate stood in the palace courtyard like a shimmering arch of molten runes. Tourmaline veins glowed along its frame; a humming wind circled the circle in the marble floor. Guards in silver‑trimmed armor stood aside. Carriages and horsemen paused. The air tasted of rain and power.
Kev (Keal) stood at Zack's side—bandaged, bruised, still recovering from the brothel massacre. His eyes flickered across the gate, mesmerized by the way light folded into itself, vanished, then reappeared beyond the threshold.
Zack lounged just behind him, leaning against the marble wall, arms crossed, one boot tapping.
"Never gets old," Zack smirked, looking up at the gate. "Step through there and boom — new place, same idiots."
Keal took a deep breath. "It's… beautiful." His voice quiet. "I've never seen magic like this in motion."
Zack rolled his eyes. "Yeah, magic's pretty when you're not getting stabbed."
As they stepped closer, the system inside Keal flickered. A hush passed through the wind.
> [SYSTEM UPDATE – REALM EXPLORATION: MYSTERIES REALM – 30% COMPLETED]
> [BREAKTHROUGH CONDITION MET]
> [NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: SHADOW SUMMON (Limit 2)]
> [LEVEL UP: GENERAL – MID]
Keal's eyes widened. For a heartbeat he froze. A pulse of shadow energy curled at his feet—dark motes, spectral shapes emerging, dissipating. He swallowed.
Zack nudged him. "Why the fuck did u just breakthrough"
Keal forced a smile. "I am a wanderer"
Zack then said "re u an idiot"
Zack laughed. "Dude you levelled. Eat that pancake."
A guard called them forward. The gate's hum swelled. They stepped through together—Zack leading, Keal following, his mind still reeling.
When they emerged into the Imperial City, the world hit them in full force.
Towering spires of glass and stone soared into the overcast sky. Floating carriages drifted along rails of light. Mana‑lanterns floated above streets. The noise of voices, wheels, harnesses, laughter, and honks of arc‑powered engines filled the air.
Keal blinked, overwhelmed. "Incredible."
Zack smirked. "You act like we just landed on the moon."
Keal didn't respond.
Instead, a faint whisper echoed in his mind—soft, uncanny.
> "We grow with you…"
> "But not all here belong."
> "The red one… is not of this district."
>"Sorry we cant fully tell u what it means cause u re still week"
Keal's skin prickled.
Zack followed his glance. "Dude? You good?"
But before Keal could answer, a red‑haired figure waved at them from the crowd.
Ron bounded over—tall, wild grin, hair a blazing crimson. "Zack! Man, you're late. So late you rumbled the archives."
Zack slapped Ron's shoulder. "Ron! You survive second year without burning the dorm yet?"
Ron laughed. "Barely. I heard you got into the brothel fight. Saw bruises. Minor detail. You okay, man?"
Zack nodded. "Alive. Mostly."
Ron looked at Keal. His eyes narrowed slightly. "And you're the one who caused the delay?"
Keal shifted. "Something like that."
Ron scowled playfully. "Lose a bet or something?"
Zack wiggled his finger. "Too many drinks."
The shadows whispered again inside Keal's mind:
"
Zack gave a shrug. "You'll learn. Later."
Ron grinned. "Cool. Meet the squad? I'll show you the academy ground."
Zack smirked. "Lead the way, Ron-champion of dorm‑blazes."
Keal walked between them, quiet but alert. He couldn't shake the whisper.