Far above the clouds...
High above the lands of Eryndor...
A colossal island floated silently through the endless sky.
Though separated from the surface by countless kilometers of open air, it remained a part of Eryndor itself.
Mountains, forests, rivers, and even an entire kingdom rested upon the island as though the heavens themselves had claimed a piece of the continent.
Towering walls of black stone surrounded countless buildings crafted from shimmering crimson marble. Gigantic statues watched over every street while enormous banners bearing an unfamiliar crest fluttered beneath the cold winds.
Standing proudly above everything else...
Was the royal palace.
Its countless towers pierced the clouds themselves.
Yet beneath that palace..
Far beneath its golden halls...
Hidden deep underground...
Lay a prison.
Dark.
Cold.
Silent.
The narrow corridors were illuminated only by flickering crimson flames burning inside iron braziers fixed to the ancient walls.
Rows of heavy prison cells stretched endlessly into the darkness.
Most of them were empty.
Only one remained occupied.
Inside sat a tall man whose mere appearance inspired fear.
Long crimson hair flowed carelessly over his broad shoulders.
Two magnificent black horns curved proudly from his forehead.
Dark crimson dragon scales covered portions of his muscular body, glistening beneath the dim torchlight.
Behind him rested a massive dragon tail that slowly swayed across the stone floor.
Even while sitting quietly...
He radiated overwhelming pressure.
His crimson eyes remained closed.
As though patiently waiting.
...
Heavy footsteps echoed throughout the prison.
Clank...
Clank...
Clank...
A prison guard dressed from head to toe in heavy black armor approached one of the nearby cells.
Behind him...
Dragged across the stone floor...
Was a young elf.
He possessed soft cream-colored hair that reached his shoulders and bright emerald-green eyes filled with fear.
His elegant clothing had long since become dirty and torn.
The guard roughly threw him into the cell.
BAM!
The elf crashed against the cold stone floor.
The armored guard laughed.
"So..."
"You've got yourself a roommate."
He looked toward the crimson-haired prisoner.
"Take good care of him."
The guard turned around.
"Oh..."
"And don't expect anyone to rescue you."
"This prison has no exits..."
"...except death."
His laughter echoed through the hallway as his footsteps gradually disappeared into the darkness.
Silence returned.
The young elf slowly forced himself to stand.
His frightened eyes wandered around the prison before finally stopping on the enormous man sitting quietly in the corner.
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
The elf nervously smiled.
"H-Hello..."
"My name is Shalo."
"I don't really know what's happening..."
"But..."
"...it's nice to meet—"
Before he could finish—
BOOM!
A terrifying pressure exploded throughout the prison.
The very walls trembled.
Shalo collapsed onto his knees, unable to breathe.
The crimson-haired man slowly opened his burning red eyes.
His gaze alone felt like standing before an ancient dragon.
"I..."
His deep voice echoed throughout the prison.
"...am Drakar."
He slowly rose to his feet.
The chains binding his wrists clattered loudly.
Each movement made the ground tremble.
"I am one of the..."
"...SIX ARCHDEMON GENERALS..."
"...OF DARKAIN."
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"And..."
"...the Representative of Dragonkind."
For a moment...
Complete silence filled the prison.
Then his expression became colder than ice.
"And do you know..."
"...what race I despise above all others?"
Shalo swallowed nervously.
"...N-No..."
Drakar slowly stepped closer.
"So..."
"...they've imprisoned..."
"...an elf..."
"...inside my cell."
His dragon tail slammed against the stone floor.
CRACK!
The ground split apart.
"I HATE ELVES!"
The thunderous roar echoed throughout the underground prison.
Shalo's entire body trembled.
His face turned pale.
Without another word...
Drakar turned away.
He returned to the corner of the prison.
Closed his eyes.
And remained completely silent.
Shalo could only stare.
His heartbeat refused to calm.
"...What kind of monster..."
"...have they locked me beside...?"
...
Far away...
Within the Kingdom of Frostalia...
A luxurious carriage slowly rolled through the peaceful streets before coming to a stop in front of a magnificent mansion belonging to the royal family.
The carriage door opened.
A five-year-old boy calmly stepped outside.
He possessed neat black hair and clear sapphire-blue eyes that reflected intelligence far beyond his age.
Though still a child...
His posture carried quiet elegance.
Beside him stood a graceful maid dressed in a spotless uniform.
On his other side waited a royal knight whose expression remained alert as his eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.
The knight bowed respectfully.
"Your Highness."
"The young prince is inside."
The child simply nodded.
"I know."
Without another word...
He entered the mansion.
His footsteps echoed softly throughout the quiet corridors.
The servants respectfully lowered their heads as he passed.
No one dared interrupt him.
Eventually...
He stopped before a beautifully crafted wooden door.
Without hesitation...
He pushed it open.
Creeeak...
Warm sunlight entered the peaceful nursery.
Inside...
A tiny infant slept peacefully inside an elegant cradle.
Standing beside him...
Was an orange-haired butler.
Zox.
The moment the door opened...
Zox respectfully bowed.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
The young prince calmly nodded before walking toward the cradle.
Slowly...
He looked down at the sleeping infant.
His expression remained completely unreadable.
"So..."
"This is my little brother."
Silence.
He carefully observed the baby for several moments.
The room remained perfectly quiet.
Then...
He finally spoke.
"...Nothing special."
Without waiting for anyone's reply...
He simply turned around.
His footsteps echoed once again.
Moments later...
The nursery door quietly closed behind him.
Click.
Silence returned.
Inside the cradle...
The sleeping baby's crimson eyes slowly opened.
"So..."
Erek thought calmly.
"...that was Alendro Frostalia."
"My older brother."
Beside him...
Zox quietly chuckled.
"He seems like quite a good older brother..."
He scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"Certainly much better than I ever was."
To his surprise...
A calm voice suddenly echoed directly inside his mind.
"No."
Zox blinked.
"My Lord?"
"You..."
"...are the better brother."
Zox froze.
Erek continued calmly.
"He merely looked at an infant..."
"...and declared..."
"...'Nothing special.'"
"You..."
"...crossed the boundary between life and death..."
"...just to stand beside me again."
"...There is no comparison."
For several long moments...
Zox simply stood there.
His eyes gradually widened.
Then...
Tears slowly formed at the corners of his eyes.
"M-My Lord..."
His voice trembled.
"...You..."
"...praised me..."
Unable to contain himself...
He clenched both fists tightly.
"I've finally been acknowledged!"
"I knew my seven hundred years weren't wasted!"
He quickly wiped away his tears before clearing his throat.
"I apologize..."
"I became a little emotional."
A tiny sigh echoed inside his mind.
"You haven't changed."
"Hehe..."
"I'll gladly accept that criticism."
Silence settled over the nursery once more.
Then Erek spoke again.
"Zox."
"Yes, My Lord."
"...Have you been searching?"
Zox immediately understood.
"...For Alina?"
"Yes."
"I've searched everywhere I could."
"But..."
"...I still haven't found her."
Erek slowly closed his eyes.
His expression remained calm.
"There is no need to worry."
Zox looked toward the cradle.
"My Lord?"
"I can feel them."
"The heartbeat..."
"...of every Archdemon General."
"They're all alive."
"They simply haven't found their way back yet."
Hope slowly returned to Zox's face.
A smile spread across his lips.
"So..."
"My sister truly survived."
"I believed she had."
Erek calmly replied,
"You believed correctly."
Zox placed one hand over his chest.
"Then no matter how long it takes..."
"I'll find her."
"I'll find every one of our comrades."
Erek quietly looked toward the sunlight entering through the nursery window.
"...Good."
The peaceful silence lingered.
Until...
Time itself began to move.
Eleven years passed.
Far above the world...
Beyond the endless sea of clouds...
The World Tree stood in eternal silence.
one of the countless branches of the World Tree slowly broke away.
Calling it a branch was almost laughable.
Its sheer size rivaled entire mountain ranges.
As it descended, the sky disappeared beneath its shadow. Clouds were torn apart, the winds screamed, and even the sun seemed to vanish behind the colossal mass.
When it struck the surface of Eryndor...
The entire continent trembled.
Kingdoms shook. Mountains cracked. Rivers burst from their banks. Forests swayed as though caught in a divine storm.
It was not the fall of the World Tree...
It was merely the fall of a single branch.
No one understood what had happened.
No one knew why a branch of the World Tree had fallen.
Only one truth remained.
Something impossible...
Had just occurred.
...
Deep beneath the surface...
Far below the lands of Eryndor...
An ancient cave stretched endlessly into the darkness.
The violent tremors reached even its deepest depths.
CRACK!
Massive fissures spread across the ceiling.
Enormous boulders crashed downward one after another.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The cave slowly began collapsing.
Yet beyond the falling rocks...
Hidden beneath the ancient cavern...
Lay a kingdom unknown to the outside world.
Magnificent buildings carved from black stone stretched as far as the eye could see.
Ancient towers reached toward the cavern's ceiling.
Crystal lights illuminated the silent streets with a faint crimson glow.
The forgotten kingdom remained untouched by history.
Until...
The earthquake reached it.
Chunks of stone rained down from above.
The ground trembled continuously.
Dust filled the air.
Even then...
One person remained completely unmoved.
Inside a quiet chamber overlooking the underground kingdom...
A young man calmly sat upon an elegant chair beside a window.
His short black hair rested neatly above calm crimson eyes.
Though only eleven years old...
His expression carried a composure far beyond his age.
He wore finely tailored noble garments befitting a prince of Frostalia.
In one hand...
He held a delicate porcelain teacup.
Without the slightest trace of panic...
He slowly lifted it.
Sip.
He quietly drank his tea.
Another violent tremor shook the chamber.
CRAAASH!
A massive rock smashed through part of the ceiling only a short distance away.
Dust drifted through the room.
The young prince never even glanced toward it.
Instead...
His crimson eyes remained fixed upon the mysterious underground kingdom before him.
Calm.
Silent.
Observing.
As though the destruction surrounding him held no meaning at all.
A faint smile slowly appeared upon his face.
It was Erek Frostalia