The capital stood unmoved beneath the morning sky. Stone towers rose with quiet authority, banners of Aurelian swaying in the wind. Within its walls—order remained. Unlike Velmora.
Inside the command hall— Silence held.
General Knight Vaelric stood at the center, hands resting behind his back as the heavy doors opened.
Footsteps echoed. Measured. Controlled.
Captain Soren Vol entered.
He stopped several paces away. Straightened. Then spoke.
"…Report."
His voice was calm. But carried weight.
"Velmora Village—has been completely annihilated." A pause. "No survivors."
The air tightened.
Soren continued. "Cause of destruction—coordinated Mist Wraith deployment."
He stepped forward slightly.
"Multiple summoning devices were found across the village. Red-core stones encased in patterned cages—functionally identical to previously recorded summoning artifacts." A brief pause...
"However…"
His eyes narrowed slightly. "This was not random." He reached into his coat. Pulled out a folded note. "Inside the village chief's residence—this was recovered."
He extended it. General Vaelric took it. Opened it. His gaze stilled.
Soren spoke. "…It contains a single name."
"…Renn Valehart."
Silence. Before it could settle— A Royal Knight entered swiftly.
"Sir—Captain Arden and his unit have arrived at the capital gate."
Vaelric didn't look away from the note. "…Send them in."
Moments later—
The doors opened again. Captain Arden Vol entered. Followed by— Renn, Kael, Lio, Seris and Taren.
They stopped in formation. Each raised a fist to their left chest. Aurelian salute.
Soren glanced sideways. A faint smirk forming. "…Long time no see, cousin." His tone carried sarcasm. Light, but edged.
Arden's expression hardened immediately. "Captain Soren," he replied flatly, "I'm glad you're still alive."
"…Of course I am." Soren crossed his arms slightly. "I may not have handled the recent mission well…" A pause. "…but it seems one of your lackeys is tied to this mess…Which makes it your problem now."
The tension sharpened instantly.
"That's enough."
Vaelric's voice cut through the room like steel. Both captains straightened immediately. Silence returned. Vaelric stepped forward slightly.
"…I'll speak plainly."
His gaze moved— And stopped on Renn. "…They were looking for you…Renn Valehart."
The name hung in the air. Soren studied him more closely now. "…So this is him." A slight tilt of his head. "…Why would the Eclipsed Covenant take interest in someone like you?"
Vaelric answered. "…He eliminated the 11th and 12th Seats."
Silence. Real silence. Soren's expression shifted for the first time.
"…You're serious?"
"…How did they even find them?" Soren continued, voice low. "Those two are among the most untraceable maniacs in the Covenant."
A pause.
"And on top of that…" His gaze sharpened. "…they killed them?"
Vaelric exhaled lightly. "I suppose it was inevitable they would cross paths."
He turned slightly. "Velmora lies near Eldermire. I've already dispatched Royal Knights to secure the surrounding areas."
Renn stepped forward. "…That's not enough..." All eyes turned.
"I'll go."
No hesitation. No doubt. Vaelric studied him for a moment. Then nodded once.
"…Very well." A pause. "Your departure is authorized." His voice lowered slightly.
"…Be careful, Valehart."
The meeting ended.
Transition —
The gates of Aurelian opened. A single horse rushed forward. It was Renn. The wind cut past him as he rode without slowing.
Behind him— Four more followed.
Kael.
Lio.
Seris.
Taren.
Renn didn't look back. "…I told you." His voice carried through the wind. "I can handle this alone."
Taren rode closer. "…Yeah, no." A grin formed despite the tension. "We're a team." A pause. "The problem of one…is the problem of all."
Kael smirked.
"…Don't get the wrong idea." His grip tightened on his weapon. "I'm just here to test my strength."
Lio said nothing. Seris remained silent. But both followed without hesitation.
Eldermire stood prepared.
High wooden walls reinforced with Aether-lined beams surrounded the village. Royal Knights were stationed at every tower, every gate—alert, disciplined, ready.
The wind carried something. Fast.
"…Movement."
One of the gate guards narrowed his eyes, focusing on the distant figure sprinting toward them.
"…Is that—?" He squinted harder. "…That's not a white robe."
Too late.
A purple-black tendril shot forward.
It pierced through him instantly.
The second guard didn't even finish turning before another tendril struck— Both collapsed.
Above— The tower guards reacted. But the mist had already reached them. More tendrils surged upward. Piercing. Dragging. Bodies fell from the towers and hit the ground hard.
"ENEMIES INCOMING!"
The alarm shattered the village. Panic followed.
Villagers rushed toward bunkers, hidden beneath reinforced structures—places they had used before. Places they hoped they would never use again. Among them, some familiar faces. The same people Renn once protected. The same fear.
The Royal Knights gathered at the center of the village in front of the gate. Weapons drawn. Aether rising.
Silence.
Then, something flew overhead.
Red stone summoning devices.
They passed above the walls. Landed. "…What are those—?" Then suddenly it activated. Red light. Then, they appeared.
Elite Mist Wraiths.
Formed from nothing. Right in the middle of the village.
"Charge!"
The Royal Knights surged forward. Aether ignited across their bodies. Weapons coated.
The battle began.
Steel met corruption. The Mist Wraiths fought back. Even with limbs severed, they moved. Countered. Struck. The clash intensified, but the Royal Knights held.
Minutes passed, the wraiths fell one by one. The knights stood. Breathing heavily. Exhausted.
Then—
The gate opened.
Slowly. Creaking.
A purple-black mist poured through the entrance like a living shadow. It spread across the ground.
Then, a figure appeared. A silhouette. Still. Watching.
A robed man.
Then, he moved. Tendrils exploded outward. Fast and unseen. The front line instantly dead, gone. Pierced instantly. The backline froze. Shock.
Another wave of devices. Larger and heavier. They landed and instantly activated. From the red glow, five giant Mist Wraiths emerged. Massive. Violent.
One slammed the ground. The shockwave sent Royal Knights flying. Others barely held their footing.
The robed man stepped forward. Calm.
"…This will be your end."
He vanished— Reappeared among them. Killing the royal knights effortlessly.
Then, just before another strike—
CLANG.
A golden dagger deflected the tendril. The battlefield paused. Above, five figures stood on the village wall.
Renn.
Kael.
Lio.
Seris.
Taren.
Renn stepped forward. "…Lumindelle."
A voice answered. "…Finally. Some action." Golden light formed. A second dagger materialized in Renn's hand.
The five leapt down. Landing hard. Aether surged.
"…Another set of Royal Knights." The robed man tilted his head slightly. "…How annoying."
Renn didn't respond. His gaze moved. Across the fallen royal knights and some wounded.
Three giant Wraiths remained. "…Kael. Lio." A pause. "…Taren. Seris." His voice was calm.
"Take care of them."
They moved instantly. Auras ignited—
Crimson.
Blue.
Electric.
Violet.
They vanished and reappeared at the giants. In a single sequence, strikes landed. Precise. Overwhelming.
Now, only two remained. Renn and the robed man. Their eyes met. Renn's gaze are cold qnd focused. Unbelievably terrifying.
"…That's quite a look."
The man chuckled softly. Renn raised his hand. The dagger behind the man lifted— Then shot forward. It gazed the hood.
Renn caught the blade, pointing to the man. The man's expression changed. Serious.
Aether surged. Renn's aura rose, then stabilized. Flowing into his weapons.
"…Lumindelle."
Golden light erupted. A gauntlet of formed daggers wrapped around his arm. Refined. Sharp. Alive.
"…Show me what you've got." The man lowered his stance.
Renn moved. The ground shattered beneath him. He appeared instantly— Striking. The tendrils blocked. Renn's eyes narrowed.
The tendrils were extensions. Weapons controlled by Aether materialization.
Renn's aura compressed within the blade.
"Aether Art: Piercing Collapse."
The strike tore through several tendrils. But the man didn't flinch. They clashed.
Again.
Again.
The ground broke, Air split. Aether collided. Behind them, the others watched. This wasn't their fight. This was Renn's personal fight. A consequences for attacking the Eldermire.
Then, a tendril surged from behind Renn.
"…RENN!"
Taren shouted. The man's eyes widened. For a brief moment, he saw it. Renn didn't turn, didn't react. He knew.
The tendril stopped. Just short. The man smiled, slowly...
"…So."
"…You're Renn."
He reached up. Pulled back his hood. White hair fell into view. Eyes cold. Familiar...
"…Greetings." A faint smile.
Seris froze. "…Noir?"
Silence fell.
"…I've been looking for you." His gaze sharpened."... I'm here to claim your head, Renn Valehart."