We are now at the so-called old castle... it is here in this place that the map is allegedly hidden." King Klopheous said, as they were still riding their horses while looking around.

"This place is scary." Heshun blurted out, his voice practically trembling. "Look at the faces of the statues of the horse-men... they look alive."

"Is that so?" King Klopheous replied. "Haha, you seem to know nothing about the Centaur Entity."

"Are we really serious... we are going inside that old castle?"

"Of course... are you a coward?"

"At my age... I'm scared? I am not scared... I am just worried... is it true that there is a treasure in this castle... it looks like nothing but a rat's nest?" Heshun frowned.

"A sorcerer mentioned it to me... he said that the map is hidden in this castle, and there are even treasures hidden inside. Come on, let's search it thoroughly."

As they entered the spacious area surrounded by large walls, underneath were fractured, large chunks. There were even snakes slithering on their path. The heads of the statues were also scattered on the floor, like stones dropped from high mountains.

"It seems we've been going around in circles for a while now... where is that treasure you speak of?" They all stopped in a wide area, their horses stomping as if feeling a heavy energy from the floor.

"Don't be so impatient... we're just starting our exploration."

"King Klopheous... look, it seems there's writing on the wall..." said one of their companions.

King Klopheous' attention was immediately caught, and he leaned in.

"The one who wishes to see my form, desires war." King Klopheous read in his mind.

"King Klopheous... what is the meaning of the writing... we can't read it because the style of writing is different." Heshun said.

"I don't understand it either... it's just an obsolete style of writing."

"Perhaps it would be better... if we split up and search so we can find the map quickly."

"I don't think that's a good idea... we are not familiar with this place... what if there are traps here or maybe ferocious monsters nesting here."

****************************************************************************************************

Moonatoria boasted a generational bloodline of Ursa-entity power, meaning that pure Moonatorians inherited Ursa-entity abilities, their very essence steeped in ursine might. King Hedromus wasn't the sole shapeshifter; many Moonatorian warriors could transform into ferocious, wild bears. Yet, there were unfortunate Moonatorians, those of the lowest rank, mere pawns summoned to riot, frontier soldiers for whom survival or death held neither benefit nor honor.A blinding light suddenly struck Xerxez vision, then, on his mind it feels like he was teleported into the different dimension, but this time, the surrounding become louder. The visual swept him from a blinding light space into a terrifying scene. Though it is fragmenting.

"Woah, what was that light?"

He saw the light violently crashing down from the sky. He saw a wide, glowing shield affixed to the heavens like an ultimate, unbreakable barrier, and a creature trying to destroy it with a powerful mechanism. The boy was too young to understand, ignorantly watching the face of nightmare.

GRAWRR!!!!!

"Ah, is that a monster?"

"If this is still real, then, I saw a real monster, a long-tailed creature breathing fire...His is fighting...and fighting... against magic and powerful weapons? and then he become a— boy? Who is that boy? Oh, it disappear!"

Then, a vertical line rise in the sky. There is a black. An open field in the sky. Suddenly, there are giant tentacles appear too! It resembling claws, and trying to widen the hole in the sky.

"Whoah, there is a monster face, made of thorny evil energy, a halo of dark purple monster, peeked out from it. Its eyes, like... like the galaxies with malicious intent? Ehh, he stared at me!"

One tentacle, it coil at him, like an octopus!

"No, I have nothing to do with this, the man just brought me here." The boy felt like peeing himself in fear at the sight of the lashing monster as he was gripped. "Let me go!!! Please, no, don't eat me!!!"

It lunged, not just grabbing, but enveloping the boy in its crushing grip, the air squeezed from his lungs, his bones groaning in protest. He felt himself being pulled towards its mouth, not just swallowed like an egg, but pulverized, created, absorbed into its very essence, his consciousness dissolving into a painful, eternal scream as he became one with the terrifying creature.

"If this is what he say, life and death? Then, this is not funny!"The boy wake up, leaning in the moss coated tree, he sat on the green grass carpeted by dried leaves. Soaked in sweat, his heart hammering against his ribs like a desperate drummer. He gasps.

'It ate me! Like... like a perfectly poached egg!

He scrambled up, still half-convinced, he was being swallowed. He ran to the stream, while the monster's face still echoed in his mind. The water was like a mirror before him, and then he carefully examined his reflection. He mumbled.

'Wait a minute,' tickling his stomach. 'I don't feel like, I was eaten by a cosmic horror. I actually feel... a little hungry. You know, for a monster horror-sized breakfast.

'Maybe some eggs, but definitely not poached. Scrambled. Yeah, scrambled would be good. Less chance of triggering my terrifying dream memories. Or steaming boiled eggs.'

He pause, then whispering to his reflection, 'Though, I have to admit, that monster had good taste. Hehehe, It feels like I'm a delicious kid.'On that very evening, when the clock struck midnight, a strange pull seized him. He was drawn once more into the dagger's void—not in body, but in spirit. His form remained asleep in the mortal realm, yet his consciousness now drifted through the silent expanse of the blade's inner world.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Martheuw Cereun said, his voice heavy with sorrow. The walls around them flickered faintly, their light dimming as though the void itself grieved.

The young prince's joy—once bright and warm—had faded into a solemn calm. He stood alone now, shoulders trembling, but his hands were firm—his fists clenched with quiet resolve.

"No," he said at last, voice steady. "Enough with sorrowful words. They gave their lives to kindle a new hope for every child of Thallerion. They faced Moonatoria—a beast none could ever defeat—and still they stood their ground."

Martheuw inclined his head. "You are brave. Your grandfather was right—perhaps the bravest boy in all of Thallerion."

His gaze deepened, studying the boy as though peering beyond flesh and bone.

"I see now... you are not of pure Orion blood. There is another starline within you—Cephues. I can help you awaken it. But first, you must train... mentally."

The boy frowned. "Mentally?"

Martheuw nodded slowly. "Yes. For those who bear the Cephues bloodline, the mind is both their forge and their doom. Should they suffer deeply—should despair consume them—they may walk one of two paths: to rise as heroes... or to fall as destroyers."

The boy's eyes widened. "Wait... if I suffer too much, I'll turn into some... mad creature? No—I don't want that!"

A faint echo of sorrow crossed the spirit's face. "Perhaps not. But know this—those who gain immense power must hold an unshakable will. One blink of hatred, one whisper of vengeance... and humanity itself could vanish. That is why, long ago, the Cephues lineage was hunted. Entire generations were slain. Even Infants were not spared."

" Then, why Herzthroven bloodline still exist if my ancestors were hunted down back then?"

"There are so many bloodlines extinct. But, survival is a common goal of everyone, power ability help them survive, but those who were weaker will be forgotten until it extinct. So do you think Herzthroven bloodline is weak?"

" Huh? Well... I don't know...the current generation it seemed were normal people like the other bloodlines too."

" You're only lack of training. But once you forge yourself into something you could imagine...then, better future may awaits you there."

" Goodbye."

****

He woke up simultaneously to the rang of bell. WhoMoonatoria boasted a generational bloodline of Ursa-entity power, meaning that pure Moonatorians inherited Ursa-entity abilities, their very essence steeped in ursine might. King Hedromus wasn't the sole shapeshifter; many Moonatorian warriors could transform into ferocious, wild bears. Yet, there were unfortunate Moonatorians, those of the lowest rank, mere pawns summoned to riot, frontier soldiers for whom survival or death held neither benefit nor honor.A blinding light suddenly struck Xerxez vision, then, on his mind it feels like he was teleported into the different dimension, but this time, the surrounding become louder. The visual swept him from a blinding light space into a terrifying scene. Though it is fragmenting.

"Woah, what was that light?"

He saw the light violently crashing down from the sky. He saw a wide, glowing shield affixed to the heavens like an ultimate, unbreakable barrier, and a creature trying to destroy it with a powerful mechanism. The boy was too young to understand, ignorantly watching the face of nightmare.

GRAWRR!!!!!

"Ah, is that a monster?"

"If this is still real, then, I saw a real monster, a long-tailed creature breathing fire...His is fighting...and fighting... against magic and powerful weapons? and then he become a— boy? Who is that boy? Oh, it disappear!"

Then, a vertical line rise in the sky. There is a black. An open field in the sky. Suddenly, there are giant tentacles appear too! It resembling claws, and trying to widen the hole in the sky.

"Whoah, there is a monster face, made of thorny evil energy, a halo of dark purple monster, peeked out from it. Its eyes, like... like the galaxies with malicious intent? Ehh, he stared at me!"

One tentacle, it coil at him, like an octopus!

"No, I have nothing to do with this, the man just brought me here." The boy felt like peeing himself in fear at the sight of the lashing monster as he was gripped. "Let me go!!! Please, no, don't eat me!!!"

It lunged, not just grabbing, but enveloping the boy in its crushing grip, the air squeezed from his lungs, his bones groaning in protest. He felt himself being pulled towards its mouth, not just swallowed like an egg, but pulverized, created, absorbed into its very essence, his consciousness dissolving into a painful, eternal scream as he became one with the terrifying creature.

"If this is what he say, life and death? Then, this is not funny!"

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