I thought it was the end for me," Gallexe sobbed, clutching the king's cape. The crows were as thick as grass on the ground, eating the dead bodies. Fear was etched on the faces of Adamoth's soldiers at the horrifying scene. But for Adamoth, it was just a normal spectacle; he found the deaths of his cowardly comrades in war far more chilling.

The crows of Matar that ate the cursed bodies had their eyes changed color to black, but Matar did not notice it because they immediately left the place and held a meeting.

Present day (Xerxez's voyage to Scarlet Mist island)

From a distance, there was an island covered in mist, but the mist had a faint scarlet color. It was almost dawn when they reached the island. It was the first of six islands that was easy to reach.

"My apologies, Hyushen and King Xerxez, I can only go to the foot of the island. I'll wait here for your return..." He looked at Xerxez's companions, his soldiers. "May you still be complete upon your return." He looked at them seriously. Maladon had noticed that the three soldiers were wearing amulets, so he snorted mockingly.

The torches they carried were bright, but the fog was still so thick that they had a hard time moving forward. Hyushen was their guide since he had a round compass necklace. His book was getting a little wet and spattered with ash from the torch. The island looked like a mountain, and the path wasn't muddy because missionaries had maintained it, so there was no obstructive grass. Unusual birds also started to sing, a kind of bird they had never heard before, so Xerxez was amazed by the birds' noise. They could also smell the fragrance of the mist, which smelled like roses and tulips.

"I can see the scarlet flowers ahead," Hyushen said. "This is what the book was talking about. We're still far from the man's dwelling." Xerxez heard a rustling sound that Hyushen didn't notice.

"Shh, I think something is following us," Xerxez said, drawing his sword. The three soldiers behind him also poised their bows for the possible appearance of the mysterious rustling. There was a shadow behind the mist, but they couldn't make out its form. "Stay alert," King Xerxez told his soldiers.

"It ran to the right!"

"No, it's behind us!" said one.

"It's none of what you said!" said the soldier in the middle.

"King Xerxez, it seems you're right; even your soldier noticed it," Hyushen said. He took his dagger and also watched his surroundings. "According to the book, a ferocious animal roams this large island. Could it be one of them?"

"I don't know, but it moves very fast. I have a hunch there are many of them."

"Many?" Hyushen swallowed hard. "But according to the book, it's a Lynx that roams this large island."

"A Lynx?" Xerxez said. "So it's just a mountain cat."

"Don't say that... according to the book's story, after a terrifying ritual performed by the priest's wife, a change occurred on this island. The once gentle animals now bite."

"Don't panic. One of you monitors the back, and the two of you guard the sides," Xerxez ordered the three soldiers, who were bewildered with confusion.

"King Xerxez, this is the place where the great light came from. According to King Wendzar, the priest Covinnther invented a scientific device that many believed was magic. His wife used it to destroy the church of Cypriox, but she failed," Hyushen said, relying on the stories of the King of Cypriox, who was a witness to what happened. But the truth was, Covinnther's wife, Zeri, did not intend to destroy the churches but was desperately trying to revive her baby, Marguel, who had been dead for a week.

Flashback...

In those desperate hours, Zeri hadn't slept for days, weeping in front of her breathless child. Its skin had turned pale, it was cold, and it was starting to smell. Her husband was in the Cypriox prison and was unlikely to be released by the authorities for rebelling against the Cypriox system.

A voice entered her mind, a man with a deep voice that echoed like a bell. "I can give you what is impossible if you promise to obey me. Are you willing to sacrifice your faith for your child's life?"

"I have nothing left. They arrested my husband and will crucify him, and our child died because of their oppressive system... My family hates me too... The cause of all this misery is the Crux religion!" Zeri screamed in utter desperation.

"Then accept this cat." A black cat suddenly appeared before her, and Zeri's eyes became cat-like. She could see clearly even in the dark, and even the thick mist was no obstacle for her. The voice taught her how to use magic, and her consciousness was opened, and knowledge entered her mind as easily as a soul merging with her being. A necrocosmic energy that collects the knowledge of dead planets and people, especially in galaxies with dying planets and stars.

She used signals to teleport herself to the islands. And she took the unique stones to add to and power the teleportation mechanism. This is also why cats are currently roaming around Zeri. The barbarians fear her because of her cats, which are scattered throughout the Barbarian city.

End of flashback

Queen Zeri, the queen of the Shadow of the Crux, is the reason for the changes on the islands. The animals on the island are now elusive and a threat to those who visit. The legendary Lynx guards the island's jewels, the phoenix flower, which is rare to grow and bloom and is believed to be able to heal the diseases and curses of sorcerers and demons.

"King Wendzar said that the man who lives here can teach us where the phoenix flower is," Hyushen told Xerxez. "With it, your son can be cured from the monster's curse."

"Then guide us to the man's place, and we will take care of these shadows that keep appearing in the mist," Xerxez said.

Present day in Moonatoria

Queen Azonia remembered the appearance of the sorcerer Marguel; she was afraid he knew about her past infidelity. But one day, bad news arrived at the kingdom of Moonatoria: the enemy had attacked a small town that was part of Moonatoria.

"Your Majesty, the homes of the citizens in the town of ___ are burning. The enemy has burned the fishermen's houses, and some of their pets were killed... Some people died when they fought them."

"Who did this despicable thing?" Harthur said.

"You won't believe what I'm about to say... Because they were from Tha—" he was still out of breath. "They were wearing Thallerion armor!"

"Tha-Thallerion!!???" King Harthur spluttered in shock.

"Isn't that—"

(The story cuts off here.)

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

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. Who

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