Night draped the land in quiet solitude as a gentle breeze stirred the canvas flaps of Midgard, the enchanted cart that had served Rei as both transport and home. Its interior was dimly lit by a floating crystal embedded in the ceiling—a faint blue glow that cast long, soft shadows across the wooden room. Though compact, the space was meticulously arranged, with hidden compartments, shelves holding scrolls, and racks of weapons polished to a warrior's standard.
Rei knelt beside a small trunk, the lid open, filled with tools of subtle violence. His eyes, calm but focused, scanned each item before adding it to his hidden armory. Daggers were slipped into compartments sewn into the inside of his cloak, throwing knives tucked into the lining of his belt, and a coiled wire embedded with sharp hooks was strapped beneath his arm. Finally, he drew a sleek, flat dagger and slid it into the custom sheath embedded in the heel of his boot.
Click.
He pressed the inside of his shoe's heel and the dagger popped out slightly, just enough to be drawn in a heartbeat. Perfect. His preparations were nearly complete.
Unseen, but only a few steps away, Luc stood with arms folded, shrouded in shadow magic that rendered him completely invisible. The spell was tailored—not just for concealment, but for awareness. Every breath Rei took, every twitch of his fingers, every flicker of magical energy was being recorded by Luc's mind. His orders were clear: Protect Rei. Especially now.
Luc's expression was grave as he watched the young man prepare. Rei was strong, dangerously so. But the web being spun around him now was more insidious than any brute force.
All of this began, Luc knew, with Hanna.
Far from the safety of Midgard, in a crowded city nestled near the southern ridges of the great continent, Hanna sat in a poorly lit inn, counting coin under the dull light of a lantern. Her fingers trembled slightly as she placed copper, silver, and the rare gold coin into neat stacks. The total wasn't encouraging.
She leaned back, sighing, and stared at the ceiling beams. I'm stuck, she thought. She had worked as an adventurer for years—honestly, persistently—but no matter how many monsters she slew or how many missions she completed, something always held her back. Level 7. No matter what she did, she could not break through.
And worse, money had started to dry up. Her armor was worn, her sword dull, and inns were charging more with each passing moon. Something had to change.
The next morning, after a restless night, Hanna made her way to the Hunter's Tower. It was just after sunrise, and the usual crowd of hunters loitered about, nursing hangovers and exchanging boasts.
"Hanna," the receptionist called with a bright smile, "there are guests waiting for you in the east lounge. Very prestigious ones. This could be a big opportunity."
Confused, Hanna raised an eyebrow. "Guests?"
The receptionist nodded. "Trust me. You'll want to hear what they have to say."
Curiosity piqued, Hanna followed her down the hall. They stopped in front of a pair of ornate doors, unusually well-polished for the usually dusty hunter building. Inside, the air was cooler, scented faintly with incense.
Three figures stood waiting.
One wore golden and white armor—radiant and imposing, the crest of the Mystic Church engraved across his chestplate. Flanking him were two priests in robes of white and yellow, eyes calm and confident.
Hanna stepped forward, bowing slightly. "How may I help you?"
One priest smiled. "Lady Hanna, your record is impressive. We are representatives of the Mystic Church, and we believe your abilities would make you an ideal candidate for the role of Holy Knight. We are planning an expedition soon, and we'd be honored if you would join us."
Hanna blinked, stunned. This was sudden—but also… salvation. Prestige, wealth, and most importantly, purpose.
"I—I would be honored," she said, straightening. "Thank you."
The second priest produced a scroll. "A formal contract. Just sign here."
She signed without hesitation.
"Excellent," the first priest said. "You'll be transported to the Holy Garrison tomorrow. We'll cover all your costs. Rest well tonight, Lady Hanna."
Still reeling from the encounter, Hanna stepped out with a wide smile. A staff member nearby approached her.
"Let me escort you outside, miss."
She nodded and followed him. As they turned the corner and passed behind the lounge, the man opened his mouth to speak—but a sudden flash of steel silenced him. A blade pierced his back and emerged through his chest.
He gasped, stumbling forward, and the priest behind him sneered.
But something unexpected happened. The wounded man clutched the sword still embedded in him and, with a burst of strength, pushed forward. The priest, caught off guard, lost his grip and fell.
The staff member yanked the blade free with a painful roar, tossed it aside, and bolted down a side alley. Blood poured down his front, but he didn't stop.
The fallen priest staggered to his feet, furious. "Such strength—for a mere staff? No. You're no ordinary servant. A spy, aren't you? A dog of the king."
He snarled. "Holy Knight, after him!"
The armored knight dashed forward without a word, cape billowing behind him. The spy—his breath ragged, limbs weak—made his way to a dead end, then scaled a crumbling wall in a final desperate leap.
The Holy Knight followed, armor clanking—but when he landed on the other side, the alley was empty.
He searched for several minutes, but the man had vanished.
Eventually, he returned. The priest folded his arms.
"He escaped."
"No matter," the priest replied coldly. "We're moving to the open phase now."
He withdrew a parchment and unfurled it. Rei's name was written at the top, with a detailed profile beneath.
"This heretic… we will use his own sister to break him."
Five days later, deep in the capital's fortified castle, King Heinz sat at his long oaken desk, his fingers tightening around a freshly arrived letter.
His brows furrowed as he read.
"So… they've begun their move."
He stood abruptly, crossed the room, and pulled open a small chest marked with a golden dragon emblem.
A hidden compartment opened inside, revealing scrolls encoded in magical formations only a royal spy could decipher. He selected three, wrote swiftly, then raised his ring. and a 3 birds came and took the letters.
"To Luc," he murmured. "And to all agents protecting Rei and his family. give your all"
That night, back in the shadow of the woods, Luc unfolded the letter inside a hollow tree.
The he decipher the magic formation and unlocked the seal.
He read, and his eyes narrowed.
"So," he whispered, voice cold as steel. "We've reached the second phase… Enemies who use light to hide the dark."
He looked through the trees where Midgard rested quietly.
"Let them come," Luc murmured, fingers curling into fists. "This time, we won't let them take anything."
And overhead, the stars watched silently—witnesses to the war brewing in the hearts of men and gods alike.