POV of Matías Castleboard (past life)
Why is it that every time someone finds happiness, everything must be taken from them?
That question has haunted me my entire life… and it always will.
I hate my life, but I cannot leave it. I am condemned to keep breathing.
I felt my father's body collapsing in my arms.
He was giving his final effort to cling to a life he could no longer hold.
A life I failed to save.
"Father…" I whispered, clenching my fists in fury. "Don't leave me. Please… I…"
"No. Stop crying." His cold hands caressed my face. Even reason was useless now. "Son, you know there's nothing more to be done."
"No! Damn it… there is! Dad, be strong. Stay with me…"
I thought I was ready to lose him, ready to let him go. But I wasn't.
I laid my head on his chest, letting the tears overflow and shatter my heart.
"Son…" His voice was barely a breath. I couldn't move anymore. I was trapped in my own pain.
"Promise me… you'll take care of your mother… and your sister. They still have you."
They say a father should never witness the death of his child. That it is the most devastating thing in the world.
But I know, from experience, that loss clings to only one thing: pain.
"Don't leave me…" I whispered, digging my nails into the ground.
"Damn the gods… damn humanity… I hate you all."
I'll kill every one of you.
I screamed at the sky, scattering the vultures and making my sister and mother cry even harder.
I let everything out.
Rage, hatred, despair.
I felt my throat tearing apart, but the desire to kill was stronger than any scream.
When silence finally fell, only the flames remained, slowly devouring my house.
I could hear the tears of my mother and sister.
They no longer looked at me as a human… but as a monster.
Humans have limits. They are meant to stop madness from overflowing.
But when those limits break, all that's left is a man carrying his own pain… destroying the happiness of others.
I looked at my hands.
Stained with my father's blood.
"I swear… I'll end them all…"
My strength left me. My legs gave way, and I collapsed to the ground.
I don't know why this is happening to me.
Maybe… my only sin was to live.
Heh… who would have thought this would be the beginning of a story I could never escape?
When my head hit the ground, unconsciousness took me.
And everything turned black.
POV of Kael Lanpar (current life)
I slowly opened my eyes, letting my mind process the pain and frustration.
These dreams were becoming more and more frequent.
I didn't know if it was life mocking me, but I couldn't stop trembling.
I clenched my teeth and sighed, trying to silence those thoughts.
Instead, I ended up drawing my mother's attention, who could feel my shiver.
"What's wrong, Kal?" she asked, gently stroking my head. "Did you have a nightmare, my little one?"
"Yes… I think it was a nightmare," I replied, moving off her lap to sit up. "How much longer until we arrive?"
"We're almost there, Kal," my father said with a smile. "I see you're eager to meet new friends."
"Yes… I guess so," I muttered, looking out the carriage window.
This day seemed important, although I didn't understand why.
The mere fact that both Alfin and Mayrei moved through the trees with their masks, hiding at every moment, spoke louder than appearances.
It didn't help that over 400 Destroya-ranked mages were riding behind us, armed and ready for anything.
If I heard correctly, this was supposed to be a gathering of all the clans… but such heavy security was already reason enough to be suspicious.
"Kal," my father said, drawing my attention. "I want you to stay with Nova at all times. Don't leave his side for a single moment. Understood?"
"Understood, Father," I nodded.
Just seconds after promising him I wouldn't stray from my protector, I caught sight of a massive city on the horizon.
Noblezia.
The city of the clans.
Even though we were still some distance away, its sheer majesty towered before us.
Two colossal statues, as tall as the skyscrapers of my previous life, rose into the sky like eternal sentinels.
They were not mere sculptures of stone: deep within me, I could feel that these statues were alive… and that they carried out a sacred duty of protection that transcended time.
With every meter we advanced, more details emerged before my eyes.
Eagles soared across the skies with their vigilant riders, discreetly escorting our carriage.
Mages, clad in ceremonial robes, formed a solemn line as they passed through the city gates one by one.
When we finally crossed the threshold, we were greeted by a wave of applause that filled the air.
The cheers of the citizens intertwined with the vibrant echoes of trumpets announcing our arrival.
The people's gazes fell upon my parents with an intensity difficult to describe.
The young looked at them with burning admiration; the adults, with quiet hope; and the elders, with a respect only forged by time and memory.
I don't know much about the history of my lineage or the old scars of the kingdom.
I've been so lost in my thoughts that sometimes I forget I've been given another chance at life.
It's not all bad; learning to carry my past has given me a different kind of strength.
But maybe… just maybe, it would be wiser to focus, even a little, on the life I have now.
I didn't ask for it, but I don't plan to waste it either.
When the carriage stopped, we stepped down.
My mother took my hand with a delicacy only she possessed and gave me a warm, maternal smile.
"Smile, Kal. The people are counting on us."
I nodded silently and stepped down.
I felt like I was walking a runway: the crowd formed two columns on either side, clapping and chanting a phrase that, though unknown to me,
resonated powerfully through the air:
"Vivi sao Lanpar ehore to mundo und hilai gea."
I didn't yet understand the customs of this place, so I didn't dwell on it.
As we crossed the palace gates, where the other clan leaders awaited, a thunderclap tore through the sky.
For a moment, I could have sworn lightning would strike me…
Bolts danced among the clouds until, suddenly, a blinding, deafening light descended from the heavens, landing right beside my father—who didn't even flinch.
"Striker Boro," my father declared firmly, addressing the imposing man now standing beside him. "It is an honor that you've traveled from so far to aid us."
"The honor is mine, Your Majesty," the man exclaimed, kneeling respectfully before rising again. "We'd best head inside. There is no time to lose."
Without another word, my father led the way, and we crossed the massive marble doors that guarded the entrance.
As we stepped into the palace, eight faces greeted us—each one bearing a different, heavy emotion at our arrival.
This was no ordinary gathering… and we all knew it.
"Nova," my father commanded with authority, "take Kael to join the other heirs of the clans. Protect him."
"As you command, Your Majesty," Nova replied, giving me a look that needed no words to be understood.
I obeyed and slowly moved away from my parents, though a dark premonition pressed heavily on my chest.
I didn't know what was coming, but it didn't bode well.
Before disappearing entirely into the crowd, my eyes locked with those of an old man staring straight at me.
His gaze held no hatred or malice—only a deep, indescribable love.
Who was that man?
POV of Xavier Lanpar
Seeing my son walk away, I advanced toward what awaited me ahead.
I knew this was bad.
I had long suspected that this day would come… but I never imagined it would arrive so soon.
With a few subtle gestures of my hands, I sent signals to Alfin and Mai, who lay hidden on the rooftops, ready to follow and protect Kael.
Too many clan leaders present today harbor their own agendas concerning the Lanpar family. And to be honest, few are worthy of trust.
But, as always, I have no other choice.
It is for the good of the kingdom.
It is for the good of Auroria.
"Your Majesty," I heard the voice of my father-in-law. "I'm glad you graced us by bringing my grandson. He's grown."
"Father-in-law," I replied, firmly shaking his hand. "We've been busy governing the kingdom. And yes… Kal has grown. He's far more intelligent than he appears."
After the formal greetings and the usual exchanges among those gathered in the hall, we wasted no more time.
Mabel, after saying goodbye to her father, withdrew.
Here, each of us had a role to play.
"I see you've taken good care of my daughter," my father-in-law said with a heavy sigh, his gaze laden with more meaning than his words conveyed. "Now, let's get to the point… how bad is it?"
"It's best we discuss this in the council chamber," I replied as I began to walk. "This will only strain the already fragile relations we have with these clans."
"I see…" he murmured before following in step.
Upon arriving at the council chamber, the same hardened faces as always greeted us.
The old lords—who, despite being close to my age, bore on their faces the marks of centuries of intrigue and historical burden.
"I see you only come bearing bad news, King Lanpar," spat the leader of the Trident clan, venom lacing his voice. "Surely you've come to admit you can't bear the weight of ruling the human kingdom."
"If you'll allow me," I said, tempering the flicker of my patience, "this goes far beyond our internal disputes and the skirmishes with the revolutionaries."
This, without a doubt, was the prelude to something dark.
"First, I want everyone to calm down and see things with the clarity this situation demands."
"Out with it, Xavier," Rengar Orouh interrupted impatiently. "What could be so dire?"
Before uttering the words that would condemn the atmosphere and drop the weight of all who trusted me squarely on my shoulders, I gave a signal to Boro.
With a simple snap of his fingers, an invisible electric field enveloped the entire room as he positioned himself behind my seat at the end of the vast oval table.
I've never liked being the bearer of bad news… but I have never run from my duty.
"As you all know, these past few years have gifted us peace, tranquility… and hope. But…" I paused, searching for words that might cut through the arrogance of those listening. "That is over."
"What do you mean 'it's over'?" my father-in-law, leader of the Astarior clan, asked, his voice already hardened. "Don't tell me we're at war with other races."
"No…" I swallowed hard, feeling a cold emptiness settle in my chest.
My hands trembled, my voice faltered.
I was afraid… truly afraid.
"It's something much worse."
We are on the brink of entering a continent-wide war we cannot win.
There is no victory for us.
A sepulchral silence gripped the chamber.
Everyone glanced at each other, trying to read in one another's faces the magnitude of what they had just heard.
It was natural… they didn't even know yet what enemy we faced.
This was the beginning of the end for our continent.
All kingdoms will fall.
There is no salvation.
There will be no happy ending.
"Hahahahaha! What the hell are you talking about, Lanpar? What nonsense has gotten into your head?" scoffed the leader of the Midorian clan—a clan with whom we shared a dark and poisoned past. "We humans are the damned most powerful race on this cursed continent."
His voice was the spark that ignited the powder keg.
The room exploded into shouts and curses.
Crossed voices, accusations, denials…
Few were those who, in silence, were already beginning to glimpse the reality of the threat looming over us—but even they were not ready to accept it so easily.
I had believed this was the era of a new peace… but it was nothing more than the final breath before the end.
"Silence, all of you!" I roared, letting the full weight of the authority tied to my name crash down.
It was then that we heard the hurried footsteps approaching, echoing urgently through the hallways.
A soldier burst in, flinging the door open.
His armor was in tatters, his face drenched in sweat, blood, and despair.
He was gasping, on the verge of collapse.
"My king…" he managed to say, spitting blood between his words. "They are here."
I rushed to catch him before he fell to the ground.
My gaze lifted, sweeping across the faces of my father-in-law, Boro, and the other clan leaders.
There was no more time for games.
The hour had come.