"…Ellie…?"
Eryndor's voice barely existed.
It came out broken.
Weak.
Like the name itself had cut through something buried deep inside him.
The forest fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to disappear.
For thirty years—
That name had lived inside him like a wound that never healed.
And now—
She stood right there.
Alive.
Eryndor's breathing stopped completely.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
His heart slammed violently against his chest.
Jae stood frozen beside the Divine Flame of Curses as the vision stabilized around them.
Rain clouds rolled slowly across the dark sky above the forest clearing while faint moonlight spilled through the trees.
Nine figures stood together beneath ancient stone pillars carved with glowing runes.
And among them—
Ellie.
Eryndor's little sister.
Except…
She wasn't little anymore.
Jae's eyes widened slightly.
"…She grew up…"
The little girl Eryndor remembered was gone.
No more messy hair.
No more tiny hands grabbing his sleeve.
Now—
She looked around twenty-six.
Tall.
Elegant.
Silver hair flowed down her back in soft waves illuminated by pale moonlight. Her white and gold uniform resembled royal battle attire mixed with ceremonial robes, stitched carefully with glowing divine symbols along the sleeves.
A silver emblem rested over her chest.
The mark of the Nine Emperors.
A tear slowly rolled down his face.
"…Thirty years…"
His voice cracked violently.
"Thirty fucking years…"
His hand trembled.
Jae looked toward him quietly.
For the first time—
The monster history feared…
Looked human again.
Eryndor took a slow step forward instinctively.
Then another.
But suddenly—
He stopped.
His instincts screamed.
Eight others surrounded Ellie.
Each carried terrifying mana pressure.
And standing before them—
Was a man with short blond hair and a strange curled mustache.
He wore long dark robes lined with silver patterns resembling holy scripture, along with gloves stitched from enchanted beast leather.
His posture was straight.
Rigid.
Like a military instructor.
But the smile on his face—
Felt wrong.
Too perfect.
Too practiced.
Eryndor immediately moved backward into the darkness.
SHHHHH—
Dark energy flowed around his body.
His mana disappeared completely.
Jae frowned.
"…What did he just do?"
The Divine Flame of Curses answered softly.
"He used a move called shadow Art abyss Veil."
The darkness around Eryndor distorted.
"I don't know how he able to use that move as it only a shadow user move but with ernydor new self I'm not even surprised anymore."
"This move erases his presence entirely."
"No mana."
"No sound."
"Even breathing becomes undetectable."
Jae narrowed his eyes.
"…."
"It was created specifically for shadow user assassinations."
Eryndor crouched silently behind broken ruins near the clearing, his dark red eyes locked entirely onto Ellie.
Like if he looked away—
She might disappear again.
Then—
The blond instructor finally spoke.
"Remember this well."
His voice echoed calmly across the clearing.
"The nine of you were chosen for a reason."
The students stood straighter instantly.
"You were not selected merely because of talent."
He walked slowly in front of them.
Some of you possess wisdom."
He pointed toward a boy carrying ancient scriptures.
"Some possess strength."
A towering muscular man lowered his head respectfully.
"Some possess purity."
A silver-eyed girl clasped her hands in prayer.
The instructor smiled faintly.
"But fate…"
His tone darkened slightly.
"…does not care about the strong."
"…Nor the wise."
"…Nor scholars or saints."
His eyes sharpened.
"Fate only favors the chosen."
A pause.
"And that…"
He spread his arms.
"…is what all nine of you are."
The air itself felt heavy now.
"Blessed."
"Favored."
"Saved."
His smile widened unnaturally.
"The Great Divine Contractors themselves rescued each of you from cursed destinies."
"They gave your meaningless lives purpose."
"They delivered salvation."
The nine immediately lowered themselves onto one knee.
Every single one spoke together.
"WE ARE BLESSED TO BE SAVED BY THE GREAT DIVINE CONTRACTORS!"
Jae's face twisted immediately.
"…What the hell…"
Even Eryndor looked disturbed.
"…What is this brainwashed bullshit…"
The instructor raised both hands calmly.
"Now."
"Offer your gratitude."
The nine closed their eyes.
Then—
Together—
They began praying.
"To the holy Contractors…"
"Guides of humanity…"
"Chosen vessels of divine will…"
"May their wisdom cleanse the darkness…"
"May their strength preserve the world…"
"May their judgment deliver salvation…"
"We offer our lives…"
"Our loyalty…"
"Our fate…"
"To the divine path."
Silence followed.
Rain began falling softly through the trees.
Jae clenched his fists.
"…This feels wrong…"
The Divine Flame of Curses stared silently.
"Because it is."
The instructor nodded with satisfaction.
"Excellent."
"Now return to your assigned quarters."
The nine rose immediately.
Then slowly dispersed in different directions throughout the forest settlement beyond the clearing.
Eryndor's eyes never left Ellie.
Not once.
The moment she separated from the others—
He moved.
SHHHHH—
Darkness swallowed him again.
Shadow Art, Abyss Veil.
His figure faded into nothingness completely as he followed her through the rain-covered forest.
The night grew colder.
Rain poured harder now.
Ellie walked quietly beneath a lantern-lit pathway stretching toward the northern side of the settlement.
Jae noticed something strange immediately.
She wasn't guarded.
No chains.
No fear.
No visible suffering.
She looked…
Normal.
That confused Eryndor more than anything.
Eventually—
Ellie reached a nice big cottage resting near the edge of a snowy hill.
Warm light glowed softly through the windows.
Smoke rose gently from the chimney.
Peaceful.
Eryndor stopped atop the cottage roof silently.
Abyss Veil slowly faded from his body.
Now—
Only darkness concealed him.
Rainwater dripped from his cloak as he stood near the edge of the roof, just beyond the reach of the lantern light.
Then—
He looked through the window.
And froze.
Inside—
A family greeted Ellie immediately.
A middle-aged woman rushed toward her smiling warmly.
"Sweetie!"
She hugged Ellie instantly.
"How was the Emperor gathering?"
Ellie laughed softly.
"It was fine, Mom."
Mom.
Eryndor's pupils shook violently.
Inside the cottage—
Everything looked warm.
Safe.
A man sat near the fireplace reading while another younger boy ran toward Ellie excitedly.
"Did you really meet the other emperor's again?!"
Ellie smiled brightly.
"Mmh."
The younger child's eyes sparkled.
"That's so cool!"
Dinner rested on the table.
Fresh bread.
Soup.
Warm light.
Laughter.
Home.
Eryndor stood motionless in the rain.
Watching.
Silently.
His expression slowly broke apart.
"…She…"
Jae looked toward him quietly.
Eryndor's eyes trembled.
"She has a family…"
The rain intensified.
"They love her…"
His voice grew quieter.
"She has food…"
"A home…"
"Warmth…"
The little girl he failed to protect…
Had survived without him.
And somehow—
That hurt more than if she hated him.
Eryndor slowly lowered his head.
"I always wanted to find my sister…"
A tear rolled down his face.
"And save her…"
Inside the cottage, Ellie laughed again at something the younger child said.
Bright.
Happy.
Alive.
"But in the end…"
His voice cracked completely.
"I guess…"
"…she never needed me."
Jae's heart sank.
"No…"
"She did—"
But Eryndor couldn't hear him.
The years hit him all at once.
Thirty years.
Thirty years stolen from him.
Thirty years he could never get back.
Her birthdays.
Her childhood.
Her tears.
Her smiles.
Gone.
And now—
Another family held the place that once belonged to him.
Not because they stole it.
But because he failed to be there.
That realization destroyed him far more than hatred ever could.
Eryndor laughed softly.
Brokenly.
Then—
A sad smile appeared on his face.
One so painfully genuine that even Jae froze.
"Well then…"
The rain poured endlessly around him.
"…I guess this is goodbye."
Jae's eyes widened slightly.
"…He's leaving…?"
Eryndor turned away from the window slowly.
No rage.
No violence.
No revenge.
Just heartbreak.
"Farewell, Ellie."
His voice barely rose above the rain.
"You were a wonderful sister."
A tear fell from his chin.
"And I'm sorry…"
"…that I couldn't become a better brother."
He started walking away into the darkness.
Alone.
Again.
"I hope—"
"…Um…"
Eryndor stopped instantly.
Jae's eyes widened.
A small voice stood behind him.
"…Who are you?"
The rain fell harder.
Slowly—
Eryndor turned around.
And standing there beneath the lantern light—