Rain fell softly across the northern hills.
Cold.
Endless.
The cottage behind Ellie glowed warmly against the darkness of the night, its lantern light spilling across the wet grass like a fragile piece of peace trying to survive in a broken world.
And standing before that warmth—
Was Eryndor.
Silent.
Motionless.
Broken.
The rain dripped slowly from his black cloak while the wind shifted through his long dark hair. His eyes stared at the girl in front of him as if he couldn't fully believe she was real.
Ellie stood beneath the doorway lantern.
Confused.
Cautious.
A little afraid.
But mostly—
Curious.
"…Who are you?"
Her voice was soft.
Careful.
Behind her, Jae could still hear laughter faintly coming from inside the cottage. Plates clinked together. Warm voices drifted through the rain.
Home.
Family.
Life.
Things Eryndor had lost thirty years ago.
For a long…
Long…
Long time—
He didn't answer.
The silence stretched painfully between them.
Jae watched carefully.
"…Say something…"
Eryndor's lips parted slightly.
Closed again.
Then finally—
"…I am your brother."
His voice almost cracked.
"…Eryndor."
The rain stopped feeling cold for a moment.
Ellie froze completely.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then—
Something changed.
Bright blue mana exploded from her body instantly.
SHHHHHHH—
Light erupted around her like divine fire.
Jae's eyes widened.
"…What the hell—"
Her pupils glowed bright blue.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
The innocent confusion vanished immediately.
"Who are you really?"
Her voice became colder instantly.
Controlled.
Military-like.
"I only have one brother."
Mana crackled violently around her fingertips.
"And he's eating inside right now."
The temperature around them dropped sharply as divine energy gathered in the air.
"Now…"
She slowly raised one hand.
"I won't ask twice."
The glowing blue aura intensified around her arm.
"…Who are you?"
Eryndor stood frozen.
Not because of the mana.
Not because of the threat.
But because of the words.
"I only have one brother."
Jae saw it clearly.
That sentence hurt him more than any blade ever could.
Eryndor studied her silently.
The way she stood.
The way she spoke.
The way she instinctively prepared for combat.
Even the way her eyes carried no recognition whatsoever.
Nothing.
Not even a fragment.
And slowly—
His hand clenched into a fist.
"…These people…"
His voice lowered.
"…adopted you, didn't they?"
Ellie didn't lower her guard.
"…Yes."
Eryndor nodded faintly.
"…I see."
Rainwater slid down his face slowly.
Then—
He asked quietly:
"…Do you remember anything from your childhood?"
Ellie's brows furrowed slightly.
No answer.
Eryndor noticed immediately.
"…Anything at all?"
Still—
Silence.
Jae narrowed his eyes.
"…Wait…"
Ellie looked away slightly.
"…I…"
She hesitated.
"…No."
The answer came quieter this time.
"…Not really."
Something shifted in Eryndor's expression.
Pain.
Real pain.
"…Doesn't that seem strange to you?"
Ellie's eyes narrowed again.
"My memories are none of your concern."
"Thirty years…"
Eryndor whispered softly.
"…And not a single memory remains…"
Jae suddenly realized something horrifying.
"…Someone erased them…"
The Divine Flame of Curses remained silent beside him.
Which was answer enough.
Eryndor slowly lifted his gaze toward Ellie again.
"…It's like someone wanted you to forget."
Ellie's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Stop talking."
"…Forget us."
"…Forget your real family."
BOOOOOOM—
Blue divine mana exploded outward violently.
"SHUT UP!"
The ground beneath Ellie cracked instantly.
The rain evaporated around her body as overwhelming energy condensed into her raised palm.
Jae's eyes widened.
"…That mana…"
It was beautiful.
Terrifyingly beautiful.
Light-blue energy spiraled around Ellie's arm like a living galaxy. Ancient symbols formed one after another across the air while divine particles floated upward like glowing feathers.
The forest illuminated completely.
Even the clouds above began glowing faintly blue.
The Divine Flame of Curses spoke quietly.
"…Divine Art, Celestial Ruin."
Jae looked shocked.
"That doesn't sound defensive at all—"
"It isn't."
The divine flame's tone grew serious.
"That attack could erase this entire mountain."
Ellie's expression trembled with anger now.
"People like you…"
Blue light intensified violently.
"…keep trying to poison the world with lies!"
The divine symbols behind her multiplied rapidly.
A massive circular sigil formed in the sky above the forest.
Jae's eyes widened immediately.
"…She's actually going to use it—"
Eryndor finally reacted.
And for the first time since meeting her—
Panic appeared on his face.
"WAIT!"
His voice thundered across the forest.
"ELLIE!"
She flinched slightly.
"If you release that attack here—"
He pointed toward the cottage.
"YOU'LL KILL THEM!"
The light flickered slightly.
"STOP!"
But Ellie's emotions had already spiraled too far.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!"
Tears formed in her glowing eyes.
"You liar!"
BOOOOOOOOM—
The sigil above the sky fully activated.
The forest shook violently.
Trees bent under the pressure.
The cottage windows cracked instantly.
Jae's heart dropped.
"…She can't control it…"
Eryndor closed his eyes slowly.
Then—
He sighed.
A tired…
Broken sigh.
"…I didn't want to do this."
The air changed.
Instantly.
The rain stopped midair.
The forest fell silent.
Even mana itself seemed to freeze.
Jae's entire body locked up.
"…What…"
Darkness spread beneath Eryndor's feet slowly.
Not shadows.
Not mana.
Something worse.
Something ancient.
Something that felt fundamentally wrong.
The Divine Flame of Curses spoke softly.
"…Hell Judgment."
The world darkened.
Ellie's divine light trembled violently.
And then—
Eryndor opened his eyes.
CRACK.
The pressure descended.
Jae's breathing stopped instantly.
For a single horrifying moment—
It felt like the gates of hell themselves had opened behind Eryndor.
Countless invisible screams echoed faintly through the darkness.
The forest floor blackened.
The trees bent unnaturally.
And Ellie—
Collapsed.
Her divine attack shattered instantly.
The blue sigil exploded apart into fragments of light before disappearing completely.
Her body dropped onto the wet grass unconscious.
Silence followed.
Jae's eyes were wide.
"…That pressure…"
Even he felt shaken.
Eryndor stared down at Ellie silently.
"…I'm sorry…"
Then—
Something happened.
Ellie's body twitched suddenly.
Her brows tightened painfully.
And inside her mind—
The chains broke.
Memories flooded back violently.
Like a dam collapsing after decades of pressure.
A little boy smiling.
Warm hands.
Laughter.
Training together.
A destroyed kingdom.
Blood.
Fire.
Screaming.
"RUN ELLIE!"
Her eyes trembled violently beneath her eyelids.
Images flooded endlessly through her mind like a storm.
Memories she never knew existed.
Memories stolen from her.
Eryndor carrying her on his back.
Eryndor protecting her.
Eryndor smiling.
Eryndor crying.
"Big brother!"
"Ellie!"
The flood became unbearable.
Tears streamed down her unconscious face.
Jae watched silently.
"…They really erased her memories…"
The Divine Flame of Curses nodded slowly.
"The Divine Contractors could not risk the sister of Eryndor remembering who she truly was."
Jae expression darkened slightly.
"…Cowards."
Minutes passed silently beneath the rain.
Then—
Ellie slowly opened her eyes.
Weakly.
Confused.
The first thing she saw—
Was him.
Standing there beneath the rain.
Watching her quietly.
Not as a monster.
Not as a legend.
Just—
A brother.
Ellie's lips trembled.
Her breathing shook.
"…Brother…?"
Silence.
And Eryndor's eyes widened.