The guards moved quickly, securing the remaining intruders. Thick ropes bound their hands and feet, and magical seals were etched over their robes, suppressing their ability to cast any spells. One by one, they were immobilized, groaning in pain as the enchantments locked them in place.
Kael lowered the dagger slowly and stepped toward Robert and Albert. Robert touched the shallow cut on his neck, wincing slightly. He turned toward Kael, eyes filled with worry.
"I'm okay… thank you for saving us," he said, voice steady yet heavy with gratitude. A small smile played across Kael's face in return, though it didn't reach his eyes completely.
"But Young Master… you know how to use the dagger?" Robert asked, still astonished. Kael paused, glancing at the dagger in his hand, and slowly shook his head. He didn't know how to wield it consciously; his body had moved on its own, guided by memory—or something deeper.
A sharp cough flinched both of them. Albert leaned against the wall, his face showing color for the first time since the battle, though still pale.
"What are you talking about… of course Lord Kael knows how to use it… he was the hero," Albert muttered, trying to reassure them. The guards began casting small healing spells on him, and his body visibly relaxed under their care.
Robert shot Albert a sharp glare, clearly displeased at the evasive answer. Albert simply smiled awkwardly and looked away.
Elric stepped forward then, her expression tight with concern. She knelt beside Robert, hands glowing softly as she examined his wound.
"The scar isn't deep, and the bleeding has stopped," she said while casting a gentle healing spell. Robert leaned back slightly, letting the warmth of the magic soothe him.
"Thanks…" he murmured quietly, his voice soft. Elric gave him a faint smile, though her thoughts lingered elsewhere.
Turning toward Kael, her gaze softened. "Are you hurt everywhere? As I said, you should've waited for us." Her fingers lightly touched his wrist, her tone gentle for once, without the usual firmness she used with others. Kael simply shook his head. She could see it wasn't from defiance—he was simply fine, or at least he thought so.
The remaining intruders groaned in pain as the guards began moving them toward the exit. Elric's sharp gaze followed them.
"Take them to the underground prison," she ordered. "Then send word to the Empire Capital. Investigate how they came here and why they were targeting this castle."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened to their murmurs while being dragged along. He could make out fragments of their whispers.
"Stain the hero…"
Suddenly, one of the intruders broke free. He lunged toward Kael, hands deftly untying himself while hiding a dagger inside his robe.
"Hero Kael… must die!!" he shouted, charging forward with murderous intent.
Before anyone could react, a shimmering barrier erupted around Kael, invisible yet solid. The force of the intruder's attack pushed him back, colliding against the barrier with a muffled thud. The man's mask slipped from his face, revealing his eyes wide with rage.
"Elric!" Kael's gaze flicked toward the figure, his mind racing—but Elric was already moving, giving orders sharply.
"Guards! Hold him!" she shouted, sprinting toward the chamber's center.
The intruder grinned, eyes locking onto Kael. His expression was twisted, unnerving.
"You think this is just the beginning? … No… this is the ending…"
Before anyone could respond, he bit something inside his mouth. A faint red glow spread through his body, his skin beginning to pulse ominously. Kael's eyes widened in recognition—the same ritual had started in all the intruders still present.
Elric's voice rose in alarm. "Everyone out! Now!"
Robert's face paled. He grabbed Albert's hand, pulling him toward the exit as Elric shouted Kael's name, commanding the guards to follow.
Kael's mind spun. Why did they want him dead? What had he done to deserve this? Then, fragments of memory from his dream with the dragon flickered in his mind: "The people in black robes… They killed my children."
Kael's eyes shifted back to the intruders. Their bodies were slowly turning red, veins glowing as the explosion approached—mere seconds from detonation. He held the dagger tighter, his breathing steady, face calm.
The intruders' screams echoed as the red glow intensified. Kael's gaze remained fixed, unflinching, calculating. He had no time to run, no time to fear. His mind replayed every movement, every lesson he had ever learned about timing, distance, and control.
Then the room erupted in a violent explosion. Fire and debris surged around him. Kael didn't move. The blast threw him slightly off balance, but he stood firm, dagger still clutched tightly. Through the smoke, the last thing he saw was Elric charging toward him, her figure barely visible through the chaos.
The explosion had torn through the basement like a storm, shattering stone and scattering debris across the chamber. Dust filled the air, choking the lungs of anyone left in its wake. Robert barely had time to react, grabbing Elric and yanking her away just as the blast surged toward them. She coughed violently, eyes watering from the smoke.
Robert's grip tightened as he looked around frantically. Amid the chaos, he realized something that sent a cold shiver down his spine—Kael was not with Elric. His heart thumped violently against his chest.
"Young master… where is he?" Robert's voice cracked, panic creeping in. He ducked under falling rubble, weaving through the survivors who had stumbled out, all coughing and disoriented. He called again, louder this time, desperation sharpening each syllable. "Young master! Where are you?!"
Elric sank to her knees, hands trembling as tears streaked her cheeks. She had seen Kael just before the explosion, standing firm as if he could withstand the blast itself. But she hadn't managed to pull him to safety. Her voice broke as she whispered, almost to herself, "I… I can't save him…"
Robert's stomach tightened, a wave of dread consuming him. His hands clenched, knuckles white. "N… Nooo!" He pressed forward through the smoke and debris, calling Kael's name over and over, each shout more frantic than the last.
Slowly, the smoke began to dissipate, revealing the devastation the explosion had wrought. The basement was a crumbling wasteland, shards of stone and splintered wood scattered across the floor. Dust hung in the air, giving the ruined chamber a ghostly pallor.
Robert's gaze fell to a trickle of blood seeping from beneath a pile of rubble. His heart stopped, and he ran forward, hands clawing at the debris, throwing stones and dirt aside with frantic energy. "N-no, Young Master!!" he shouted, panic sharpening his tone. His fingers scraped against stone, his nails bleeding as he searched desperately, hoping against hope that Kael was still alive beneath the weight of the collapse.
Then, amidst the smoke and dust, a movement caught his eye—a crimson flicker, fluttering against the gray ruin. Robert froze, confusion and disbelief gripping him. A butterfly? Here, in this wreckage? Its wings glimmered faintly as it hovered in the air, then darted back, circling behind him before landing on a figure slumped against a wall.
Robert's heart nearly stopped. The figure… It was Kael.
He staggered forward, disbelief and relief warring within him. "Young master! Young master!" Robert shook Kael's shoulders, voice cracking with emotion. "Wake up! Please!"
Kael didn't stir. Robert checked for any injuries, his hands running over Kael's arms, chest, and back. Not a scratch, not a mark. Relief mixed with confusion as he realized Kael had somehow emerged unscathed.
Elric rushed forward, her hands reaching out to steady Kael. "He's… he's fine? But how…?" She knelt beside him, her brow furrowed in disbelief and worry. Her hands hovered, ready to assist, but she found nothing to heal.
Albert's voice rang out sharply over the murmurs of the guards, breaking through the stunned silence. "Carry him to his room! Move quickly before the structure gives way any further!"
The guards scrambled, lifting Kael gently yet swiftly. Robert stayed close, supporting him from one side, while Elric took position on the other. The crimson butterfly lingered a moment longer, then vanished silently into the shadows, unnoticed by anyone but Kael.
As they navigated the unstable floor, Kael remained limp yet unharmed in their arms, a quiet, almost unreal calm resting over him despite the chaos surrounding them. The air was thick with dust and tension, but an unspoken relief passed between those who carried him. For now, Kael was alive. That was all that mattered.
Together, they made their way out of the ruined basement, each step careful, every glance upward wary of falling debris. The explosion had left devastation in its wake, but against all odds, their young master had survived—unbroken, silent, and mysterious as ever.
-----------------------------------------
Robert had not left Kael's side from the moment the guards placed him carefully upon his bed. His hands moved quickly but gently, checking Kael's pulse, his chest, his arms—searching for wounds, burns, anything. Yet to his disbelief, there was nothing. Not a scratch marred his young master's pale skin.
"...Impossible," Robert whispered, almost to himself. He leaned closer, eyes sharp with worry. "He looks… completely unharmed. Maybe the explosion only shocked him unconscious." His shoulders loosened slightly as he let out a long breath. Relief washed over him, though his brow remained furrowed.
Albert, standing nearby, also exhaled. "Then we are fortunate. I feared the worst."
Elric, however, did not share their ease. Her hand curled against her chest as her voice trembled. "But… I saw him. He was right in front of me when the explosion hit. He should have been crushed under the collapse, yet—" she stopped, her eyes darting to Kael lying there still as stone, "—he's here, behind us, without a single injury. How?"
The room quieted. Their questions had no answers.
Then, a faint rustle broke the silence. Kael stirred. His eyelashes fluttered, and his crimson-gold eyes slowly opened, catching the sound of their voices.
"Kael…" Elric gasped softly. She immediately bent forward, helping him rise into a seated position, steadying his shoulders with careful hands. Her voice was tender, quivering with concern. "Kael, are you alright?"
He winced slightly, pressing his hand against his temple. A wave of dizziness clouded his mind. His gaze swept across the chamber until he recognized the familiar furnishings of his room. Relief and disorientation blended in his chest. Then it struck him—the explosion, the robed intruders, the sudden void of memory.
Robert noticed the tremor beginning in his master's hands. He quickly leaned closer, his tone low and reassuring. "It's alright, Young Master. Everything is fine now. You're safe."
Kael's unsteady eyes lifted to Robert, finding a fragile anchor in his voice. His breath slowed, and after a long pause, he shut his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He was calming himself, forcing his trembling heart back into rhythm.
When he opened them again, Kael noticed something—faint blood staining the collar of Robert's tunic. He blinked, remembering in a flash how Robert had been wounded earlier. Without thinking, Kael reached out, hesitating at first, then gently pressing his hand to Robert's neck where the wound should have been.
Robert froze, stunned by the unexpected touch. His lips parted, but no words came. The wound was gone—healed completely.
Kael lowered his hand, but his gaze lingered briefly on Robert before turning toward the bedside table. There, the dagger gleamed faintly in the light of the setting sun. His eyes narrowed.
"What happened to the intruders?" he finally asked, his voice quiet yet steady.
Robert's heart skipped. He glanced helplessly toward Elric, his tongue caught between truth and comfort. What could he possibly say?
Understanding his silence, Elric stepped forward, taking Kael's hand gently into her own. Her eyes met his, soft yet unwavering. "They died in the explosion…" she answered.
Kael's fingers slipped from hers, drifting back up to his forehead. He massaged his temple, the dizziness still gnawing at him. "Is that so…" His tone was even, almost detached.
Elric and Robert exchanged glances. They had braced themselves for panic, or even self-blame. But instead, Kael was calm—eerily calm.
"Robert," Elric said softly, never taking her eyes off Kael, "bring him coffee. Something warm will help."
"Yes, my lady," Robert replied, bowing before hurrying out.
For a moment, silence filled the chamber, broken only by Kael's faint breathing. Elric turned her gaze to the window. Evening light painted the horizon, soft orange seeping into the room. He had been unconscious the entire day.
Her hand reached for his wrist, fingers trembling slightly. "Kael… what actually happened in the basement?" Her eyes were searching, filled with worry as she looked at him.
Kael turned to her slowly. He still remembered the blinding blast, the shadow of the intruders closing in… but also the way he had survived without knowing how. He drew a long breath, letting her tight grip steady him.
"I don't know…" His voice was quiet, almost detached, yet not cold. "My body moved on its own."
Elric's shoulders softened, though her brows remained knit. She pressed her forehead lightly against his, closing her eyes. "I saw you right in front of me when the explosion came. I thought I had lost you again, Kael…" Her voice cracked, and tears spilled before she could stop them.
Slowly—hesitantly—Kael lifted his hand and brushed her tears away.
Elric flinched, her breath catching. For a moment, she simply stared at him, wide-eyed. Kael never reached out like this. His concern was usually buried under panic, self-blame, or silence. But now, though calm and unsure, he showed her something she hadn't expected.
"Kael?" she whispered, his name fragile on her lips.
At that, Kael quickly pulled his hand back. He looked down at it, almost startled by what he had done. Confusion filled his expression. His ears reddened faintly.
Elric blinked—and then, unexpectedly, she laughed softly, wiping her own tears. "Robert told me you fought using a dagger. How did you get it?"
Kael turned toward the weapon resting at his bedside. He picked it up slowly, holding it out. The blade gleamed, etched with designs eerily reminiscent of his old sword.
Elric brushed her fingers along its surface, expecting the familiar drain of mana. But nothing happened. No pull, no hunger. Her brows lifted. "The design… it's the same as your sword. But smaller. A dagger version. So it was combined from the fragments…"
Her gaze lingered on the weapon before lifting back to Kael. "You said the intruders wanted your sword. But what troubles me more is how they entered the basement at all." Her voice lowered, firm. "Kael, what did you see when you touched the third fragment?"
Kael hesitated. The truth weighed heavy on his chest, but in his heart, he trusted Elric. Slowly, he spoke. "The dragon… I killed him. But he was saying something…" His voice trailed, his face tightening as a sudden sharp pain lanced through his skull. He clutched his head, groaning faintly.
"Kael?" Elric's voice was sharp with worry. She moved closer, her hand on his shoulder.
But Kael raised his hand, gently pushing hers away. His voice was quiet, tired. "Sorry… I want to rest."
Elric's lips trembled, but she nodded softly, adjusting his blanket around him. She lingered at his bedside a moment longer, her eyes tracing his profile as if to reassure herself he was truly safe.
Then, with a deep sigh, she sat beside him in silence, her hand hovering over his but not daring to touch again.