Morning light poured over the capital of Anruin like liquid gold.
Birds chirped across the palace spires. Maids hurried along polished hallways, silver trays balanced carefully in their hands. The castle shimmered with embedded gemstones that caught the dawn and fractured it into a thousand colors.
Inside the grand dining hall, a woman with long black hair sat gracefully at the head of a smaller table. Her features were soft. Loving. Her smile came easily.
Lavina Zellon.
She lifted her teacup when footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
"Good morning, Lavina."
She turned with warmth in her eyes. "Good morning, Elder Brother Germain."
Germain Zellon, soon-to-be king, adjusted his cuffs and sat across from her.
"You look wonderful. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," she replied gently. "Very well."
A small pause.
"Elder Brother… the conference to decide the throne… it is still today, correct?"
Germain hummed.
Lavina hesitated. "May I… miss it?"
The spoon in Germain's hand clattered sharply against porcelain.
His eyes darkened.
"You will not miss this ceremony," he said slowly. "If you do, you dishonor Father. Valentine Zellon's memory."
Lavina lowered her gaze.
"Please," Germain continued, voice tightening, "do not ruin my appetite."
She swallowed. "I… I was hoping to attend the Carnival of Gems. With little Hector and Gatling."
Silence.
Then—
"You are twenty-six," Germain said flatly. "Are you a child?"
"No," she replied softly. "But I have no husband. No children yet. I want to be free. Maybe… maybe I could meet someone."
Germain leaned forward.
"Defeat me and inherit the throne. Then I will find you a husband myself."
"I don't want the throne," she whispered. "I want to live."
She stood.
Germain did not stop her.
But the smile that crept onto his lips was not kind.
---
Moments later, two boys entered the hall.
Hector—dark-haired, sharp-eyed, already holding a book.
Gatling—bright, cheerful, playing with carved gemstone toys.
"My boys," Germain greeted. "One day, one of you will inherit the throne."
Hector snorted lightly. "Father, you've never been good at jokes."
Gatling laughed. "Yeah, Dad."
Germain chuckled.
"Eat your breakfast."
But his gaze lingered on Hector.
Longer.
---
On her balcony, Lavina wore a cloak and looked down at the carnival below. Laughter rose like music from the streets.
She smiled.
Now she needed her nephews.
She entered their room.
"Hector? Gatling? What are you doing?"
"Studying," Hector replied without looking up.
"Playing," Gatling beamed.
"The Carnival of Gems is happening," Lavina announced. "Would you like to go?"
Gatling jumped up immediately.
Hector narrowed his eyes.
"What do we gain from this? Father told us to attend the inauguration."
Lavina knelt in front of him.
"Hector… don't you want to feel the wind? To be free? To meet someone special?"
"No," he cut in sharply. "I want the throne."
Lavina blinked.
Behind her, Gatling grabbed her hand.
They ran.
Hector watched them leave, irritation burning in his chest.
Then he followed.
---
The carnival was alive.
Lanterns. Music. Vendors shouting. Children laughing.
Lavina laughed freely as she tried sweets and played games with Gatling. Hector followed reluctantly, arms crossed.
Then—
She tripped.
Strong arms caught her.
A blonde man stared down at her, startled.
"I'm so sorry!" he said.
Lavina looked up.
Time paused.
"My name is Silas Elandorr," he said awkwardly. "I'm… an adventurer."
She smiled softly.
"Lavina Zellon."
Then he says "the daughter of Valentine Zellon" then she nod's and bow's.
Silas blinked. "You don't look like royalty."
"And you," she teased, "are not as charming as you think."
But her heart had already shifted.
---
Meanwhile—
Germain sat in the middle of the inauguration hall, furious.
"Where is Lavina?!"
Guards stammered uselessly.
He stormed into her room.
Ripped the bedsheets away—
A straw mannequin lay beneath.
His veins bulged.
"Ready the carriages."
---
By the time he reached the carnival, Lavina was already running with Silas.
"LAVINA!" Germain roared.
She panicked.
She grabbed Silas's arm.
They fled.
After a long chase, they stopped, panting.
"That was insane," Silas said. "Are you mad?"
"That's my brother," she laughed breathlessly. "He wants me at the throne ceremony."
"Then go."
She stood tall.
"I am not meant for a throne."
Silas hesitated.
"Then… travel with me."
Her answer was immediate.
"Yes."
---
For many long years, Lavina and Silas traveled.
Adventures.
Letters exchanged with the palace.
Germain became king.
Hector studied relentlessly.
Gatling grew into a brilliant architect.
Eventually, Lavina and Silas married.
They settled in a western city close to Anruin.
Then—
She became pregnant.
Their daughter was born with golden hair like her father.
They named her Mira.
Six years later, Tomas was born.
Their home was filled with laughter.
Mira chasing butterflies in the garden.
Tomas wobbling on small feet while Lavina clapped proudly.
Silas lifting both children onto his shoulders.
Winter nights where all four slept together under thick blankets.
Peace.
For nine years.
---
Then one day—
A knock.
Lavina opened the door.
A tall man with black hair and a short beard stood there.
"I am looking for Lavina Zellon."
Her eyes widened.
"Hector… you've grown."
He smiled.
"And you haven't aged."
He entered.
Observed.
Noted everything.
Then left, saying Germain wished to see her.
---
The next day, the family returned to Anruin.
Banquet tables filled the hall.
Gatling ran down the stairs and hugged Lavina tightly.
Tears in his eyes.
They stayed the night.
Lavina tucked her children into her childhood bed.
Stars filled the sky.
---
That night—
Mira walked alone to the throne room.
Germain looked up from documents.
"Oh? Mira?"
She smiled.
A broken smile.
Thread magic flashed.
The king fell.
Dead.
Gatling and Hector entered moments later.
They screamed.
Mira laughed.
A hollow, fractured laugh.
She ran.
---
Silas, far away in the mountains—
Stood smiling emptily.
Then stepped off a cliff.
---
Back in the palace—
Hector stood in the shadows, holding a miasma crystal from the Axis Mundi Tree.
"Kill the woman. Kick the Man."
Mira obeyed.
Gatling flew out the window.
Survived—but broken.
Lavina stared at her daughter, bleeding.
"My daughter… I don't know what's wrong… but take care of your brother… im not going to be around for a while but when you realize where I'm going I hope you won't be angry at me and Papa for leaving you a dn your brother and don't forget that I love you…"
She collapsed.
Alive.
But dying.
Hector smiled.
"Fate."
Gatling arrived.
Saw only Mira crying beside Lavina.
He pushed her away.
"Evil child!"
Then he ordered Guards to imprison Mira and Tomas for three months.
Hector erased their existence from records.
Then came inauguration day.
Votes were counted.
"Gatling Zellon will inherit the throne."
Hector's years of planning shattered.
He smiled anyway.
"I will serve you."
---
Later—
King Eldritch Cain visited.
He saw Mira and Tomas serving tea.
"Who are they?"
"My maids," Gatling said coldly.
Eldritch frowned.
"I'll take them."
The next day—
Mira and Tomas left Anruin.
Elmira greeted them at the Cain estate.
"Father, who are they?"
"Your new friends."
Mira barely spoke to Elmira.
She worked.
Silently.
---
Present day.
Mira walks beside Shun through Anruin's crowded streets.
Her breathing is steady now.
But her fingers tremble slightly.
The city glows.
Merchants shout.
Gems sparkle.
The town filled with people's chowing and talking people coming from work and going to work it was so lively.
---
Inside the parlor—
Shoda and Elmira sit across from Gatling.
A faint humming fills the air.
"What's that?" Shoda asks.
Gatling frowns.
"The broadcast tower. It runs on Amatis crystal. No one should be using it today."
The voice crackles across the entire city.
"Ehem… ehem… dear citizens…"
The air feels heavier.
Even Elmira's fingers tighten slightly around Lucky's pendant.
A calm, deliberate voice continues—
"I am from the Immaculate Circle. The Priest representing Diligence."
A pause.
Then—
"Torion Aruz."
Silence falls over Anruin.
Like the moment before a blade descends.