The ground groaned as Helios and Athure collided, their power rippling through the air. Helios's silhouette flickered with a violent red glow, his spiral energy lashing out like flame. Opposite him, Athure was a ghost of motion, his body shimmering with a cold, transparent light.
Helios brought his sword down like a falling star. The blade whistled, wreathed with spiral red energy that threatened to cleave the earth itself. Athure met the strike head-on, his own blade glowing with the same but translucent in a eerie radiance. The impact unleashed a shockwave that tore across the training grounds, sending dust and debris flying.
Moving like a shadow caught in a gale, Athure's movements became a blur as he parried a relentless flurry of strikes. A chilling, echoed sneer escaped his lips. "You're a good swordsman, your Highness Helios, but I'm better," Athure hissed. He lunged, his blade trailing transparent ribbons of energy as he swung a heavy arc designed to shatter Helios's guard.
Helios didn't flinch. Gritting his teeth against the pressure, he braced his sword, the red spiral energy screaming as it ground against Athure's light. Pouring every ounce of his soul into a single point of contact, Helios heaved upward. As he broke Athure's momentum, a blinding eruption of energy burst from his sword, drowning the world in white.
In the centre of the light, Helios's eyes began to bleed into a void-like black. Wisps of dark smoke curled from his sockets.
Stop fighting, a voice commanded. The Circlet—the ancient crown—manifested upon Helios's brow, pulsing with a stabilizing rhythm. Human, are you okay? the crown asked, its voice laced with uncharacteristic worry.
"Do I look okay to you, dumb crown?" Helios shouted back, his voice cracking with frustration as he clutched his head.
You sound fine to me, Circlet replied, its tone shifting to a sharp annoyance.
"Well, I'm not. It feels like something is screaming in my mind," Helios groaned, his knees buckling.
Did you forget about me? A sinister, oily voice echoed within the chambers of his mind. It was the entity sealed within his own flesh. Never let your guard down, or I might get your body next time, Helios, the entity taunted.
Helios's eyes slowly faded from the abyss back to their natural red. He gasped for air, his lungs burning as if he had just been pulled from the depths of the ocean.
It seems like you are fine now, Circlet said, letting out a heavy, mental sigh.
"Why are you sighing? I should be the one sighing," Helios snapped, wiping sweat from his brow.
Who do you think helped you seal the thing inside you the last time, and this time, too? Circlet asked mockingly.
Helios slumped, his anger draining into exhaustion. "Sorry... I was just angry."
Well, I don't want to see you anymore, Circlet retorted.
The world blurred. Helios's eyes fluttered open to find a much gentler sight: his sister, Luna, hovering over him.
"Morning, brother! I was going to throw water at you again if you didn't wake up," she chirped.
Helios started, bolting upright. "Morning, Luna. You scared me."
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, but you might be late for work," Luna said, her expression shifting into a mischievous, playful smile. "Since I'm a nice young sister, I wanted to wake you up before it was too late."
Helios scrambled out of bed. He threw on his most elegant attire, tying back his long black hair with practised haste before sprinting to his car. He drove like a man possessed, reaching the headquarters just in time. Outside the heavy black doors of the meeting room, his team—Nova, Riku, Seer, Ray, and Rio—stood like silent sentinels.
"What are you guys doing out here?" Helios asked, trying to catch his breath.
"Leader, you were almost late. Some of the Seeker organizations have come to see you," Nova said, his eyes fixed warily on the door.
"That doesn't answer the first question. Why are you guys standing outside?"
"Only Leaders and Vice Leaders can enter," Nova explained.
Helios glanced at the door, a thought occurring to him. "Does that mean Sara is in there?"
"Yes, she's in there," Nova confirmed.
Helios pushed the doors open. The familiar black square table with its intricate flower designs was gone, replaced by a massive round table. A round table... why does this remind me of something? he thought grimly.
"Welcome, Leader of the Order of the Blackthorn," said one of the twelve figures seated around the table.
I should have chosen a different name at that time, Helios thought with a pang of regret. He kept his expression impassive. "Call me Helios," he said, his voice dropping to a glacial temperature as he took a seat next to Sara, who remained standing, her posture rigid.
He looked at the figure who had spoken, but their features were a hazy blur. "Why can't I see your face?" Helios asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.
"It's runic magic. We can't trust anyone here yet," the figure replied.
"Can you all see my face, then?" Helios asked, leaning back.
"Yes, we can, but that's not a problem since everyone knows you," one of the others said.
A different voice, colder than the rest, chimed in. "The one who killed the Targen family in cold blood and got away with it even after confessing... and the one who can break the balance between nobles and imperial factions. The one who got the crown that all seek—one of the Primordial Summons."
Helios's gaze turned predatory. His eyes began to glow with a faint, dangerous light. Beside him, Sara's blue eyes flared with a frigid, icy shine.
"What do you want from my organization, then?" Helios asked.
"Nothing much. We want to create a faction of Seeker organizations, and you seem like someone we should put in our faction," a person at the table said smoothly. "Everyone will be equal in this alliance."
Helios tilted his head, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "So, why did you choose me?"
"You have the money," a person standing behind one of the seated members said bluntly. "You can help us break free from noble control."
Helios let out a sharp, mocking laugh that echoed around the room. "Then we are not equal in this faction since I'm helping you all with my organization's money. So, I should be the leader."