_______
The deep waters surrounding Lord Alba's estate were unusually calm.
Normally, the great currents of the underwater elven kingdom flowed endlessly, carrying glowing plankton and shimmering mana through the vast ocean. But today, an unusual silence hung over the estate.
The attack of the Architect had left its mark.
Even though Alba's magical barrier had remained unbroken, the presence of Raijin Amanojaku, one of the seven leaders of the Architect, was enough to shake the entire kingdom.
Inside the estate, several servants and guards were still discussing the battle.
But in the central training chamber, the atmosphere was far more serious.
Izumi stood in the middle of the large stone arena.
Across from him stood Mira Nyra.
Her silver hair floated slightly in the water currents, and her cat ears twitched as she stared at him with sharp golden eyes.
Her black paladin sister robe moved gently around her legs, though it was clearly modified in a way no normal church sister would dare wear.
Mira slowly pulled two short daggers from the sides of her waist.
The blades were dark and curved slightly, almost like fangs.
She spun them between her fingers with practiced ease.
"So," Mira said with a teasing smile, "you're the kid Lord Alba is training."
Izumi frowned.
"Stop calling me a kid."
Mira shrugged casually.
"Then show me something impressive."
Dianara watched silently from the side while Lord Alba observed from the stone platform.
Mira raised one dagger.
Dark mana began to gather around her hand.
Shadow slowly spread across the arena floor like living smoke.
"Let's begin."
In the next moment—
She disappeared.
Not through speed.
Through shadow.
Izumi's instincts screamed.
A blade suddenly appeared behind him.
CLANG!
Izumi barely managed to block Mira's dagger with his sword.
She clicked her tongue.
"Good reflexes."
Her second dagger came from the side.
Izumi jumped backward to avoid the strike.
Mira's eyes glowed slightly.
Dark shadows began moving across the arena.
"Shadow Step."
Her body flickered between shadows like a ghost.
Izumi tried to track her movements, but she appeared from different directions again and again.
Then Mira licked a small cut on her finger.
A drop of crimson blood fell onto one of her daggers.
The blade absorbed it instantly.
The weapon began glowing with a dark red aura.
"Blood Edge."
She dashed forward again.
This time her attack carried terrifying force.
Their weapons collided.
A wave of dark mana exploded between them.
Izumi was pushed backward several meters.
Mira tilted her head slightly.
"Hmm."
"You're tougher than you look."
Izumi steadied his stance and tightened his grip on his sword.
"I'm not done yet."
He rushed forward again.
This time he managed to force Mira back a few steps.
For a moment, her expression changed.
A faint smile appeared.
"Now that's better."
Their weapons clashed several more times.
Shadow and steel collided in flashes of mana.
Finally—
Lord Alba raised his hand.
"That is enough."
Both fighters immediately stopped.
Mira twirled her daggers once before sliding them back into their sheaths.
"Not bad," she admitted.
"But he's still far from ready for the Architect."
The room fell silent.
Everyone knew that was true.
After a moment, Alba stood up.
"There is something both of you must understand."
He walked slowly toward the center of the arena.
"The attack that happened yesterday was not random."
Mira crossed her arms.
"I figured as much."
Alba looked directly at her.
"You came here because you sensed it."
Mira nodded.
"Yes."
Her expression became more serious.
"One of the Forbidden Scroll fragments is here."
Dianara's eyes widened slightly.
Izumi looked confused.
"A fragment?"
Alba turned toward him.
"Yes."
He raised his hand.
A faint golden light appeared above his palm.
Within the light floated a small glowing crystal.
The air around it trembled with ancient power.
"This," Alba said quietly, "is one of the hundred fragments of the Forbidden Scroll."
Izumi stared at it in shock.
"So that's why the Architect attacked."
Mira nodded.
"They're hunting fragments everywhere."
Alba continued.
"Fragments are not ordinary relics."
"They choose their owner."
Izumi blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Alba closed his hand, making the fragment disappear.
"When a fragment chooses someone, that person becomes its bearer."
"If the bearer dies and chooses a successor, the fragment may pass to them."
"But if no successor is chosen…"
Mira finished the sentence.
"…the fragment finds a new master on its own."
Izumi absorbed the information slowly.
"So the Architect can't just steal them?"
"Correct," Alba said.
"But that does not stop them from trying."
The room fell silent again.
Finally Alba spoke.
"And that brings me to my decision."
Izumi straightened.
Mira's ears twitched with interest.
Alba's voice became more serious.
"From today onward… your training will change."
Izumi frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Alba looked directly into his eyes.
"What I will teach you now… is magic that the world has forbidden."
Even Mira's playful expression disappeared.
"Forbidden magic?"
Alba nodded.
"Advanced forbidden magic."
Dianara looked concerned.
"Lord Alba… that kind of power is extremely dangerous."
"I am aware," Alba replied calmly.
Then he turned to Izumi again.
"The enemies you will face are beyond ordinary warriors."
"Raijin Amanojaku alone is powerful enough to destroy entire cities."
Izumi clenched his fists.
"If I stay weak… people will die."
Alba nodded slightly.
"That is correct."
Then he spoke the words that would change Izumi's future.
"So you will walk a path few dare to take."
"The path of forbidden power."
Izumi's heart pounded.
But his answer came without hesitation.
"…Teach me."
Alba looked satisfied.
"Very well."
But before anyone could speak further—
A distant pulse of mana rippled through the ocean.
Everyone in the room froze.
Mira's eyes narrowed.
"That feeling…"
Alba's gaze turned toward the distant darkness of the sea.
"Another fragment…"
Far away.
Somewhere in the world.
Something had awakened.
And the hunt had already begun.
The arena had barely settled from the last clash when Alba spoke again.
"Now that you have seen the limits of conventional training, it is time to learn what few dare to touch."
Izumi straightened, his mind racing.
"Forbidden Advanced Magic?"
Alba nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes. This magic is dangerous even to those of my caliber. Many have tried and failed. It is the only way you will stand against the Architect or their minions."
Dianara's gaze hardened. "Lord Alba… are you certain this is wise? Forbidden magic is… unpredictable."
"I am aware," Alba replied calmly. "But your enemies do not wait for the cautious."
Izumi's fists clenched around his sword. "I understand. Teach me."
Alba's eyes softened slightly, a rare sign of encouragement. "Very well. The path is dangerous, but it will make you stronger than you ever imagined."
The First Lesson
Alba waved his hand, and a faint glow spread across the arena. Water currents stirred unnaturally, carrying sparkling motes of magical energy.
"This first step," Alba explained, "is not about destruction. It is about control—melding ice and water with forbidden mana to amplify your abilities beyond natural limits."
He raised both hands, and a complex pattern of glowing runes appeared in the water. The runes pulsed like a heartbeat. "Watch carefully."
Izumi observed as Alba traced arcs through the glowing water. Each motion caused shards of ice to form in impossible shapes—rotating cubes, jagged crystals, and even miniature whirlpools of solid frost. The patterns were elegant and deadly, a clear demonstration of how Forbidden Advanced Magic could manipulate the natural elements to unprecedented precision.
"You will learn to bend mana not as a force, but as an extension of your will," Alba said. "One mistake and your body will suffer. Your mind must be sharper than ever."
Izumi nodded, focusing on the runes and the pulsing energy. Mira, leaning against a coral pillar, crossed her arms, smirking. "I hope you're paying attention, ice boy. This is the kind of power you'll need to survive outside Alba's walls."
Dianara remained serious, her eyes fixed on Izumi. "Control comes first, strength second. Never the other way around," she reminded him.
Forbidden Techniques
Alba began demonstrating the first of the forbidden techniques.
"This is Glacial Vortex," he said, drawing a massive spiral of ice in the water. "A spell that can freeze an enemy in place while allowing you to strike from multiple directions simultaneously. Notice how the vortex flows in patterns that defy ordinary physics."
Izumi tried to mimic the technique. His hands traced the water as mana gathered, forming crude shards and spirals. Most of them collapsed into the currents before reaching proper form.
"Your timing is off," Alba said, gently correcting Izumi's hand position with a flick of his own fingers. "The water must obey you—not the other way around."
For hours, Izumi trained. Mira occasionally darted past him with her dual daggers, testing his reflexes and speed. Shadows clung to her like living smoke, and streaks of blood magic colored her attacks red. Each strike forced Izumi to react instantly, blending defensive maneuvers with his emerging ice techniques.
"Focus on your core mana," Alba said. "Combine your water with ice, let it resonate with forbidden energy. Only then will Glacial Vortex succeed."
By the end of the day, Izumi's first attempt was a partial success. The vortex formed—but collapsed after a second. Alba's eyes gleamed. "Progress. That is what matters."
Planning the Journey
After training, Alba gathered the three together. "The next step cannot happen within these walls," he said. "You must travel."
Izumi looked between Dianara and Mira, who nodded, ready to accompany him.
"You will journey together," Alba continued. "Fragments of the Forbidden Scroll are awakening. The Architect will not wait. The first fragment may appear anywhere—sometimes in the hands of the chosen, sometimes in the hands of someone unsuspecting."
Izumi asked, "How do we know who the fragment will choose?"
Alba shook his head. "You cannot. But you can protect it once it has chosen a bearer. That is where both of you will be essential."
Mira's tail swished with excitement. "Finally, some real action. Sitting here was boring."
Dianara sighed, placing a hand on Izumi's shoulder. "Stay focused. It is dangerous, and the Architect will stop at nothing."
Alba nodded. "Exactly. Raijin Amanojaku is already in motion, and there are others. Each leader of the Architect moves differently, but all are exceptionally skilled."
Izumi's fists clenched. "Then we can't waste time."
Alba raised his hand. "Not only must you train, but you must understand the stakes. Fragments choose their bearers. The Architect seeks to gather them, but they cannot force obedience. Your role is to ensure the fragments remain safe—or at least delay their acquisition."
Izumi swallowed. The weight of responsibility pressed on him, but determination burned brighter.
The Architect Moves
Far above the currents of the deep ocean, in a hidden fortress shrouded by dark mana, Raijin Amanojaku observed a glowing fragment from a distance.
His dark eyes narrowed, and lightning flickered across his skin as he twirled his Thunder Demon Spear – Raikazan. "So," he murmured, "the young prince trains with the mage Alba… and two companions. Interesting."
A shadow stirred behind him. A follower of Raijin, someone skilled in dark blood rituals and manipulation, stepped forward. "They are untested. Their power is limited. We can strike quickly."
Raijin shook his head. "No. Not yet. We will wait for the right moment. Alba is formidable, and that fragment is of great importance. Patience is the weapon we will wield."
The air around the fortress crackled with electricity and blood magic energy. Plans were forming, and the Architect's moves would soon intersect with Izumi's path.
Preparing to Leave
Back at Alba's estate, Izumi, Dianara, and Mira prepared for departure.
Alba handed Izumi a small crystal sphere glowing faintly. "This will track fragments in motion," he explained. "It is limited, but it will alert you to their awakening."
Mira smirked, twirling her twin daggers. "Looks like it's finally time for me to have fun."
Dianara glanced at Izumi. "Remember, this journey will be unlike any sparring match. Survival comes first, mastery second."
Izumi nodded. "I understand. And I won't let anyone get in the way of this world's peace."
Alba's expression softened slightly. "Your resolve is admirable. But be mindful… the path you walk now is forbidden. The knowledge you gain will change you in ways you cannot yet imagine."
He gestured to the entrance of the estate, where shimmering currents parted like a doorway. Outside, the vast ocean stretched endlessly, dark and mysterious.
"This is your first step," Alba said. "Learn quickly. Fight with wisdom. Protect the fragments. And most importantly… survive."
The three glanced at one another, the tension and excitement tangible. Together, they dove into the open currents, beginning a journey that would take them across the world and directly into the Architect's plans.
The Cliffhanger
Far away, in a dark cavern filled with swirling dark mana, Velkira Sylth, the Elf Archmage of the Architect, spoke in a chilling whisper.
"The fragments have begun to stir," she said. "Izumi, Dianara, and the cat-girl Paladin… they are moving. Soon, they will reach a fragment. That is when we strike."
A faint echo of dark laughter followed, and the waters themselves seemed to quiver.
Somewhere, deep in the oceans and caverns of the world, the stage was set. The fragments, the Architect, and the young Prince of the Water Demons were about to collide in a battle that would shape the fate of the entire world.