Back Garden of the Palace – A Warm Afternoon
Arius was laughing as he pushed Raymos toward the small swing:
"Come onnnnn! Try it! It's fun!"
"I don't ride this junk!" Raymos said, staring at the swing as if it were a disease, then added mockingly:
"These are baby toys. Don't you have anything stronger? We're not in a nursery!"
Arius stopped kicking a small ball, turned, and said:
"But these games make me happy. Don't you like happiness?"
"Me? Real happiness starts when you see your opponent crying as he falls on his face!"
Raymos let out a childish, sinister laugh and gestured for Arius to follow him.
"Come on, I'll show you something really fun, my follower!"
Scene: A Distant Valley Behind the Palace Hills – Afternoon
The air was still, the sky slightly gray. Arius stood hesitantly at the edge of a small hill, staring down at an unfamiliar sight: a group of boys fighting, shouting, kicking, and laughing wildly.
He watched them with unease. His heart beat fast—nothing about this resembled the kind of play he knew.
Raymos approached confidently, smiling wickedly:
"These idiots fight every day, like animals. No one stops them, so… why don't we have some fun and join?"
He turned to Arius with arrogance:
"Come on, show me you're not a coward!"
Arius hesitated, stepping back:
"But… they look angry… and scary… I don't think this is play."
"Of course it's not play, idiot—it's a test of courage!" Raymos said as he rushed down the hill.
"If you really want to be my friend, prove yourself!"
Arius looked down at him… torn inside. Should he follow? Or go back?
His heart pounded… but his feet began moving downward.
At the Bottom of the Hill – Deep in the Valley
Dust filled the air. Stones were scattered. Everything felt still—as if the world had paused to watch what the "strange child" from the royal palace would do.
Raymos stepped forward confidently, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded with chilling calm.
A group of delinquent boys approached—ages 12 to 16—bodies scarred, clothes torn, laughter dripping with mockery:
"Ohhh, look! The palace prince himself!"
"Did you get lost, spoiled brat? Go back so mommy can hug you!"
"Hahaha! Maybe he came to play with spoons with us!"
One of them stepped forward, waving a wooden stick threateningly:
"If you don't want trouble, go back where you came from, kid."
Raymos didn't respond. Didn't shout. Didn't get angry.
He smiled.
A cold smile… empty of mercy… then whispered lightly:
"Oh… you're boring."
Suddenly—
A roaring burst of air!!
Raymos lifted his leg with lightning speed and kicked the boy straight in the chest—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The boy flew like a projectile, smashing through a crumbling stone wall at the edge of the valley. Dust exploded around him in a massive wave.
His body hit the wall and went unconscious instantly… as if his existence had been switched off.
Silence consumed the valley.
The boys' eyes widened. One dropped his stick. Another stepped back trembling.
But Arius… from above… was the most shocked of all.
His lips trembled. His eyes gleamed with fear and disbelief.
"W… what did he just do…?"
His heart pounded violently… as if something inside him had just shattered—or changed.
Is this the "fun" Raymos meant?
Is this power… or madness?
Raymos turned back and looked directly at Arius below the hill, gesturing with his finger:
"Coming down to play… or staying there like a statue of fear?"
Arius stepped forward slowly, each step filled with hesitation.
All he could hear were blows, screams, and explosions of dust as Raymos beat the other boys mercilessly.
One flew over a tree… another was crushed into a rock… a third cried dramatically:
"Aaaaah! My sacred liver!!"
CRASH!!
One of them fell right at Arius's feet—completely unconscious.
Arius stared… then looked around… then threw a small punch—
"Pof!"
A childish punch, full of innocent intent, striking an already unconscious boy.
"H… here!" Arius told himself, as if reassuring himself.
"This is how it's done… right?"
But that moment didn't go unnoticed.
Raymos turned.
With eyes glowing with excitement, he saw Arius punching the fallen body.
He grinned:
"Hahahaha!! That's it, Arius! You crushed him with one punch! You… are a hidden monster!!"
Arius froze, shocked, pointing at himself:
"Me?"
But Raymos didn't wait. He turned back to continue smashing and kicking others, shouting:
"Next! Come on if you dare! I've got my terrifying follower here—he'll drop you with a look!"
The gang lost all hope. Some crawled away. Others clung to the ground begging for mercy.
And in the middle of that chaos… Arius stood lost.
He hadn't really done anything…
But he began to feel something new…
Not power…
But the feeling that others thought he was powerful.
He whispered to himself:
"Is… this how they see me?"
Raymos suddenly appeared behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder:
"My follower… Arius… we have a bright future. Remember my words."
Dining Hall – Alberto Family Palace
The atmosphere was warm. Dishes filled the table.
Hillis sat at the head, watching her children… but noticed something strange.
Arius—once shy—now sat beside Raymos, eyes shining with admiration.
And Raymos? Acting like royalty, casually eating as if showing off.
Hillis raised an eyebrow:
"Tell me, you two… what did you do today?"
Arius opened his mouth excitedly:
"We were—"
A hidden stab.
Raymos nudged him under the table.
A silent warning.
Arius paused… then smiled innocently:
"We were just playing, mom! Just… games."
Hillis narrowed her eyes.
"Games? You two? With that much exhaustion?"
Raymos replied calmly:
"Yes, my lady. Mental training games… like chess. And philosophical discussions about childhood principles."
Elios coughed violently:
"Cough—philosophical discussion?!"
Hillis smiled slightly… sensing something suspicious.
"Alright… just don't go too far. Especially with Raymos."
Raymos smiled politely:
"I promise, my lady. I'll be an excellent role model… truly."
Arius kept eating, looking at Raymos like he was more than a friend…
A guide.
A leader.
Maybe even a hero—wrapped in elegant lies.