Flashes of memories—fragmented yet vivid.

Seven years ago. A young Kaisel stood before his father’s lifeless body, the scent of incense heavy in the air. His mother and siblings wept, their sorrow evident. Yet, beyond the veil of grief, the piercing gazes of the nobles loomed over them, filled with greed, calculating their next move.

The scene shifted.

Masked figures gripped Kaisel’s small hands, dragging him forward. His mother lay on the ground, drenched in blood. With her fading strength, she reached out to him, her voice trembling.

“Survive… no matter what.”

A flash of blinding light.

Kaisel ran through the dense woods, pain searing his side. He had been stabbed—blood dripping, staining the fallen leaves. His breath was ragged, his vision blurring. His foot caught on a root, and he tumbled, crashing into the mouth of a cave.

Darkness enveloped him.

Then, they emerged.

Seven figures, towering and ominous, their eyes gleaming like stars in the abyss. A dreadful aura seeped into the cavern, filling the air with an oppressive weight. Kaisel, barely conscious, lifted a trembling hand toward them.

More flashes—

Screams. Blood pooling at his feet. His hands, once small and innocent, now stained crimson.

Ravens circled above a corpse.

His mother’s body—lifeless.

His mother’s funeral , soulless noblemen watching, their expressions cold, indifferent.

A lifeless Kaisel staring back at them.

Then, more bodies. Piles of them. Corpses of men, monsters, demons, and shadows lurking in the abyss. Seven glowing eyes. Whispering voices.

Everything blurred, shifting too fast to grasp.

Kaisel’s eyes snapped open.

He inhaled sharply, staring at the ceiling. Darkness cloaked his study. His heart pounded in his chest, a dull reminder of the past.

“Did I fall asleep…?” he murmured to himself, exhaling slowly.

He sat up, running a hand through his long black hair and stared at the ceiling ....... , he shifted his gaze into the shadows. He called,

“Sylvaine.”

A figure emerged from the darkness—silent, precise. A woman draped in a black cloak, her silver hair cascading down her back. Her amber eyes, sharp and unyielding, glowed faintly in the dim light.

“My lord,” she greeted, her voice as smooth as silk.

“What of the Luthbrecht family?” Kaisel asked, his tone void of emotion.

“They are making their move. Using the release of the new potion to mask their true intentions, they plan to smuggle large quantities of magic stones. The uproar in the merchant world will serve as their distraction.”

Kaisel’s crimson eyes darkened. “Take the Shadow Corps and monitor everything. I want to know who they are dealing with and how they plan to smuggle the stones.”

Sylvaine bowed. “As you command, my lord.”

She vanished, melting back into the shadows.

Kaisel exhaled and rose from his chair, stepping out into the dimly lit hallway. As he walked, a familiar presence approached.

Melvia..?

She stood before him, her blue eyes reflecting the candlelight.

“My lord,” she greeted softly.

“Why are you still awake?” Kaisel asked, tilting his head slightly.

“I was waiting for you.”

His gaze softened for a fleeting moment. “Is Nerrisa asleep?”

“The young lady has gone to bed,” Melvia answered.

“Shall I prepare a bath for you, my lord?”

“There’s no need.” Kaisel glanced toward the corridor leading to his chambers. “You should go sleep as well.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He walked past her, his steps quiet against the polished floor. For the briefest moment, a small smile flickered across his lips—but as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, swallowed by the shadows of the past.