Meanwhile, before the disaster struck, Emris stood inside the battle arena, his eyes locked on the chaos unfolding before him. The ground trembled violently, and the air was thick with a sense of impending doom. Suddenly, the ground shook even harder, sending ripples through the arena. Creatures, monstrous and twisted, began to spill into the arena, their eyes glowing with hunger. Panic swept through the crowd. Screams filled the air as people scrambled to escape, some trampled underfoot, others devoured by the grotesque beasts. Blood splattered across the floor, mingling with the dust of the arena, creating a nightmarish scene of carnage.

But Emris, though his heart raced, didn’t falter. Instead of succumbing to fear like the others, he saw an opening, a chance. His eyes scanned the chaos, his mind racing. Xia! He thought. She’s still out there. I need to find her.

With determination coursing through his veins, Emris pushed through the panicked crowd, weaving between fallen bodies and scattered debris. His every step was focused, his heart set on one goal—Xia. He had to find her.

His mind flashed to the orphanage. That’s where he believed she would be, safe from the monsters, but as he reached the once-familiar place, his hopes crashed. The orphanage was empty, the doors ajar, the place silent except for the distant sounds of destruction echoing from beyond.

Frustration gripped him, but he didn’t have time to dwell. He dashed out of the orphanage, heart pounding as he gazed upon the horrors that now engulfed the town. Creatures roamed freely, tearing into families, dragging people through the streets, and torturing those unlucky enough to survive the initial assault. The once peaceful village had become a slaughterhouse, and Emris could do nothing but watch, his rage building.

“Xia!” he screamed, his voice breaking as it echoed through the chaos. He called out her name again, his desperation growing with each passing second. The wind carried his cries, but there was no answer. Only the sounds of destruction and anguish filled the air. He couldn't stop, through. He wouldn't stop until he Found her.

Emris’s search for Xia that led him to the underground jail, a cold, dimly lit place where the air felt suffocating. The echo of his footsteps bounced off the stone walls as he hurried through the narrow, grim corridors. His mind raced, a whirlwind of fear and frustration. Each cell he passed was empty or desecrated, the faint smell of blood lingering in the air.

Then, in the dim light of a nearby room, he spotted one of his subordinates lying motionless on the floor. Blood pooled around him, staining the stone beneath him. Without hesitation, Emris’s shadows surged to life, twisting and curling around the man’s body. The dark tendrils moved with purpose, seeping into the wounds and beginning to mend them. The man’s chest rose with a faint breath, a sign that Emris’s power had revived him, but the healer’s task was far from done.

He stepped away, glancing around, his urgency mounting. "Xia, where are you? " His voice echoed in his mind as he walked through the prison’s narrow hallways, opening each door with a quiet dread. But no sign of her. No sound. Only the flicker of torchlight illuminating the cold, empty rooms.

Then, at the very end of the hall, something caught his eye. A pair of familiar slippers, small and delicate, lay abandoned near the doorway. His heart skipped a beat, and he knelt beside them, his fingers trembling slightly as he examined the trail of blood leading away from the slippers.

He followed the trail, his steps quickening, the scent of blood now thick in his nose. The further he walked, the heavier the atmosphere became, as if the very walls were pressing in on him. Finally, at the end of the corridor, in the dimmest corner of the underground, he found her.

Xia’s body lay sprawled on the cold stone floor, lifeless and still. Her arms and legs were bound by heavy chains, the cold metal digging into her skin, the blood staining the cuffs where the chains bit into her fragile wrists and ankles. Her once vibrant form was now frail, drained of nearly all its energy. Her chest barely rose with each shallow breath, as if every ounce of strength had been ripped from her.

Emris's breath caught in his throat as his eyes scanned her battered body. His heart shattered at the sight of her—broken, hurt, and helpless. Every part of him screamed in agony, but it was the sight of her lifeless eyes that broke him completely.

He rushed to her side, his shadows already reaching out to envelop her, to heal her, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough. She had been drained, far beyond what his powers could easily mend. His hands hovered over her, trembling as he tried to reach her with every ounce of energy he had left.

"Xia..." Emris whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Wake up... P.. please... Open your eyes...." The words were barely audible, lost in the weight of the horror that had unfolded before him. 

Suddenly, Ermis's aura roared. His eyes turned dark, his hair turned white, and his tears became blood. He wrapped his arms tightly around Xia's lifeless body as he screamed, causing the entire orphanage to blow away. A Titan noticed it and heard the anguished cries. It slowly walked towards them, its shadow shielding their sorbonate.

"Master..." His weak and worried voice said.

"Let him be," the shadow replied.

"But..." the man said.

"Look at him... He now knows what he's fighting for," the shadow replied. "Without using my power, but his own gift... A real gift."

The Titan reached for him as it spoke. "Poor human, that dead body can never wake up—" Before the Titan could finish, its body was sliced in half as Ermis, now standing behind the Titan with a huge dark sword adorned with a crest of a demon and ancient runic letters, struck. The crest rested on top of the Titan’s head.

"Such creatures like you shall remain a myth," Ermis replied. The huge sword suddenly lost its gravity and pierced through the Titan, ending its life.

The other creature charged towards Ermis, but with a snap of his fingers, a powerful wind sliced it in half.

While Ermis was busy dealing with the enemies, a tall, thin, skeletal figure dressed in a sharp black tuxedo with a long tailcoat and black trousers appeared. He wore a black top hat and dark sunglasses, often with one lens removed. His face resembled a skull, either painted or naturally bone-like, with deep, dark eye sockets that gave him an intense, haunting stare.

He sometimes had a cigar in his mouth or carried a cane, adding to his commanding and eerie presence. A purple or black scarf or sash was also part of his attire, enhancing his mysterious, otherworldly look.

He carried Xia in his arms. When Ermis saw him, his aura grew darker with each step, causing the ground to break. "Get your filthy hands off her," he calmly said.

"Rest," the figure said. Suddenly, Ermis lost consciousness, and his shadow disappeared. The man fell unconscious as well. "Get back to your places, the show is already done," the figure said.

The creatures left, and the man took Xia's body.

Meanwhile, before that happened, the Emperor and the Duke sensed a powerful aura they had never felt before.

Inside the Queen's chamber, she also felt the aura. The Queen smiled in relief.

Inside the Holy Church, the Priestess felt the aura, and her body suddenly trembled.

Inside Lethyxia’s room, she also felt the aura. "Took you long enough to return," she said.

Explosion bodies lying on the ground with pools of blood spreading across the empire. The lives of countless people were taken by the unexpected arrival of the creatures. 

Chaos ensued as the once thriving empire was plunged into darkness. Buildings crumbled, fires raged uncontrollably, and the sky itself seemed to darken with the smoke rising from the destruction. 

Desperate screams filled the air as survivors fled, but there was no safe haven from the relentless assault. The creatures, monstrous and unforgiving, tore through the city with ruthless precision, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake.

Ermis, who was lying on the ground as the creature left, heard the cries of people hugging their loved ones. As the empire’s knights and the holy temple’s healers helped the citizens ,the duke who saw Ermis on the ground, he carried him in his arms.

"That child..." the emperor said.

"I saw him lying on the ground," the duke said, as they both looked at the ground, where a huge hole was left by the explosion that had happened earlier.

"This... the sea of hope," the emperor said, as the entire orphanage had been wiped out, with the bodies of children lying on the ground.

"This child... I think he's the only survivor," the duke said, his voice heavy with disbelief.

"Are you going to keep that child?" the emperor asked, his gaze piercing through the duke.

The duke didn't respond. He looked down at Ermis, whose fragile body lay limp in his arms, his once bright eyes now clouded with pain and confusion. The silence stretched between them, filled with the weight of the emperor's question.

The emperor studied him carefully, his expression unreadable. "If you choose to keep him, you must understand the consequences. This child could be the spark that ignites something far greater than we are prepared for."

The duke nodded slowly, his mind racing with the implications.The emperor sighed, turning his gaze toward the distant horizon. 

____

"Ermis..." Voices echoed through the room. As Ermis woke up, he felt a heavy, cold presence in the dark; there was no light, but a familiar voice was calling his name.

"Ermis, Ermis, Ermis," it repeated as he wandered through the darkness. Suddenly, he saw a girl lying on the ground, wounded.

He went over to her, and as he placed his hands on her head, she suddenly grabbed his wrist, her eyes wide open, spilling tears of blood.

"Have you forgotten about me, Ermis?" she asked.

Ermis recoiled in fear, pulling away from her, but she crawled toward him. "It's your fault I died!" she screamed as he turned to run for his life.

Dark shadows seized him, pulling him deeper into the darkness. He reached out desperately when, suddenly…

"Ermis!!" A familiar voice called to him, a light appeared, and someone pulled him from the shadows.

He couldn't see who it was—only a blurred figure—but the sweet, familiar fragrance surrounding him calmed his uncontrollable powers.

"Ermis," another voice called out, snapping him back to reality. He was sitting on the branch of a tree.

"Same old dream," he thought.

"What are you still doing there? The entrance ceremony is about to start. Let's go," a girl said.

---

Five years had passed since that incident, and much had changed. Aeron, Caelum, and Ermis had already gone to the prestigious boarding school, "Seléanemos," the most renowned university in the entire empire. 

It was not owned by the emperor, but by the Asterlayna family, since the history of the Lychnis Empire was first written. Aeron, who had begun studying swordsmanship and politics at the age of seven, was now 12

Caelum, who started learning sorcery at the early age of six, was now . 11 Ermis, who had been adopted by the Duke Evigheden, was given a chance to study.

 He chose swordsmanship, politics, and magic. Now, at 12, he was in his final year, while Valen, now 10, remained at the palace to study swordsmanship.

Throughout the years, everything had been peaceful. Although monsters still lurked, the knights continued to protect the empire. The temple had not made any moves, nor had the mother of demons.

As the days turned into months, Aeron and Caelum excelled in their respective studies at Seléanemos. Aeron, with his disciplined approach to swordsmanship and politics, quickly became known for his quick reflexes and keen strategic mind.

 He often sparred with older knights, impressing them with his precise technique and unyielding determination. It wasn't just his skill with a blade that earned him respect, but his ability to think several moves ahead, anticipating his opponent's next step.

Caelum, on the other hand, displayed an innate and awe-inspiring talent for sorcery. His natural affinity for the elements was unlike any seen in his age group.

 He manipulated fire, water, earth, and wind with fluidity, but it was his command of the Sun a rare and dangerous elemental force that truly captivated his instructors and classmates.

Ermis on the other hand, His control over this dark energy, once thought to be lost, drew the attention of powerful figures within the academy, some curious, others wary of the implications of such power.

At the palace, Valen trained diligently under the guidance of the kingdom's finest knights. His commitment to learning the art of swordsmanship was unmatched, earning him respect from even the most seasoned warriors. 

Though he was younger than Aeron, his potential was undeniable, and he quickly gained a reputation as a fierce and skilled swordsman. During his visits home, he often sparred with Aeron, their bond growing stronger with every clash of their blades.

 Together, they formed a formidable duo, united not only by blood but by a shared dream to protect the empire they loved.

Ermis, however, seemed distant. While his step siblings from the house of Evigheden he thrived in their respective paths, he often felt like an outsider. 

Adopted into the noble house of Evigheden, Ermis had chosen to study swordsmanship, politics, and magic. But despite his natural talent, there was always a shadow in his heart—a sense of being out of place. 

He could excel in the art of war and magic, but something deep inside him pulled him toward a mystery he couldn’t yet understand.

 The dreams, the whispers, and the girl with blood-red tears haunted him, especially now as the empire seemed to teeter on the edge of something unknown.

___

Upon arrival, the headmaster introduced the newest student with a respectful tone, "Presenting the sole princess of the empire, Lethyxia Noxveil Lychnis, now an official student at this university."

All eyes turned to Lethyxia as she entered, her presence commanding attention.

Suddenly, Ermis felt an overwhelming sensation, something strange and unfamiliar. Flashes of blurred memories surged through his mind, disorienting him. Among the chaos of images, one stood out—a figure with silver hair, strikingly similar to the princess's.

His heart raced as he tried to make sense of it. Was it a memory? A dream? Or something more? The connection between the princess and the figure seemed undeniable, yet the meaning eluded him.

"Emris? Are you okay dude?" His friend ryuu asked.

"Yeah," he replied.