The morning sun rose gently over Bluefall Village.
For the first time in many days, no screams echoed through the streets.
No monsters lurked in the shadows.
No smoke darkened the sky.
Only peace.
The villagers gathered near the southern gate as Kentro prepared to leave.
Men, women, and children stood quietly, watching the young warrior who had saved their lives.
The woman he had rescued held her child close.
The little boy waved excitedly.
“Come back someday, Mister Kentro!”
A faint smile appeared on Kentro’s face.
A rare sight.
The villagers bowed their heads.
Not because he demanded it.
But because they respected him.
For the first time in a long while, Kentro felt something unfamiliar.
Belonging.
Not as a prince.
Not as a warrior.
Simply as a person.
Without another word, he adjusted his cloak and continued down the road.
Soon, Bluefall Village disappeared behind him.
Three days later…
The gates of Maze Village appeared before him once more.
The underground city looked as mysterious as ever.
Blue lights glowed beneath the mountain.
Ancient stone bridges stretched across the darkness.
And deep within it all…
The Eye of Shadows waited.
The moment Kentro entered headquarters, several members turned toward him.
News of his battle with the Fire Emperor had already begun spreading.
Whispers followed him through the halls.
Some carried admiration.
Others carried fear.
Eventually he entered Idris’s chamber.
Idris sat at the center of the room.
Beside him stood the Vice Commander and several senior members.
The moment Kentro finished explaining everything that happened in Bluefall Village…
Silence filled the room.
The Vice Commander stared.
“…You fought the Fire Emperor?”
Kentro nodded.
The man blinked.
“You fought him…”
Another pause.
“…and survived?”
Kentro frowned.
“Was I supposed to die?”
Nobody answered.
Even Idris seemed unusually thoughtful.
The leader folded his hands.
“The experiments concern me more.”
Kentro’s expression darkened.
“The villagers were used as test subjects.”
A shadow crossed Idris’s face.
“The world is beginning to crack.”
The room grew silent.
Kentro remembered the words from the Book of Prophecy.
“The distortions.”
Idris nodded slowly.
“Exactly.”
He stood and walked toward a large map hanging on the wall.
“There have always been wars.”
“There have always been ambitious rulers.”
“But lately…”
His finger traced several locations.
“Monsters are appearing where they shouldn’t.”
“Ancient ruins are awakening.”
“Forbidden magic is resurfacing.”
His eyes narrowed.
“These events are not separate.”
“They are connected.”
Kentro crossed his arms.
“You think the pages are causing it?”
Idris shook his head.
“No.”
“They are a symptom.”
“Not the disease.”
Nobody spoke after that.
The atmosphere had become strangely heavy.
Later that evening…
Kentro left headquarters.
For once, he wanted silence.
No missions.
No emperors.
No prophecies.
Only peace.
He pulled a dark cloak over his head and wandered through the streets of Maze Village.
The market was alive with activity.
Merchants shouted from their stalls.
Adventurers bargained over rare artifacts.
Blacksmiths forged strange weapons unlike anything found on the surface.
For the first time since arriving, Kentro simply walked.
No destination.
No purpose.
Just observing.
Then…
Something caught his attention.
A familiar face.
Across the street.
A man wearing a dark traveling coat.
Tired eyes.
Several fresh wounds.
And an expression that looked dangerously close to panic.
Kentro immediately recognized him from Idris’s briefing.
The information broker.
The man assigned to safeguard one of the missing pages.
Valen.
Their eyes met.
Valen froze.
Then quickly motioned for Kentro to follow.
Several minutes later…
They stood inside an abandoned storage building near the edge of the village.
Valen checked the windows twice before speaking.
“You came alone?”
“Yes.”
Valen visibly relaxed.
Then he reached inside his coat.
A folded parchment emerged.
The missing page.
Kentro’s eyes narrowed.
“So you had it all along.”
Valen nodded.
“For a while.”
His voice lowered.
“But that isn’t the problem.”
Kentro immediately noticed the tension in his expression.
“What happened?”
Valen remained silent for several seconds.
Then answered:
“We’re not the only ones looking for the pages.”
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Kentro’s eyes sharpened.
“Explain.”
Valen swallowed.
“They found me.”
“Twice.”
“The second time nearly killed me.”
“Who?”
Valen’s face darkened.
“I don’t know their leader.”
“But I know they’re organized.”
“And they’re hunting every page they can find.”
He looked directly into Kentro’s eyes.
“They’re searching for the Black Prophecy Book.”
Silence.
A cold silence.
Kentro slowly folded his arms.
“We should tell Idris.”
Valen immediately nodded.
“Agreed.”
An hour later…
Both men stood once again inside the central chamber of the Eye of Shadows.
Idris looked up from his desk.
The moment he saw Valen…
His expression changed.
Then his eyes moved toward the parchment.
A faint smile appeared.
“It seems you’ve succeeded.”
Kentro placed the page on the table.
Idris carefully picked it up.
Relief briefly crossed his face.
But Valen remained tense.
Idris noticed immediately.
“What is it?”
Valen took a deep breath.
Then spoke.
“We have a problem.”
The room became quiet.
“The pages aren’t safe anymore.”
The smile vanished from Idris’s face.
Valen continued:
“We’re not the only ones collecting them.”
The Vice Commander straightened immediately.
“Who are they?”
Valen looked around the room.
Then answered.
“I don’t know their leader.”
“But I know their name.”
Everyone waited.
Then Valen said:
“The Crimson Dawn.”
The reaction was immediate.
Idris froze.
The Vice Commander turned pale.
Several senior members exchanged worried looks.
Even the room itself seemed colder.
Kentro noticed everything.
And asked:
“Who are they?”
Valen laughed bitterly.
“Fanatics.”
“They believe the Black Prophecy Book isn’t merely a record of history.”
His voice lowered.
“They believe it’s a key.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Dangerous.
Kentro narrowed his eyes.
“A key to what?”
Valen slowly turned toward Idris.
Then answered:
“Something that should never be opened.”
Nobody spoke.
Not even Idris.
And that silence…
Terrified Kentro more than the answer itself.
To Be Continued…