Morning came quietly to Kryptoria.
But for Ryuzen, the palace had never felt so silent.
He sat alone on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands.
Tiny blue sparks moved between his fingers.
Crack.
He quickly closed his fist.
The sparks disappeared.
Yesterday, those sparks had changed his entire life.
Yesterday, he had walked into the Awakening Hall as a prince.
He had walked out as nothing.
No title.
No royal name.
No place among his family.
Only an Inner Beast that everyone believed was worthless.
Electric Eel.
Ryuzen looked toward the window.
The royal palace stretched across the mountain, its golden towers shining beneath the morning sun.
From his room, he could see soldiers training in the courtyard.
He had grown up watching those soldiers.
One day, he had dreamed of standing among them.
Now, even the servants looked at him differently.
A knock came from the door.
Ryuzen didn’t answer.
The door opened anyway.
Two maids entered carrying clothes.
They stopped when they saw him.
One of them immediately lowered her head.
“Your clothes.”
She placed them on the table.
Ryuzen looked at the clothes.
They were old.
The royal crest had been removed.
He noticed it immediately.
“Where are my royal clothes?”
The maid hesitated.
“You no longer need them.”
Ryuzen’s eyes hardened.
“I see.”
The second maid whispered something to the first.
Ryuzen heard it.
“They said the king is going to decide what happens to him today.”
“Maybe he’ll send him away.”
“Who knows? Someone with an Electric Eel shouldn’t be living in the royal palace.”
Ryuzen turned toward them.
Both maids became silent.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Ryuzen calmly said,
“Leave.”
The maids quickly bowed and walked out.
The door closed.
Ryuzen looked at the old clothes.
Yesterday, their words would have hurt him.
Today, they only reminded him of one thing.
He needed to become stronger.
He changed his clothes and left his room.
The palace corridors were unusually crowded.
As Ryuzen walked through them, servants moved aside.
Some whispered.
Some laughed.
Others simply stared.
He continued walking.
He refused to lower his head.
He reached the training courtyard.
Several warriors were practicing with their Inner Beast abilities.
One soldier covered his arm with flames.
Another strengthened his body with the power of an Iron Bear.
The sight reminded Ryuzen of yesterday’s ceremony.
He looked down at his hand.
“Electric Eel…”
He whispered.
A spark appeared.
Then another.
Ryuzen raised his hand.
“Show me what you can really do.”
He released more thunder.
CRACK!
Blue electricity wrapped around his arm.
Pain immediately shot through his body.
Ryuzen clenched his teeth.
He didn’t stop.
More thunder flowed through his muscles.
His arm began shaking.
His breathing became heavier.
“Come on…”
The electricity grew stronger.
Pain spread from his arm to his shoulder.
Ryuzen finally lost control.
BOOM!
The thunder exploded outward.
He was thrown backward.
His body crashed against the stone ground.
Several warriors turned.
Laughter came from behind him.
Ryuzen pushed himself up.
Kaizen stood at the entrance to the courtyard.
The eldest prince crossed his arms.
“Still trying?”
Ryuzen said nothing.
Kaizen walked closer.
“Yesterday wasn’t enough for you?”
Ryuzen slowly stood.
“I haven’t even started.”
Kaizen laughed.
“You still don’t understand.”
His eyes became cold.
“You have no royal title anymore. Father has already disowned you.”
“I know.”
“Then act like someone who has nothing.”
Ryuzen looked directly into his brother’s eyes.
“I still have myself.”
Kaizen’s expression darkened.
“You’ll learn soon enough that isn’t worth much.”
He walked away.
Ryuzen watched him disappear.
His fist tightened.
Then he looked at his arm.
The skin was slightly burned.
He could feel the thunder moving beneath it.
My body can’t handle it.
That was the truth.
The problem wasn’t simply that Electric Eel was weak.
His body couldn’t withstand its own power.
But if that was the problem…
Then he would strengthen his body.
Ryuzen turned toward the training grounds.
He began running.
One lap.
Then another.
Then another.
His legs became heavy.
His lungs burned.
He kept running.
He fell.
He stood.
He ran again.
For hours.
Nobody ordered him to do it.
Nobody encouraged him.
Nobody cared.
But Ryuzen continued.
Until the sun reached the middle of the sky.
Then a familiar voice came from behind him.
“You’re going to collapse.”
Ryuzen stopped.
Aster stood several steps away.
The fourth prince held a thick ancient book under one arm.
Ryuzen wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“I know.”
Aster frowned.
“Then why are you still doing it?”
“Because I don’t have another choice.”
Aster walked toward him.
“You do.”
Ryuzen looked at him.
“You can stop.”
Ryuzen was silent.
Aster sighed.
“Ryuzen, I’m not telling you to give up.”
“I know.”
“I’m telling you that you don’t have to prove anything to them today.”
Ryuzen looked toward the palace.
“Maybe not today.”
He looked at his hands.
“But one day, I will.”
Aster smiled slightly.
“Then don’t destroy yourself before that day comes.”
Ryuzen almost smiled.
“You’re still annoying.”
Aster laughed.
“And you’re still stubborn.”
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Like they were just brothers.
Then footsteps echoed across the courtyard.
A royal guard approached.
He stopped in front of Ryuzen.
“The king summons you.”
Ryuzen’s expression changed.
Aster’s smile disappeared.
“Why?”
The guard looked at Aster.
“The king gave no explanation.”
Ryuzen nodded.
“I’ll go.”
Aster grabbed his arm.
“Ryuzen…”
Ryuzen looked back.
Aster’s eyes were filled with concern.
“Be careful.”
Ryuzen nodded.
“I will.”
The throne room was colder than usual.
King of Kryptoria sat upon the throne.
His presence alone made the room feel heavy.
Behind him stood several royal guards.
The Queen stood to his right.
Her expression was emotionless.
Kaizen, Raikou, Darius, Aster, and Zayden were also present.
Ryuzen walked into the center of the room.
He stopped.
The king stared at him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, the king said,
“Ryuzen.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You were told yesterday that you are no longer a prince.”
“I remember.”
The king’s expression hardened.
“Yet you continue to behave as though nothing has changed.”
Ryuzen frowned.
“I haven’t.”
“You were seen training in the courtyard.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ryuzen answered without hesitation.
“Because I want to become stronger.”
A few people in the room exchanged looks.
Kaizen smirked.
The king leaned back.
“Stronger?”
“Yes.”
“With that?”
Blue sparks appeared around Ryuzen’s fingers.
The king looked at them with disappointment.
“Your Inner Beast is Electric Eel.”
“I know.”
“And you believe training will change that?”
“No.”
Ryuzen looked directly at him.
“But training can change me.”
Silence.
The king stared at his youngest son.
Then he slowly stood.
“You still don’t understand.”
He stepped down from the throne.
“You are no longer part of the royal family. Your presence here damages the image of Kryptoria.”
Ryuzen’s chest tightened.
He already knew what was coming.
The king stopped in front of him.
“Today, you will leave the palace.”
Aster’s eyes widened.
“Father—”
“Silence.”
Aster stopped.
Ryuzen remained still.
The king continued.
“You will leave Kryptoria’s royal palace immediately.”
Ryuzen looked around the throne room.
The faces he had known his entire life were staring back at him.
His mother.
His brothers.
His father.
His home.
Gone.
The Queen didn’t say a word.
Kaizen looked satisfied.
Raikou and Darius remained silent.
Zayden looked away.
Only Aster stepped forward.
“Father, he is still fifteen.”
The king’s eyes turned toward him.
“He is no longer a prince.”
“But he’s still your son.”
The Queen finally spoke.
“Aster.”
Her voice was soft, but cold.
“Do not make this harder.”
Aster clenched his fists.
Ryuzen looked at him.
“It’s okay.”
Aster shook his head.
“No, it isn’t.”
Ryuzen gave him a small smile.
“I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Neither do you.”
Aster fell silent.
Ryuzen turned back toward the king.
“When do I leave?”
“Now.”
The word struck harder than any blow.
Ryuzen nodded.
“Understood.”
He turned around.
As he walked toward the doors, Kaizen’s voice followed him.
“Don’t come back.”
Ryuzen stopped.
He didn’t turn.
Kaizen continued.
“Kryptoria doesn’t need a weak prince.”
Ryuzen slowly looked over his shoulder.
“I’m not a prince anymore.”
Kaizen smiled.
“Good. At least you understand that.”
Ryuzen faced forward again.
“And when I return…”
He paused.
“I won’t need to be one.”
Then he walked away.
Ryuzen returned to his room for the last time.
He had very little to take.
A few clothes.
A small amount of food.
A water flask.
And an old piece of cloth that had belonged to him since childhood.
He opened his drawer.
Inside was a small wooden bracelet.
Aster had given it to him years ago.
Ryuzen picked it up.
He smiled faintly.
He placed it around his wrist.
A knock came.
Ryuzen knew who it was.
“Come in.”
Aster entered.
His eyes were red.
Ryuzen looked at him.
“Don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
Ryuzen smiled.
Aster looked around the room.
“So that’s it?”
Ryuzen nodded.
“Looks like it.”
“You don’t have anywhere to go.”
“I’ll find somewhere.”
“You could stay with me.”
Ryuzen shook his head.
“That would only cause problems for you.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
Aster stared at him.
Ryuzen walked closer.
“You’ve always been the only one who treated me like a brother.”
Aster’s eyes trembled.
“Because you are my brother.”
Ryuzen smiled.
“Then remember that.”
Aster nodded.
“I will.”
Ryuzen picked up his small bag.
Aster suddenly grabbed him.
“Promise me something.”
“What?”
“Don’t give up.”
Ryuzen looked at him.
For a moment, he remembered yesterday.
The Soul Altar.
The blue thunder.
The laughter.
His father’s voice.
I hereby disown you from the royal family.
Ryuzen closed his eyes.
Then he opened them.
“I promise.”
Aster released him.
Ryuzen walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he looked back at his room.
The room where he had grown up.
The room where he had dreamed of becoming a great warrior.
The room where he had cried alone many times.
He knew he might never see it again.
Ryuzen turned away.
He walked through the palace corridors.
This time, nobody called him prince.
The servants watched him pass.
Some looked relieved.
Some looked amused.
Others looked away.
Ryuzen didn’t care.
He reached the massive palace gates.
They slowly opened.
Beyond them was the road leading away from everything he knew.
Ryuzen stepped outside.
The gates remained open behind him.
Then—
BOOM!
They slammed shut.
Ryuzen stopped.
He looked back.
The palace stood above him.
His home.
His family.
His old life.
All behind those gates.
He turned toward the road.
A cold wind passed through his hair.
Ryuzen tightened his grip on his bag.
Then he started walking.
He didn’t know where he would sleep.
He didn’t know what he would eat.
He didn’t know how he would survive.
He didn’t know how he would become strong enough to control the thunder inside him.
But there was one thing he knew.
He would not give up.
A tiny spark appeared around his fingers.
Ryuzen looked at it.
“Electric Eel…”
The spark grew slightly brighter.
“I’ll find out what you’re capable of.”
He continued walking into the unknown.
Far behind him, high within the palace, someone watched from a window.
Aster.
He placed his hand against the glass.
“Come back alive, Ryuzen.”
But Ryuzen couldn’t hear him.
He was already too far away.
And somewhere beyond the borders of Kryptoria…
His real journey was about to begin.