The Royal Academy had never been livelier.
Students rushed between classes.
Sword clashes echoed from the training grounds.
Laughter filled the dormitories.
Yozaro was now fourteen.
He had grown to nearly 173 cm, his black hair tied loosely behind his head.
Though still young, his calm demeanor made many mistake him for an older student.
Among the academy, one nickname had spread naturally.
“The Crimson Swordsman.”
Not because of his strength.
But because of his crimson eyes and his habit of ending battles with a single precise strike.
Kael dropped onto the bench beside him.
“You know…”
“You’ve become popular.”
Yozaro looked up from his book.
“What do you mean?”
Kael pointed across the courtyard.
Several first-year students waved shyly.
Some wanted sword lessons.
Others simply admired him.
Rex laughed loudly.
“They’re lining up just to ask you questions.”
Mira smiled.
“You’re like an older brother to them.”
Luna quietly added,
“They trust you.”
Yozaro rubbed the back of his neck.
“I don’t think I’ve done anything special.”
Kael sighed dramatically.
“That’s exactly why everyone likes you.”
That afternoon…
A royal messenger arrived.
“Yozaro.”
“Her Highness Princess Elenia requests your presence.”
Kael nearly choked on his drink.
“The princess?”
Rex grinned.
“Someone’s becoming important.”
Luna remained silent, though she instinctively looked away.
The palace gardens were quiet.
Roses bloomed beside crystal fountains.
Elenia waited beneath a cherry blossom tree.
When Yozaro arrived, she smiled.
“Thank you for coming.”
“You sounded serious.”
She nodded.
“My father has noticed you.”
Yozaro frowned slightly.
“…Is that bad?”
She laughed softly.
“No.”
“But some nobles dislike commoners gaining influence.”
She looked at him earnestly.
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
As he turned to leave…
She called his name.
“Yozaro.”
He stopped.
“I…”
She hesitated.
Before she could continue—
A deafening explosion echoed across the city.
BOOOOOOM!!
Black smoke rose above the academy.
Students screamed.
Flames consumed one of the academy towers.
Masked figures poured through shattered gates.
Their black cloaks bore a silver emblem:
A broken crown surrounded by seven chains.
The instructors immediately recognized it.
“The Cult of the Fallen Throne!”
Headmaster Aldric’s face darkened.
“So they’ve finally made their move…”
The peaceful academy became a battlefield.
Students fled in every direction.
Teachers engaged the attackers.
Fire magic lit the night.
Steel clashed against steel.
Yozaro sprinted back toward the academy.
Kael met him halfway.
“Yozaro!”
“They’re attacking everyone!”
“Where’s Luna?”
“Still inside the library!”
Without hesitation…
Yozaro ran toward the burning building.
The library ceiling had collapsed.
Flames spread rapidly.
Luna lay trapped beneath a fallen bookshelf, unable to move.
She looked up weakly.
“…You shouldn’t have come.”
Yozaro ignored her.
He pushed against the heavy shelves.
His muscles trembled.
They barely moved.
Fenrir growled and pushed beside him.
Together…
They lifted the bookshelf.
Yozaro helped Luna stand.
She looked at him, tears welling in her eyes.
“You always…”
“…come back.”
He smiled.
“I promised we’d all graduate together.”
As they escaped—
A man wearing a black mask landed before them.
He carried a crimson katana.
His presence alone silenced the battlefield.
“So…” Find the original chapter at g.com.
“The Child of Desire.”
Yozaro stepped in front of Luna.
“Who are you?”
The man slowly removed his mask.
A long scar crossed one side of his face.
“My name is Varis.”
“I’ve spent fourteen years searching for you.”
Varis drew his sword.
One slash.
Yozaro barely blocked.
CRACK!
His academy sword shattered instantly.
The impact sent him crashing through a stone wall.
Blood ran from his forehead.
“…Too strong.”
Varis walked toward him.
“You possess a power that doesn’t belong to this age.”
“It belongs to the Seven Thrones.”
“I’ve come to claim it.”
Yozaro stood despite the pain.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
Varis smiled sadly.
“I know.”
“That is what makes this unfortunate.”
Before Varis could attack again—
CLANG!
A silver blade intercepted his katana.
Instructor Orion.
“You’ll go no further.”
Varis chuckled.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
The two masters vanished from sight.
Their swords collided so quickly that shockwaves split the clouds above the academy.
Even Yozaro could barely follow their movements.
The academy’s strongest teachers eventually forced the invaders to retreat.
The Cult disappeared into the night.
But victory came at a terrible cost.
One dormitory had burned to the ground.
Several instructors were gravely injured.
And Instructor Orion…
Never returned.
Only his broken sword was found near the academy gates.
Three days later…
The academy held a memorial.
Students stood silently in black uniforms.
Yozaro placed white flowers beneath Orion’s portrait.
“I’ll find out who did this.”
“I’ll stop them.”
“No matter how long it takes.”
Unknown to everyone…
Varis watched the ceremony from a distant rooftop.
He smiled faintly.
“You’ve begun walking the path…”
“…just as the prophecy foretold.”
Then he disappeared into the morning mist.