The academy slept beneath a silver moon.
Most students were exhausted after days of rebuilding.
Only one room still had a light burning.
Yozaro’s dormitory.
A quiet knock came at the window.
Tap…
Tap…
Kael climbed inside.
“You really need to stop using the front door,” Yozaro whispered.
Kael grinned.
“This is more exciting.”
A second knock followed.
Rex.
Then Mira.
Finally…
Luna climbed through the window with surprising elegance.
She looked around.
“…This is illegal.”
Kael laughed.
“Then why are you here?”
Luna adjusted her glasses.
“…To make sure you don’t die doing something stupid.”
Everyone smiled.
For the first time since Orion’s death…
They laughed together.
The five quietly made their way through the academy.
Torchlight flickered across the empty halls.
At the end of a forgotten corridor…
A heavy iron door waited.
Orion’s hidden basement.
Yozaro inserted the black key.
Click…
The old lock opened.
Dust filled the air.
Rows of books stretched across the room.
Ancient maps covered the walls.
Monster sketches.
Kingdom records.
Letters.
Research notes.
Kael whistled.
“…This is bigger than the library.”
Luna carefully picked up a leather notebook.
Its first page read:
Research Log of Orion Valcrest
She began reading aloud.
“If this journal is found, then I have likely failed.”
Everyone exchanged glances.
Luna continued.
“The Cult of the Fallen Throne has searched for the Seven Thrones for over eight hundred years.”
“Their goal is not power…”
“…but resurrection.”
Rex frowned.
“Resurrection?”
Mira looked confused.
“Resurrection of who?”
“The First King.”
Silence filled the room.
The journal contained sketches of a man wearing black armor.
Behind him stood seven floating books.
The same books from Yozaro’s dreams.
Below the drawing…
One sentence had been circled.
The King did not die.
He sleeps.
Yozaro’s heartbeat quickened.
“…No…”
Kael unrolled an old parchment.
It showed the entire continent.
Seven locations had been marked.
One symbol immediately caught Yozaro’s attention.
A mountain range.
Exactly like the one from his previous life.
The place where he had found the mysterious cave.
His breathing became uneven.
“Impossible…”
Mira looked worried.
“What’s wrong?”
Yozaro quickly forced a smile.
“…Nothing.”
But inside…
His thoughts were racing.
‘Why is the same mountain in this world?’
‘Did I really die…?’
‘Or…
was I brought here for a reason?’
Suddenly…
Fenrir growled.
Someone was outside.
The footsteps stopped directly in front of the basement door.
Kael quietly drew his sword.
The handle slowly turned.
Everyone held their breath.
The door opened.
Headmaster Aldric stood there.
The group froze.
“…We’re dead.”
Kael whispered.
Instead of shouting…
Aldric sighed.
“I wondered how long it would take before you found this place.”
Everyone blinked.
“…You knew?”
“I left the key where Yozaro would find it.”
Silence.
“You wanted us to come here?”
Aldric nodded.
“Orion believed the five of you would one day stand at the center of this world’s fate.”
He looked at each of them.
“Tell me.”
“Will you continue the investigation he began?”
Without hesitation…
Kael stepped forward.
Rex crossed his arms.
“So will I.”
Mira smiled.
“I can’t let you all get hurt without a healer.”
Luna closed Orion’s journal.
“…Count me in.”
Finally…
Yozaro looked at Orion’s broken sword displayed on the wall.
“I’ll finish what he started.”
Aldric walked toward a bookshelf.
He pressed a loose brick.
Rumble…
The wall slowly moved aside.
Behind it…
A narrow staircase descended deep underground.
“I’ve never entered this room.”
“It could be dangerous.”
Yozaro lit a lantern.
“I’ll go first.”
The others followed.
The staircase ended before a circular stone chamber.
In the center stood a black pedestal.
Upon it rested…
A small silver cube.
Covered in ancient runes.
As Yozaro approached…
The cube suddenly floated into the air.
The runes glowed crimson.
Then a calm voice echoed through the chamber.
Bloodline Confirmed.
Everyone stared in shock.
Welcome…
Heir of Desire.
The cube unfolded into dozens of glowing fragments.
A beam of light shot toward Yozaro.
Then—
Everything disappeared.
Somewhere Else
Yozaro opened his eyes.
He was no longer inside the basement.
He stood within an endless white space.
Across from him…
A man sat calmly on a stone throne.
He appeared to be in his twenties.
Black hair.
Golden eyes.
A long black coat.
Seven ancient books floated behind him.
He smiled gently.
“So…”
“You’ve finally arrived.”
Yozaro instinctively reached for his sword.
“…Who are you?”
The man chuckled.
“I’ve been waiting for you…”
“For more than ten thousand years.”