The only natural source of light, Gaia's first rays, fell on the Blue Star, dispelling the darkness as they reached one of the many continents: Heindal Continent.
Heindal, a continent often deemed the weakest on Blue Star, possessed a certain enchantment. Its landscapes ranged from lush, sprawling forests to towering mountain ranges and vast plains, each holding a unique beauty.
Yet, beneath this natural allure lay an air of mystery. How, despite being labeled the weakest, had Heindal not succumbed to destruction?
Why were the inhabitants of this continent seemingly unaware of external existences?
All of these enigmas pointed toward formidable forces at play, guarding Heindal from the shadows and veiling it in secrets.
In the midst of this varied terrain lay Selvius Kingdom, a realm that stood as the undisputed powerhouse of Heindal.
However, the rise of this kingdom was as swift as it was perplexing, orchestrated by an unseen force. This enigmatic transformation left the origins of the kingdom shrouded in ambiguity, an unsolved puzzle in the Heindal Continent.
At the heart of this kingdom's mystique was the reigning monarch, Queen Alisia Von Selvius. With her proclamation as queen, what was once a scattering of smaller realms merged into a formidable entity — Selvius Kingdom.
The mere fact that there was no Selvius Kingdom until her proclamation added to the intrigue.
Within the heart of Selvius Kingdom, a vast and grand palace stood, bathed in the gentle embrace of Gaia's morning rays.
The soft sunlight streamed through the palace windows, illuminating a room where an ethereally beautiful woman sat with poise.
Her face, a portrait of serenity, was graced by amber eyes that held a calm like a tranquil lake. In her hands, she delicately held a letter, engrossed in its content.
In the presence of this woman, three individuals knelt on the ground, a display of reverence and respect.
The air around them seemed to ripple with a dark, oozing aura, shrouding the room in a dense haze of mana as they awaited her response.
One of them, breaking the silence, spoke, "Princess, Master awaits a reply this time."
Alisia paused in her perusal of the letter, glancing at the man who had spoken, contemplating whether to send a reply or not.
Suddenly, all four individuals turned their attention towards the door of the room, sensing an incoming presence.
In a swift motion, the woman set aside her contemplations, adorned with a graceful smile, and moved swiftly towards the door and subsequently all three shadows vanished into thin air.
"Phew... Mother," Ryuk took a deep breath, attempting to steady his racing thoughts before entering the room and calling out to her.
"Kughh!"
Alisia grabbed him, pulling him into a warm embrace. Ryuk, startled at first due to his anxious state, soon found comfort in his mother's arms, reminded of how she always cared for him.
Alisia's eyes widened in concern before relaxing as she felt Ryuk's hands reciprocating the embrace. With motherly affection, she caressed his hair and spoke gently, "Did my child have a nightmare?"
This conclusion was drawn from the fact that it was the first time he hugged her back; usually, he would try to push her away.
[Host, three people are hiding inside the room, but none of them show any hostility.]
'Is mother hiding something from me?' Ryuk contemplated, but it didn't matter to him as he knew he could trust her. Perhaps one day, she would reveal the truth.
For now, he decided to step back.
Ryuk shook his head in response to her question, then hesitated before speaking, "Mother, I need some money."
Alisia looked at her son, not entirely understanding why he needed so much money. However, she didn't inquire further, trusting her son completely—a testament to the strong bond between them.
She called for her aide and instructed him to provide Ryuk with two million gold coins, twice the amount he had asked for.
This didn't surprise Ryuk; he knew his mother well and her willingness to support him.
.
.
.
.
'I need kill points,'
Ryuk thought, as killing intent passed through his eyes, he moved towards a restricted part of the forest, miles away from the palace.
""H-his highness""
Two guards were startled to see the Prince. Ryuk gestured for them to make way as he entered a dungeon designated for criminals within the Selvius Kingdom.
"His highness, if you want, I can accompany you," a guard offered, bowing but feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sudden arrival of the future king.
"No need. Just give me your sword."
The guard, who had faced many battles and challenges, felt a chill seeing the cold amber eyes that seemed to hold a hint of cruelty. He gave Ryuk his sword before bowing and leaving him alone in the dungeon.
Deep within the dungeon's belly, a sickening odor hung heavy in the air, a noxious mix of decay and filth that made every breath a struggle.
The walls, moist and slick with grime, seemed to close in on all sides, shadows playing wicked games, heightening the sense of dread.
The cells, barely more than cramped, damp holes, confined the inmates, their faces etched with despair and aching hopelessness, their pitiful cries a haunting melody that echoed down the corridor.
Scavenging rats scuttled across the cold, wet floor, their beady eyes reflecting the flickering torchlight that barely illuminated the grim surroundings.
The feeble flames seemed to mock the captives, throwing contorted shadows that danced menacingly, casting an eerie gloom that heightened the torment of those imprisoned in this wretched place.
In the dim light, a shadow cast by the flames grew larger as it approached the cells, sending shivers down the spines of those inside, as if recalling the memory of amber eyes and the figure they belonged to.
WHOOSH
The sword in Ryuk's hand was suddenly shrouded in amethyst mana, a type of mana used by sword masters. It created an aura sword, requiring minute amounts of mana but demanding exceptional focus and control over its flow.
Ryuk's eyes remained calm, unfazed by the gruesome scene unfolding within the dungeon. The cries and screams of the prisoners filled the air as the sword claimed its victims.
SILENCE—
Ryuk emerged from the dungeon, his face speckled with bloodstains, his amber eyes cold and unaffected by the horror he had just witnessed. Soldiers nearby felt a shiver down their spines as they looked at him.
"Here."
He passed the sword to a soldier and left the place, his demeanor unchanged by the ghastly scene he had left behind.
.
.
.
"Your Highness, as per your instructions, I have rejected any meetings with Her Highness," the butler reported, bowing as he watched the boy getting dressed with the help of maids after a bath.
Ryuk simply heard the report and, after getting dressed, left the room.
.....
Ryuk with his butler made his way towards a splendid carriage, accompanied by a retinue of soldiers who stood in formation, creating a path for these important individuals.
Ryuk's gaze fell upon the opulent golden carriage bearing the insignia of the Selvius royal family. He instructed his butler to fetch a portion of the gold coins his mother had entrusted to him.
Entering the carriage and taking his seat, he noticed a young girl running towards him, accompanied by a few maids. However, he disregarded her presence and promptly ordered the carriage to set off.
"Wait, brother! "
Ryuk paid no attention to the girl, who appeared to be in a sorry state from her hurried sprint.
Uninformed about Olivia following him, he, along with the others present, simply overlooked her, even as she stumbled and fell to the ground.
Everyone just averted their gazes seeing the girl fell as it was quite common for royal siblings to harbor animosity towards one another. For them, Ryuk's status was elevated compared to Olivia's.
As In the background, the truth was well-known: the official king of Selvius Kingdom was merely a figurehead. The true ruler was Alisia Von Selvius, and everyone inside palace, set their priorities accordingly.
Maids accompanying the little girl helped her in standing but she stopped them from helping her and moved inside the palace with a small injury on her knees.
...
Olivia's POV
"Her Highness, His Highness is going somewhere. It might be a chance to see him," a maid informed me of Ryuk's departure.
Finally, I had the opportunity to meet him. He had been rejecting all my attempts to meet him. This was unusual.
Could it be that he had memories too?
I dismissed the thought, believing that even if it were true, he would forgive me, as he always did, right?
I sprinted towards the exit of the palace, seeing a line of carriages waiting. Finally, I thought, I can apologize and reconcile, act cutesy, and all will be well.
Like always, he would forgive me, hehe~.
"Wait, brother!"
I ran towards the carriage, calling out to him. Maybe he hadn't heard me. No! The carriage was moving. Had he not noticed me?
THUD
"Oww... it hurts."
My legs ached, perhaps he had noticed me falling. I looked at the disappearing carriage, uncertain if he had seen. Biting my lips, I rejected the help of the maids and made my way back to my room.
I knew that when he found out I had been hurt, he would definitely come running to help me, just like he always did.
// A Past Memory //
In the garden, a young girl giggled as she playfully chased a stubborn butterfly, her laughter filling the air.
"Her Highness, please be careful, you might fall," cautioned the concerned maids who were keeping an eye on her.
"Hehehe, I'll catch it for my brother, " she giggled and leaped, attempting to catch the elusive butterfly.
Thud
However, she lost her balance and tumbled to the ground, tears welling up in her eyes as the butterfly danced just out of her reach.
"Olivia, that's not the place for napping. If you'd like, you can rest in your room," teased a boy with amber eyes, accompanied by playful maids.
Frustrated and teary-eyed, Olivia murmured, "I hate you," without looking at the boy.
"I know you do," he grinned and scooped her up, causing her to pout.
"I hate you," she repeated, still upset.
He gently scolded, "You should take care of yourself, Olivia," as he noticed a small injury on her legs. Concerned, he asked the maids to fetch bandages and carefully tended to her wound. He continued, "What will you do if I'm not here to help you?"
Olivia, a bit defiant, folded her arms and declared, "I can take care of myself."
"We'll see," he chuckled, finishing the bandaging with a genuine smile, his eyes reflecting a sincere care for the young girl.
// Present //
"Hic...hicc... I can't take care of myself, brother,"
The small girl sobbed quietly within the confines of her room. She tended to her injuries alone, not wanting the maids to witness her vulnerable state.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, the pain from her injuries stinging both physically and emotionally.
.
.
.
.
The carriage continued its journey towards the Goddess Frey Church, accompanied by a retinue of soldiers, drawing the attention of onlookers.
'System, purchase a slave seal,' Ryuk spoke, his mind focused on planning ahead, considering the events that needed careful consideration to avoid any potential problems.
THUD
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, causing his brow to furrow.
Ryuk was interrupted from his thoughts by a soldier reporting, "Forgive me, Your Highness. A girl suddenly jumped in front of the carriage and seemed to be c-cursing...