The halls of the Luminae household buzzed with silent preparation, a strange tension brewing. Snowy paced within his room, the walls feeling tighter with each passing day. He had been isolated here since recovering from his battle with Raven, his wounds healing but his mind still restless. There was something they weren't telling him.
Why can't I leave? he wondered, staring out at the Luminae clan members training. He had memorized their movements, their techniques, noting every subtlety in their footwork. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that his confinement was more than just about recovery.
His thoughts were interrupted by the familiar buzzing of his communication device. Emily. Again. He sighed and answered.
"The trail's gone cold again," Emily's voice came through, sounding more frustrated than before. "Miya's mana trail led to Central City, but after that... nothing. I'll keep looking, though. Stay put."
"Understood," Snowy replied, though he felt a twinge of irritation at the repetitive news. Something didn't sit right about the whole situation. Miya vanishing, the constant roadblocks—everything was too calculated.
Emily's voice softened, but there was a bit of worry in it. "Be careful, Snowy, some news about mana diffusion is rising, it's killing many people and the raw mana in air is slowly drying up, seems like that shadow things is on move or something, i don't know though, just be careful."
Before Snowy could question her, the line clicked off. Mana diffusion what is that? He thought as he returned to his mental training, focusing on his breathing, sharpening his heightened senses through meditation.
Two days had passed, and Aurora had been avoiding him—strangely so. Snowy noticed her absence more than usual, her energy felt like a shadow lingering just beyond his reach. The few times he had seen her, she would turn red and quickly disappear. He shook his head.
(Women are strange), he thought.
Meanwhile, the Luminae household had grown busy with preparations for something special. The air smelled faintly of flowers and incense, decorations filled the halls, but no one had told him what was going on. He was left alone, restless, recovering yet trapped.
The night came, the darkness pressing against the thin walls of his room. Snowy lay still, feigning sleep, his senses alert. The softest creak of the door caught his attention. Aurora. She had been standing outside for a while—he could sense her nervousness in the rhythm of her heartbeat. Slowly, she slipped into his room, the door barely making a sound.
She hesitated at the foot of his bed, her breath shaky as she stared at him. Snowy kept his eyes shut, feeling the weight of her gaze. She took a step closer, then another.
"It's been a few days since I last saw you, Snowy..." she whispered, her voice barely audible but clear to him.
Here we go... he thought, cringing inwardly at the thought of a heartfelt confession. He'd seen enough of those in his past lives to last an eternity.
"I... I was so scared when you fought Raven," Aurora continued. "But you didn't hesitate. You stepped in when you didn't have to… and saved me."
Saved you? Snowy mentally scoffed. I was after the Hound clan's money. That's the only reason I got involved.
Aurora's voice wavered as she recounted their first encounter, the subtle smile she gave when mentioning how she broke his dagger just to have one on her throat with another. He cringed again but let her continue. Her words were soft, hesitant. Slowly, she reached out, her hand hovering over his chest as if debating whether to touch him or not. After a long pause, she placed her hand gently on his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breath.
"You're strong, Snowy," she whispered, "but it scares me sometimes… because that strength could be the very thing that makes you lose yourself."
Snowy tensed at her words, feeling a pang of discomfort. Her fingers trembled as she continued, talking about her grandmother.
Aurora's eyes softened as she gazed at Snowy, her voice lowering to a near whisper. "You know, my grandmother was the only person I felt truly close to, like I do with you. It's not that I hesitate around my parents, but... it's different. When I'm with you, I feel more alive, more like myself."
Snowy's gaze flickered with curiosity. He could tell she was on the edge of saying something deeper.
"She used to tell me stories when I was little," Aurora continued, her voice filled with fondness and nostalgia. "One of them has stayed with me all these years. It's about a king, a princess, and a choice no one should have to make."
She paused, taking a breath before beginning the tale her grandmother had told her so many times.
---
"Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived far away in the mountains. She was beloved by the people, who often offered her gifts—money, food, and treasures—as thanks for being their new protector. She was young but strong, and the people believed in her just as they had believed in her father.
Her father, King Louis, was a great and noble king who had protected the land for years. He fought back demons that came from the depths of the 'Hell Hole,' a terrible chasm from which dark creatures would emerge. King Louis defended his kingdom from the evils within, cutting down every foe that threatened the peace of his lands. But one tragic night, as he traveled with his daughter, Elena, their fate changed forever.
They were ambushed by a swarm of demons. King Louis, brave and unwavering, held his daughter close with one arm and cut down the monsters with the other. His sword gleamed in the moonlight as he fought to protect her. But no matter how strong he was, the enemy was relentless.
Then, in a fateful moment, a blast of dark energy separated them. King Louis was thrown to one side, and Elena, helpless, was cast to the other, where demons lurked, ready to devour her.
In desperation, King Louis begged the demons not to harm his daughter. The creatures, twisted and wicked, gave him a cruel choice: If he leapt into the Hell Hole and surrendered the land to their rule, they would spare Elena.
It was a choice no one should have to make—save the kingdom he had sworn to protect, or save his daughter, the one he loved more than anything.
For King Louis, the decision was clear. No kingdom, no crown, no glory was more important than his daughter's life. He accepted their terms without hesitation.
The demons dragged Elena to the edge of the Hell Hole, where the endless swarm of monsters clawed their way up, only to fall back down in a vicious cycle. King Louis stood at the precipice, the gaping maw of the abyss before him.
The demons sneered at him, their fangs gleaming in the darkness. 'Go on,' they mocked, 'Jump, and we'll leave her alone.'
King Louis, known for his bravery and wisdom, had no illusions about what would happen next. He looked at Elena one last time, his heart breaking as he saw the tears streaming down her face. She was sobbing, calling out to him, but she was just a child—too young to understand the weight of his choice.
With a sad smile, he spoke words he hoped she would remember: 'When the sun shines, kingdoms will rise. And when I am gone, one will bear the responsibilities. So, Elena, move on from grief.'
He told her to close her eyes, and despite her sobs, she obeyed.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped into the Hell Hole.
The demons erupted into cruel laughter as King Louis fell into the abyss. But true to their word—if demons even have such a thing—they left Elena unharmed. They released her in the woods, alone and heartbroken. She cried and cried for her father, but no one was there to answer her cries.
However, someone came—someone unexpected. A man in a dark robe appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. He was neither young nor old, but there was something timeless about him. His eyes burned with the same fire that had filled King Louis with courage.
He scooped Elena into his arms and took her back to her village, where the people were celebrating, thinking the demons had been vanquished for good. They had no idea what had truly happened.
But the demons returned. Their monstrous roars filled the night, and terror gripped the land once more. The people fled in fear.
But the robed man stood firm.
With strength and power unlike anything they had ever seen, he faced the demons alone. He fought them off, driving them back into the depths of the Hell Hole from which they came. And then, with a final display of incredible power, he sealed the Hell Hole shut.
Some say he was a deity, sent to protect the world from the darkness. Others whispered that he was a demon himself, one who had betrayed his own kind. But no one truly knew who—or what—he was.
What they did know was that no fire could burn him, no sword could pierce his flesh, and no challenge was too great for him to overcome. He was an immortal force, a being beyond mortal understanding.
As for Princess Elena, she never learned the name of the robed man who had saved her and her people. But she grew strong, carrying on the legacy of her father, telling tales of the one who had come to her rescue in her darkest hour.
The people would remember him as "All bow to the warrior who rises, to the shadow and the flame, the bearer of a forgotten name."
As Aurora recounted the legend, Snowy's thoughts drifted. The story felt familiar, almost as though the words held a deeper meaning. All bow to the warrior who rises, to the shadow and the flame, the bearer of a forgotten name...
His mind began to swirl. Those were the same words from the cheers of the warriors in his dreamscape. But what did it all mean?
Aurora's voice softened as she neared the end of her tale, her head now resting on his chest, completely unaware that Snowy had been awake this entire time. She sighed deeply, a weight lifted from her as she whispered, "Tomorrow is our engagement. But without you knowing... I feel so guilty."
Engagement!?
Snowy's hand instinctively shot up, gently grabbing Aurora's wrist. "Engagement!?" he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.
Aurora gasped, her body jerking back in shock, her hands quickly covering her face. "Y-You were awake this whole time!?" she cried, clearly mortified.
Snowy, still in shock, tried to piece together what he had just heard. Engagement? He hadn't agreed to any engagement, let alone with Aurora.
Aurora, now red-faced, tried to explain through her flustered state, but Snowy's mind was already racing with questions.