In the quiet village of Nasi, tucked away in the vast Kingdom of Emerald, two ancient families, the Mera Family and the Reme Family, lived with a special power. They weren't like ordinary people—they could create portals and travel between different worlds. Because of this, they were known as "The Dimension Walkers."
These families worked for King Simus, a ruler driven by his desire for riches and, one day, eternal life. Every year, during the grand festival called the "Blessing of Elmora," the families would open portals to magical worlds filled with treasure. But in the year 397, things changed. The king, becoming more greedy and impatient, decided to lead an expedition himself. This time, they weren't going to a magical world. They were heading to a place that supposedly had no magic but was full of gold. Instead of bringing a large army, King Simus took only a thousand soldiers.
Excitement filled the air as the soldiers marched through the portal. It felt like they were about to strike it rich.
But everything went wrong in just a few hours.
King Simus came stumbling back through the portal, pale and shaking. His right arm was gone, his clothes were torn, and blood dripped from countless wounds. Between gasps, he muttered a name that sent shivers through the air: "The Demon Lord."
News of the disaster spread like wildfire across the kingdom. The "Blessing of Elmora" had turned into a nightmare.
Five years later—Year 402.
The kingdom had changed forever. King Simus stood at the top of his castle tower, looking out over the crowd that had gathered below. His face was a mixture of sorrow and anger, both carved deep into his now-older features.
"Five years," the king began, his voice filled with emotion. "Five years since that terrible day. Ten thousand of our best soldiers… lost. And why? Because of the lies and betrayal of two families—the families of witches who led us to ruin!"
The king's voice grew harsher as he raised his left arm—the only arm he had left. His right sleeve flapped emptily in the wind.
"We trusted them," he shouted, his words hitting the crowd like stones. "We gave them love and kindness! And how did they repay us? With betrayal! They sacrificed our soldiers to the Demon Lord!"
The crowd stayed silent, hanging on every angry word.
"But we will not fall," the king's voice boomed, now full of determination. "I have found something powerful, something not of this world—the Demon Lord's hair. With it, we've made a potion that can turn an ordinary man into a warrior as strong as a thousand!"
Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd like ripples in a pond.
"With this power," the king continued, "we will rise again! Our kingdom will become stronger than ever before! And we will rule every world!"
The crowd erupted into cheers. Hope, which had seemed so distant, flickered back into their hearts.
But among the cheers, a lone figure in a dark brown coat stood quietly, watching the scene with a calm expression. As the king finished his speech, the figure turned and slipped away, heading toward the distant mountains.
This figure's destination? The Mountain of Eyes, a place feared by all. Legends claimed it was cursed by the god Elmora, and those who ventured there never returned.
But this figure moved without fear, climbing through the mountain's rugged terrain until they reached a small, weathered wooden house.
Behind the house, a boy was waving his arms in strange motions. When he noticed the figure, he paused. The figure called out, "Natsuo! I'm back."
The boy, Natsuo, smiled and hurried inside. As the figure removed their coat, it became clear they weren't a man, but a young girl. Her dark pink hair fell just past her shoulders, and her deep green eyes sparkled with a strange beauty.
Natsuo looked at her curiously. "Hey, Minami. Something happen?"
Minami let out a sigh as she dropped into a chair. "Yeah… I was in town, and there was a huge crowd at the castle."
Natsuo smirked. "Let me guess, the king gave another one of his speeches?"
Minami nodded, looking tired. "Same old speech. But it gets me every time. He's always blaming our family. Today, he called us witches again, said we betrayed the kingdom and served the Demon Lord."
Natsuo's face tightened, and he clenched his fists. "So now we're traitors? Typical. But we know the truth. He's lying. One day, he's going to regret every word."
Minami gave a weak smile. "I know you're right… but when will that day come?"
"Soon," Natsuo said confidently. "You know my gut—it's never wrong!"
Minami chuckled softly. "Well, I can't trust your portal-making skills, but your instincts… those I do."
Natsuo puffed out his chest, pretending to be offended. "Hey! I can make portals now, you know!"
"Sure," Minami teased, "but they still blow up the second they open."
Natsuo huffed, crossing his arms. "Not anymore! I've been practicing, and tonight I'll show you."
Minami raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why not show me right now?"
Before Natsuo could reply, a knock came at the door. Minami stood up and opened it, her face lighting up in surprise. "Uncle Kazuki!"
Standing in the doorway was a middle-aged man with kind eyes. Minami hugged him tightly.
Kazuki Hoshino, Minami's father's best friend and the king's advisor, smiled warmly.
Natsuo grinned. "Uncle Kazuki! The king gave the same old speech again, didn't he?"
Kazuki sighed, shaking his head. "I know. I'm the king's advisor, after all. But how do you know about it? Did one of you go into town?"
Minami, shifting nervously, said, "I did. I was just out shopping."
Kazuki's expression grew serious. "I told you both to stay on the mountain. If you need something, tell me. I'll get it."
"You can't always know what we need," Minami replied, playfully.
Kazuki sighed, but his voice grew stern. "But what if someone saw you? The kingdom is filled with spies now. And they've all taken that potion… the one from the king's speech."
Natsuo crossed his arms. "You mean the one that makes people as strong as a thousand men? Is that real? I thought it was just the king making things up."
Kazuki shook his head. "It's real. Worse than you think. The potion doesn't just make them strong—it sharpens their senses. Their sight, hearing, smell, everything. They could have easily spotted you. You need to be more careful."
Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the air behind Kazuki. "There won't be a next time."
Kazuki turned, his face going pale as the Night Commander stepped forward.
"You've betrayed the kingdom, Kazuki Hoshino," the commander said icily. "By order of the king, you are sentenced to death for treason. Guards, arrest them all!"