Fear?
What does it mean to be afraid?
Is it how your body trembles—cold and clammy—when all warmth flees, leaving you hollow?
Is it the way your legs buckle, rooted in place by a paranormal force, while your very mind screams at you to run?
Or is it the chill that crawls down your spine, whispering a truth that gnaws down at your sanity—a truth you wish weren't real?
No.
Fear is much more than just this.
Fea—I didn't wish for any of this. I swear @)$*(%!#
************
Alyssa and Xavier looking as pale as Wynn's hair, exchanged terrified glances at one another.
While Wynn just lay there, scratching his head.
"Uh, guys? What the Hell is this all about?"
The two "ghosts" glared at the blissfully unaware rat.
"Snowflake, I know you're an idiot, but GOD, IT CAN'T BE THAT BLOODY BAD?" Alyssa snapped,
"Uh, I know what secret realms are like, I saw an episode on TV, but isn't someone gonna just pull up and get the job over with? What's the whole fuss about?"
Xavier and Alyssa exchanged a long glance before Xavier turned to Wynn, picked up his spectacles, and framed them over his nose.
"Wynn, my dear, naïve little brother..."
Wynn raised an eyebrow.
"Secret realms are classified into ranks ranging from F-SSS, at least in theory." Xavier began.
"A skilled first-core Awakened could take on realms ranked E or F. Experienced Awakeners with cores ranked two to four could take on realms up to B, though it would by no means be easy."
He undid a few bandages wrapped around his arms before continuing.
"What really changes the dynamic is a higher-ranking gate. A strong, peak fifth-rank like Jaxon could take on an A-ranked secret realm—albeit with extreme difficulty. Though, It would take a well-coordinated party of many fifth-ranks to even think about challenging an S-ranked secret realm and making it out with all their limbs intact."
"And what about an SS-ranked one?" Wynn asked, tilting his head.
"SS-ranked secret realms are different… The difficulty increases exponentially," Xavier explained, his tone grim.
"To defeat an SS-ranked secret realm, we'd require the crème de la crème—a large number of sixth-core Awakened or… a seventh-core Awakened."
"Seventh-core Awakened?"
"The true strongest people of the Empire. If I'm not wrong, it would include the Archduke, the Duke of Terran, the Duke of Atheros, a few shadowy figures, some members of the Royal Family, and, of course, the Empire's Hero: The notorious Marquis Raymond Von Scit."
"And....SSS-ranked secret realms?" Wynn asked with genuine curiosity.
"Well, there hasn't been one, at least not to our knowledge. But theoretically, if one were to appear, there's only one man who could even think of stopping it."
"And that is?"
"Oh, of course, who else but Henry Di Von Valkrin, The Human Emperor."
*********
[In the main hall of the orphanage]
A short, plump man with a balding patch and an auburn goatee stood on a slightly elevated platform, addressing the gathered children.
This man was Takur Rizvy—the director of the orphanage.
At first glance, Takur appeared to be an ordinary, unawakened individual, devoid of even a mere spec of mana. However, this impression was complete and utterly deceptive. Takur was, in fact, a third-core mage. His abilities primarily revolved around defensive spells and utility magic, making him more of a protector than a fighter.
It wasn't his magical prowess that earned him his position, though. Rather, it was his warm demeanor, caring personality, and unwavering moral character that led the Leader of Silent Dawn to appoint him as director of the orphanage.
Now, this typically cheerful and composed man faced a considerable challenge—calming a room full of frightened children.
"Alright, Alright kids settle down." Takurs voice cut through the rising murmurs.
"I know you're all scared, but there's no need to fret. I promise you that everything is going to be perfectly fine," Takur's deep, calming voice resonated through the hall.
A young girl, no older than seven, hesitantly raised her hand. Her voice, a mix of sobs and hiccups, quivered as she stammered, "B-But I... i-it's v—sniff... sniff scary."
Takur's warm smile softened as he stepped down from the platform, his boots echoing softly against the creaky wooden floor. He approached the trembling child, crouching down to meet her eye level.
"I know it feels scary, little one," he said soothingly, "But remember, you're not alone. I'm here, and so are all your friends. Together, we'll all get through this, won't we?"
The girl's sobs quieted slightly as she listened, her big, watery eyes locked onto his. Takur leaned in just a bit, his smile deepening. "And do you know the best bit?"
"The Duke of Helios himself has confirmed that the Emperor has sent help," Takur said, his voice now brimming with conviction. "The Western Marquis of Earth, Sir Raymond Von Scit, one of the strongest of the Empire, is coming to handle this matter personally."
The hall fell silent.
The older children, including Alyssa, Wynn, and Xavier, exchanged stunned glances. The weight of the name hung heavily in the air.
CRASH!
The sound of shattering glass cut through the quiet. A servant, passing by with a tray, froze, his face pale as he looked down at the spilled contents now pooling on the floor.
"I am most terribly sorry, sir!" the servant stammered, his hands trembling. "I'll clean this mess up right away!"
Takur's expression remained calm, though a faint flicker of amusement crossed his features. "No need to worry," he said kindly. "Accidents can happen."
He turned back to the children,
"See? Even the strongest names can surprise us, but that's why we have them. Sir Raymond Von Scit will ensure that everyone in Helios is safe. All we need to do is stay strong and stick together. Can you all you kids do that for me?"
The children nodded, some more hesitantly than others, the fear that had gripped the room seemed to ease to some extent, even being replaced by a flicker of hope.
However, for some odd reason, Wynn couldn't help but get rid of the uneasy feeling that was rising from deep within his heart.
******************
[Leocor, the Capital The Western March on Earth]
The grand towering modern buildings of the Western March capital stood tall as if piercing the Heavens themselves, their majestic peaks shimmering under the sun's rays.
Nestled in the heart of the metropolis capital city of Leocor, stood an opulent estate mansion, its creamy marble pillars inspired by ancient Greek architecture. These timeless pillars boasted an air of elegant grace, flawlessly blending in antiquity with Modern sophistry.
Each and every decorative element adorning the exterior of the manor seemed to be a testament to the Marquis's grandeur, with intricate patterns depicting battles fought by the Scit family masterfully carved and filled in with molten gold and further embellished with the most expensive diamonds lined up in eye-pleasing mesmerizing designs.
The estate boasted a massive lawn, perfectly groomed and dotted with exotic flora imported from all across the Empire, a testimony to the Lady of the House's passion for catering and collecting rare and fascinating plant species.
At the center of the expansive main lawn stood a colossal, shimmering fountain, around which were statues of Legendary fighters from history, serving as a bold reminder of the power and nobility possessed by the affluent Scit family.
But all in all the true marvel of the estate lay hidden within—a state-of-the-art modern training chamber. A masterpiece forged from thea combined effort of modern scientists, esteemed scholarly mages, and the pinnacle of elite designers. The chamber was an area of unparalleled efficiency having tales being bragged of how even a wayward druggie could emerge from this chamber being transformed into a battle-hardened war commander.
[inside the Training chamber]
Inside the training chapter, a man who appeared to be in his late thirties stood, his upper body was bare, exposing his powerful battle-hardened physique. His jet-black hair, streaked with subtle lines of silver, stuck to his forehead, slicked with sweat. His chiseled masculine jaw was framed by a neatly trimmed black beard whilst his perfect Greek nose lent him an air of nobility.
Yet, the most captivating feature of all was his deep golden eyes, which glowed faintly in the minimal light of the chamber, these eyes did a remarkable job of asserting the man's dominance and authority.
This man was Raymond Von Scit, The Western Marquis of Earth and a man hailed as the Empire's Hero and one of—if not the strongest man in the Empire.
Reaching for the towel, his gaze suddenly flickered to the side as the Head Butler of the Scit family, Alfred entered the chamber, bowing respectfully at a complete ninety-degree angle.
"My Lord, preparations for your departure to Helios are underway," Alfred announced.
The Marquis nodded, draping the now-used towel over his left shoulder. "Good. And Arthur? What's that brat up to? I've been too busy to keep an eye on that critter." He said in an amused fatherly tone.
Alfred's face lit up, a proud smile finding its way to his features. "Young Master Arthur is as remarkable as ever, my lord. Just last week, did Young Master Arthur best Young Master Alexander the second-born of the Eastern Marquis in a duel, my Lord."
Raymond's left brow rose slightly, "Oh? And what prompted this duel, Alfred?"
"The Eastern young master dared to flirt with Cassie—one of Young Master's Luminaire friends, so Young Master challenged the boy on the spot and defeated him decisively. If my sources aren't wrong, then the duel lasted a mere two exchanges."
The Marquis chuckled. "Two exchanges? Poor Eastern Marquis. I'm sure Alexander must've been humiliated. But let's not pretend Arthur's a saint himself; that hypocrite flirts with half the Empire's beauties whenever he gets the chance."
Alfred smiled softly. "True, my Lord, but unlike most, Young Master Arthur has the ability to back himself up with his outstanding talent. After all, there's a reason why he's called History's Greatest Genius."
Raymond's eyes gleamed with pride and affection as he recalled how much of an anomaly his son was—he, Raymond, had been called a genius in his youth and was even said to be the strongest patriarch the Scit family had ever seen. But this boy, Arthur, was a genius on a level above even himself.
Brushing a hand through his wet hair, he said, "Flattery suits you, Alfred. But you're right. It's not a matter of if but when that boy outshines me. That's why I've been considering something over these last few weeks."
He shut off the chamber's holographic screen and continued, "When I meet the Emperor after I return from Helios, I might bring up the prospect of Arthur as a potential match for Princess Alaara."
Alfred's eyes widened. "The Crown Princess? That would be an unparalleled match, my Lord! But… do you think it's feasible?"
"Why not?" Raymond replied. "Arthur is already the strongest of his age group, and Alaara will need a consort who is not only her equal but someone who can strengthen her when she ascends to the throne."
Alfred hesitated before speaking. "But will the Crown Princess agree to the proposal?"
Raymond smiled. "If anyone can win her over, it's Arthur. That boy has a strange charm that even I can't fully understand. The idiot has half the capital fawning over his stupid face."
Alfred bowed deeply.
Raymond shook off his musings about his potential father-in-law ambitions and turned to Alfred with a decisive tone.
"That's enough about my son. Prepare my armor. It's time to depart for Helios."