The fire consumed everything—the grand courtyard, the gleaming towers, the family banners that once fluttered proudly in the wind. The castle, my home, my legacy, was a silhouette of flame and ruin, collapsing beneath its own weight. The air was thick with smoke and the stench of burning.
I couldn't feel the heat. I couldn't feel anything. My body was numb, my mind detached, floating in an empty, endless void.
Mia's hand shook in mine, her face became a waterfall as tears ran down her face,
"Kaizen, tell me this isn't real.."
Her voice trembled, but I couldn't answer her. I didn't have the words, not when my world was crumbling before me. Instead, I stood there, frozen, staring at the inferno, as the flames devoured everything I had ever known. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run into the fire and tear it apart with my bare hands. But my body wouldn't respond.
Then, in the midst of the chaos, I heard a voice—a whisper on the edge of my consciousness.
Kaizen...
It was Connor's voice. Soft, urgent, desperate. A distant cry that pierced through my fogged thoughts. Without thinking, I moved, pulling Mia along with me as we began to walk to the castle.
As soon as we enter through the flames, the fire, though violent, parted around us as if it recognized our presence—or perhaps, it was my mother's magic, guiding us, protecting us.
A shimmer of water enveloped us, a bubble of protection that crackled with power. The water flowed around us like a cloak, a shield against the devastation that raged around us. My mother had always been so powerful, so graceful in her magic. Even in death, she reached out to us, her love lingering in the air like the faintest scent of roses.
Kaizen over here..
We walked through the palace, following Connor's voice, we past the charred remnants of the rooms and halls, and into the heart of the castle where my family had once ruled.
And then, we reached the throne room.
The sight before us shattered whatever was left of my resolve.
My parents were there, their bodies burned, scorched beyond recognition, but they were still holding onto each other. They had fallen together. I couldn't even tell where the flames had stopped and where their bodies began.
Tears welled in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. I couldn't let them fall. Not yet.
Mia clung to me, her sobs muffled against my side, but I couldn't comfort her. I couldn't even comfort myself.
Next to them, Marcus and Connor stood—still standing despite the weight of their grief, their bodies trembling, their faces pale and streaked with dirt and tears. In their hands, they both held pieces of paper which had Marcus's wind magic around it, protecting them.
I reached for the first note, my mother's handwriting. Her delicate script, once so familiar, now seemed foreign, her note dripped with tear marks.
Kaizen, my sweet boy,
I don't know where to begin. You've always been my pride, my greatest joy. When I held you in my arms for the first time, I knew my life had meaning. You were everything to me. You were my son, and I loved you with every ounce of my being.
I know you must feel lost right now. The world is crumbling, and it feels as if everything we've worked for has been torn away. But my dear, you must never forget that you are more than just a prince. You are the embodiment of everything our family stood for—strength, love, honor.
I am so sorry that I won't be there to guide you, to help you find your way. But I know that you will rise from this. You are strong, Kaizen. Stronger than you even realize. Please, take care of your sister. She needs you more than anything now.
Know that I will always love you. I will be with you in spirit, watching over you as you walk your path. Do not let the darkness consume you. You are my light. You are my son, and I will love you always.
I grabbed the next note, it was writing the whole world knows, it has written many laws and rules, The king-my father.
Kaizen, my son,
If you're reading this, then you know what has happened. The world is crueler than I could have ever prepared you for. I never wanted to leave you like this. I never wanted to burden you with the weight of everything we've fought for. But I am proud of you. So proud.
I know I was hard on you. I was always pushing you, always demanding more than you thought you had in you. But it was never because I didn't believe in you. It was because I saw something in you that you couldn't see yourself. You have the strength, the will, to lead—not just as a prince, but as the man this world needs. The man I could never be. I did what I thought was best for you, but I know now it wasn't enough. I failed you.
I'm sorry, Kaizen. I know I wasn't the father you needed me to be. I pushed you because I wanted to make you strong, but in doing so, I never let you just be my son. I never let you rest in knowing that I loved you unconditionally. You always felt like you had to prove yourself, and for that, I am sorry. I only wanted to prepare you for what was to come. I never wanted to leave you with this burden.
But now, it's yours to bear, my son. It's your responsibility to protect your sister, to protect the legacy of the Valor family. You are the future of this kingdom, even if the world has taken everything from us. You may feel broken, Kaizen, but do not let it consume you. Rise above it. You have everything inside you to do so. You are stronger than you know.
I know you will make your own way, make your own choices, and that fills me with both pride and fear. The road ahead will be long, Kaizen. It will be hard. But do not let the fire in your heart die. For your family. For your name. For the kingdom we once had. Fight, Kaizen. Fight for the future.
I love you, son. And I always will.
—, your father
My father, who I never thought loved me, was writing his love as his final words.
"If you loved me so much you wouldn't of died, stupid father"
the tears in my eyes began falling.
I grabbed the next note, Marcus's handwriting immediately recognizable, though his words were shaky, and the paper was littered with tear stains.
Kaizen, my little brother,
I don't have much time to write this, but I need you to know... I'm sorry. I should've been there for you more. I should've done more. But in the end, I know you've always been stronger than I was. You always will be.
I want you to know that I love you more than anything. I never thought this would happen. I thought we had more time. I thought we would have time to fix things, to be a family again. But now… now I know that's not going to happen.
Kaizen, I'm begging you. Stay strong. For Mia. For yourself. Never forget who you are. You're more than just a prince. You're a warrior. And that's what you'll need to be now.
I'm so sorry I won't be there to protect you. You're the strongest person I know. Please take care of Mia. She needs you. I know you'll make the right choice. I'll be with you, always. I love you, little brother. Goodbye.
I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Marcus had always been my protector, my guide. He had taught me how to fight, how to survive. And now, he was gone. His words burned through my heart like a brand.
I moved to Connor's note next. His handwriting was erratic, frantic, as though written in haste.
Kaizen,
I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I should've told you sooner, but the truth... the truth is too dangerous. The Valor family wasn't supposed to survive. The prophecy said it all. But Kaizen, you have to understand. There's a reason they came after us. They wanted you and Mia dead, just like they wanted all of us dead. They thought they could destroy us, but you guys will have a tough road ahead.
Don't let anyone find out who you really are. Not yet. Go to the elves, go to Seraphir. They're the only ones who can help you now. Go to them. Tell them who you are. They'll protect you. They'll take you in.
I don't know what's going to happen next, but please, Kaizen, do what I couldn't. Stay strong. Stay safe. Don't trust anyone.
I'm sorry. I never wanted you to be alone. But I know you'll be okay. You're strong, Kaizen. Stronger than I ever was. Please, take care of Mia. You're the only family she has left. You're the only family I have left.
Goodbye, my brother. I love you.
Connor's words hit harder than any blade. I had always trusted him, believed in him. And yet, here he was, admitting that the very world he had fought to protect had betrayed him. Betrayed us. But even in the midst of it all, he had still tried to protect me.
I couldn't breathe. My mother, my father, my brothers—they were all gone. Their words were the only things left of them, and now, they were all I had.
I looked down at Mia, and she was sobbing unconditionally my shirt drenched in tears.
As I looked at her Marcus's words rang in my ears—go to your room
"Mia follow me"
I grab her hand and begin walking to my room.
I walked down the silent hallway, each step heavy on the polished marble floor, the sound of my boots echoing through the empty palace. It felt so wrong to be here now—this place, once filled with life, now a mausoleum of memories. The portraits on the walls seemed like distant ghosts, their once vibrant colors now muted, the gold tarnished. I passed my father's study, the door ajar as it had always been. I could almost hear his voice, sharp and commanding, echoing in my ears. It was like he was still here, as if he'd walk in any moment, demanding my attention. But he wouldn't. Not anymore.
I moved past the next room, my mother's. The door was cracked, and for a second, I could almost hear her laugh. Her gentle, soothing presence, the way she always made things better, even when everything was falling apart. I stood there for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorframe, but I couldn't bring myself to go inside. It didn't feel like hers anymore. It felt like nothing, like everything had been taken, stripped from this place.
I continued on, passing Marcus's room next. It was silent, empty. The scent of old training clothes and sweat had been replaced with the smell of something stale and cold. His weapons—the ones we'd sparred with, the ones he'd worn like armor—were scattered across the floor, charred and broken. I stopped for a moment, staring at the ruin, my throat tightening. Marcus had always been the strong one, the one I could always count on. But now… now, the room was as lifeless as he was.
I reached Connor's door last. It was closed, but I could feel his absence, a weight pressing against my chest. Connor had always been the steady one, the one who would protect us all. But now, there was nothing. Just silence.
Finally, I reached my own room. The door was slightly open, the light from the hallway spilling in, casting long shadows across the floor. I stepped inside and froze. The room was just as it had been, untouched in the midst of everything that had fallen apart. But something was different. Something in the air.
I turned to the wall, my breath catching in my throat. There, scrawled in glowing magic, were the words:
"LIVE"
They pulsed with a dark energy, like they were alive. My heart raced. It wasn't a suggestion. It was a command, and it was impossible to ignore. My hand reached for the words, but something in me hesitated. I stood frozen for a moment, the weight of those words settling deep inside my chest.
As soon I read those words, they disappeared into thin air.
"I will live brother"
A sudden gust of wind stirred the air, and I snapped my head to the corner of the room. There, floating just above the ground, was a small bag. The wind swirled around it, lifting it gently toward me. My hand instinctively reached out, and the bag settled into my grip, the air stilling as soon as I held it.
I opened it, my fingers trembling as I pulled out the contents.
Marcus's black overcoat. His battle attire. The same one he'd worn during battles. It shimmered faintly in my hands, a reminder of who he had been. I ran my fingers over the fabric, feeling the weight of it—of him—pressing into my palms. The same one he'd always worn when he wanted to show the world his strength.
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. This was his. This was all he had left. But I couldn't linger. I reached deeper into the bag. Two black outfits, one small and one larger, were tucked inside. Mia's and mine. For the journey ahead.
I quickly grabbed them both, and then turned toward Mia, who stood just outside the door, waiting quietly.
"It will be okay," I said softly, my voice low and firm.
I could see the worry in her eyes, the fear that mirrored my own, but I pushed it aside. I had to be strong for her. For all of us.
As soon as we put them on, my golden hair quickly changed.
Instead of bright golden hair as the sun, it now cascaded black, as the night.
"Ha, stay hidden, sure brother Connor"
Mia her hair has also changed, it became rich black instead of her natural color.
"Brother, my hair change" She said with tears still shown but no longer sobbing as hard
"Yes Mia, both ours did. Let us go now, we have to travel"
"B-brother..."
"Shh Mia just trust me, you will be okay" I said patting her head.
"Get on my back"
Mia and her little frame climbed onto my back,
"Hold on tight"
As I turned to leave, I glanced back at the room. At everything I was leaving behind. The fire had taken so much, but it hadn't taken everything.
"The Valor family will not die"
I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips.
"Mother. Father. Brothers. I will live for Valor."
And with that, we stepped into the unknown, our future uncertain, but the blood of our family still burning within us.