"Guess it's time…"
I got up from the bed, slipping on my jacket as I prepared to move after resting for half an hour. With a deep breath, I readied myself to meet Leroy, knowing this encounter would be crucial.
Glancing at my right arm, Siana's words echoed in my mind, her voice trembling as she described how I'd lost control during the fight with Dorven, becoming something unbelievably powerful... and dangerous.
Even though I have no memories of the fight, I recall dreaming about Beruciel, the little girl. I still don't understand why she appeared in my dream or who she is.
I couldn't believe this overwhelming, insane power coursing through me. It felt unreal, like a force far beyond any power that I have seen. A part of me feared it, yet another couldn't help but wonder… is this truly me?
As my thoughts wandered, a flashback from that day in the cave came rushing back, the moment I fought the little girl and touched that ominous red crystal.
That must have been the RageCrysta, without a doubt. The sheer power it unleashed in my body... It's unbelievable.
I stepped outside the room, into the hallway, glancing around at the rows of room doors before my eyes landed on Siana. She was sitting on a bench, a book in her hands, speaking softly to a group of children gathered around her.
The children, their small frames wrapped in bandages, listened intently, their faces bright despite the evidence of their injuries. It was clear they were patients, likely victims of last night's disaster, a memory I would never forget.
Siana's joyful smile lit up the hallway as she animatedly spoke to the children, her enthusiasm contagious.
"Hehe, alright, alright! It seems you're all so excited about this one."
She said with a playful laugh.
"Then let me read it out loud for you all… the story of The War Between Legendary Heroes."
Her excitement sparked cheers from the kids, their faces brimming with anticipation as they leaned closer to listen.
Meanwhile, I stood at the back, silently watching the scene unfold. Hidden in the shadows, I couldn't help but smile softly at the warmth Siana brought to these children, even amidst the aftermath of the chaos.
30 years ago, two men embarked on a journey to uncover the secrets of the EmoCrysta, a mysterious and legendary source of power.
Together as partners, they shared a common goal: to achieve greatness and unlock the true potential of EmoCrysta.
Their journey took them across the world, filled with trials, discoveries, and unwavering determination.
Finally, at the end of their arduous quest, they arrived at their destination, the fabled "Ethernacore Island." It was a breathtakingly colorful and vibrant land, a place that seemed untouched by time.
There, at the heart of the island, they discovered the EmoCrysta, the firstborn Crystal. Towering larger than any human, it radiated with a mesmerizing brilliance. Inscribed on its surface were the six fundamental emotions, each represented by a unique crystal with its elemental power and skill:
JoyCrysta: "Stamina"
SadCrysta: "Defense"
RageCrysta: "Strength"
FearCrysta: "Intelligence"
DisgustCrysta: "Resistance"
SurpriseCrysta: "Speed"
The EmoCrysta was a perfect blend of all six emotions, each infused with extraordinary elemental power. Little did they know that their discovery would mark the beginning of a chain of events that would change the world forever.
It contains all the emotional elements in perfect harmony and was said to hold power beyond imagination, its power so immense that it could achieve the impossible, such as reviving the dead.
This revelation pushed one of the two men closer to his ultimate goal: creating a power of revival, defying the natural order itself.
As they stood before the magnificent crystal, its radiant glow casting intricate patterns of light across the cavern walls, their eyes fell upon ancient symbols engraved on the surrounding stone.
These markings were not just decorative, yet they were a warning. The inscriptions revealed the true nature of the EmoCrysta. It was the core of the world, the foundation that held all life and balances together.
One of the men, driven by ambition, saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bend the rules of existence. But the other, gazing at the same inscriptions, felt a growing unease.
The EmoCrysta's power was not meant to be tampered with. It was far too great, and meddling with it could disturb the delicate balance of the world.
"This... this is dangerous."
He muttered, his voice trembling with doubt.
"If we use this, it might not just change life… it could destroy everything."
Ignoring his partner's advice, the other man refused to back down. They began to argue fiercely as one of them wanted to preserve the peace of the world, while the other sought the EmoCrysta's power to revive his lost loved ones.
The man who was determined to steal the crystal would not be swayed, not after all the years they had spent reaching this point.
Tension erupted between them, and their disagreement quickly turned into a brutal, physical fight. Their fists clashed with intense force, but neither held back.
As the battle raged on, the EmoCrysta began to glow brighter and brighter. The intense emotions from both men began to seep into the crystal, causing its power to surge.
Their auras, fueled by their emotions, filled the air, making the atmosphere thick with raw energy. The intensity of their fight only seemed to make the world around them grow even more unstable.
The fight continued to rage on, each blow sending shockwaves through the air until the two men collided violently with the EmoCrysta.
The immense power of their emotions and auras overloaded the crystal, consuming it in a surge of chaotic energy.
Suddenly, the EmoCrysta began to glow brighter than ever before, its light trembling violently as if it were about to shatter. Then, in an instant, the entire island exploded.
What was once a vibrant, colorful paradise was consumed by darkness; the island's beauty was now a distant memory.
The explosion shattered the EmoCrysta into countless pieces, and the six emotional elements—Joy, Sadness, Rage, Fear, Disgust, and Surprise—began to scatter across the world.
The explosion claimed the lives of both men. However, miraculously, the man who sought to preserve peace for the world was granted the most powerful of all the emotional crystals, the "RageCrysta".
The other man, who had wanted to revive his loved ones, barely survived the explosion.
Gravely injured, he was cast far away from the wreckage of the island. When they both awoke, separated and alone, they found themselves changed, transformed by the power they had absorbed from the EmoCrysta.
One wielded the fearsome power of RageCrysta, while the other held the deadly "AntiCrysta", capable of devouring the very essence of the EmoCrysta.
Months passed, although each man sensed that the other was still alive, they chose to walk separate paths, determined to fulfill their own goal.
The user of RageCrysta began his journey, seeking the remaining EmoCrysta to restore the shattered island and bring back balance and peace to the world.
Along the way, he gathered a group of followers, all of whom believed in his mission to bring peace to the world. People began to call him the "Rage Knight"as his strength grew and his resolve to heal the land never wavered.
On the other side, the one with AntiCrysta sought to claim the remaining EmoCrysta for himself.
Unlike his counterpart, he took the EmoCrysta by force, destroying everything in his path. His name became feared, "Ailantor", revered by his followers who would sacrifice their own lives for him.
5 years passed, and the world was torn apart by the fierce war between heroes and villains. The battlefield was consumed by a battle unlike any before it.
In the end, the Rage Knight, with his overwhelming power, clashed with Ailantor, the one who could devour the very source of their strength.
The two locked in a final, earth-shattering duel. But as the dust settled, they both vanished. Their fate remained a mystery, and some believed they perished in the battle, while others held out hope that their story was far from over.
After 25 years have passed, their legacy lives on, shrouded in myth and mystery. A tale of strength, sacrifice, and the endless conflict between light and darkness.
Siana closed the book with a soft smile, her eyes scanning the room of children who were captivated by her storytelling.
"Wow… never knew this story was so deep, huh?"
She said, looking at the kids as they sat in awe.
The children, their eyes wide with wonder, murmured among themselves, clearly moved by the tale of the Rage Knight and Ailantor, their mysterious legacies forever imprinted in the world's history.
As Siana placed the book aside, she noticed me standing at the back, observing them. She gave me a warm smile, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace, the gentle calm of this moment contrasting with the storm that had passed.
"Thank you for listening, everyone."
Siana said, her voice sweet yet soft. The children thanked her in unison, their faces still filled with curiosity.
"Hey, Aki! Did you enjoy the story I read?"
Siana asked with a bright smile.
"Yeah, it was amazing."
I replied with a soft smile, my gaze lingering on the book she had just finished reading.
Siana noticed my gaze lingering on the book and grinned.
"I finally found this in the library! Not gonna lie, it was pretty hard to find, but thanks to my amazing skill called 'The Love of Reading Books', I got it right away!"
She said proudly, smirking as she shared her love for books.
"As soon as I heard my brother mention the EmoCrysta, even with that horrifying transformation from yesterday... Umbramortis, it kind of struck a chord with me."
Siana said, her expression softening as her gaze drifted off for a moment.
"I feel like I've heard about it somewhere before, so that's why I went to found this book. Hehe, my memory can be a bit fuzzy sometimes."
She let out a small, awkward laugh, scratching the back of her neck as her tone tried to stay light, but I could sense a hint of unease beneath her smile, like that word had stirred something deeper within her, something she couldn't quite recall.
As I chuckled with a soft smile, she suddenly tilted her head and glanced at me.
"Wait, aren't you supposed to meet my brother now?"
She asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her words snapped me back to reality. I had gotten so caught up in the story that I nearly forgot about my meeting with Leroy. Just as I turned to leave, Siana's expression softened, and she spoke again.
"Be careful, okay?"
There was something about her tone that made me uneasy, as if she knew something I didn't. Her concern only added to the growing sense of worry inside me.
I took a deep breath and hurried down the hall, stopping in front of two massive doors. As they creaked open, I stepped into a grand office, sunlight streaming in through the tall windows.
A long table stretched across the room, and at the far end, Leroy stood with his back to me, gazing out through the large window behind him.
The weight of uncertainty settled in my chest. Would I be in trouble for losing control of my power?
Before I could dwell on my thoughts too much, Leroy finally turned around, his presence commanding yet welcoming.
"It's good to have you back, Aki."
He greeted me with a warm smile, but a slight nervousness crept over me, worried that I might have upset him yesterday.
"Y-Your Majesty—"
"Please... call me by name, Leroy. No need to be formal."
His gentle smile remained, and his calm tone put me a little at ease.
"Come, follow me."
Leroy said, turning back toward the window. I hesitated for a moment before quietly stepping forward to stand behind him, unsure of what he was about to say.
"Do you still remember what happened yesterday?"
His question caught me off guard, but with trust in him, I recounted everything from the previous day, the battle in a surge of power, as well as the strange vision of the little girl.
"I see… So when you fainted from the battle, your power was captured by the ring, and you saw a little girl? Huh… interesting."
He looked thoughtful, his expression serious as he processed what I had revealed, especially about the EmoCrysta inside me.
Then, unexpectedly, a warm smile spread across his face as if he had just unlocked a secret.
"I knew something was off about you from the start…"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Have you ever heard the story of The War Between Legendary Heroes?"
Leroy chuckled softly.
"Ah, I just heard it earlier…"
"Oh, never mind then."
He let out a small sigh, a hint of disappointment flickering across his face, to probably thinking he could have been the one to tell me the story himself. His tone grew serious again as he continued.
"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that the power inside you—it's powerful... and dangerous. Yesterday, when I saw Siana's body covered in scars and wounds, it broke my heart…"
Leroy's words hit me like a wave. I could see the pain in his eyes as he spoke about Siana's wounds, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and guilt.
"...and thankfully I was ther—no... You were there to save her again."
He corrected himself, his tone softer but still weighed down by emotion.
I couldn't believe it. Hearing him acknowledge my efforts like that... I felt a warmth in my chest, grateful for his understanding.
"Aki..."
"Yes?"
He looked me straight in the eyes, his expression serious and unwavering.
"Can I trust you with your power?"
Leroy's unexpected question caught me off guard. At that moment, I knew he was putting his trust in me.
As I took a deep breath to gather my thoughts.
"Yes."
I replied firmly, my expression serious and resolute. I wanted Leroy to know he could trust my strength to control this overwhelming power.
Hearing my answer, he looked relieved, a warm smile crossing his face as if he knew he could rely on me.
After our talk wrapped up, I left the room, feeling a sense of determination. As the door closed behind me, I noticed three people walking in the hallway. Their powerful auras were almost suffocating, and as I walked past them, I couldn't help but think they must be incredibly strong.
Meanwhile…
The door opened, and the three clan leaders of Lightwood stepped inside to meet Leroy.
"Wow… that kid's something else, don't you think?"
Serphina, the woman with a dark, ominous aura, glanced at Zephier with a smirk.
"Heh, I bet that kid's not from around here."
Zephier replied confidently.
"Well then, let's begin."
Leroy announced, signaling the start of the meeting. He began summarizing the entire situation, Dorven's identity, his background, and everything they had uncovered so far. However, despite all the information gathered, they still couldn't pinpoint the true objective behind the enemy's plans.
And there was only one person who might hold the key to revealing more…
(Two days remained before Skyler's Judgment.)