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Dark: The Lost King
Chapter 3: Scars Beneath Silence
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Three Hours After Ashura's Death
The once-proud castle of Yamashiki stood in silence, no longer a symbol of glory—but of grief.
Moonlight spilled across shattered walls and blood-stained stone. The air was thick with smoke, and yet beneath the destruction, something heavier lingered.
Stillness.
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Inside the royal healing chamber, Light stood at the edge of a bed—his brother's.
Dark, ten years old, lay unmoving. His face pale, his breathing shallow. Clean white bandages wrapped his arms and torso, but no cloth could conceal the trauma etched beneath his skin.
Reena approached quietly, her steps light, her voice even softer.
> "He hasn't woken."
Light didn't look away from the boy.
> "Not even once?"
She shook her head, barely audible.
> "His body's stable… but his soul is shattered. What Ashura did to him—it went beyond the flesh."
Light's hands clenched at his sides, the tension building in his shoulders.
Before he could respond, the doors creaked open.
Hoske Shiyo entered with a respectful bow.
> "Sir Light. The press has assembled in the throne room. They await your statement."
Light gave one last look to Dark, then turned.
> "Let's get this over with."
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Throne Room – Dawn
The grand hall, once filled with laughter and celebration, now echoed with uncertain murmurs.
Nobles. Generals. Reporters. All waited, eyes drawn to the crimson stains that still marred the marble floors.
Light stepped forward, armor scorched and still spattered with dried blood. He didn't speak at first. He didn't have to. Silence demanded its due.
Then, in a clear voice that carried across the chamber, he began:
> "I am Light Yamashiki. Son of the late King and Queen of Yamashiki. My parents are dead. Our enemies breached our walls. But Yamashiki still stands."
The crowd stilled.
> "Princess Reena will serve as ruler during the kingdom's reconstruction. Hoske Shiyo is hereby appointed Minister of Defense."
Gasps and whispers followed as Hoske stepped forward and bowed solemnly.
> "And… five years from now, Reena and I will step down. We will return not with titles, but with the one who will carry Yamashiki into the future—Dark Yamashiki."
Silence broke into startled murmurs. Doubts. Hope. Fear.
But Light turned on his heel and walked away.
He had nothing left to say.
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Three Years Later
The sun rose gently over the quiet hills near Yamashiki's edge.
Birdsong drifted through the open windows of a secluded tower, but the air inside was motionless—caught in time.
Dark, now thirteen, lay in his bed just as he had for years—eyes closed, face unchanged.
Reena sat beside him, carefully wiping his brow with a damp cloth. Her crown gleamed in the morning light, but her gaze was far from regal. It was weary. Faded.
Light entered without a word, closing the door softly behind him.
> "Still nothing?"
Reena shook her head, her voice thin.
> "Not even a twitch."
Light stepped closer, resting a hand on her shoulder.
> "You're Queen now. You shouldn't be here every day."
She didn't look at him.
> "He's my little brother. If that throne means leaving him behind… then I want nothing to do with it."
Light exhaled slowly. He understood. But he also knew what had to come next.
> "Then we do this together. But you need to know something… The attack—Ashura wasn't acting alone."
Reena finally looked up, her eyes sharp.
> "What do you mean?"
> "We've traced connections—Trinity, and others. They used Ashura as a pawn. They wanted Yamashiki fractured."
Her voice dropped to a cold whisper.
> "They think we're weakened."
> "Then let's show them we aren't."
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Two Years Later – Carriage Ride to Royal Kingdom
The world outside the carriage rolled by in waves of soft green hills and golden sky. It was peaceful.
But inside, the silence was heavy.
Dark, now fifteen, sat quietly beside the window. His hair had grown long, dark strands brushing his shoulders. His golden eyes—dim, cautious—watched the horizon without really seeing it.
> "The day we left Yamashiki… I felt nothing. No sadness. No fear. Not even relief. Just… silence. But here, in the Royal Kingdom… people don't flinch when they see me. They don't know what I've done. What I saw. It's quiet. And for once, I can breathe."
The carriage slowed.
Outside stood the towering gates of the Royal Kingdom's palace, bathed in late afternoon light.
Light stepped out first, his cloak brushing the dust. Reena followed. Then Dark, quiet and still.
At the grand entrance, King Arshell waited—tall, kind-eyed, and dressed in deep sapphire robes. His smile was warm but cautious.
> "Light Yamashiki. To what do we owe the honor?"
Light offered a respectful nod.
> "I come to ask for your help. I want to enroll my brother in the Royal Magic Academy."
Arshell raised an eyebrow.
> "Without an entrance trial?"
Light's voice was firm.
> "He's… different. He fears swords. He shuts down when near blood. I won't put him through more pain."
Arshell's gaze shifted to Dark, who stood silent but steady.
After a pause, the king nodded slowly.
> "He'll take the test. Not to prove himself to me—but to himself. Pass or fail, he has a place here."
Light let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
> "Thank you… old friend."
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End of Chapter 3
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