Chapter 0 STILLDOM
The palace court of the Kingdom of Yuval was gripped by shock and unease. All ministers and royal officials had been urgently summoned. A tense silence filled the chamber, heavy with the weight of an impending storm – Dunskirk, the neighboring kingdom, had threatened war.
"Your Highness, this is a tough time for all the people of Yuval. It is a state of emergency, and I humbly request you to hear my plea," spoke Minister Galen.
"SPEAK," answered The King
"Thank you, Your Highness. As we are all aware that our Kingdom has suffered a great loss of the death of our beloved and respected Crown Prince due to a lethal wound –" The Queen broke into sobs and the King sighed sorrowfully.
"This is suspected to be an enemy attack," continued Galen after a sympathetic look to the monarchs. "The guards reported seeing a tall figure at night, entering the prince's chambers. However, before our guards had the opportunity to act on the situation, the perpetrator had already fled after fatally injuring the prince. Your highness, I had the guards search all over the palace, but we couldn't find the intruder. I even had the mages search using Vision of the Worthy ( An A+ skill that grants the user the ability to see through walls, traps, and detect invisible items) but our efforts were in vain. Until…"
"UNTIL WHAT?" the King demanded.
"Until, Your Highness, we gained intel from some bystanders at the outskirts, near the Great Well. Supposedly, he saw a tall man that matched the description provided by the guards. The said description was – and I quote, 'A tall, regal man in his mid-twenties with dark hair and bright hazel eyes.'" Galen's piercing gaze scanned through the hall as his eyes rested at a particular person. "Do we know anyone with similar features who resides on the outskirts, hm, General Heisen?"
A stunned silence fell over the room before whispers swept through like wildfire. The King's eyes widened in disbelief as Galen stepped forward, arm outstretched and pointed accusingly at Heisen.
"WHAT IS THIS I AM HEARING, BLADE KEEPER HEISEN?" the King's voice rang out, quiet but laced with danger.
"Your Grace!" Heisen stood up immediately, towering over every seated person in the room despite wearing a simple leather robe. "These are all lies! I am being framed once again for a crime I have never committed!"
Being the placeholder to one of the highest and most respected ranks in the army, his appearance used to fill everyone with awe, his elegance and his grace charmed many. He was even considered a one-man army due to his sheer strength and because of his merit, Heisen was subject to the jealousy of his fellow ministers.
"Your Grace! Do not lose faith in me by some disgraceful rumors!" Heisen continued to defend himself. "I have sworn my loyalty to you since the day I was drafted to the army. Never would I ever consider such outrageous treachery!" Whispers once again broke out in the room.
"SILENCE!" thundered the King, his voice cutting through the chattering like a blade. The atmosphere became heavy and everyone stopped at once. "I ALLOWED YOU DECENCY, GIVING YOU THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT TO THE RUMORS OF YOU EMPTYING THE TREASURY AND THE AMNESTY OF THE PRISIONERS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!"
"BUT NOW THE MURDER OF MY SON?! I CANNOT LOOK PAST IT, YOU DAMNED BASTARD. I REVOKE YOUR RANK OF THE GENERAL AND BANISH YOU FOREVER FROM MY KINGDOM! NOW BEGONE BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND AND DEMAND YOUR LIFE!"
Another minister spoke, "Your Highness, I say we behead this man at once and reclaim everything he took from us."
"But Your Highness – I never committed any of those crimes, I am being framed. Why ? I wasn't even anywhere near the outskirts of the kingdom", Heisen continued pleading, getting on his knees. "Oh Your Highness!, please do not be blinded by the falsities Galen is providing you—"
"ENOUGH! YOU THINK YOU CAN INSULT MY DEVOTED MINISTER SO CARELESSLY WHILE BEING CONVICTED?!" said the King stomping his scepter in rage on the red velvet carpet. "I STILL CAN'T FATHOM THAT OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE , YOU WOULD STOOP THIS LOW , IN ORDER FOR SOME MONEY AND PETTY POWER.OUT OF MY SIGHT, NOW! GUARDS, DISPOSE THIS TRASH FROM MY COURT ."
Without hesitation, two guards rushed forward and firmly seized Heisen by his arms. They hauled him away with cold indifference, treating him like nothing more than a worthless insect. Heisen's mind raced, but he knew that resisting would be pointless—it would only deepen the King's distrust and worsen his already shattered reputation. Heisen was a master of observation. Understanding the atmosphere and the King's mood he stayed quiet and accepted his fate.
So, he remained still, swallowing his pride as the guards dragged him from the room.
Once they reached the exit of the palace, the guards threw him ruthlessly. "Don't ever show your face again, traitor!"
Heisen's hand curled into a fist as he fought to contain his anger. Frustration and grief churned within him, but above all, there was sorrow.
How could they do this to me? Heisen thought. After everything I sacrificed, everything I stood for… banished like a common criminal. What will Serena do without me? How will I able to face her ? How am I supposed to protect her now? The whispers will spread like wildfire – "traitor," "coward," "disgrace." My name will be dissolved in mud. No one will remember the man I was, only the shadow I've become.
I refuse to let this be the end. I will find a way to reclaim my honor – no matter the cost!
Yuval was a prosperous state and a trade hub for all the neighboring kingdoms that served as a gateway to the north-western Kingdoms. The kingdom brimmed with attractions – a grand circus, lush parks, dazzling shows, lively theatres, and a sprawling maze covering 15 swoons (1 swoon = 2.7 hectares). A magic-powered train offered scenic tours of the land. Encircling it all were vast forests, lending the kingdom a serene natural beauty.
The kingdom was also home to many magical beasts and plants. Farmers, living on the outskirts, formed the backbone of the realm – perhaps Heisen could take to agriculture. Citizens were broadly divided into three classes based on occupation and wealth: peasants at the bottom, townsfolk in the middle, and the nobility and clergymen at the top.
And then there was the Royal Palace, made with the purest of metals and decorated with the fanciest of jewels. The entire palace's floor was made out of specially calibrated magi-stone which helped in keeping the Will levels (Magic of this world) of the palace in check. There were multiple different sections of the palace namely the defense/army station, the servant section and the royal garden, all of this was what was seen on the surface.
Inside, the kingdom, especially the town, was plagued by greed. Merchants often sold low-quality potions and goods, while the nights were unsafe, plagued by thugs, bandits, and frequent kidnappings. The palace , home to the King and his family, displayed the flawlessness of the kingdom and its riches to its fullest. However, the purest palaces often bred the foulest sins. Greedy, power-hungry ministers resorted to adultery, corruption, and even assassination attempts to climb the ranks and seize control.
"Oh, Heisen, don't worry! I know you didn't do anything to the prince. I will support us both while you find a job, alright? I love you," he imagined Serena telling him that. The sight of his lover's ascetic figure, wavy red hair, and emerald-green eyes always brought him comfort, even in his darkest moments.
As he walked dejectedly towards the town he lived at, twirling the pearly white ring he had been meaning to give to her, he noticed uproar from a distance…
Meanwhile back at the court, the King adjourned the court, and the ministers rose up to scuttle away to their respective work. Galen walked diligently towards him and bowed elegantly.
"Praise be to our Great King who is kind enough to let Heisen live." , another minister spoke.
The King dismissively nodded, "HE WAS A NOBLE FIGURE OF OUR PALACE,ADORED AND RESPECTED BY ALL. FOR HIM TO LIVE IN SHAME AND GUILT AFTER KILLING MY SON IS THE GREATEST PUNISHMENT I COULD EVER IMPOSE."
"Your Highness is the most thoughtful," Galen bowed again and left.
"This whole business is awful, darling," the Queen tearfully told the King. "I miss my dear son."
"I KNOW..I KNOW," the King ruefully replied. "I TOO MISS MY BELOVED SON, HE —"
Before he could finish his sentence a soldier suddenly burst into the court, breath ragged and eyes wide with dread and blood on his tunic. He was barely able to form the words:
"Your Highness...the town…it's the Dunskirk's…we have been invaded!"
The soldier dropped to his knees on the spot with a loud thud as his armor banged on the ground signaling his death.
"WHAT?! NOW?!" the King roared incredulously. "GUARDS ASSEMBLE NOW!"
Panic swept through the entire court. Ministers and officers scattered in all directions, while the guards rushed into formation – but without Heisen to lead them, their ranks were disorganized and chaotic. The King and Queen were hurriedly concealed behind the throne, revealing their fear. Meanwhile, many remained, loudly assuring the King of their unwavering loyalty to him and his family.
Soldiers poured from the castle gates in tight lines, armor glinting as they charged downhill. The quiet morning shattered under the roar of boots and battle cries, a tide of steel rushing toward the town like an unstoppable storm.
There was no mistake to assume war had sprung on the kingdom. Heisen wasted no time and immediately mounted a horse nearby. He gripped the secret dagger in his hand – the only means of offence on his side.
I need to find a better weapon, quick!
The soldiers deployed from the palace and had swiftly arrived at the town. There was an odd, green-colored fire all over. Heisen heard screams of soldiers firing magic bullets. The entire town looked to be burned to the ground. Heisen was late but nonetheless he was prepared to save this town and kill all the Dunskirk's .
Ugh…looks like they used Incinerate ( The user breathes fire through their nostrils and can be used as an infinite source of heat as it never runs out unless put out by water magic. C- Skill )
Striding forward atop his horse, Heisen's eyes locked onto a horrific sight – two Dunskirkian soldiers closing in on a middle-aged woman clutching her child in terror.
Oh no… no, no, no, no…
Without hesitation, Heisen activated Halt (Allows the user to stop time for a short while. When mastered allows time to be stopped for as long as 2 mins. A+ Skill).
In a blur of motion, he cut them down, blood hanging midair before reality resumed.
The woman collapsed to her knees, sobbing in relief. "Oh, praise be to the General of Yuval!"
Heisen's expression darkened. He turned away. "I… am no longer the General," he said quietly. The woman stared, confused and stunned, as he disappeared into the smoke.
He notices the sword on one of the dead soldiers that was clearly not an ordinary one. It had many B+ engravings. Clearly, it was a magic sword crafted by the finest of smelters and craftsmen. He grabbed it.
Perfect. Now we shall have some fun.
Slaying two other encroaching soldiers, he spotted a watchtower nearby and climbed up. Once, it was used by many soldiers of Yuval but now it was damaged and bloodied. At the top laid a soldier counting down his last breaths. Heisen immediately recognized him. It was Fuze, a great friend of his.
"Hah… Heisen, I'm glad… you came…" Fuze coughed, blood spilling from his lips. "Heard… the King banished you…"
"Just shut up," Heisen muttered, eyes wide with panic. "You're bleeding from everywhere. Tell me who did this – I'll kill them without mercy."
He only let out a hoarse, rueful laugh. His body was mangled beyond recognition, riddled with deep sword slashes and broken arrows. Heisen's chest tightened at the sight – his friend, a warrior, now reduced to this broken state.
He dropped to his knees and activated Greater Heal (Allows the user to heal and recover from significant wounds and may also be used to regenerate small parts or limbs) without hesitation.
But nothing happened.
"Why… why isn't it working?!" Heisen roared, desperation rising. "Goddammit! Hey, stay with me, Fuze! Come on, breathe – breathe!"
As his eyes began to glaze over, Heisen noticed it – his Magic Core had been shattered. His Will was slipping fast, leaking like sand through clenched fists.
Fuze feebly waved his hand, trying to shoo Heisen off. "Ignore this fool… and go on… save the Kingdom… my good friend…"
His voice was growing weaker, more distant.
"I trust you, comrade…" he murmured, a faint smile forming. "It was fun while it lasted… Luna, my dear… I'm coming… to the heavens…"
His hand fell limp. His breath stilled. The light in his eyes faded to white. Skin turned cold.
Heisen froze. For all the bloodshed he had seen – countless soldiers lost in glorious battle – this… this was different.
Fuze was his brother in arms.
"No… No. SHIT – SHIT – SHIT!" Heisen choked out, anguish ripping through his throat.
His hands trembled as he gently closed Fuze's eyes. The body shimmered—breaking down into radiant Will and Spirit, dissolving into the ether like a final breath.
Then, silence.
Heisen's sorrow twisted into something darker – something fiercer , something he couldn't control.
Rage.
Pure, relentless bloodlust surged through his body. His grip on the sword tightened as a red haze consumed his vision. His Will flared violently.
And then – he unleashed it.
He cut down every foe in his path—blade a blur, screams trailing behind each swing. No mercy. No pause. Only carnage and silence in his wake. Heisen became a storm of wrath. Blood splattered across scorched stone. Limbs, steel, screams – it all blurred into a brutal crescendo.
By the end, no one was left standing.
Heisen stood amidst the ruin, gasping for breath. His Will was depleted. His hands trembled. The fires around him crackled and spat, devouring what used to be Yuval – a proud city of trade, was now reduced to nothing but ash and ruin.
The air reeked of smoke, blood, and decay.
Heisen stared at the destruction, eyes hollow. Everything was gone.
Hah! No… this beautiful Kingdom… I failed the King. Tch.. but who was the one who gave the information that the Kingdom's defenses would be weak, and many would gather in the palace?
Certainly, this must be the work of that damn traitor! Due to him I lost my power, status, my peace and most importantly the trust of many. If I find him, I will make sure he suffers just as much as me and Serena had to.
Wait…don't tell me that she…no..no no.. please , god!
Realizing that he was closer to his house, he rushed immediately towards this, in hopes of finding Serena and escorting her to a safe place. But to his horror, he was met with the same condition the town was in . Burnt to the ground and dilapidated to the extent where it was unrecognizable.
"What the actual hell happened here?!" roared Heisen in rage.
He was now much more eager to find the traitor, his eyes red, his pace untimely, his hair spoiled, and his clothes were torn as well. He went to the Great Well where he lived, he then saw his small but relatively neat-looking wooden hut, at least what resembled a hut. Burnt and broken, the wood had all turned black, the walls now ash, the ceiling gone.
Please God! Let her be safe… I beg you… it's the only thing I request now.
"Heisen!"
His head snapped toward the direction of the voice. There was no mistaking it – it was the panic-stricken cry of his lover, muffled beneath a pile of rubble. Heisen rushed forward, heart pounding, and frantically removed the debris. Beneath it, he found her – bloodied, bruised, and barely conscious.
"SERENA!" Heisen cried, immediately activating Greater Heal. Golden light burst from his palms, surrounding her broken form.
She wasn't in any state to speak – shock had gripped her completely. He sheathed his sword and laid beside her on the scorched ground, gently sprinkling water over her with a soft healing spell, waiting for her to adjust to the light and pain.
His panic ebbed slightly as she stirred, her breathing deepening. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open – those emerald eyes, dazed but alive – and they met his.
Without thinking, Heisen leaned down and kissed her.
"God, I'm so glad you're awake," he whispered, his voice cracking.
"Darling… I'm happy you're safe," Serena murmured weakly. "But… what is going on?"
"We've been invaded. Dunskirk," Heisen said, grimly. He then told her everything – what happened in the court, the false accusation, the betrayal.
"But you would never do that!" Serena protested, trying to sit up. "The King and his ministers – they're mad! How could they believe it?! How did it come to this…"
"I don't know…" Heisen replied, jaw clenched. "But when this is over, we're leaving this place. We'll go far away – just the two of us. I promise." He reached into his pocket. "Look…"
He carefully pulled out a small, pearly white ring. Serena's eyes widened, shimmering with tears. A smile broke through her pain as she hugged him, overwhelmed with joy.
"Oh yes, yes, I—" she began, but her sentence got cut off with a sharp hitch.
"Serena?"
Heisen pulled away, alarm rising in his chest – only to see her eyes go wide with fear. Blood sprayed across his face.
She had been impaled. An arrow had pierced through her face.
Serena dropped to the ground like a broken doll.
"No…"
Heisen barely had time to process the horror when pain exploded through his chest. A sword rammed into him from behind, nearly piercing his heart. Before he could react, three more strikes followed, each one worse than the last, slicing into his torso and sending him to his knees.
He gasped, blood bubbling in his throat. His Will Core had been struck.
Dazed, barely holding on to consciousness, Heisen turned his head to face his attacker. The world blurred around him, but the figure standing above him was unmistakable.
"You…" he snarled. "You bastard…I should have known form the start that this would all be your doing. I wouldn't have to go through all this because of you," Heisen snarled.
"Oh, Heisen," Galen said mockingly, holding a bloodied sword in one hand and a crossbow in the other. "Don't you get it? You were always in my way. As long as you stood beside the King, there was no room for me to rise. So, I made a new plan and looks like it worked!" He started to laugh menacingly , his eyes conveying his madness and lust for power. His face covered with blood and his hands bruised. "It took me a while to get used to this thing. Hopefully you can teach me sometime later."
He raised the sword, admiring it almost lovingly. "I switched sides. Allied with Dunskirk. Acted like their loyal little dog. And when this war ends, I'll be rewarded – made the King's advisor. Perfect, isn't it?"
He chuckled, sickeningly casual. "Of course, I couldn't let this all play out without watching you fall. That's where Falisifier (Allows the user to completely fool the victim and make them believe anything and gets them to obey the user. Can only be used 3 times daily and only once on an individual. A++ Skill) came in."
Heisen's blood was boiling, vision pulsing red. Galen's eyes shifted to Serena's lifeless body.
"Poor woman," Galen said mockingly. "She was innocent in all this."
"You bastard! Leave her out of this! Take me – kill me – I don't care! But please, let her live… I beg you!"
Heisen screamed, tears running freely now, mixing with the blood on his face.
Galen sneered. "Oh, I will. But first…"
He grabbed Heisen by the hair and dragged him across the chamber, away from Serena.
"You're a tough one, aren't you? Let's see how you react to this."
Heisen clawed at the floor, legs too weak to move, screams raw and frantic.
"You FUCKER! I'll kill you! I'll kill you again and again!" Heisen cried. "I'll never forgive you. God won't forgive you!"
"God?" Galen laughed maniacally. "Where is He? I don't see Him. You bitch watch the show, at this moment your supposed to be the devotee and I am the God. HAHAHA!.
Galen started to defile Serena right in front of his eyes , tearing her clothes and hitting her to make her obey. "What a wonder were you keeping to yourself Heisen and you didn't want to share?" After satisfying his lust he was in a malady and said "Hmm..I am bored now , Bye Bye." He raised his sword with a wicked grin – and in a flash, brought it down.
Heisen watched in helpless agony as Galen beheaded Serena.
"NOOOOO!!"
His scream tore through the hall. His eyes bled. His vision blurred – but none of that mattered.
He had nothing left.
Rage surged through his shattered body. With one final burst of strength, he lunged at Galen and tackled him to the ground. No magic. No weapons. Just brutal, furious fists.
"DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU, BASTARD!"
He beat Galen senseless – his face a ruined mess of blood and shattered bone. Heisen kept hitting long after Galen stopped moving.
Heisen staggered back to Serena's body, hands trembling, and tried to heal her but it was useless. Her light was gone. Forever.
Serena was gone.
He had lost everything – his power, his title, his faith, his kingdom. And now, the only person he truly loved.
He fell to his knees, clutching the ring so tightly that blood poured from his palms.
Why am I still alive?
What's left for me in this world?
I'm no hero. I'm just a failure.
Heisen closed his eyes and raised the blade to his own neck. But just as the cold metal touched his skin—
A voice echoed. Unknown. Ancient. Mystical.
[DO YOU WANT A SECOND CHANCE?]
End of Prologue / Chapter 0