Scene shifts to the night inside Kazuki's bedroom.The room was quiet, bathed in the gentle glow of moonlight seeping through the curtains. As Kazuki lay on his bed, his breathing steady, his consciousness slowly drifted away — not into ordinary dreams, but into his Soul Realme.
Inside the ethereal space, Elsa stood waiting, as though she knew he would come.
"What happened?" Elsa asked, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity and concern.
Kazuki crossed his arms, his expression uncharacteristically serious."I've been thinking… about the demon attack at the academy."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "It's over now, isn't it? Why does it still bother you?"
Kazuki sighed. "It doesn't sit right with me, Elsa. That demon didn't just appear there by accident. Our kingdom has protective barriers — even a low-tier demon can't cross them without being detected or instantly destroyed."
Elsa nodded, understanding his reasoning. "So you're thinking someone summoned it inside the kingdom?"
"Exactly," Kazuki replied, his eyes narrowing. "And I started thinking — if anyone would know who's capable of something like that, it'd be you. Your mother and Levi oversee spiritual balance, and Levi watches over this kingdom. So… has your mother ever told you about someone in North Ryehem or inside our own kingdom who can summon demons?"
Elsa frowned, genuinely considering it. After a long moment, she shook her head. "No… absolutely not. I've never heard of anyone like that within these walls or even in the northern territories. If such a person existed, my mother would have warned me about them."
Kazuki's lips curled into a sharp, knowing smile. "Then that settles it."
Elsa blinked. "You figured it out?"
Kazuki nodded slowly. "There's only one person it could be. Someone I suspected from the moment this happened, but I needed to rule out other possibilities first."
Elsa grinned faintly. "You're clever, Kazuki. You always were."
Without another word, Kazuki closed his eyes and returned to the waking world. He didn't open them immediately — instead, he let himself drift into restful sleep, knowing tomorrow would bring new opportunities.
The next morning arrived.It was a bright, clear Sunday — the skies painted in delicate blues and whites, a soft breeze carrying the scent of blooming flowers. The royal palace was unusually quiet, with no pressing duties for the young nobles.
Kazuki woke up, feeling unusually light despite the weight of his discovery. He stretched, got dressed, and stepped out onto the grand balcony connected to his room.
From there, he could see the distant landscape — the mountain ranges that marked the border of their kingdom, and beyond them, the land of their enemies.
His sharp gaze focused on the northern horizon.
"North Ryehem…" Kazuki muttered to himself. "You thought you could hide behind your schemes. I'm coming… and when I do, I'll tear through your lies and expose your filth."
He gripped the balcony railing, his youthful face shadowed by the fierce determination of someone far older in spirit than in years. The wind rustled his hair as if acknowledging the storm that was brewing within him.
"One week," he whispered, recalling Arthur's promise. "One week… then the battlefield will be my proving ground."
Far away in his Soul Realme, Elsa watched him with a knowing smile."You really are no ordinary child, Kazuki… maybe you truly are tied to Fate's Chosen Path."