Alfred stirred, his vision blurred and his body heavy with exhaustion. His eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the dim, unfamiliar surroundings. Pain throbbed behind his temples. He remembered — that man… the sudden attack… then nothing. He had been unconscious.
A voice, deep and cold, snapped him back to full awareness.
"You're awake..."
Alfred turned his head sharply. A dark, human-like figure emerged from the shadows, footsteps echoing ominously in the silence.
"Who... who are you?" Alfred rasped, his throat dry, every word an effort.
The figure halted, standing just at the edge of the faint light. His presence was immense.
"I am not your enemy," the man said. "I came here to save you."
Alfred pushed himself up with shaking arms. "Where's my brother?" he demanded. "And the guards on that ship—where are they?"
"They're safe," the man replied. "They were searching for you... But you—" he paused, stepping forward, "you're not safe." His voice held a strange weight. "Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Nyros Varkari... the Vice President of the Varkari Family."
The name hit Alfred like a wave.
From the shadows, Nyros stepped into full view. He was tall and menacing, wearing a long, dark coat draped over a blood-red uniform. In his hand, he carried a sword — elegant, yet deadly — its blade gleaming with a strange, menacing aura, as though it could slice through the very fabric of reality.
Alfred's eyes widened in disbelief. His voice trembled.
"Did you say... Varkari Family?"
His hands began to shake. His lips moved, almost without sound.
"The Varkari Family... the family of legends..." he murmured. "They taught us about you in school... A clan of fearless warriors... They say your family inherited an ancient power—Arqui... passed down through generations. People say... you can kill thousands just by looking at them." He swallowed hard, fear rising in his chest. "You're the Vice President... which means... you're the second strongest..."

Nyros let out a low chuckle, his sharp eyes glinting in the low light.
"Oh my... You know more than most. I like that." He took a step closer, the floor creaking beneath his boots. "And since you know so much about me... it's only fair I tell you why I brought you here."
Alfred stared at him, confused and alert.
"The reason," Nyros continued, "is your father. He and I... were friends."
Alfred's world stopped.
"You... and my father?" he asked, stunned. "What are you saying? My fa
ther was just a farmer... he never mentioned you."
Nyros's eyes narrowed slightly. "Kid... you still don't understand."
He took a long breath and said slowly:
"He wasn't your real father."
Alfred's heart dropped.
"Your real father's name... was Robert. Robert, the Fourth division Captain of the Seven Warrior Kingdom."
The words struck like thunder.
Alfred could barely breathe.
Everything he thought he knew had just shattered.