The moon still hung high above the capital.
Its silver light washed over the towering palace walls.
Most of the city slept.
The celebration within the palace continued.
Laughter echoed faintly through the night.
Music drifted into the sky. Yet far beyond the palace...
Where the torches no longer reached...
Silence ruled.
A lone figure stood atop the branches of an ancient tree.
His long white hair swayed gently with the wind.
The emerald green tips caught the moonlight.
Where his eyes should have been...
There was only darkness.
Scarred flesh rested beneath the black cloth wrapped around his face.
He neither moved nor spoke.
Yet somehow...
He smiled.
A woman floated silently beside him.
Her long black hair drifted as though underwater.
Her violet body shimmered like smoke.
She had no feet.
Only wisps of shadow that dissolved into the night.
She leaned close to him.
"There are forty five guards within two hundred meters."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"They have not noticed us."
The man nodded.
"I expected as much."
She tilted her head.
"You are smiling."
"I am."
"You rarely smile."
"I know."
The spirit watched him for a moment.
"...Why?"
The man slowly turned his face toward the distant palace.
"I finally found him."
"Lord Ravenholt."
The spirit remained quiet.
"...Do you intend to kill him?"
The man's smile slowly faded.
"...No."
"Not unless I am ordered to."
The spirit looked at him.
"So..."
"We're simply watching?"
"For now."
A cold breeze swept through the trees.
The spirit lowered her voice.
"The High Priest grows impatient."
"The ritual cannot proceed without the Vessel."
The man remained silent.
"The Cardinals have already begun gathering."
"The Black Cathedral has been prepared."
"They've waited fifteen years."
"They won't wait much longer."
The man slowly tightened his grip around the wooden cane resting beside him.
"I know."
"They've reminded me enough."
The spirit floated beside him.
"...Do you trust them?"
Silence.
Long enough for the wind to answer in his place.
"...No."
"But I owe them."
"They gave me purpose."
"They gave me strength."
"They gave me..."
He paused.
"...A reason to keep walking."
The spirit's expression softened.
"...Even if that path ends in blood?"
The man gave no reply.
Far below...
Levi and Seraphina stepped out from the palace gardens.
Their laughter reached the quiet forest.
The spirit turned toward them.
"They're leaving."
The man smiled once more.
"So they are."
His fingers gently brushed against the black cloth covering his empty sockets.
The spirit felt an eye looking at her.
"Someone..."
"Or something glaring at us."
She looks back at the walls and sees a Familiar Figure in all black, greyed hair.
Standing atop a castle wall tower.
"K... Kael."
"If only this job wasnt in the way, i would've asked for a rematch right away."
He scoffed.
"Lord Ravenholt..."
"You sure do got alot of Backing."
he turns his back.
The wind howled.
The branches swayed.
When the next gust passed...
Both figures had vanished.
Only silence remained.
Kael stood still.
"How uncanny..."
"He seems familiar...
"Was it him?"
"oh well, I remember making sure he was dead."
"Did they begun to move once more?"
"The king must know of this, this instant."
---
---
Seraphina laughed.
"Oh, come on."
"You don't have to bring that up."
Her voice echoed softly through the quiet gardens.
Levi couldn't help but chuckle.
"You have to admit."
"It was pretty funny."
Seraphina stopped walking.
She folded her arms and pouted.
"Me tripping and falling face first into a puddle of mud was not funny."
Levi looked at her.
"...It was a little funny."
"A little?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"I spent nearly an hour washing mud out of my hair."
"My dress was ruined."
"My shoes were ruined."
"My pride was ruined."
Levi tried to keep a straight face.
"You forgot one thing."
Seraphina blinked.
"What?"
"You cried."
Her cheeks immediately flushed.
"I was nine."
"You still cried."
"Because everyone laughed at me."
"I remember."
Levi nodded.
"So do I."
"..."
"..."
"You laughed the loudest."
Levi looked away.
"...I did."
"You even pointed at me."
"...I did."
"You could barely breathe because you were laughing so hard."
"...I did."
Seraphina narrowed her eyes.
"And you don't feel guilty?"
Levi smiled sheepishly.
"...A little."
"A little?"
She huffed.
"I didn't speak to you for three whole days."
Levi rubbed the back of his neck.
"I brought you sweets."
"You did."
"You accepted them."
"I did."
"And then you threw one at my face."
"..."
"...I did."
Levi laughed.
"I remember that one."
"You deserved it."
"I probably did."
"You absolutely did."
The two looked at one another.
Then...
Without warning...
They both burst into laughter.
The sound drifted through the moonlit gardens.
For a while...
Neither of them cared how undignified they looked.
They were simply two childhood friends.
Laughing over memories that had never truly faded.
As their laughter gradually subsided...
Seraphina let out a small sigh.
"...You know."
"What?"
"I used to hate remembering those moments."
Levi glanced at her.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"I thought they were embarrassing."
"But now..."
A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"...I'm glad they happened."
Levi tilted his head.
"Why?"
"Because..."
She looked up at the moon.
"They're memories we made together."
A quiet silence settled between them.
Levi smiled.
"...You're right."
They resumed walking.
Their pace was slow.
Neither of them was in any hurry to return.
The cool night breeze brushed past them, carrying the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers.
The palace lights shimmered in the distance.
"Now do you also remember our usual Tag here?"
"Of course, you've never won against me."
"Its cause you're too fast."
Seraphina exclaimed.
They both giggled quietly.
For a brief moment...
The years melted away.
...
The warm afternoon sun shone over the palace gardens.
A young Levi stood a few paces away, hands on his hips.
Across from him...
A little Seraphina pointed at him with determination.
"This time..."
"I'm definitely going to catch you."
Levi grinned.
"You said that yesterday."
"And the day before that."
"And the day before..."
"I know!"
She stomped her foot.
"But this time will be different."
Levi chuckled.
"We'll see."
A palace maid smiled as she stood nearby.
"Ready?"
The two children nodded eagerly.
The maid raised her hand.
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
"Go!"
The moment the word left her mouth...
Levi took off.
Seraphina gasped.
"Levi!"
"You're supposed to give me a head start!"
"I never agreed to that!"
"You always say that!"
"I know!"
She chased after him with all the determination she could muster.
Their laughter echoed throughout the gardens.
Levi effortlessly weaved between flowerbeds.
Jumped over small hedges.
And ran circles around the young princess.
"Stop running!"
"Isn't that the point of tag?"
"It is!"
"But stop anyway!"
Levi laughed.
"I'll think about it."
"You never think about it!"
"I know!"
Seraphina huffed.
"I almost had you!"
"You were three whole steps away."
"That's almost!"
Levi looked over his shoulder.
"You've gotten faster."
Her eyes sparkled.
"...Really?"
"...No."
She froze.
"..."
"You liar!"
She immediately chased after him again.
The sound of childish laughter filled the palace gardens.
Even the knights on patrol couldn't help but smile.
After several more minutes...
Levi finally slowed.
Seraphina saw her chance.
"I got you now!"
She lunged forward.
Only to trip over her own feet.
"Ah!"
She tumbled straight into Levi.
The two rolled across the grass before coming to a stop beneath the old oak tree.
Silence.
Then...
Levi laughed.
Seraphina stared at him.
"...I caught you."
Levi blinked.
"...You tackled me."
"That still counts."
"...Does it?"
"It does."
She proudly folded her arms.
"I win."
Levi sighed dramatically.
"...Congratulations."
She beamed.
"I finally beat you."
Levi smiled.
"...You did."
Even if...
Deep down...
They both knew...
He had slowed down on purpose.
...
The two continued.
Neither of them had any destination in mind.
They simply enjoyed each other's company.
Levi suddenly came to a stop.
Seraphina nearly bumped into him.
"Hm?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"...Do you hear that?"
She remained quiet.
For a few moments...
Nothing.
Then...
"...Voices?"
Levi nodded.
"They're chanting."
Curiosity got the better of them.
The two quietly made their way toward the source.
Careful not to make a sound.
The voices grew louder.
Until...
The trees finally opened into a small clearing.
Both of them froze.
"..."
"..."
Around thirty figures stood in a perfect circle.
Each wore crimson robes that concealed their faces.
Some wore robes embroidered with golden threads.
Others wore plain crimson.
The ones with golden robes stood closest to the center.
As though they held authority over the rest.
In the middle...
A large symbol had been drawn using what looked like fresh animal blood.
A five pointed star.
Strange markings circled around it.
Neither Levi nor Seraphina recognized the language.
Standing at the very center...
Was a wooden altar.
Resting atop it...
The severed head of a stag.
Its antlers stretched toward the night sky.
Fresh blood slowly dripped onto the symbol below.
The robed figures continued chanting.
None of them seemed to notice the two watching from the trees.
Seraphina instinctively grabbed Levi's sleeve.
"...Levi."
"I don't think this is something we're supposed to be seeing."
Levi didn't answer immediately.
His eyes remained fixed on the ritual.
"...Neither do I."
Then...
One of the people beside the crimson-robed figures stepped forward.
Unlike the others...
His robe was entirely black.
The chanting immediately ceased.
Every hood turned toward him.
He slowly raised both hands.
"My brothers..."
"The hour draws near."
"The Vessel has finally returned."
Levi's expression changed.
"...The Vessel?"
Seraphina looked at him.
"You know what they're talking about?"
Levi slowly shook his head.
"...No."
"But..."
"I have a very bad feeling."
The blacked robed figure head.
twisted towards the two of them...
smiling maniacally he exclaimed, black liquid pouring from his eye socket.
"HE IS THE VESSEL!"
Levi took not a single second, and drew his sword instantly.
using his mana. a large crater remained...
The flames slowly died down.
The clearing fell silent.
Levi's eyes widened.
"..."
The ritual circle...
Was gone.
The bodies...
Burned to nothing more than charred remains.
Some had already crumbled into ash.
The surrounding trees had suffered the same fate.
Branches collapsed one after another.
The once vibrant forest...
Had become a field of blackened earth.
Levi instinctively held Seraphina close.
One arm wrapped protectively around her.
Shielding her from what little heat remained.
Seraphina clutched his shirt.
"...Levi..."
Her voice trembled.
"What..."
"What just happened?"
Levi slowly looked around.
There wasn't a single survivor.
Not one.
"...I don't know."
"But..."
His grip around Seraphina tightened ever so slightly.
"...Let's leave."
Neither of them noticed...
From deep within the smoke...
The two hurried back toward the palace.
Neither of them spoke.
The image of the scorched clearing lingered in their minds.
The closer they drew to the palace...
The louder the commotion became.
Torches lit the courtyard.
Royal Guards rushed back and forth.
Some hurried toward the forest.
Others secured the palace gates.
The once lively banquet had descended into chaos.
"The Second Division will search the northern woods!"
"Double the patrols around the palace!"
"No one enters the forest alone!"
Levi and Seraphina exchanged a glance.
"...Looks like everyone heard that."
Seraphina nodded.
"I don't think anyone could've missed it."
The moment they stepped into the palace courtyard...
A nearby knight froze.
"...Your Highness!"
His voice echoed through the courtyard.
Every head turned.
"Princess Seraphina has returned!"
Relief washed over the faces of the guards.
Several immediately ran toward them.
"Your Highness."
"Are you injured?"
Seraphina shook her head.
"No."
"We're both fine."
Before the captain could ask another question...
A familiar voice interrupted.
"Seraphina!"
Duchess Celestine hurried through the crowd.
Gone was the composed smile she had worn throughout the banquet.
Her face was filled with worry.
The moment she reached Seraphina...
She pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Oh, thank the Goddess..."
"You scared me half to death."
"I'm sorry, Mother."
"I didn't mean to worry you."
Celestine gently cupped her daughter's face.
She looked her over from head to toe.
Checking for even the smallest injury.
Only after finding none did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"...You're safe."
"That's all that matters."
King Maverick, Queen Aurelia, Duke Alaric, and Theodore soon arrived as well.
The cheerful atmosphere from earlier had completely vanished.
King Maverick's expression was solemn.
"You two were in the forest."
Levi nodded.
"We were."
Duke Alaric stepped forward.
"What happened?"
Levi glanced toward Seraphina before answering.
"We heard chanting."
"So we investigated."
His words immediately caught everyone's attention.
"We found..."
"A ritual."
"People dressed in crimson robes."
"There were animal sacrifices."
"A magic circle drawn in blood."
The surrounding guards exchanged uneasy looks.
Levi continued.
"Before we could get any closer..."
"There was an explosion."
"When the smoke cleared..."
"...Everyone was dead."
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Not even the guards spoke.
King Maverick slowly frowned.
"...A cult."
Theodore's expression darkened.
"So they've finally shown themselves."
Levi looked between them.
"...You know who they are?"
King Maverick's gaze shifted toward the dark forest.
"...Not yet."
"But after tonight..."
"We're going to find out."
The king turned toward the captain.
"Seal off the forest."
"No one enters without my permission."
"Search every inch of those woods."
"If there's even a single survivor..."
"I want them brought to me."
"Alive."
"At once, Your Majesty."
The captain bowed before barking out orders.
Within moments...
Hundreds of guards began marching toward the forest, their torches illuminating the night as the palace prepared for what had suddenly become far more than a peaceful banquet.
A figure blitzed to stand nearby King Maverick.
Startling the guards to point their swords and spears at him.
King Maverick raised his hand to signal he is an ally.
"Fear not he's my company."
"It seems the Black Cathedral has been on the move once more."
kneeling infront of King Maverick as he informed.
the nobles who've heard along with the guards, shocked.
The cult that almost caused a calamity back then, till stopped by King Maverick, Duke Alaric, along with the other knights and mages they gathered, and the Paladins of the Holy Empire of Pyrathera, 15 years ago.