Chapter 3: Two Weeks Left
It's been a while since that night.
The kingdom moved fast — King Satan himself took responsibility for what happened.Aki, now officially registered as a "child survivor," was given 4,000 coins and a new home.Not a mansion. Not even a decent house.
Just a shack.
Right inside Capstone Kingdom's walls.Walk in — you see the bath, the bed, and the table. That's it. No more. No less.But it was safe. Safer than the woods.Safer than thinking about what might've happened to Akura.
He doesn't even try to imagine it anymore.
"He's dead. He has to be. But I can't afford to freeze. Not now."
He tightens his fists.
"I need to think about the future… about how I'll survive."
Later that day, Aki walks through the polished halls of the Royal Quartz Keep — the castle of King Satan.
Marble floors. Golden banners. Fire torches that never run out.And at the center of it all — him.
King Satan.Calm. Powerful. Always smiling, but never soft.
Aki enters, drops to one knee.
"Your Highness… I need a master. Someone to train me. I want to get stronger."
He bows his head.
Satan doesn't speak.He just smirks — then snaps his fingers.
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!Three guards sprint out of the room like they've been waiting for this exact moment.
Two seconds later, they return — dragging someone behind them.
Anna Veil.
Tall. Confident. Wrapped in layered red-and-black fabric. Katana on her back, eyes like daggers.
"Aki, meet Anna Veil," King Satan says. "Master of swordsmanship."
Aki stares, confused.
"Um… I don't use swords."
BONK.
Without warning, the hilt of her katana smacks Aki's head. He stumbles.
"Ugh—what was that for!?"
"YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" she shouts. "I TOOK TIME OUT OF MY DAY FOR YOU, AND YOU'RE OUT HERE CLOWNING MY SWORDSMANSHIP?!"
Aki blinks, rubbing his head. "I mean… damn, I just said I don't use swords."
Anna curses under her breath in six different dialects.
King Satan watches the chaos with a chuckle.
Aki turns, says nothing, and walks out the castle.
"Forget it. I don't need her. I don't need anyone."
He stares up at the floating islands above.
"I'll get strong on my own."
[End of Chapter 3]