The sky split open that night.
At first, it was only a strange glimmer—like starlight spilling too close to earth. Then a shape emerged from the heavens.
"Is that… a creature in the sky?" someone whispered, trembling.
"It's flying—no, it's falling!" another shouted.
Wings. Huge, white wings. Feathers blazed with a light brighter than fire. The silhouette grew sharper as it descended.
"An angel?!"
Behind him came something even more terrifying. Gigantic stones plummeted after the winged figure, each glowing with runes and burning with a golden radiance. They weren't rocks. They were Tablets.
"Those symbols… everywhere!"
"They're crashing! Get back!"
The ground thundered.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Each Tablet buried itself into the earth like the fist of a god. The world trembled. Mountains cracked, seas boiled, forests withered into ash.
"The earth is… dying!" someone screamed.
Flames consumed the land. Smoke choked the skies. The cries of men, beasts, and spirits alike filled the air.
But then—something impossible happened.
"No… wait…"
The fire faded. The blackened soil shimmered. From ruin, new sprouts broke through. Rivers poured out of shattered canyons. Mountains rose where valleys had collapsed. The world rebuilt itself before their eyes.
"Plants… forests… water. Everything's coming back!"
The people fell to their knees. Some wept. Some prayed. All trembled.
"What is this power?"
A voice whispered among them. "From the Tablets."
The stones buried themselves deep beneath the earth. Their surfaces glowed with countless symbols—codes of a language older than man.
"They're not just writing," the voice continued. "They are Commands. Speak them aloud, and the world obeys."
The age of Codes had begun.
---
Thousands of Years Later
Koha – The Heaven Between Three Mountains.
The Great war of three nations had ended,and Koha was victorious in defeating all other three nations and becoming one of the three great nation itself by forcing one nation to quit.
The palace of Koha stood proud beneath starlight, its towers shining like spears of marble. But within its golden chambers, cries of pain echoed.
The queen was in labor.
A child's first cry pierced the night.
"It's a boy!" a servant exclaimed, rushing to present the newborn.
The high priest stepped forward, his hands trembling as he prepared to read the markings every child of Koha bore. But the moment he unwrapped the infant's blanket, his face froze.
"Bring him here—wait…"
The queen, pale and drenched in sweat, asked weakly, "What's wrong?"
The priest swallowed. "He has… no Code."
The chamber fell silent.
King Yami rose from his throne, eyes dark. "What?!"
"No mark. Nothing. Not even a single line," the priest stammered.
"That's not possible," the queen whispered.
"Wait… there is something," the priest said suddenly, turning the child.
On the right side of the infant's chest, a strange symbol stared back. Not a rune. Not a Code.
"Eyes," the king muttered. "Two eyes. They… stare at me."
"This is no ordinary mark," the priest whispered, stepping back in fear.
The queen clutched her child tighter. "He's still ours."
King Yami's expression hardened. "He must be hidden. Seal it. Say nothing to the people."
That night, a child without a Code was born into Koha. And with him, a secret that could shatter the kingdom.
---
Elsewhere – The Same Night
Far from the palace, in a humble cottage, another boy was born.
"He's beautiful," a woman whispered, rocking her newborn.
"What should we call him?" her husband asked.
"He'll have a simple life. A strong life."
The man lifted the child's hand. A symbol (2)burned faintly across his skin. "He already has a Code. On his hand."
The woman's eyes softened. "He's special. I can feel it."
Two boys. Two fates. Born under the same stars.
---
Five Months Later – Koha
The queen gave birth again.
"It's another son," the priest announced with joy.
This time, the Code blazed upon the infant's body like a miniature sun.
"This child is blessed," the priest declared.
King Yami's lips curved into a rare smile. "He will be Koha's future."
"And the first child?" the priest asked quietly.
The king's voice grew cold. "He must remain in shadow."
---
5 Years Later – The Training Grounds
"Again!" the master barked.
Hakari staggered to his feet, sweat and blood mixing on his lips. His chest still bore the mark of the staring eyes, hidden under cloth.
"I fell…" he gasped.
"Then stand," the master said. "You were born without a Code. That means you train harder than all."
Hakari clenched his fists. His breaths came ragged, but his spirit burned. "I will. I have to see her again…"
"Then bleed for it," the master replied. "Bleed, and rise again."
Hakari rose again. And again. He fought, fell, and fought once more. Every strike ended with him landing in the dirt, but still he climbed back to his feet. His chest heaved, his body drenched in sweat and bruises.
Across from him, his master, Hiro, watched with a faint smile.
"I knew it, Hakari," Hiro said. "Even without a Code, you have potential. You are strong."
Hakari didn't waste a second. He rushed forward, fists flying. Hiro dodged every strike with ease, but Hakari refused to slow down. Suddenly, instead of throwing another punch, Hakari crouched low. His master's eyes caught the movement, ready to counter—
But Hakari sprang upward, twisting midair. His foot shot out, landing a lightning-fast kick against Hiro's shoulder.
Hiro stumbled back a step, surprised. "Hakari… that was strong. I wasn't expecting that. And fast, too."
Hakari grinned. "Yeah, I know." He charged again.
But this time, Hiro simply lifted one hand. A swift chop landed on Hakari's head, sending him stumbling. Before Hakari could recover, Hiro seized him by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Yeah? What were you saying just now?" Hiro asked, smirking.
"I—I'm sorry, Master! Sorry!" Hakari's head spun, dizziness clouding his eyes.
Hiro sighed and set him down. "I've told you before, Hakari. Never be predictable. That kick of yours was good. Unexpected. But then you got cocky. That is your weakness."
Hakari's knees buckled as he dropped into the dust. "I… I'm sorry. I just got excited."
Hiro sat down beside him.
"Master, your clothes—"
"Forget about the clothes." Hiro's tone softened. "Listen, Hakari. I know you feel alone sometimes. I know it hurts. You never got the chance to adapt. You were given no options, unlike the other kids."
Hakari's eyes dropped to the ground.
"That's because you have no Code," Hiro continued, his voice calm but firm. "But tell me—does that make you less human? No. If anything, I think it makes you the most human person on this earth."
Hakari blinked at him, stunned.
"The others were born superior, carrying Codes they didn't even earn. Even if they never train, they wield power. But you… you weren't given that gift. Which means what you build is your own." Hiro tapped a hand against Hakari's chest. "You don't have limitless Code energy. But you do have limitless humanity. And a human like you—" his eyes shone with warmth and conviction "—can surpass everyone."
Hakari drew in a long breath. Then, slowly, he stood. "Alright then. I, Hakari Shinzowa, will give my all."
Hiro smiled and rose to his feet, brushing dirt from his robes. "And I, Unmei Hiro, will be with you."
Their training continued.
Day after day. Night after night. Eat, sleep, train.
Until one evening—
"That's enough for today," Hiro said, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's already time to rest." He grinned. "But before we sleep, guess what?"
Hakari tilted his head. Then his eyes widened. "You mean… you brought dumplings? From the main city?"
"Exactly." Hiro's smile widened.
Hakari's jaw dropped. "But Master… we're on the top of the mountain. Going down takes at least three hours. When did you even…?"
"Hey, hey. Slow down." Hiro chuckled, pulling out a small bundle. "We've got dumplings. Let's eat first, questions later."
They sat together on the stone stairs outside the training grounds, steam rising from the food in the cool mountain air.
"Master Hiro," Hakari murmured.
"Yeah? Delicious, isn't it?"
But Hakari's hand trembled. A tear slid down his cheek. "I know… you didn't just go for dumplings."
Hiro blinked. "Eh? Hakari, what's this about?"
"You went to the city… to meet my father. Yami. The king."
"What?!" Hiro coughed. "That—where did you hear that?"
"Please don't lie to me." Hakari's voice shook. "I heard you once before. I know you beg the king to let me return to the palace."
"Who told you? The cleaner? Someone's gossiping—" Hiro forced a laugh. "Of course I wouldn't beg. Especially not for you. Why would I want to send you back to that palace? Your training isn't over."
Hakari looked at him, tears brimming. "It's not like you hate me. I know that. But whenever you see my eyes, I can tell… it hurts you too."
Hiro froze. His throat tightened. He forced his voice to remain steady. "Hurts? Hakari, you're my beloved student. Seeing you suffer… of course it hurts."
Hakari wiped his tears. "Then remember this, Master. I won't go back. Not until I prove myself."
Hiro let out a heavy sigh, then reached out and grabbed Hakari in a rough embrace. "You dumbass. You will prove yourself. Soon enough."
From that day, the training grew harsher. And Hakari never stopped rising.
---
And Finally Eight years Completed.
"Hey, Hakari! Get up!" Hiro's voice thundered through the room.
Hakari groaned from his bed. "Mmm… what is it…?"
"It's your last day!" Hiro beamed. "Congratulations. You've been promoted to B-Rank Command User. Even without a Code, that's… unbelievable!"
Hakari shot up, wide-eyed. "What? Really? So I can finally leave?"
Hiro's smile faltered for just a moment, sadness flashing in his eyes. But he forced the grin back. "Yeah. Sure."
They rushed to the training grounds one last time.
"Why here?" Hiro asked.
Hakari looked at the place where it all began. "Because this is where we started."
Hiro chuckled bitterly. "Yeah… I remember."
He grew quiet for a moment, then asked softly, "What now, Hakari? What will you do, once you leave this place? Once you step out of this… prison?"
Hakari's gaze turned distant. "The answer might surprise you. I'll try to find a new life. Even if it feels like another prison. This one… wasn't so bad. Because I had a watchkeeper who made me happy. So maybe, out there, I'll find people like you."
Hiro's eyes stung. He quickly looked away, blinking back tears. "…One more thing, Hakari." He pulled a small locket shaped like a bow from his robes. "Take this. I don't know what it is. My master gave it to me, saying: 'When you find a worthy successor, pass it on.' I've waited ninety years for that day. Now… it's yours."
Hakari froze. "Ninety years? But you don't even look thirty!"
Hiro chuckled. "Unmei clan. Our bodies age differently. Inside, we're like everyone else. Outside… we stay young. Even I don't fully know why."
Hakari took the locket reverently. "…So it was destiny."
"Call it what you want. Just take care of it, Hakari Shinzowa." Hiro started to say more, but stopped himself. "Remember you—" He shook his head. "No. Nothing. Forget it."
Hakari turned to leave. But before stepping out, he spun back, threw his arms around his master, and hugged him tightly. Tears streamed down his face. "Thank you. For everything. I'll always be grateful."
Hiro hugged him back, eyes wet, though he tried to hide it. "O-okay, okay. Don't cry. If you don't want to leave, you can stay another five years. Keep training."
Hakari laughed through his tears. "No, Master. I'm going. But I'll never forget you."
"Good. Now go—before I chain you here for another five years."
Hakari grinned, waved once more, and finally walked away.
Inside the training hall, Hiro clenched his fists, then released them. He sank to his knees, tears spilling freely.
"I don't know why I'm crying… I've trained so many students. Even Yami himself. Eight years is nothing. So why does it hurt so much to let you go?" His voice broke. "Hakari Shinzowa… remember this. You are a good man."
Hakari now standing in front of royale castle after Eight Years Later.
"Hakari!"
The voice was bright, familiar. Hakari turned. His younger brother, Akami, ran toward him.
"Akami," Hakari said softly. "You've changed."
"Watch this," Akami grinned. He lifted his hand. "Command: Sky Bow!"
A radiant bow of light materialized in his grasp.
"Command: Scatterburst!"
Arrows of pure energy exploded in the air, scattering like fireworks.
Hakari shielded his eyes. "You're strong."
Akami laughed. "You trained harder."
Hakari smiled faintly. "I read your letters."
"I sent hundreds," Akami said proudly.
For a moment, it felt like they were simply brothers. But shadows never left Hakari's heart.
---
Later – City Streets
The two walked together through the bustling capital.
"This place smells amazing," Akami said, sniffing roasted bread and spice.
Hakari suddenly stopped. "Wait. That man. Look."
A cloaked figure was exchanging coins for a child. The boy's face was bruised, his wrists bound.
Akami's smile faded. "He's… handing a child to someone."
Hakari's jaw tightened. "Let's go."
They approached.
"I want to buy," Hakari said coldly.
The seller squinted. "Buy what? You're nobility, aren't you?"
"I'm from Velvet," Hakari replied.
The man froze. "The nation of flowers… a royal court?"
Hakari's gaze sharpened. "What are you hiding?"
The seller hesitated, then lowered his voice. "…Come in."
Through a narrow gate, they entered darkness.
"Further," the seller urged.
They stepped into a hidden chamber. The air reeked of rot and chains. Dozens of cages filled the room.
Akami's eyes widened. "These are… people."
"Children. And adults," Hakari whispered.
The seller smirked. "Merchandise."
Akami's fists shook. "He's trafficking them."
Hakari's eyes turned cold as steel. "…Yeah."
---
Meanwhile – Royal Castle
"Your Majesty," the minister bowed, voice tense. "Our Command wielders have doubled this year."
King Yami sat upon his throne, his gaze heavy. "Koha is strong. But strength alone does not make us safe. Speak."
"We are independent," the minister said cautiously. "But… in some ways, still dependent."
The king's brow darkened. "On what?"
The minister hesitated, then whispered, "On them. The dictator."
The throne room froze.
King Yami rose slowly, his presence suffocating. "How many times have I told you not to speak that name?"
"I—I'm sorry, my lord—"
"Say it again," the king growled, "and you die before nightfall."
The minister fell to his knees, trembling. "Understood… my king."
---
And thus began the tale of Koha. A kingdom thriving beneath the heavens, yet shadowed by secrets.
One brother, chosen by the sun. The other, abandoned to shadow.
Both walking toward a fate none could escape.