Chapter 1
Blood...
lots of it...
ran from Kyle's robes, trickling down his torso, slipping between his fingers as he stumbled in the high chamber; a gasp followed upon his arrival. The blood followed as he went until it was pooling at his feet. The trail stretched from the high chamber entrance to where he stood now, wavering on unsteady legs. Every time he breathed he had to make significant effort, yet still, he refused to fall. He had barged into an important meeting in the high chamber; however, it was also for an important reason. The high chamber loomed around him, large and majestic as it had always been. This was where the clan's fate was decided, where the elders and the patriarch sat and made important decisions. At this moment five elders were gathered in a semicircle with Patriarch Kabal at the center.
Elder Dru was a tall and bearded middle-aged man still very handsome despite his years; he sat on the far left looking down at Kyle with a curious expression. Elder Sandra, hair streaked gray, almost every strand had turned silver; her sharp eyes gazed down, dulled only by age. Elder Venus was short and bald, just like his temper that was now plain in his perpetual scowl. He sat at the right end. Elder Myron was the calm and dignified one, his long mustache framing his mouth. Elder Elice was the youngest, no less beautiful though. She was the one who gasped when Kyle entered, unable to contain her surprise.
All their faces reflected a mixture of curiosity and disbelief, as well as something more restrained. Maybe caution, anger, or perhaps something more complex.
Kyle's lips moved, words dragging out of him like someone was pushing him to speak. "Father… this is the payment I received from Kane. All the love and kindness I showed him...this is how he repaid me."
He lifted a trembling hand toward his chest. The place where his heart had once been was now a gaping scar, ragged and wet with crimson, bleeding steadily and creating something like a rhythm for the blood dripping. Scars like that took decades to fade...if they ever did, and the elders knew it. They could only imagine the kind of pain tearing through him with every breath he took.
Once, Kyle's presence had carried a significant weight, sharp blue eyes and long black hair mixed with broad shoulders that spoke of strength, coupled with a delicately handsome face. But now, everything had changed; he didn't look as good as he once did. Scratch that; now, his beauty had been stolen. No one could look upon that wound and not wince; he was disfigured. Yet, his gaze burned with the fierce light of determination. His stance remained upright as he continued speaking. Even though he was trembling like some leaf in the wind.
"Whatever I did, I thought of Kane first. my time, resources, and support. Even when he was wrong, I helped. Why? Because I was striving to be the perfect brother. Ultimately he turned on me and stole my magical heart. And practically stabbed me in the back, that bastard…"
As he spoke, his eyes searched Kabal's face for any flicker of reaction. He wanted to see anger, hatred, or disbelief, but despite his complaints, Kabal's face remained passive. The patriarch's expression was calm and unreadable until he was done. The elders looked no less moved, as if Kyle were explaining geography to them. Only elder Dru and Myron showed a glimmer of anger, the faintest sign they still felt his pain. Kyle's fists clenched; this scene was way too familiar. Over the years his father always took Kane's side in these matters of disputes; he would urge Kyle to forgive, perhaps even praise Kane's cunning, and he, on the other hand, would be left with nothing, forced to compromise and forget his grievances. However, he didn't expect that to happen with such a serious situation; I mean...it was his magic heart, dammit. That was a warrior's most prized possession. Was all of this because of his kind nature and easy-going personality?
After being silent for half a second, Kabal finally spoke, his voice even and measured, still keeping a steady volume, displaying his utter lack of emotion. "You said Kane stole your heart? Well, tell us, how did this happen?"
Kyle swayed, forcing himself upright again. His whole life he had been blind to unfairness, too trusting, and too forgiving; still, it was not entirely his fault. He had been born with the Eclipse Magical Heart. This power calmed rage when rage was needed and dulled suspicion when suspicion was survival. To others it was a gift, a mark of greatness. To Kyle, it was a curse. It had kept him tied to a clan that overlooked him, mocked him, and used him for his strength. Perhaps it was due to the heart being stolen, or the weight of betrayal finally settling in, but Kyle could finally see the discrimination clearly. He continued,
"Father, I believe Kane has plotted this for years. The way he succeeded so easily, it definitely wasn't by chance or luck. He planned everything; when we sparred, he intentionally cut my arm and said it was an accident. He took my blood. Then another time, he cut my hair and claimed it was nothing. I trusted him as family. That's why I never saw the truth."
His jaw tightened. "Then today… when I went to see my fiancée, he ambushed me in the ever-night forest. He used the forbidden ritual crafted from my blood and hair, and he took my magical heart with his own hands, leaving me gravely injured."
A murmur rippled through the chamber. Myron and Dru's faces darkened with rage, but the others remained unreadable. They wanted to intervene, but the final judgment would rest with Kabal, Kyle's so-called father. At that same moment,
The chamber doors creaked open, and Kane entered. He made his way in, staggering with arrogance written over his face. He gazed at the trail of blood to the door and stepped lightly over it. His long black hair swung behind him, nearly a mirror of Kyle's. The smile on his face didn't reach his eyes as they landed on his brother.
"Come now, brother," Kane said, voice casual and mocking. "You're bleeding all over the floor." He snapped his fingers at one of the maids near the wall. "Bring him bandages before he ruins the floor, for crying out loud."
The words cut deeper than the wound. Kyle's chest burned with fury as he pointed at Kane, his finger trembling. "Look at that, Father! He dares to mock me, even here, in your presence! He has absolutely no remorse for his actions."
The elders stirred in their seats, but Kabal silenced them with a raised hand. His face remained as it had from the start of this whole thing: flat, cold, and very much unreadable.
"You were right, Kyle," Kabal said. "You are blind. You have always been like that despite my constant warnings. You had the stronger heart, but your brother had the stronger will. That is what matters. That is the law of this world. The strong take what they want. And strength is not only power. It is foresight, patience, and the ability to strike before your enemy knows he is in danger."
From the side, Kane couldn't help but chuckle; there was truly no justice for the weak. His laughter had its intended effect.
Kyle's lid almost blew off as he crashed out in anger.
"Impossible! If our clan truly runs on strength alone, it will collapse into chaos. Those who follow us will feel cheated, used, and betrayed. They will rise against us. Is that strength, Father?"
He thrust his finger at Kane again, hand shaking. "And besides, Kane was never my enemy! I trusted him! He betrayed me and your father...you also betrayed me too."
The chamber shifted uneasily. Some elders looked away. Others kept their gaze fixed on Kabal, waiting for his response.
His calm was more terrifying than anger.
Elder Dru tried to speak up for Kyle. "Patriarch, if I may suggest something…"
Kabal's gaze cut him down instantly. Dru fell silent.
"I am not taking suggestions," Kabal hissed. His voice filled the chamber like a storm; he turned to Kyle, his tone softer and colder:
"You are angry, Kyle. I understand that. Still, you better watch your tone, boiii. What has happened has already happened; there is no way to reverse time. Do you expect me to harm your brother because of a simple mistake? Because of your cowardly behavior? He is your family. You will remain here, still respected as a dignified heir of the Bancroft clan. That is the end of it."
Every single person in the chamber knew that was a lie; without his heart, Kyle had nothing—no power, no status, not even respect. Even the servants had more value than him now, and if he stayed in the clan, that would be his new position: a servant. Other clans would laugh at them for keeping a cripple as heir, and sooner or later, when the matter died down, he would probably be kicked out. He would be a burden, tolerated at best.
At this realization, Kyle's knees buckled. He fell to the stone floor, blood spreading beneath him even more.
Despite all this, no one moved to help him. They only watched, as though they were curious as to how long he would endure.
He bowed his head, resigned to his fate. There was no use arguing. "Alright, Father. My brother's success is my success. I'll let it go." His words trembled, but he forced them out. "But I have one request. It's not even a request. It's my birthright."
Kane shook his head, thinking to himself. "I have truly never seen a bigger idiot than Kyle. Is there a limit to his forgiveness? I hope this stupid heart doesn't turn me into a mindless idiot like him."
He thought Kyle was being soft again, too forgiving, too weak. If their roles were reversed, Kane would have burned this whole clan down rather than let it pass.
Kyle, who was on the ground, gathered what strength he had left. "Grace," he said. "I want to keep Grace. My fiancée. No one should take her from me."
At this, Kabal's calm cracked. His brow furrowed slightly. "Grace is of another clan," he said flatly. "It is her decision whether she stays with you or not. That choice is not mine."
Kyle's stomach twisted. Wasn't the agreement binding? The Bancrofts and the Linen clan had promised her to him. That should have been beyond question. Unless... Kabal willed it otherwise. Why was Kabal making her choose? That alone spoke volumes of his true intentions.
Kabal turned his head, gesturing to a guard at the side of the chamber. His voice carried, sharp and decisive.
"Summon Grace Linen to the chamber."
With that, everyone in the room waited in silence for Grace to arrive, a simple, single question spinning in all their minds. Just what would Grace do?