"The pages of history are already soaked red.
Now the pen is in my hand—and I will write it.
Writing it with their blood alone would be boring...
So I'll use mine too."
—Shiyami
It was a warm August evening. The sun was setting behind the woods, making the sky glow even more beautifully. Amidst all this, in the bustling city of Paradox, a woman was dressing her child. He was barely five years old, with curious deep blue eyes—just like his mother. She was in her late twenties, a pretty woman in a white gown. Her eyes were full of hope as she looked at her son.
She took his hand and led him outside. In front of them stood a tall building that seemed to touch the sky. At the top, the golden letters read: ZENOM ASSOCIATION.
Inside, it was brightly lit and crowded. The lavender-colored walls reflected a sense of calm. She looked around, searching for someone.
A hand touched her shoulder. She turned around and saw a man with blue hair and glowing crimson eyes.
"So, you came," she said softly.
"I don't want to see a woman cry," he replied. "Don't think I'm happy about all this, but it'd look strange if the vice chairman didn't show up. I came only to protect the Zenom Association's reputation."
She smiled warmly.
"Shizune, I don't trust them. Stay on your guard," he said.
"I will. And if I can bring even a little change, I will try," she replied.
"Call me if anything goes wrong."
"And he'll just make the trouble double," said another woman, her golden hair falling over her arms. "I thought you wouldn't come, Sache."
"Why wouldn't I? You'll always find me beside Shizune," Sache replied.
"I'm going, Mom!" Shizune's son, he said cheerfully as he ran off to play with his friend. They played hide-and-seek until suddenly—everything went black. The lights failed. Panic spread. People rushed outside.
"What happened?" the other boy asked.
A loud crash echoed—something had fallen. A woman grabbed them and shouted, "Get out of here, Nuru and Samuru!" It was the same woman they had seen earlier. They ran downstairs. The lights still worked on that floor. Nuru ran outside, but Samuru stopped.
"Worried about your mother?" a man asked.
Samuru didn't reply, but the worry was written all over his face. The man bent close and whispered, "Your mother's in trouble. Shouldn't you go save her?"
Samuru ran upstairs. The lift wasn't working, so he climbed the stairs. His legs ached, but he didn't stop. He had to reach her. At last, he reached the floor. Breathing heavily, he opened the door.
The marble floor chilled his feet. What he saw would haunt him forever. His mother lay on the floor, panting. Blood trickled from her lips. A cold-faced woman stood before her. Against the wall stood another woman with her hand on a hooded boy's shoulder.
"Mom!" Samuru rushed in. Who were these people? Why were they here? He knelt beside his mother.
"Why are you here, Samuru?" she asked weakly.
"What happened, Mom?"
"You have a fine boy, Shizune," said the woman.
"Who are you?" Samuru asked, his voice trembling.
"That's not something you need to know, dear," she said and grabbed a fistful of his hair, flinging him across the room. His head slammed into the wall. He wiped his forehead and saw blood on his fingertips. He stood, breathing hard, eyes wide in fear.
"What do you want, Sinthia? Revenge won't get you anywhere," Shizune said.
"Oh, is that so?" Sinthia laughed. "You think saying that will stop me? No, Shizune. Not even if hell freezes over—I won't stop. I'll kill every last one of you."
Shizune forced herself up, using every ounce of strength, shielding Samuru. She gently touched his arm and put her hand over his face. Samuru placed his hand over hers. Worry filled his eyes.
She had thought the conflict would finally end... But it was her greatest mistake. Why couldn't Sinthia move on? It had been over a thousand years since that tragedy—why was her wound still fresh?
"Samuru, never seek revenge... even if they kill me," Shizune whispered.
He had heard those words before. It was a hot summer night. Samuru couldn't sleep. His mother had come in.
"Still awake?" she asked.
"Mom, story time!"
She sighed and sat beside him. "Today, I'll tell you a true one."
"But not a boring one!"
Shizune smiled. "Of course. Long ago, two brothers—Shiyami and Shigami—were abandoned by their father. They grew strong, stronger than anyone had imagined. Together they conquered half the world. But then Shiyami changed. His hunger for power grew. Word reached Shigami: Shiyami was hurting his own people."
"What? Why would he do that? That's mean!"
"Power changes people. That's what happened to Shiyami. Shigami didn't believe it at first, but it was true. Still, he tried to trust his brother. Then came the worst news: Shiyami had killed Shigami's advisor... and others."
Samuru gasped. "No way!"
"Shigami couldn't ignore it anymore. A terrible battle broke out between the brothers. Shiyami died... as a traitor. And then... Shiyami's son, Sean, killed his uncle to get revenge."
"Why?!"
"Because revenge doesn't care who's right. Since then, Shiyami's bloodline never forgot. With every generation, the hate grew. They kept fighting for centuries.
"But Samuru, it wasn't Shiyami's death that caused this war. It was the fire of revenge."
She ran her fingers through his hair.
"Never want revenge, even if someone hurts me."
"I won't let anyone hurt you! I will go strong enough to protect you, to defend you."
"That's sweet," she whispered and kissed Samuru on the forehead.
So that's what she meant. These people—they were Shiyami's descendants, hearts darkened by hate.
"Mom, what are you saying? What will happen to you? You'll always stay with me, right?" Samuru asked, confused and afraid.
"Run, Samuru," she said. "Please."
He hesitated, then ran for the door.
A gunshot rang out.
No.
He didn't want to believe it.
But when he turned, Sinthia held the smoking gun. The bullet had struck Shizune's heart. She collapsed. Samuru caught her. Her blood soaked his hands.
"Sam..."
She went limp.
He stared into her lifeless blue eyes. The same eyes that once gleamed with joy. How could she leave him? She had always been by his side—his shadow, his strength.
Now she was gone.
What mistake had she made to deserve this? Why did it happen to her?
If hate had a face, it was Sinthia's. Shizune had told him not to seek revenge... But how could he not?
All he wanted now was to kill the woman who stole his mother's life. But fear seized him. If she could kill his mother... it would be nothing for her to kill him too.
Sinthia watched, expressionless.
Samuru had never felt rage this deep. He wanted to tear her apart.
"How does it feel, Samuru dear?" Sinthia mocked.
"Shut up," he growled.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" she said, laughing.
"I told you to shut up!" he screamed.
"Are you a fool? You think your people are innocent? You started this. But we'll end it," Sinthia said.
"You killed my mom just because of her blood. That's not right."
"I'm in love with this scene. Even if I saw her die a hundred more times, I still wouldn't be satisfied."
She caught him by the neck and slammed him into the wall. He was bleeding and broken.
Sinthia raised her gun.
Before she could fire, someone dragged Samuru back.
"Olivia, look at Mom! Please do something!" he cried.
Olivia held him close.
"Calm down," she whispered. But she knew the truth—there was nothing she could do.
"It's done, my lady," said the other woman.
"Great work, Eefa," Sinthia praised.
"She offered peace, but you people crave war. We should have listened to Sache," Olivia said.
"You should've indeed," Sinthia replied coldly.
"You're trapped in the past. Don't let it ruin the future," Olivia said wisely.
Eefa dropped an oil lamp. It shattered, flames spreading. The room was ablaze.
Samuru tried to run to his mother, but Olivia held him tightly.
"Please, Olivia. Let me go to her," he pleaded.
She wouldn't let go.
Sinthia and the others vanished into the fire.
"Mother!"
Samuru screamed, waking from an uneasy sleep. Tears dwelled in his eyes. He wiped them with his sleeve.
It had been nine years.
He still couldn't forget.
The nightmare never left.
And even though she had asked him not to...
There was only one thing left in his heart:
Kill Sinthia.
Kill Shiyami.