A week ago...
Kirasaki stood before the magnificent gates of the Kingdom of Legenia, her gaze piercing through the building that had once been her home years ago.
A gentle breeze stirred her long black hair, creating a silhouette that was both graceful and deadly.
The palace guards immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing her. "Lady Kirasaki! Welcome back!"
"Where is Sirius?" Kirasaki asked directly, cutting straight to the point.
"Lord Sirius is currently in the main hall, my lady."
Kirasaki nodded and strode inside with firm steps. Everyone who passed by her immediately stepped aside and bowed, none daring to meet her cold, violet-black eyes.
In the magnificent main hall with its towering marble pillars, a black-haired man with crimson eyes sat casually upon the throne.
His face appeared calm, but an aura of power and death emanated from his entire being.
"Kirasaki," Sirius smiled thinly when he saw his sister enter the hall.
"It's been quite some time since you've visited home."
"This is no longer my home, Sirius." Kirasaki stopped several meters from the throne.
"And you know I'm not here for nostalgia."
"Of course. You've come for that little girl, haven't you?" Sirius descended from his throne, his steps leisurely yet intimidating.
"Akari, if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes. I'm taking her with me."
"How unfortunate," Sirius stopped directly in front of Kirasaki, crimson eyes meeting violet-black ones.
"I've already handed her over to Marquis Aldric. The man was quite... enthusiastic about receiving her."
Kirasaki's jaw tightened. "Cancel it."
"Are you ordering me?" Sirius's voice dropped an octave, becoming colder and more threatening.
"I'm asking," Kirasaki didn't retreat an inch.
"That girl doesn't deserve such treatment."
Sirius laughed, his laughter echoing throughout the vast hall. "Since when does my cold sister care about the fate of a slave?"
"Since I realized that not all weakness deserves a death sentence."
The atmosphere in the room immediately became suffocating. Sirius stared sharply at his sister, his murderous aura beginning to emanate.
"Don't tell me you've become weak like those I once slaughtered."
"I'm not weak," Kirasaki's eyes flashed dangerously.
"I've simply chosen a different path from yours."
"I'd rather eliminate my own enemies than fellow comrades."
In the blink of an eye, both siblings stood facing each other with their battle auras blazing.
The marble pillars around them began to crack under the pressure of the magical energy they radiated.
But then Sirius stepped back and smiled cynically. "Very well. You may take the girl."
"On one condition..."
Kirasaki furrowed her brow. "What condition?"
"You must defeat me in a duel." Sirius raised his hand, dark energy beginning to gather in his palm.
"If you win, the girl is yours. If you lose..."
"You'll kill me?"
"No." Sirius smiled wider.
"I'll kill your student. That boy who wields the Origin Light."
Kirasaki's eyes widened. "How do you know about Seiya?!"
"Did you think I wasn't keeping track of your movements through my forces?"
"That boy, child of two Legends I once slaughtered... he's quite intriguing."
"I was so close to killing him, but he fainted from starvation. Perhaps that's why his body was so thin and frail, as if I knew it would only be a matter of time before he died."
Sirius clearly remembered Seiya's weak gaze when he was still small, never expecting to see someone he almost killed grow to become a legendary Origin wielder.
"Whatever logical reason made him chosen by Father Magnus, we know that power, if not developed to its full potential, will amount to nothing."
"So I might as well take his heart and give it to one of my more worthy soldiers."
Kirasaki gritted her teeth in frustration. "What do you mean by heart?"
"There's one Origin Legend who wields Origin Dark, his name is Noctis Noirveil, and he's currently undergoing extensive training at one of Legenia's finest academies."
"Not just training alone, he also has to undergo several examination stages conducted by various experts."
"It turns out... their Origin power is centered in their hearts. That explains why they can master Origin-based magic without limits."
"Though their greatest weakness is being unable to use any magic flexibly except their own Origin magic."
Sirius gazed out the window. "Light magic is difficult to master even after receiving extensive training, even from someone like Kirasaki."
"Light magic is very weak in its initial stages because it can only illuminate without providing magic with devastating destructive power."
"But, well, I could give Seiya's Origin heart to a Legend who has mastery over light magic."
Rage began burning in Kirasaki's chest, but she knew she had to remain calm. A duel against Sirius was no joke, with both Seiya's and Akari's lives at stake.
"I accept," Kirasaki took a combat stance.
"But if I win, you must never interfere with Seiya or Akari again."
"Deal."
The battle that followed destroyed half of the palace hall. Thick walls collapsed, marble pillars shattered into pieces, and the luxurious floor cracked from the collision of magical energy between the Shimatsu siblings.
Kirasaki moved at the speed of sound, her flame sword dancing through the air. Every slash and thrust was executed with deadly precision, not a single movement wasted.
Meanwhile, Sirius fought with a more brutal and destructive style. His dark energy formed various weapons—spears, axes, swords—launched with devastating force.
"You've grown weak, Kirasaki!" Sirius shouted while dodging his sister's flame sword attacks.
"It seems training that weak boy has made your movements hesitant!"
"And your hatred has made you blind!" Kirasaki retorted, her sword nearly slicing her brother's throat.
The battle lasted for hours until both were exhausted. Finally, in one decisive final move, Kirasaki's flame sword broke through Sirius's defenses and stopped right in front of his heart.
"I win," Kirasaki dispelled her flame sword, having been forced to get serious in facing him.
Sirius smiled irritably. "Good. You're still slightly stronger than me, aren't you?"
"Why don't you just stop my policies instead of having to take that girl?" Kirasaki's question made him stop in his tracks.
"I'd rather accept destruction from my policies being carried out by a Legend who doesn't have a background like mine."
"That would become a symbol of change for Legends." He immediately left, abandoning her.
"I see..."
After the battle, Kirasaki immediately hurried to the palace library where she was certain Akari was spending her time.
And sure enough, the small girl with pink hair was sitting among stacks of books, seriously reading a thick tome about the fundamentals of magic.
"Akari."
The girl looked up and immediately smiled brightly upon seeing Kirasaki. "Lady Kirasaki! You've returned!"
"Yes, and I'm taking you away from here." Kirasaki extended her hand.
"Would you like to come with me to Raijin Village?"
Akari looked sadly at the books surrounding her. "But... this library..."
"You can read as many books as you want at your new place by bringing some books you need." Kirasaki smiled gently for the first time.
"And you'll have a friend your own age."
"A friend?" Akari's eyes sparkled.
"Yes. His name is Satori Seiya. He also loves reading and learning like you."
"Really?!" Akari immediately stood and grasped Kirasaki's hand.
"Then let's go!"
Kirasaki smiled seeing the girl's enthusiasm. She had made the right decision.
Back to the present...
Kirasaki finished her story and looked at Seiya, who was still sitting on the ground, processing all the information he had just received.
"So that's the story," Kirasaki said softly.
"Akari nearly became a victim of a cruel system, just like you nearly became a victim of Sirius's vengeance."
"But now you're both safe with me. And I will protect you both with my own life."
Seiya raised his head, his brown eyes gleaming with newfound resolve. "Master... thank you for saving us both."
"And I promise," Seiya stood while clenching his fists.
"Someday I will become strong enough to protect everyone I care about."
"Including Master, including Akari."
Kirasaki nodded proudly. "That's what I expect from you, my student."
"But..." Kirasaki immediately flicked Seiya's forehead until he winced and rubbed his own forehead.
"When you turn twelve, I will increase the difficulty of your training."
"Don't expect everything to be easy and peaceful, because to become a strong Legend, you must endure tremendous pressure."
Hearing this, Seiya felt such strong enthusiasm that he couldn't wait to receive the difficult training when he reached that age.
And naturally, he immediately stood directly in front of Kirasaki while displaying a look full of determination. "I won't seek revenge..."
Hearing those words, Kirasaki realized that Seiya was not a Legend easily consumed by vengeance, even knowing that his parents' deaths were caused by Sirius.
"I will grow to become a very strong Legend... stronger than anything, until I can give hope to those who need it!"
"I'll prove to Sirius that all Legends can match other worthy Legends if they're given hope to keep fighting without looking back!"
"Because... I know... remaining silent in despair will produce nothing but pain, so you must step forward to create something greater than before!"
Kirasaki raised her eyebrows and then smiled with full pride, knowing she had educated her student very well to not follow the same path as herself.
"Oh...? Are you planning to overthrow Sirius?"
"I-Impossible! I'm not that ambitious. I'd rather just destroy his policy of slaughtering anyone at will!"
"If possible, I want to face the forces he sends to kill weak Legends."
Kirasaki immediately patted Seiya's head and stroked it. "Don't get carried away, young man. You still need a tremendous amount of struggle to reach the level of his forces."
"Forget about them... it's better that you and Akari both develop into strong Legends."
Seiya nodded. "Yes, I'll do it!"
"We'll both develop into worthy Legends!"
"Remember that, Master!"