The banners of the Eryndor Empire rippled above the garrison walls, crimson threads glinting against the setting sun. Soldiers in polished armor lined the courtyard, swords at their sides, eyes sharp. Among them stood Kazuya and Rin, two cadets bound by oath and friendship, yet worlds apart in spirit.
Even being an orphan Kazuya's blood carried whispers of royal heritage long erased—a bastard branch of the dynasty that now ruled the empire with an iron fist. It was a truth he never spoke aloud, a truth that stung every time nobles sneered at him.
Rin, in contrast, was a son of priests, raised in the holy texts. To him, the empire's decadence was a test of faith, a chance to live with honor where kings had failed.
Training Grounds
The clashing of swords echoed as cadets sparred. Rin's blade gleamed with precision, movements guided by prayer and discipline. Kazuya fought with raw aggression, every swing heavy, desperate, almost reckless.
Rin (panting as their blades lock):
"You'll never master the art if you fight with anger, Kazuya."
Kazuya (gritting his teeth):
"And you'll never survive if you fight with mercy."
Rin smiled faintly, lowering his blade.
Rin:
"Life is precious. Even an enemy's. That's what separates us from beasts."
Kazuya scowled but said nothing, though his silence was louder than any rebuttal.
The Argument
Later, as they sat by the training yard steps, the sun dipping behind the walls, Kazuya finally spoke.
Kazuya:
"You talk about life as if it's sacred. But open your eyes, Rin. Humanity is nothing but a parasite—draining the world, bleeding it dry. We cling to lies about morality and gods, pretending it makes us better than beasts. But in truth, we're worse."
Rin (steady, but firm):
"And yet you fight to protect your sister. Doesn't that prove life is worth something? Even one life."
Kazuya's jaw tightened.
Kazuya:
"Tell me then—who is the greater hypocrite? A man who sees the world for what it is and still moves forward? Or a man who hides behind his morality and pretends his god gives meaning to it all? Tell me, Rin. Which of us lies more?"
The words lingered, heavy as stone. Rin didn't answer. His silence was answer enough.
The Warning
Their commander strode into the yard, voice booming.
Commander:
"Enough philosophy. On your feet, both of you. Scouts report enemy movements. They'll strike the capital by nightfall. We march immediately—positions must be secured before they breach the walls."
The cadets snapped to attention, blades at their sides. The weight of duty pushed the argument aside—but it was not forgotten.
The Trap
By dusk, they reached the capital's defenses, soldiers lining the battlements. The air was tense, every torch sputtering in the rising wind.
Then it happened.
A thunderous boom split the night. Fire erupted across the eastern quarter, an explosion so violent the ground shook. Screams carried over the walls.
Rin:
"That's above… the east side—!"
Kazuya's blood ran cold. The east quarter. That was where Sora stayed.
Before orders could even be given, Kazuya broke formation, sprinting through the chaos.
The Assassins
Through streets choked with smoke and collapsing stone, he found her.
Sora stood in the square, clutching a small wooden doll to her chest, tears streaking her soot-stained face. She trembled as figures cloaked in black descended—assassins, their masks gleaming crimson in the firelight.
Kazuya:
"Stay away from her!"
He roared, charging, his sword flashing. But he was no match. Their steel was too fast, their strikes too precise. His blade shattered, and a dagger pierced his side. Blood sprayed as he fell to his knees.
He reached for Sora, but too late. The assassins struck her down with merciless precision. Her doll tumbled from her hands, landing in the bloodied mud with a hollow thud.
His world ended in that instant.
Despair
Kazuya collapsed beside her, clutching her lifeless body, blood mingling with rain as the sky wept. His trembling hand reached for the doll, fingers brushing its splintered wood before falling limp.
Kazuya (voice breaking):
"All this time, I cursed the world. Called it rotten. Called it unjust. Said I'd tear it all down… change it. But look at me now. Too weak to save the only person who mattered. A hypocrite, Rin. That's all I am. A hypocrite."
His grip loosened. His body slumped. He waited for death to claim him, to make the pain stop.
The assassins passed by, sparing him. Their orders had been fulfilled. Nothing more.
But as their shadows disappeared into the smoke, a truth struck him like ice in his veins.
Kazuya (whisper, realization):
"They didn't kill me… because no one told them to."
The thought festered, sharp and poisonous.
Kazuya:
"They only take lives they're ordered to. That means… someone gave the command. Someone chose her. Someone wanted us gone."
His body shook—not from grief now, but from rage. His nails dug into his palms until blood ran from his fists.
Kazuya (snarling through tears):
"She didn't die by chance. She was taken from me. Bought… like a commodity. And I… I couldn't stop it."
The White Lady
The world went silent. Out of the smoke stepped a woman cloaked in white, her presence almost divine. Her hair flowed like silver silk, her eyes aglow with otherworldly light.
She knelt beside him, brushing her fingers across his bloodied cheek.
White Lady:
"Power is what you seek."
Kazuya (hoarse, trembling, eyes burning with rage):
"No. What I seek… is justice. If someone wants me broken, I'll break them first. If you can give me power—then I'll use it. No matter the cost."
White Lady:
"But power comes with a price. If I grant it to you, one day you must fulfill a task for me. A task that cannot be refused."
There was no hesitation. His eyes, burning with grief and fury, locked onto hers.
Kazuya:
"Then I'll pay it. Whatever it takes."
The woman smiled faintly, tragic and knowing. She leaned down, her lips brushing his. The kiss was cold, searing, binding.
The world around him shattered into blackness, flames frozen in midair, screams silenced.
White Lady (whispering into his mind):
"Then our contract is sealed. Rise, Kazuya—the world shall be yours to break."
The scene fades as his body convulses, strange sigils burning across his skin. His eyes snap open—glowing with new, terrifying power.
Rin arrives just in time to see Kazuya rise from the rubble.
Rin (horrified whisper):
"Kazuya… what have you done?" Fade to black.