A sharp scream tore through the silence of the palace.
King Eldaric burst through the doors, his heartbeat pounding so loudly it drowned out every other sound.
"Amelia!"
Queen Amelia lay on the stone bed, her body trembling, cold sweat clinging to her skin.
Her eyes—
one brighter than any light,
the other deeper than any shadow—
were only half open.
A moment later, a faint cry filled the room.
Then…
another cry.
The physician swallowed hard and spoke with a shaking voice.
"Your Majesty… the Queen…
she has given birth to twins."
Eldaric froze.
His gaze moved between the two newborns, wrapped in thin blankets, their cries echoing softly in the chamber.
"I don't know…"
His voice broke.
"I don't know whether I should be happy…
or mourn."
Amelia smiled.
It was a gentle smile—
one that felt more like a farewell than joy.
Twelve Years Later
The sound of steel clashing against steel echoed through the royal training grounds.
The Sword Knight stood at the center, a man whose eye gleamed like a sharpened blade—
the Eye of the Sword.
"Focus!" he shouted.
"Your enemy won't wait for permission."
Lucen made the first move.
A sphere of fire shot from his hand, tearing through the air straight toward Romeo.
But Romeo vanished.
The shadows trembled.
In the blink of an eye, Romeo emerged from behind, sword already swinging toward Lucen's back.
Lucen smiled.
A figure of light was left in his place as he moved with unnatural speed.
Romeo's blade passed straight through the afterimage, scattering light into the air.
In the very next moment,
a radiant blade stopped just short of Romeo's neck.
At the same time,
a cold shadow coiled tightly around Lucen's throat.
Both of them froze.
The air itself seemed to hold its breath.
The Sword Knight let out a slow sigh.
"A draw."
He turned his gaze to Lucen.
"Well done—but you hesitated at the end."
Then his eyes shifted to Romeo.
"And you did the same.
You must always be aware of what your opponent is doing…
and what they are hiding."
He drove his sword into the ground with a heavy thud.
"If this had been a real battle…"
His voice hardened.
"Only one of you would still be alive."
King Eldaric stepped forward.
"Training is over."
Both princes immediately straightened.
"Yes, Father."
The Sword Knight lowered his head as well.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eldaric let his gaze rest on his sons for a moment longer than usual—
a gaze heavier than before.
"Romeo. Lucen.
Come with me."
The two brothers exchanged a brief glance.
"Yes.
The corridors beneath the palace were far quieter than the training grounds.
Torchlight barely reached the stone walls, and shadows stretched unnaturally long along the floor.
Romeo broke the silence first.
"Father… where are you taking us?"
Lucen frowned, looking around.
"It's really dark down here."
Eldaric did not answer right away.
His footsteps echoed heavily as he stopped before an old iron door, its surface carved with faded symbols.
He placed a hand against the stone.
"There are two chests," he said at last.
"The only things your mother entrusted to me before she died."
The door slowly opened.
Inside the chamber, two black boxes rested on a stone pedestal.
They were identical in shape—
yet somehow felt completely different.
Eldaric turned to face them.
"She told me to give these to you…
only when you had gained enough experience to protect yourselves."
His voice lowered.
"And she was very clear about one thing."
The king's eyes met theirs, one after the other.
"You must open them alone.
Each of you.
In your own room."
The air felt heavier.
Romeo stared at the chest on the left, shadows subtly shifting around his feet.
Lucen felt warmth pulse faintly in his chest as his gaze locked onto the other.
"These boxes…" Lucen whispered.
"What's inside them?"
Eldaric closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Your inheritance," he said.
"And your burden."
Romeo's Chest (Darkness)
Romeo closed the door behind him.
For a moment, he simply stood there,
his hand still resting on the lock,
making sure he was truly alone.
Then he approached the chest
and slowly opened it.
Inside were a dark mask
and a thick book with a black cover.
He picked up the book and opened it.
Guide to the Power of Darkness
The first page read:
"Raise your hand.
Gather darkness into your palm.
The number that appears
represents the percentage of power
you currently possess."
Romeo inhaled deeply.
Shadows crawled toward his open hand.
A faint number appeared above it.
2%
"What… only two percent?"
He continued reading.
"With every increase in your power,
more pages of this book
will be revealed to you."
He turned the page.
The next page described the mask.
"When you wear this mask,
you will be able to hear surrounding sounds
through the shadows.
Your body will be covered in darkness,
allowing you to hide easily within it."
Romeo held the mask in his hands.
"Well then…
time for a little test."
🔸 Lucen's Chest (Light)
In another room,
Lucen opened his chest.
Inside rested a glowing egg,
soft flames dancing gently around it,
and beside it,
a book with a white-and-gold cover.
Lucen blinked.
"An egg…?
Why is it on fire?
Is this some kind of dragon egg?"
He picked up the book.
Guide to the Power of Light
The first page read:
"Gather the light within your heart.
Release it.
The number that appears above you
represents the percentage of power
you currently possess."
Lucen placed a hand over his chest.
Warmth spread through him.
A glowing number appeared above his head.
2%
"Seriously… only two percent?"
He turned the page.
Page Two
"This egg is a Phoenix Egg.
When you reach five percent of your power,
you will be able to awaken it.
It will remain eternally loyal to you.
I created it myself
so that it will never die
and never betray you."
Lucen's breath caught.
"When you reach fifteen percent of your power,
you will be able to give it
a human form."
He slowly placed his hand on the egg.
It responded with warmth.
Romeo took a step forward.
His eyes fell on the tall mirror standing in the corner of the room.
His reflection looked distorted,
as if it were wavering between light and shadow.
A faint, crooked smile appeared on his lips.
"Let's go outside…
and see how this mask really works."
He opened the door.
The cold night air brushed against his face.
An
d at that moment—
A girl's scream tore through the silence of the palace grounds.
Romeo stopped.
Without hesitation,
he raised the mask
and placed it over his face.
The shadows stirred.