Luna and Jin's 19-year age difference were a natural outcome, considering that Luna was the first child of Cyron and Rosa, while Jin was their last-born.
With such a large age gap, there are many cases where the older sibling dotes on the younger one. However, Jin's initial encounters with his older brothers, Haytona and Daytona, had established a benchmark in his mind regarding what to anticipate from his other siblings.
Nonetheless, Luntia's behavior proved somewhat peculiar and departed from Jin's preconceived notions.
Therefore, when Luna's unexpected visit transpired, Jin found himself more bored than delighted or taken aback.
Naturally, such occurrences failed to stir any semblance of excitement or happiness within him. Nevertheless, he regarded this as an essential obligation he needed to fulfill. He was more curious about the gift Luntia had sent.
Jin's mind entertained a myriad of thoughts, delving into various potential reasons for Luna's visit. However, the most plausible explanations appeared to defy logic. It seemed almost inconceivable, unless there had been a widespread oversight concerning the first flagbearer of Runcandel by the general public.
The nickname the public used to call Luna was the 'White Whale'.
She was aloof, distant, and hard to get in touch with just like the 'White Whale' in the myths. And since there was only a single white whale in the world, the nickname also reflected her anti-social tendencies.
Aside from the notion of being anti-social, Jin couldn't really relate to her in any way.
"Greetings to the eldest lady!"
"Greetings to the eldest lady!"
The assembled knights, in celebration of Jin's birthday, rushed outdoors and raised their voices in a harmonious chorus.
Even though Luna had not yet graced the castle with her presence, the servants in the dining room instinctively initiated a respectful bow as a prelude to her arrival---the minimum curtsy.
'She might sense Murakan.'
That was the first thought that crossed Jin's mind right after he finished going over the potential reasons of Luna's visit. He moved almost instinctively in his direction in order to notify him to leave. However, he stopped.
'She probably has sensed him already. Sending him off would raise guilty suspicion.'
In the end, he decided to not inform Murakan. Or rather he didn't need to. Despite being weakened, he would've definitely sensed Luna's presence that was second only to their father. Probably their mother as well.
Jin couldn't be sure. He was not aware of the exact power levels of his family. At least not now. He had to leave Storm Castle and go into the Main Residence to know about all that.
"---ster? Young Master?"
Gilly stood with a concerned expression; her features contorted into a deep frown. The notion of Jin feeling distressed or apprehensive due to the arrival of his older sibling weighed heavily on her heart.
"Let's head downstairs to welcome my sister, Gilly." Jin spoke with a firm voice, tucking his hands into his pockets.
Gilly just nodded and started following him. However, Gilly was left speechless, her gaze fixed on the void, as the chance to encounter the eldest member of the clan was a rare occurrence, and it filled her with an overwhelming sense of anxiety.
After a few moments, Jin finally arrived at the meeting place. The clip of his footsteps against the marble was muffled by the sound of his heart. Even though it was beating normally, the only reason he could heart it was the complete, pin-drop silence that surrounded the two siblings like a wet blanket.
Jin and Luna stood face to face in the central hall, marking the first occasion the youngest had laid eyes on his eldest sister since the [Selection Ritual]
Luna's hair cascaded in a dazzling display of silver strands, shimmering like strands of moonlight. Her skin, like fine porcelain, oozed out an ethereal radiance, flawless and delicate to the touch. Or so the notion of touching her being soft was what crossed his mind.
Her eyes, deep and entrancing, held a certain intensity, as if they possessed the power to see through the very essence of all that met her gaze.
Luna's gaze held an indescribable aura of peril and threat. Those were the eyes of someone who had brutalised countless vexatious, strong enemies across the globe.
'She really is objectively beautiful.'
Jin thought to himself. In his two lifetimes, which were relatively short, he had never seen anyone as graceful and stunning as her. He had to compliment her. Albeit mentally.
Nonetheless, Jin couldn't linger in admiration for too long.
He couldn't dismiss the haunting likelihood that Luna had journeyed this far because she had somehow detected the awakening of Murakan. The possibility existed, and if it was true and she was secretly associated with the sibling that planted a curse on Jin when he was still a child, then he was done for.
He had to think of countermeasures for this situation.
He had already talked to Murakan a few days ago about a situation like this.
----What if they find out about you? My father is said to be the strongest and the closest to him inside the Runcandel is Luna.
----Don't worry about that, kid. They can't sense me from all the way there. It'll be fine.
----It is a "what if" scenario. Suppose if she were to attack me on the charges of treason for using magic. Can you dispell her?
----Hate to admit it, kiddo, but if she is on the level, I think she is, then my current self can't. But there is another way. I can't guarantee my own survival, but you'll be able to get out safely.
----I see. I will bring you some strawberry pie tonight.
----Hoh? You're the best!
Jin reached out for the inside of his pocket as he kept his eyes locked on Luna.
As he brainstormed, Luna preemptively engaged the knights around them by speaking first.
"You've grown a lot."
Her voice, cold and unemotional, did not match the tone one might use when addressing a sibling not seen in eight years. Nevertheless, Jin detected a faint trace of goodwill concealed within that aloof voice. Nonetheless, he deemed it premature to lower his defenses.
"Thank you for coming all this way. An earlier notice would've been better, Elder Sister." Jin replied with a rather respectful voice. However, the delivery of the words was a bit off. Almost as if someone was mocking a guest that they had arrived at THEIR house at a wrong time.
Luna proceeded to step closer. "That's sweet. But you don't have to go to such lengths for hospitality when I'm merely paying a visit to my little brother," Luna responded, offering a gentle pat on her brother's head.
Jin lowered his head a bit, enjoying it.
'Head pats sure feel nice.'
"Pff--" Looking up, he saw Luna quickly recompose herself, coughing in the process. "Excuse me, but your reaction was awfully cute." She ruffled his hair playfully.
"Hm. It was my first time experiencing it. Not a very unpleasant one, I'd say." Jin replied, not fully admitting he enjoyed it.
(A/n He do be acting like a tsun-tsun sometimes.)
"You seem tense, youngest. Are you okay?" Luna asked, sensing the palpable unease. However, it wasn't exactly what she thought. What Jin was tense about was the close proximity to her. She could swing her sword at this distance before he was able to even put his contingency plan into action.
"Not really. Just a bit strange for you to visit me. At this hour." Jin emphasised on his words, letting them sink as deep as they could.
The hand that had been caressing Jin's head suddenly stopped. Gilly was taken aback by Jin's candid remark and cleared her throat awkwardly. Even the surrounding knights gazed at the scene with wide-eyed disbelief.
'The Youngest Master is really pushing his luck these days. First the Tona siblings...is he trying to pick a fight with the eldest lady?' One of the knights thought, worry and disbelief etched on his features.
A heavy silence descended, and the onlookers felt beads of sweat forming on their brows as they observed the intense gaze exchanged between the siblings.
"It is... strange?"
"Hm." Jin just hummed in affirmation.
"Should I interpret that as you are being uncomfortable around me?"
"Kind of, but not really. It's just that since this is basically my first time meeting you, so I am not sure how to hold a proper, coherent conversation."
Another round of a prolonged and palpable hush settled over the scene.
The atmosphere surrounding Luna remained ambiguous, leaving those in attendance baffled. Contrary to the anticipation of the knights and Gilly, who had steeled themselves for a potentially explosive encounter, Luna's expressions revealed a myriad of emotions that proved to be entirely unforeseen.
In her deep, oceanic eyes, there were fleeting yet distinct shades of sorrow, tinged with the weight of regrets. Bitterness also lingered, casting a shadow upon her face.
The visible emotions on her face had left everyone completely baffled.
Jin reached out for the item in his pocket, holding it firmly.
"...You're right, I was being inconsiderate. You may be young, but you're still a Runcandel. How could I forget that... I'm sorry."
'She isn't interested.'
What Jin meant was that her lack of interest in "Hegemony" was not because she felt bored or was too tired to do it. It was because she did not want to slaughter her own siblings. Or watch the other siblings brutalise each other in the ugly fight of the siblings for the Runcandel throne.
Within this expansive clan of swordmasters, familial bonds were far from the conventional ideals of support, love, and self-sacrifice for one another.
Instead, they adhered to a culture of constant vigilance, cunningly outwitting each other, and, at times, even resorting to undermining their own kin. These practices were deeply ingrained in their family traditions.
Upon hearing Jin's explanation, Luna couldn't help but conclude that the young child viewed her as an 'obstacle' and a 'hindrance' in the intricate web of the clan's politics. This understanding was the root cause of her mournful gaze, revealing the weight of her sorrow.
'Softer than I anticipated.' Jin reached out to the final conclusion.
"Everyone, could you please grant us a moment of privacy... Actually, on second thought, Jin, would it be alright if I asked your knights and nanny to vacate the hall?" Luna inquired gently as she crouched down to meet her brother's eye level.
Upon receiving a nod of consent from Jin, the knights and Gilly discreetly exited the premises, leaving the two siblings alone.
Underhanded methods could've ended Jin's life. However, now that he remembered the traditions, any means of harm towards a Runcandel inside the Storm Castle warrants death. Even Luna would not be safe from that. That was the whole reason there was a curse placed on him.
'Is that why she came here? To see for herself that the curse is working or not...? Hm, not her. But then why?'
Studying her body language, Jin could just not think that Luna was the one who cursed him or had someone else curse him. But the possibility never left his mind.
'This is strange. It is related to her. I know that much.'
"My youngest sibling."
"Yes, Sister."
"The reason I came looking for you so suddenly is because... I have something I must tell you. And today happened to be your birthday as well."
Jin let down his guard visibly.
"Feel free to."
Luna sighed at the defiant attitude.
"Due to Father's interest in you, all of our siblings are keeping an eye on you. And seeing your attitude today, it seems I don't need to explain what that signifies. You also selected Barisada."
'Oh well, I'd be damned.'
All eyes among the Runcandel clan were fixed intently on Jin, and it came as no surprise.
It had become common knowledge that Cyron had gone to great lengths to visit the Storm Castle just the previous year to see his youngest child. Furthermore, Jin's selection of Barisada during his Selection Ritual had not gone unnoticed; hence, the scrutiny he faced was to be expected.
Jin lamented, realising he should've chosen the sack of rice instead of Barisada. But the problem was that Solderet's powers were calling to him. It was as if his body was possessed. He couldn't really do anything about it, nor could he cry over it now.
Jin discerned Luna's unspoken concern. "Yes, I understand. You're suggesting that once I depart from the Storm Castle, our siblings will attempt to keep me in check, right?"
Luna carefully removed her axe-sword, Crantel, from her back and placed it on the ground. A deep, resounding thud echoed through the hall, despite her best efforts to be discreet.
"That's correct. So, you're aware of it already. You must have been vigilant against me for the same reason," Luna remarked with a hint of understanding. Jin maintained his silence, his gaze unwavering as he peered into Luna's profound blue eyes.
"But here's what I wished to convey," Luna continued. "I earnestly hope, from the depths of my heart, that you won't become entangled in this sordid family strife and allow your own happiness to elude you."
As the strongest among their siblings, Luna could effortlessly claim the throne from their other family members. Yet, Jin found her true intentions neither far-fetched nor implausible.
Luna had, in the past, refrained from partaking in the violent succession struggles, and her words held a trace of sincerity. What struck him most, however, was the fact that she had voiced these sentiments directly to him.
"I see." Jin replied, crossing his legs. "I wasn't planning on participating in it anyways. If anything, I'd like to live a life away from our family, in a remote place where I can eat cakes and pastries and pies every day. Meat sometimes as well for the nutritional balance." Jin replied as a glimmer of hope shone in Luna's eyes. An ecstatic smile appeared on her face, causing the side of her eyes to crease. "However..." Jin continued, "...would I be allowed to withdraw?"
The words struck like a chord inside Luna's mind.
"Of course. I will personally see to it." Luna spoke almost immediately, desperation laced in her voice, "No one will dare lay a hand on you."
"What I am concerned about is not my siblings. It is actually our father. So, tell me, dear sister." Jin lowered his head as his eyes gleamed with a dull shine from his aura, "Will you lay down your life for me, against our father?"
"I will." She replied without hesitation. The conviction of her younger brother made her all the more willing to protect him.
"And then what next? Surely, you can allow me to escape. Is father going to leave you alive?"
Luna's lips pursed. Cyron cared about results. She was the strongest, yes, and losing her would be a cause of great pain of him. But in the end, he will forget about it.
"Your death would be in vain. So, I will ask you this once again, dear sister. Will I be allowed to recede my claim for the throne without any severe repercussions?"
Luna lowered her head, her hair tumbling down on the either side of her face, collecting in her lap. All the answers that she came up with would lead to a single conclusion. Either Jin dying, or both Jin and Luna dying.
What Luna failed to take into account was that why would Cyron even try to kill a young one when he just wants to be the same as Luna. Didn't she get away with it as well?
Of course, the reason lied in him choosing 'Barisada,' so most suspected him to rise and be in line for the next ruler, or second in line after Cyron. However, the main reason was his bad luck of contracting with Solderet.
Cyron was well aware of Jin's contract.
Luntia had felt something odd about Jin as well. As someone who was difficult to deal with, even for Luna, she could barely sense Jin's presence.
Another reason was that since someone tried to kill Jin when he was just one year old, he came to the conclusion that the sibling who had done it certainly knew about his contract. If he or she knows about the contract, then he needs to rise in power and get rid of that sibling as quickly as possible.
"Well..." Jin clapped his hands together once, "...that can be discussed some other time. Would you like some cake?" He asked, tilting his head.
Luna just sighed in return. "Sure."
Luna was later served a cake which she ate alongside Jin. As she bit into it, she almost squealed due to how delicious it was. She scooped a bite and fed Jin, patting his head along with it. Jin didn't really deny the gesture.
After all, it seemed like he was developing a liking towards head pats.
Who could've thought that the famous White Whale was such a sweet and tender sister. Jin no longer thought of her as a terrifying 9-star knight, but instead considered her as another victim suffering within this messed up family, full of psychopathic homicidals.
"By the way, Sister Luna?" Jin was the first to talk as they finished the cake.
Luna wiped her mouth elegantly, removing the cream from her lips. "Yes?"
"Where is your nanny?"
(***)
Following their conversation within the hall, Luna stayed at the castle for an additional two hours before her departure. Her visit had a rather big impact on Jin, transforming what had initially appeared to be a dismal and somber birthday into a much brighter and warmer occasion.
"She definitely sensed you." Jin spoke out loud, touching the pendant around his neck. It was Luna's gift for him. He fiddled with the gemstone embedded in it as he watched Luna's back grow smaller and smaller from his window.
Luna turned around and looked up. The downpour had drenched her hair as it clung to her pristine features. She waved her hand energetically before pulling her hood up and departing. 'Such weak presence. I wonder if he will be able to fend off for himself...hm, it did feel rather quaint though. Is it because he has naturally lower talent for Aura? Ugh, I can't stop worrying.'
Luna's inner thoughts were a mess. She barely felt Jin's presence. Higher Star swordsmen could detect someone's presence by the amount of aura they had. However, from sitting and observing Jin from such close proximity, Luna barely felt anything from him.
Almost as if he was not a Runcandel.
"Oh, kid! That thing in your hand! Isn't that Demonic Beast King Orgal's pendant? It is! Dayum, you got yourself a priceless birthday present. Dozens of monarchs and rulers lost their lives trying to obtain that pendant a thousand years ago." Back inside the Castle Room, Murakan almost shouted, seeing Jin roll the pendent between his fingers.
"Demonic Beast King Orgal? Who's that?"
"An incredible demon from back in the days. I could recognize that at a glance. I imagine you received it from the person with the powerful aura I sensed earlier. Damn, you basically have an extra life now. Congrats, kid."
Murakan was aware of the pendant's effects.
"Second life? It can summon someone?" Jin asked.
"Right on the money." Murakan replied. "You don't seem too surprised by the fact that I could sense the person that came to visit you."
"That much is expected from you. You were hailed as the King of Skies. Despite being as fragile as a twig right now, your instincts and senses should be the same. Sensitivity to mana and aura won't go away, right?" Jin replied as he sat in the little space of the window, placing his arm over his knee and looked out.
The sky seemed to crack open as a lightning bolt tore through it, splitting the sky into two.
"She 100% sensed you as well. She looked around before looking at me. Most probably because you just magically appeared in my room."
"Weak as a twig? You...well, yeah, compared to before, maybe you can say that." Murakan sulked. "But yeah, that person must've sensed me. I first thought it was your daddy but since you didn't activate the contingency and the person left without a fuss as well, I figured it won't be your him."
"Hm, yeah, it was my eldest sister." Jin replied and jumped off. "My other sister also sent something."
He walked to the corner of the room and took out a huge box. It was roughly wrapped with next to no maintenance. An amused look appeared on Jin's face. 'She would probably be complaining about how tiresome this was but sent it anyways. Hm. Let's see.'
As he opened it, he saw a...wooden sword.
A simple, plain wooden sword.
However, when he lifted it, the sword fell back on the ground.
It was way too heavy for someone his age. Not just his age. Even for 10-year-olds, it was ridiculously heavy. There was no written message. However, despite that, Jin got the message. Loud and clear.
Another sister who expected a battle from him.
'Runcandel women are scary.'
However, Luna's image flashed in his mind, followed by the words she had left for him.
[I just want you to remember this, Jin. My brother. No matter what you do, no matter what you become, I will always be rooting for you. If you want to run away from all this, it would never be too late. I will be the shield to protect you.]
'She is useful.'
(***)
Another 6 months elapsed in the blink of an eye.
March 12th, 1790.
In the Mitel Kingdom, situated to the south of the Storm Castle, spring had at last arrived. With just half a year to go, Jin would soon reach the age of 10 and embark on his departure from the Storm Castle.
Finally.
Just as Jin had deduced, Luna did not inform the clan about Murakan's presence. And without telling her anything directly about the curse, he still planted a seed that there was someone who was already after Jin.
Workload for this task was halved already.
The preceding six months had been a span of tranquility and monotony for the knights and servants laboring within the confines of the Storm Castle. Conversely, for Jin, these very months represented a time of growth and maturation, during which time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.
He was progressing. At a rapid rate. Far faster than even the First Patriarch---Temar Runcandel, or so did Murakan said.
"I'm sick of this. I'm so freaking sick of this." Murakan spoke as he stared blankly at the soon-to-be 10-year-old. "Not only did you manage to reduce the time it takes you to transfer mana from 10 minutes to 2 seconds in a single year, you...you also learned how to release mana in a few months. And you act as if it's so easy for you! I can't believe my eyes."
"Uhhhh...I just needed to get a feel for it. I think it is purely intuition." Jin replied, curling and uncurling his fingers as he looked at his hands.
"Be grateful that you're currently living in the Storm Castle, kid. If this were the Vermont Empire's academy, the others would've alienated you for your talent." Murakan remarked by folding his arms.
"Regardless of that, isn't it time you teach me [Shadow Release]?" Jin asked, stretching his legs.
With a serious tone, Murakan sat down with his back straight, and Jin followed suit. "I'm warning you in advance, but releasing spiritual energy isn't a technique you can quickly master. It'll take longer than it did for mana transfer and release."
"Hmm, I see."
"So don't be impatient. Just like I said before, it's both a basic and lethal technique. Let me show you."
Even before he finished talking, a dark energy materialized like smoke and burst out of Murakan. It was spiritual energy. If Jin's spiritual energy was akin to a gentle mist, obscuring one's sight then Murakan's spiritual energy resembled the profound abyss, capable of engulfing and extinguishing light itself.
It was Jin's second time ever seeing the dragon's power—the first being the day Murakan woke up.
'It's a lot denser and heavier than mine.' He acknowledged. Jin's eyes were wide as he took in every detail. Jin watched the swirling energy with a sense of intrigue. It seemed as though the energy was beckoning to him, as if urging him to draw near. He found himself on the verge of reaching out toward the mysterious, dark smoke.
"The energy's color may be different, but in essence, it appears similar to mana release, doesn't it?" Jin remarked. But then suddenly, his eyes widened a fraction of an inch. "There is a fundamental difference it seems." Jin ended his sentence in a way that seemed like he had gotten a missing piece of the puzzle.
"What's that? No way you understood that at first glance..." Murakan, for the first time, for the sake of his own pride, did not wish Jin to understand it on first look. Second was fine, but not first.
"Well, for magicians, mana release entails the process of establishing a connection between the mana within their own bodies and the ambient mana present in the environment. Kind of basic. Accept ambient mana and augment the in-process spell. What you just showed seemed like connecting your energy to the energy in your surroundings. It's connecting the natural energy around you to your inner energy." Jin spoke in a fast voice, trying to dissect the whole thing.
It almost felt like a final piece in the puzzle, but he couldn't really put his finger on it.
"You know what, I will stop getting surprised over you." Murakan let out a dejected sigh. "But do you know that you are missing the crucial aspect of this theory?"
"I know. That is the missing piece."
"Let me give you a hint."
Like a hungry animal, Jin jerked his head towards him, his ears raising. "What?"
"What is the name of the energy?"
"You call it Spiritual Energy, don't you?"
"What do you call it?"
"I call i--I see." The realisation finally dawned on him. "No wonder you are called the Shadow Dragon. It is sovereignty over the shadows." Jin looked down. "The idea of controlling someone's shadow never crossed my mind. Hm."
"Do you know where Shadows come from?" Murakan asked. A question full of divine novelty.
"Solderet."
"And who are you?"
"His contractor."
"Nuh-uh. His "sole" contractor. All shadows in this world unambiguously originate from Solderet. He's the master of all shadows around the world, and you are his one and only contractor. In other words, you can also become the master of all shadows around the world. Honestly speaking, I have full belief that you will."
Jin sat down in deep thought. "I don't desire something that grand. Also, there must be a tipping factor."
"Tipping factor?"
"Tipping the balance. Everything should and is existing in an equilibrium." Jin raised his hands and formed a combined sphere of Water and Fire. "I can't imagine that much power coming without any ramifications."
Murakan raised his brows. "Good insight. But that is a topic for another day."
Murakan extended his hand and stood Jin up.
"The aura and magic inside humans behave like rivers. The water in rivers always flows towards the open sea. Rivers are never bigger than seas or oceans. They're offshoots of the sea that branch out into the land. However, it was the opposite for spiritual energy. The countless offshoots around the world called 'shadows' would gather to a singular point. To the 'sea'." Murakan thrusted his finger agaisnt Jin's chest. "To you, Jin Runcandel."
Murakan's spiritual energy began to swirl in countless minuscule vortices, each no larger than a plum. These tiny whirlpools rapidly merged, conjuring a vivid and intricate pattern of colors.
Jin honed his senses and scrutinized his surroundings with intense focus. Time seemed to dilate to a sluggish crawl as he awaited the changes that the release of energy would bring.
An abrupt exclamation of surprise escaped Jin's lips as he perceived the transformation.
Behind Murakan's resting place, near the glass coffin, several candlesticks and torches casted elongated shadows within the underground chamber. These shadows, resembling flowing streams of liquid, inexplicably began to converge toward Murakan's energy vortex.
The same bizarre phenomenon unfolded as Jin surveyed the objects in the room, the shadows of the bookshelf exhibiting the same peculiar behavior.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness surged through the child, and a potent sense of disconnection washed over him. Clutching his clenched fist, Jin could feel the dampness of his sweat. An instinctive urge to retreat several steps welled up within him.
'He is converging the shadows. The river. The off shoots...I kind of get it now.'
Jin was trying to learn from it.
'Although, the potency is too much for my body to handle. I shouldn't try this just yet.'
Seeing Jin stand his feet, with an unfazed look on his face, Murakan smirked.
"So, how was it?" Murakan asked.
"Hm. It was quite...nice. I think I can do it now. But I would need a year...or two. My body isn't ready. And I don't know in detail about it. But I got the basics down."
Jin replied with a content look, however, Murakan on the other hand, had fainted.
He was in a state of shock. Poor old man can't catch a break with his contractor.
As Jin looked at his unconscious form, he conjured a small sphere of fading shadow over his finger. "Hm, I can't control it. How about spreading it over a blade?" He thought to himself before picking up the heavy sword that Luntia had gave him as a birthday present.
The sword had cracks all over it. On the brink of fragmenting down. Ignoring Murakan, Jin left the secret place, his next set of actions already in place.
However, uncertainty gnawed at him. He did not know about the world outside Storm Castle. "I'll have to improvise."