In Marcus Aquilara's office, a tense silence hung in the air. The ticking of the clock on the wall was the only sound, precise, almost militaristic.
His secretary, a young blond boy barely sixteen, stood motionless by the window. The flawless blue-and-white uniform stretched over his shoulders, each crease perfectly pressed. His golden-yellow eyes—sharp as a falcon's—watched the door intently. His right hand was clenched into a fist over his chest, a symbol of silent discipline.
Near the open window sat a young guardian falcon. With a wingspan of almost 1.8 meters and dark red, vigilant eyes, it looked more like a sentinel than a mere animal. The evening light fell on its feathers, making the colors of Aquilara briefly shimmer.
Then the door opened. Sensei Daro entered—tall, imposing, his gaze serious and penetrating. No greeting, no gesture. Only a voice that sounded like sharpened steel:
"You better hope your reason is good, Marcus."
Marcus barely lifted his head. "Sensei, what is this old grudge? You know my decision was the right one…"
The secretary froze. Sensei? His heart raced. So this is Daro—the war admiral who once trained the elite forces…the man who is called a legend in every academy. A barely audible swallow. His posture straightened even more.
Daro stepped closer, and the room seemed smaller with his presence. "You are no longer my student," he said coldly. "And I am no longer a trainer."
Marcus remained calm, his voice controlled. "I am not here to argue today. It is about something else. We had an expedition—in the eastern mountain range of Aquilara, near the Penatus Peak, where the land borders Serphira. There, we came across a ruin of the Serphira family, the old branch, to be precise."
The secretary blinked, stunned. A ruin? Here? The mountains have belonged to us for centuries… So why a ruin of the Serphira family? A cold shiver ran down his spine.
Daro remained silent. Yet the room vibrated. A barely perceptible tremor ran through the floor, as if even the wood awaited his reaction. The guardian falcon let out a shrill cry, flapped its wings, and shot into the sky. The wind that rushed in scattered papers from the desk.
What is this pressure? I almost would have fled in panic, Falcian thought.
The young secretary stepped back, as if the air itself had teeth.
Daro squinted. "So it is…"
Marcus nodded slowly. "Yes. At the entrance, the emblem of the Double-Headed Serpent was displayed. It is Domus Serphira Bicipitis."
A moment of paralyzing silence. The secretary thought frantically: Serphira Potifera is the family that rules Serphira, and their emblem is a serpent coiling around a potion, not a double-headed snake… How strange.
Daro's voice was now low, but razor-sharp: "Two of my students suffered because of them. One was never found again. And all you did, Marcus, was… diplomacy."
Marcus breathed calmly. "Your hatred blinds you, Daro. Potifera had nothing to do with that incident. All evidence points to the old branch—Domus Serphira Bicipitis. You know that."
Daro gritted his teeth. The memory of the lost students made his usually controlled face tremble briefly, then smooth out slightly.
Marcus continued: "So far, we've only sent a scouting team that took some measurements, and the ruin confirmed it. I will assemble a special team and launch an expedition. I thought it only fair to inform you."
"Where exactly?" Daro asked calmly.
"If you want to lead the expedition, I will arrange everything."
Daro shook his head slowly. "I go alone."
Marcus smiled faintly. "I knew you would say that. But the area is uncharted. Mid-class beasts have been spotted, high-class ones are suspected. And the weather there—unpredictable. You will need someone who knows the way."
Daro remained silent.
"I cannot dissuade you anyway… I know you too well, master. I will assign Ventor to accompany you; he will guide you there, and we can stay in contact."
Daro's gaze stayed calm. "Very well. I need a week to prepare. After that, I will not be reachable."
The secretary's eyes widened. Ventor? A second-generation Blue-Beak Falcon? Even officers never see such a creature up close… insane.
Daro left the room, and Marcus thought to himself:
And Sensei, I was truly surprised to hear that you decided after all these years to take on a student again. She must be special.
≋⟡≋
As Daro departed, a pressure remained in the air, as if the conversation itself had left traces. One hour after Daro left, the King of Aquilara, Marcus' father, summoned his two sons to the throne room.
It's rare for Father to call us, Marcus thought, lost in thought. Could it have something to do with Sensei Daro or Domus Serphira Bicipitis?
A tense calm reigned in the Aquilara estate. Cassian, the eldest brother, always thoughtful and of sober intelligence, had devoted himself to the internal affairs of the kingdom. Tall, with sharp features, short blond hair, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see everything in the room, he managed the voices of the nobility, directed council meetings, and maintained the fragile balance of power. Intrigues, law reforms, administration of the provinces—all rested in his hands.
Marcus, however, carried a different burden. As chairman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he stood at the head of the institution responsible for diplomacy, alliances, and external security. Whether trade agreements, peace treaties, questions of war, or the fragile balance between kingdoms, Marcus was Aquilara's face to the outside world, the chairman respected by foreign courts.
The tall doors of the throne room swung open as Marcus and Cassian entered. Golden light filled the hall through the high windows, and in the center sat the king—upright on his magnificent throne.
He was of stately stature, with a dignified bearing and a gray, silver-tinged mustache emphasizing his mature authority. His presence filled the room, mighty and unshakable, as befits a king. Yet, despite this majestic aura, a gentle, almost fatherly smile played on his lips. His eyes, gray, clear, and penetrating, reflected both kindness and indomitable strength.
His voice echoed warmly through the hall: "Rise, my sons."
Marcus and Cassian obeyed, straightening up.
The king let his gaze linger on both before turning to Marcus.
"Marcus," he began, pride and the calm of a man bearing the weight of an entire kingdom in his voice, "your victory over Lenovar has brought peace to our people, and more than that, hope. You have done what many thought impossible."
Marcus bowed his head slightly. "I only did what was necessary, Father."
The king nodded slowly, the gentle smile giving way to a more serious expression. "Humble words, as I expect from you."
For a moment, silence reigned, then a mischievous sparkle entered his eyes. "And regarding Daro…" He raised an eyebrow. "It seems everything went well with him. The castle still stands, anyway—ho ho ho!" His deep, hearty voice filled the hall, and for a moment, the tension eased.
"Yes, King," Marcus replied with a slight nod. "He departs for the expedition next week… alone."
The king tilted his head and nodded slowly. "Yes, I already know." Then he turned to his eldest son. "And you, Cassian—how is the implementation of the ASU going?"
"Good, King. We should need no more than six weeks," Cassian answered calmly.
"Good, that pleases me." The king's smile vanished, and his voice suddenly sounded heavier, more serious than before. "You probably know I did not summon you only for that. It is about my abdication…"
Both sons stiffened, their expressions tensing.
Father, is he serious?!
"But Father, this comes so suddenly!" Marcus said, visibly shocked.
The king took a deep breath, letting his gaze sweep over Marcus and Cassian. "It is time you are informed of something that goes far beyond ordinary duties."
Marcus and Cassian exchanged a brief, questioning look as the king continued:
"It concerns the Anima Resonance… contrary to popular belief, it is not a natural phenomenon, but man-made. And by now, we know who—or rather, which organization—is behind it."
So it was created, as I suspected.
He let his gaze sweep over the two brothers. "You must understand that behind all this lies an old plan, a vision of the 'Brothers of Twilight.' Their goal is nothing less than a world where every human possesses a Soulbound. At first glance, it may sound noble: giving everyone power, giving everyone a connection to themselves, to a second self. Yet you do not yet realize the dangerous shadows lurking behind this seemingly noble goal."
The brothers exchanged a stunned glance. "Brothers of Twilight…" Cassian murmured, "that sounds dangerous."
Brothers of Twilight… The question of who has been answered, but the why remains… I am still unsure. How could one benefit from this…
Cassian frowned, Marcus remained motionless, yet both felt the tension in the air.
"What many do not know," the king continued, "is that a bond between souls, however separated, can have immense consequences. The stronger the connection, the greater the suffering for the affected soul. Such power is not for the masses. It is a tool, a weapon, a second self."
"If they exploit it, it could be catastrophic," Cassian said seriously.
"Indeed," the king said gravely. "And that is why you must know what happens behind the scenes. The Anima Resonance they created is only their first step… a tool. What exactly they have in store is unknown. But I know them, and it surely bodes ill. It is not the first time they have brought danger."
Cassian clenched his fists, his gaze hardening. "And we… we are supposed to understand this because we will soon take the helm?"
"Yes," the king said heavily. "You must know the truth to act wisely. The responsibility you will soon bear goes far beyond politics or war. This is a game with souls, and only those who know the rules can survive."
"King… I have another question," Marcus said calmly. "Do Domus Serphira Bicipitis also belong to the Brothers of Twilight?"
The king nodded appreciatively. "Well deduced, Marcus. Your reasoning has always been sharp."
"Thank you, King," Marcus replied humbly.
This confirms my suspicions; a weak resonance was measured in the ruin, similar to that of the Anima Resonance.
The king continued: "The organization likely consists of twelve individuals, two of whom are believed to belong to Domus Serphira Bicipitis. It was founded over twelve hundred years ago. Its members are carefully selected, with great emphasis on representation of interests and absolute secrecy."
The emblem of the double-headed snake… two heads, one body—a symbol of duality, of control over life and death, light and shadow. The same core motifs as the Brothers of Twilight. This explains the alignment of interests.
A heavy silence fell over the throne room. Both brothers stood, shaken by the revelation. They had believed power and responsibility to be their greatest challenges, but now they realized that the true burden lay in the invisible world of Soulbounds, in the plans of an ancient and dangerous organization that already held the threads of the future in its hands.
The knowledge of Soulbounds, with which we were raised, is no longer a secret, Marcus thought, as his father's words echoed. We—the kings, commanders, and aristocrats of Aquilara—have always used this knowledge for the good of the land. Even Lenovar and the other six nations agreed on this point.
But an organization that flaunts this knowledge openly—and combines it with dark intentions—is more than just despicable.
Marcus slowly clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze lowered in thought. The situation is far deeper than I initially thought. I should gather as much information about them as possible. If my suspicions are correct… then there could be further clues in the ruin.
He paused briefly, then continued: "…and there was an encounter with them. You've certainly heard of it—even if the media stayed silent. It concerns Daro's students."
The king folded his hands. "They were on an expedition in the mountains of Aquilara. Two exceptional talents, far above commander level, and yet… they did not return. Only one was found. Daro and I searched for the other for days until we came upon a ruin. Almost identical to the one discovered by the scouting team."
"There we encountered two figures—black cloaks, masks in the shape of a snake. Strong, determined… they used stones, boulders, even half-mountains for their attacks, yet had no chance. But then they used a relic that simply made them vanish. At least of mythical rank, perhaps higher."
The king lowered his gaze. "I will never forget their last words:"
'When the twelve awaken, the day falls. And the twilight devours the light.'
A silent wind swept through the high window arches, causing the banners on the walls to flutter. The words echoed—heavy, as if from another time.
So that explains a lot… Marcus thought. This is definitely more detailed than the information I received back then.
"My sons," he said, turning to the window, where the first night breeze moved the Aquilaran banners. "When the day passes, the wind carries two kinds of wings: those that split the sky, and those that protect it."
Marcus and Cassian bowed deeply. A moment of silence followed, filled only by the rustling of the heavy curtains.
"Do what must be done," the king finally said softly, "but remember, both belong to the same sky."
The brothers nodded and turned to leave, their footsteps echoing over the marble floor until the doors silently closed behind them.
The king remained alone, between light and shadow. He watched the fluttering banner, still moving in the night wind, and a barely perceptible smile played on his lips.
"Ah… now I'm already getting poetic like that too-serious fencer," he murmured half aloud, audible only to himself. "Ho ho ho… Daro, old fool."
≋⟡≋
The king leaned back on his throne as his sons left the hall, hands resting on the armrests, his gaze lost in the shadows. "Old friend," he whispered, almost to himself.
He recalled the conversation they had shortly before departure. Daro had spoken calmly, determined, yet respectfully: "Your Majesty, I will do everything to lead the expedition safely."
The king had nodded, a faint smile playing, yet in his eyes was the concern of a comrade. "I know, Daro. And I trust you. But be careful. Not everything is as it seems. The Anima Resonance… the Brothers of Twilight… and now also Domus Serphira Bicipitis—we must remain vigilant."
Daro had only smiled, briefly and knowingly. "Yes, my King. Lately, more and more unpredictable things happen."
The king exhaled deeply as he looked into the silence of the hall. "You shall not call me that. After all the fighting, the wars, and everything we have experienced together, we are even more than brothers. May your path be safe, Daro."