"In that case, Mother, Father, I shall take my leave," Keira said.
Zevaron gave a short nod. The two of them then departed, heading toward Raivorne's house.
By midday, they arrived at Raivorne's residence.
The sky above the estate was filled with swirling dark clouds. Blue lightning struck the ground and the air—not with the intent to destroy, but like a deliberate release of overflowing energy. The tremors of power were palpable, causing Keira's hair to stand slightly on end.
Zevaron quickly pulled Keira aside as a stray bolt struck too close.
"It doesn't seem like a serious battle," Zevaron muttered. "More like... training?"
Before Keira could respond, two figures emerged from behind the mass of dark clouds. Both hovered in the air, their bodies shrouded in flickering blue lightning.
"Raivorne," a man around twenty years old said with a crooked smile. "Is this truly the limit of your strength?"
Raivorne, who was several years younger, snorted. "If we were the same age, you wouldn't dare say that."
"Excuses, as always," the man countered, spinning a lightning spear in his hand.
He hurled the spear—not to kill, but to pressure and test. Raivorne dodged instantly, the lightning surrounding his body scattering.
However, the spear's trajectory veered slightly off course, hurtling toward Zevaron and Keira.
Zevaron pushed Keira aside and caught the lightning spear with one hand. His body was pushed back a few centimeters, and the ground beneath his feet cracked slightly before he finally halted the weapon's momentum.
Zevaron glanced at the spear for a second, then looked up at the two brothers in the air.
"Good power," he said calmly, "but the speed was intentionally held back."
The twenty-year-old man let out a small laugh. "Hmm? Caught me, did you?"
Raivorne shot his brother an annoyed look. "Don't involve others, Brother."
"Relax," his brother replied casually. "I was just playing around a bit."
"So, it's Zevaron and Keira..."
Hovering in the air, Raivorne turned. Once he confirmed the identity of the figures below, he descended and flew toward them.
"Why have you come here?" Raivorne asked.
"We're here to invite you on another adventure," Zevaron answered with a thin smile.
"An adventure to where?" Raivorne asked, his curiosity clearly piqued.
"To the Mysterious Forest," Zevaron said shortly.
Raivorne paused for a moment, then smiled. "Alright. Wait a moment, I'll get ready."
A few seconds later, Raivorne was prepared. He tucked a small token into his pocket and looked at his brother.
"Brother, if Father and Mother look for me, just tell them I went to the Mysterious Forest."
"Fine," his brother replied without further question.
Soon after, the three of them set off. After a few minutes of travel, they arrived at Lance's house.
"Let's explore the Mysterious Forest in the north," Zevaron said, pointing the way.
"Hm? Sounds interesting," Lance replied with his signature cocky grin. "Count me in."
They then proceeded to Luna's house.
"Do you want to join us in exploring the Mysterious Forest to the north?" Zevaron asked.
Luna—a girl with silver hair and gentle golden eyes—stared at them for a moment before nodding slowly.
"I'm coming."
Night fell. The five of them had gathered and headed straight for the Mysterious Forest. As they stood at the forest's edge, the air felt heavier, as if the woods themselves were observing them.
"Keira," Zevaron said in a serious tone, "tell them."
Keira took a deep breath.
"Alright. Actually, I didn't come here just to explore," she said. "I want to claim my ancestor's legacy. I need your help, because all the adults are busy with the major event that recently shook the empire."
"I see..." Raivorne gave a thin smile. "In that case, I'll help you."
"As long as there's something interesting, I'm in," Lance said casually, though his eyes remained alert.
"Me too," Luna added softly.
"Good," Zevaron said. "If the legacy holds danger, then let us face it together. Let's prove the strength of this era's young geniuses."
"I will lead the way," Keira said.
The bracelet on her wrist emitted a faint light, pointing in a specific direction. Keira immediately started running, and the others followed.
Elsewhere, deep within the Mysterious Forest.
Two men stood within the shadows of the trees. One had green hair, while the other had white hair. The white-haired man's face was shrouded in shadow, as if the light itself refused to touch him.
"Actually, why don't we just explore the Mysterious Forest ourselves? Doesn't the forest hold many mysteries... and perhaps even valuables?" the green-haired man asked.
The white-haired man laughed softly.
"Mystery is the best bait. Let people be drawn to it. We have already planted enough evidence to suggest the forest isn't dangerous and holds many hidden treasures."
He stepped forward slightly, his voice cold.
"That way, explorers will enter of their own free will. No official guild missions, no costs, and no need for us to move our troops. Free explorers. If someone manages to find something valuable, we simply take it from them."
The green-haired man smiled. "Brilliant."
The shadows around them seemed to pulse, as if the forest itself were under someone's control.
Minutes later, inside the forest.
"The path has been too smooth so far," Lance said with a small yawn. "Boring. So, how do we actually get this legacy?"
Keira stopped. She removed her bracelet and placed it on the ground.
Instantly, the earth shook. A massive crack opened, revealing a dark passage beneath. The five of them immediately jumped in.
The bracelet floated back up, flew toward Keira, and refastened itself to her wrist—its light now far brighter.
Their adventure had truly begun.
At Raivorne's house, an arrow thudded into the ground, inches from where Raivorne's brother stood. His relaxed smile slowly vanished.
From behind the trees and the shadows of the rocks, figures in dark robes appeared one by one. Their numbers grew, like shadows emerging from the depths of the night.
"No," one of them answered in a cold voice. "But your clan... has been an obstacle for far too long."
Raivorne's brother narrowed his eyes. His hand slowly reached for the weapon at his waist.
"Then you've come to the wrong place."
Without warning, dozens of arrows streaked forth simultaneously.
An explosion of blue energy surged from the brother's body, shattering several arrows in mid-air. The impact triggered the clan's magical alarms. Protective lights flared up across various corners of the Khaelryn territory.
Within seconds, clan members scrambled out. Battle erupted.
Steel clashed with daggers, magical spells slammed into energy shields. Screams and thunderous impacts shook the night. Yet the attackers did not stop—they kept coming, as if their numbers were endless.
Suddenly, from the dark shadows, a man in a grey metal mask appeared. His presence was almost silent, as if the air around him had frozen. It was Tharion—Raivorne's father.
A flat voice rang out from the opposite direction.
"Tharion... it seems your life is nearing its end."
A man in a black mask stepped forward. His movements were slow and deliberate, yet laden with a pressure that made the air feel heavy. Without emotion, he raised his hand—and a spear formed, vibrating softly as if it were breathing.
"The Sound-Control Spear..." Tharion muttered, his eyes narrowing. "So you are G."
The man in the black mask did not deny it. His tone remained calm, almost frigid.
"Since you already know my identity," he said quietly, "then there is no need for you to live any longer."
G swung his spear in one simple motion. There were no shouts, no flashy explosions—only an invisible sound wave that streaked forward. Tharion managed to dodge, but a moment later, the wave exploded behind him.
A silent blast enveloped the area.
Tharion's vision blurred; his hearing vanished instantly. As both his senses were compromised, G was already standing right in front of him.
Without hesitation, without a change in expression, his spear thrust forward, aimed directly at Tharion's body.