After months of grueling training, the day of the "Oath" was approaching—the ritual that binds new knights to the imperial family, sealing them in a bond from which there is no return. Kyo knew this day would determine his fate; he had to choose between death or submission.
In the ancient hall of the palace, Kyo stood alongside his fellow trainees, hearts pounding between awe and defiance. The oath was more than a promise—it was a magical and spiritual bond that gave the imperial family control over the knights, turning them into slaves of absolute rule.
Amid that moment, Kyo remembered his dream of becoming a Hunter—a free one who chooses his own missions, not a slave to an oath imposed by fate. The thought of straying from the path written for him gnawed at him daily, yet he knew that resisting on this day could mean his end.
Still, something inside him stirred—the spark that hardships had never extinguished refused to let him surrender easily. In secret, he began to draw a plan: a plan for rebellion under the cover of darkness, a plan to create a new world free from tyrants.
In the midst of the oath, Kyo thought of the little children he had intended to gather in his secret orphanage—those innocent souls he had sworn to protect at all costs. He knew safeguarding them would require balancing what he had to be with what he wanted to be.
As commands echoed in his ears and his eyes scanned the faces around him, he realized every move had to be meticulously calculated. The rebellion would not be just a decision—it would be a mental and psychological battle, and he had to prepare for every possibility.
Yet amidst all this, Kyo remained focused, managing his plan with precision. He knew he had to deceive everyone, to appear publicly as if following the predetermined path, so as not to meet a tragic fate.
At the heart of the storm, he took his most important step: deceiving the people into believing that the imperial family had been executed, while in reality, their children were safely hidden in the secret orphanage he had established, far from the eyes of their enemies.
Thus began a new era, in which Kyo embarked on a mission as demanding as the rebellion itself: protecting those innocent children, who carried within them the secret of powers that could alter the course of history.
The capital square was teeming with people…
Tens of thousands lined up as if for a national celebration.
New banners rose, and revolutionary music played the anthem:
"The People are Sovereign."
The rebellion had succeeded.
Amid the chaos, the black execution platform was set…
On it stood eight children, bound, heads bowed, eyes shining with innocent fear.
The children stood on the platform, faces closed, hearts beating with fear and anticipation. Kyo controlled his nerves, knowing this moment could be either the end or a new beginning.
Kyo donned the uniform of the Supreme Commander of the rebellion.
His eyes were cold, stone-like, but inside… a storm raged.
Rin reached him and whispered:
"Aria is ready. Once the swords rise… the illusion begins."
Kyo nodded without replying.
There was no room for hesitation. Before everyone, he was the hero of the revolution, the one who had toppled the throne.
The judge pronounced the sentence: "You are executed for treason and conspiring against the nobility!"
Screams and tears erupted from the crowd, but suddenly, the scene appeared strange…
Kyo stepped onto the platform.
He raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent.
He spoke loudly:
"Today… we close a dark chapter of our history. Today, no more tyrannical heirs. Today, the people rule, and democracy is born from the blood of purity."
Then he turned to the children, voice soft and pained, continuing:
"Forgive me…"
The executioners raised their swords.
Some in the crowd shouted: "Execution! Execution!"
Then…
The swords fell.
Blood sprayed into the air.
Small heads dropped to the ground.
Screams echoed.
And cameras broadcasted the scene across the kingdom.
Everyone believed what they saw.
But the truth?
The truth existed elsewhere.
Aria, eyes closed, drained of energy, sat in a dark room in the academy's basement, sustaining the greatest illusion the land had ever known.
The Full Illusion.
What people saw was nothing but a magical visual and auditory trick.
As for the children?
They had been smuggled through an underground network into a cloaked magical carriage, which had arrived hours ago at the orphanage in the northern mountains.
There, Kyo awaited them in another form, with real eyes this time, and a beating heart.
People and soldiers thought the execution had taken place and that the imperial family had been destroyed. But in truth, Kyo had deceived them, hiding the children safely in the orphanage, while the world remained ignorant of the truth.
The children were not killed; they had been secretly transported to the orphanage Kyo had established, far from anyone's sight.
In the city, news spread quickly: "The imperial family has been eliminated, and a new system leads the nation."
But the truth was a secret kept between the hearts of the children and Kyo's unwavering resolve.
The place was warm.
Bedrooms decorated with star drawings.
Gardens wide open.
Toys everywhere.
The heavy wooden door opened slowly, and the children entered one by one. The orphanage was entirely different from what they had known; it was not a dark basement or cold cell, but a large, simple yet warm home, surrounded by green yards and colorful flowers.
Inside, the refreshing scent of flowers and freshly baked goods filled the air, accompanied by the soft sound of calm music from the living room.
Kyo stood at the entrance, looking at each child with eyes full of tenderness and firmness:
"This is your new home. Here, you will not be mere tools in the adults' game—you will be free. I will be with you, and we will face the future together."
Each child had a private room, equipped for study and growth, with walls adorned with drawings made by the children themselves.
In the kitchen, food was prepared with care and love, and the children gathered at a large table, laughing and sharing their stories and dreams that had been threatened in the past.
Yet despite this apparent safety, Kyo's eyes remained vigilant. He knew the outside world was still dangerous, and they had to be prepared for any threat.
The goal was clear: protect the children, build a new life, and achieve true freedom—far from the chains of the imperial family and the harshness of history.