I remember that day too clearly.
The sky was calm—clear, endless blue stretching above the palace towers. The kind of sky that made you believe nothing could go wrong.
The kind of sky that lies.
"Again!" Ciel shouted, pointing her wooden sword at me, her red eyes burning with encouragement. "You're not getting away this time, Alex!"
I scoffed, tightening my grip on my sword.
"You say that every time."
"And I won every time."
"That's because you have cheated every time."
"I didn't cheat!"
"You definitely did."
Before either of us could argue further, a gentle voice cut through our barking. "If you spent half as much energy focusing as you do arguing, Prince Alex, you might actually land a hit."
I clicked my tongue and turned slightly. "I've landed hits."
"Two," she replied.
"…That's more than zero and i didn't cheat like ciel."
Standing a few steps away, arms crossed but eyes soft, was Vennesa. Her long hair swayed gently in the breeze, her knight uniform pristine even after hours of training. She wasn't just any knight—she was strong. Really strong.So strong that even the other knights respected her without any problem.
But to us…
She was more than that.
Like an elder sister.
"Come on, Princess Ciel," Vennesa said, nodding toward me. "Show him what proper footwork looks like."
Ciel grinned like she had just been given permission to destroy me. "Gladly."
She dashed forward.
Fast.
Too fast.
As if she was teleporting.
Our wooden swords clashed with a loud crack, the force stinging my hands. I tried to hold my ground, adjusting my stance the way Vennesa had shown me earlier—but Ciel slipped past my guard, twisting her body and knocking my sword aside in one smooth strike.
"Too slow!" she barked madly.
I stumbled back, trying to recover, but it was already over.
My sword hit the ground.
Silence.
Then—"I win again!" she shouted, throwing her hands up in victory.
"That doesn't count," I muttered, rubbing my wrist. "You got lucky."
"You always say that."
"Because it's true."
Vennesa let out a quiet laugh. "Enough for today. Both of you did well."
Ciel puffed her chest proudly. "Obviously."
I crossed my arms, trying not to look annoyed. "I was holding back."
"Of course you were." Vennesa stepped closer, placing a hand gently on my head. "Your control is improving, Prince Alex. You're starting to feel your mana more clearly now, aren't you?"
I hesitated for a moment before nodding. "…Yeah. It's like… something's there, like a cold breeze. Moving."
"That's unusual," she said softly, placing a finger of her chin.
"Me too! But unlike him, i don't feel like a cold breeze moving" Ciel added, raising her hand as if we were in a classroom. "Mine feels warm and stronger!"
"That's because you're loud," I said.
"I am not loud!"
"You're literally shouting right now."
Vennesa shook her head, amused. "Both of you are progressing well. But remember—power isn't something to treat lightly."
Her voice lingered in the air.
But neither of us questioned it.
We were just kids.
We wanted to enjoy magic.
The palace halls were quiet as we walked back. Servants bowed as we passed, knights stood in their posts, and sunlight passed through the tall windows, casting long golden shadows across the marble floors. Everything felt… normal. Safe. Like it would always stay this way.
Vennesa stopped in front of our room and opened the door. "You should rest for a while. I need to report to Her Majesty."
"Come back soon," Ciel said immediately.
"I will."She placed a hand on each of our heads for a brief moment, her touch gentle, almost lingering—then turned and walked away. The door closed behind us with a soft click.
Silence.
Then—
"I'm better at magic than you," Ciel said.
I blinked. "What?"
"I beat you in sword fighting. And I'm better at magic."
"You're not better at magic."
"I am."
"Prove it."
"Fine."
We both raised our hands, focusing. That strange warmth inside me stirred again, faint but real. I tried to shape it the way Vennesa had shown us, pulling it forward, giving it form. A small flicker of energy appeared,in a shape of sphere, unstable but visible.
Ciel laughed. "That's it?"
"At least I can make something!"
"I can do better!"
"Then do it!"
"I will!"
Our voices rose, echoing, clashing just like our swords had earlier. Neither of us noticed how the air itself seemed to shift slightly around us… how something distant was approaching…
Until—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The palace shook violently.
The walls trembled. The windows shattered into pieces. The force of the explosion knocked us off our feet.
Only a few seconds had passed.
"…What… was that…?"
Before either of us could move or understand what was happening, the door burst open.
"Alex! Ciel!"
Mother.
She stood there in silver armor, her silver-grey hair slightly disheveled, her red eyes wide—not with anger, not with authority—
But fear. mother was scared.
She rushed forward and pulled us into her arms, holding us tightly, as if letting go means losing us forever.
"Thank God…"
Her voice trembled.
Then it changed.
Urgent. Worried.
"Listen to me carefully. Please follow what I'm about to say."
Something in my chest tightened like my heart wasn't beating. "…What's happening?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she looked straight at me, her gaze filled with fear.
"Alex… you need to leave the kingdom. Right now."
My mind went blank. "…What?"
"We don't have time."
"No—what do you mean?! Where's dad?! he's not here for months! What's going on?! How can we go without you!
"my precious son—alex, don't worry i'll come and find you."
"Mom…" Ciel's voice broke. Her hands were covering her mouth.
We both looked at her.
Her eyes were fixed on Mother's back.
"…you're bleeding…"
I followed her gaze.
And saw it.
Blood.
Red, spreading across the silver armor.
"…Mom…?"
The word barely came out.
At that moment, the door opened again.
Vennesa stepped inside, her presence immediately shifting the atmosphere.
Her expression was filled with worry— her eyes were sharp.
"Your Majesty," she said, looking at her back, on the wound. "The palace has been breached."
Silence fell over the room.
"They have not only sent a red knight but a hundreds of soldiers," she added."they are here to murder all the zeryns in the palace."
My heart filled with fear.
I was only 8 and my sister 12.
And they wanted to kill us and our mother the queen.
"…The Red Knight and a hundreds of soldiers?"
Mother closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, hardening in her gaze.
"Vennesa."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Take them. To Britannia. Make sure they live. I will come looking for them. This is your last assignment."
"No!" I shouted. "I'm not leaving you!"
Ciel grabbed her hand. "Mom, please come with us! I don't want to be without you!"
Mother's lips curved up and eyes filled with tear .
She smiled while holding back her tears.
"I'm sorry, i really am. I want to go with you but I can't."
That was all she said.
Then Vennesa moved.
In an instant, she grabbed both of us—one in each arm—and ran.
Her red hair opened up and brushed my face.
"Wait—VENNESA—!"
"Forgive me," she wishpered.
She didn't slow down.
She didn't hesitate.
She leapt out of the window.
We were falling .
The ground was few stories below
To be continued...