Torchlight dancing on stone like nervous fireflies.

  Kael, robes fancy as hell, strolled in like he owned the air. Boots

  click-clack—red flag.

  Niya wiped the table, back bent, moves robotic.

  “Hi, Niya.” She froze, turned slow.

  “Yes… Master Kael?”

  He crowded her space. She stared at the floor.

  “Take Lia tomorrow in my room.”

  Smirk. “After tomorrow’s show… need fresh fun.”

  Her hands shook. “W-what? Why her? Take me instead. She’s a kid!”

  Slap.

  Echoed like a gunshot. Niya hit the floor, cheek blooming red.

  “Shut it. I take what I want. It's a my order god damn it.”

  He walked out. Niya sat up, hand on face, whispering tears.

  “Sorry, Lia… I failed to protect you.”

  Lia—twelve now—hid in shadow.

  Heard it all. Fists tight, silent tears. She slipped away, sat on her bed, knees up.

  Whisper: “Brother Leo… when? Help me…”

  Storm brewed over the capital.

  Leo fit in with the rebels like an old glove—comrade, hope, knife in the dark. Campfire night. Lili peeled her gloves, skin glowing with marks.

  “I suppose it's time to tell the truth after all we're all comrades and comrades with same goal don't hide their secrets actually I am not a mage. I’m a witch. Old blood. Last one, maybe.”

  Rebels tensed. “Witch? Here?” Lili steady. “Hey I haven’t hurt you. I Won’t."

  Leo speak up said "Hey you guys trusts me. So now you have to trust her either.”

  Leo’s hand on her shoulder. “She saved my ass. Trust her if you trust me.”

  Quiet. Sara handed stew. “Then you're one of us, then.” She said this with a smile.

  Days blurred. Leo and Zack sparred—punches, laughs, sweat. Lyra and Leo meditated, void whispers. Lili taught spells to other rebels as much as she can. A big guy trained with Leo swings—boom—Leo dodged, giant roaring laughs.

  "you are pretty trained Mr Sheron."

  Nights: stew, stories, dreams under grey sky. I came for revenge, Leo thought. But seems like I found some good people here.

  Finally the attack day came. Clouds heavy, wind cold. Kael on platform, armor shiny. Voice boomed over scared crowd. “Saved list.” Ten names, bored read. Whispers: “Only ten?” Kael’s cruel smile.

  “Rest die for the kingdom.”

  Panic.

  Old woman: “Mercy! I have Grandkids! They don't have anyone besides me.”

  Kael: “Sure.” Sword red—heads rolled. Blood soaked stone.

  Screams. Runs to gates—sealed. Magic red.

  “Run,” Kael laughed. “Fun.” As he was gonna more people a fire arrow

  boom.

  Smoke. Woman gone. Rooftop voice.

  “Rebels! Burn chains!”

  Sara bowed, grinning. Kael blurred up, A big sword was almost gonna land on him.

  Clang.

  Sheron’s sword blocked, unflinching. “You blocked?”

  Lili floated, cloak ink-black, eyes glowing. “Scared, Kael?” ---

  The capital was shaking everywhere was chaos.

  Lyra herded folks through alleys, barriers shimmering around scared families. Guards charged. Lyra walled light, turned blades, disarmed.

  “Please… get out. I got you.” Blade whistled behind. Guard split—

  shink—two pieces. Lyra spun.

  “Chief?” Balzock grinned. “Who else?”

  Guard lunged—*gone*. Bisected.

  “Didn’t see the swing!”

  Balzock “Speed boost. Blink, done.”

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  “Thanks.” Dome barrier up—shields debris, arrows sword and multiple guards was gonna attack to those people and Lyra but in front of them was Balzock. Balzock cracked neck. “I’ll clear. Get ‘em safe.”

  Swings invisible—guards paper dolls.

  'Leo… stay alive.' Balzock whispered.

  Meanwhile in castle. Leo crashed window, landed silent. Shadows hugged him.

  “I am actually compressing my mana energy so that Kael can't feel a lot of energy. Otherwise game over.”

  Then we saw glimpse before attacking here Cliff edge, night wind.

  “Lili, barrier the castle when it starts.”

  “Trap ‘em?”

  “Hide me. Sneak in. He feels me, I can't let him find me this soon.”

  “Got it.”

  Now

  “Find Niya. Lia. Where…are they.”

  He crept, steps ghost-quiet.

  Outside, the city screamed—booms, spells, metal on metal. Rebellion kicked off. Inside, quiet like a tomb. Until “Hey! You stop!” Ten guards—swords out, charging.

  Leo sighed. “No time.”

  Blink.

  They dropped in chunks of flesh and their blood was all over the floor.

  Silent. One crawler left—arm gone, shaking.

  Leo goes close to him and crouched. “You're still alive nice. Talk. King’s room. Lia. Niya. Where are they all ? And do you know who are Liya and Niya ?”

  Guard whimpered. “Niya… they all used her. Probably with king, nobles now.”

  Leo’s fists white. “Room?”

  “S-straight. Right. Straight. Left. Left.”

  “Lia?” “Safe. No one touched. But Kael plans—”

  “Oh by the way you just said they. You one?”

  Guard’s face ash. Tears. “Y-yes… sorry…”

  Air flickered. Guard saw himself split—nose down. Blood sprayed.

  Leo walked. Directions burned in. Straight. Right. Straight. Left. Left. Door loomed—blackwood, gold, crimson. Hundred tons easy. Leo grabbed handles.

  RIP.

  BOOM.

  Doors flew like paper. Room shook. Nobles jumped. Goblets clattered. King Valerious: “Who—are you?! How did you ripped them apart they are literally hundred tons—!”

  King Rex said “Not human… But I like him”

  Niya on floor, tears. “Who…?”

  Leo stepped in. Purple aura poured—demon fog.

  Doors crash aside.

  “Now you ain't surviving.” Rex charged.

  Leo looked. Rex split—head to crotch. Blood wave.

  Silas lunged, air magic.

  Leo twisted wrist. Silas’s heart popped.

  Thud.

  King pissed himself, crawling he realize that Kael isn't here to stop him and currently without Kael no one can stop this guy he's just too strong.

  “Mercy! Gold! Title! anything Just ask me anything!”

  Leo’s smile coldly. “Mercy? You burned my village. Sold lives and Begging now?”

  King screamed “Kael! Guards!”

  Nothing.

  Leo speak up “You're going alone in hell tonight don't worry otherwise would also join you there.”

  Hand on skull. The bones start cracking and the blood was start coming from his nose, eyes, mouth.

  CRACK.

  Head mush. Throne quiet.

  Niya froze, eyes shut. Waiting. Arms wrapped her—gentle.

  She opened eyes.

  Leo.

  “Who… are you?”

  “Leo Vallis.” Leo said.

  Smile soft.

  “Hey, Aunt Niya. Lyra’s waiting.”

  Niya’s legs buckled. Ears drooped. Sobs ripped out. She clung.

  “Thank you… for coming.” Leo held her. Let her shatter.

  'I am sorry I take this much long time' Leo thought.