Deep within the kingdom lying beneath the shadows of dark mountains, where black forests stretched and fields of blazing fire rippled, lay the demon kingdom under Princess Iris's rule. A realm filled with ancient stone castles, towering spires surrounded by black thorns, and rivers of volcanic lava that never ceased flowing. At its center stood her imposing palace, dark and grim, reflecting the power and majesty of demon rulers.

  Iris sat upon her throne carved from dark stone, her eyes cold as ice, watching the hall bathed in dim light. Unlike the tension filling the air, she was calm in a way that inspired unease. The atmosphere was heavy, and words were spoken with caution—even her servants and guards knew she needed no anger to display her power.

  In a voice as calm as the night breeze, she wondered:

  "So... no one succeeded?"

  She raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning disinterest.

  The kingdom's High Sorcerer stood, his body weighed down by responsibility, and answered in a low voice:

  "Your Highness, we found the knights' bodies. But Reika and Saika were not found."

  Iris leaned back against the throne with a slow gesture, and added:

  "Someone removed my curse from them. I felt it the moment it was lifted."

  The High Sorcerer bowed with fear and respect, adding:

  "Iris-sama, no power can remove your curse except one who possesses curse-breaking magic of the twelfth tier or higher. Most likely, they were freed by a high-level mage."

  Iris stared at him coldly:

  "No demon possesses this level of curse-breaking, and no one would do it as charity."

  The High Sorcerer added:

  "Iris-sama, I believe Princess Mirai is connected to what happened. We'll send a stronger group of knights to pursue her. We underestimated her because you stripped her magical powers."

  Iris inquired:

  "Do you know Mirai's location now?"

  He nodded:

  "Yes. One of the slain knights sent their location signal before dying. We'll spread knights in all directions to search for her."

  The princess took a deep breath, then declared in a stern voice:

  "Tell me the location. I'll go myself."

  The sorcerer nodded and told her the location. Then Iris stood and slowly headed outside.

  ***

  The carriage shook gently as it stopped at the gates of Arasa city. The driver opened the door, and Mirai and Hikari descended into the capital's bustling streets. Hikari couldn't hide his amazement at the city's size and striking beauty. The streets pulsed with life, and shops on both sides displayed their products in bright, attractive colors.

  They stopped at one of the main entrances, and Hikari looked around in wonder, then exclaimed enthusiastically:

  "Let's explore the city!"

  Mirai smiled, watching him with eyes full of vitality, then answered kindly:

  "Alright, let's take a short tour."

  During their wandering through the city, they crossed the popular markets where delicious aromas of local foods filled the air, and the voices of vendors and passersby mixed in a vibrant melody. They tasted some traditional foods and visited historical landmarks that told stories from the past.

  As evening fell, they sat in a small café overlooking the city square, which was illuminated by lanterns in a soft golden color. Hikari turned to Mirai with an admiring smile:

  "I didn't expect the capital to be this beautiful and warm."

  Mirai replied, giving him a look that combined playfulness and calm:

  "I don't think I'll ever tire of your reaction when you see something new."

  Hikari laughed lightly, then asked curiously:

  "By the way, did you enjoy today's tour?"

  Mirai pondered for a moment, then replied:

  "I won't say I didn't enjoy it, but... perhaps I'm not interested enough."

  Hikari raised an eyebrow, wondering:

  "Don't you have hobbies? What did you do in your free time before?"

  Mirai was silent for a moment, then explained:

  "Actually... I don't know. When I was young, I had everything. There was nothing pushing me to adventure or explore. My life was unbearably boring."

  She turned to him thoughtfully and continued:

  "But when I started training with swords with you, I felt something different... excitement. It was the first real challenge I faced. Previously, I learned magic quickly and reached high levels without notable effort. I didn't need to exert myself, regardless of the spell or magic level."

  Hikari felt a similarity between himself and Mirai inside. He smiled lightly and commented:

  "It seems your hobby is learning new things..."

  He paused for a second, thinking, then an idea occurred to him.

  He suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. He quickly approached Mirai and announced:

  "Mirai, I have an idea you'll really like!"

  She stared at him curiously:

  "What's going through your mind?"

  He smiled at her confidently and whispered:

  "You'll see tomorrow."

  He quickly turned and left the place before she could say anything. She looked at the closed door after his departure and couldn't stop herself from smiling, despite the mystery of what he said.

  **The Next Morning**

  They met in the inn's lobby. The enthusiasm was clear on Hikari's face, as he couldn't hide his smile. He announced:

  "Let's go outside the city. I saw a beautiful place on our way here."

  Mirai nodded curiously:

  "Alright, let's go."

  They left the city and enjoyed the natural scenery along the way. Soon they reached a stunning place with a small lake surrounded by trees and wildflowers.

  Hikari stopped and took out four swords, two spears, and two staffs from his bag.

  Mirai contemplated the weapons in surprise:

  "What are we going to do?"

  Hikari explained:

  "I'll teach you to fight with different types of weapons."

  Mirai stood contemplating the weapons before her, then commented with a slight smile:

  "This seems exciting. I've never tried fighting with these weapons before."

  Hikari smiled and added enthusiastically:

  "I'm confident you'll enjoy it. Choose the weapon you'd like to start with."

  Mirai inquired:

  "Do you master using all these weapons?"

  He answered with a confident smile:

  "Yes. You might not believe it, but I have the Master of Weapons trait. I'm proficient with all types of weapons. I might not be at the level of grand masters, but I'm very good with each type."

  Mirai was amazed by this information and felt excited, then announced:

  "I'll choose the dual swords!"

  Hikari nodded:

  "Alright then. We'll start now."

  He stepped forward and returned the staffs and spears to his bag, taking out the slowing diamond. When Mirai saw this, she objected:

  "No need to use it, I've gotten used to reducing my speed and strength."

  He agreed: "That would be better."

  He returned the diamond to the bag, took two swords, and Mirai did the same.

  Hikari began explaining:

  "The first thing you need to learn is how to hold the dual swords comfortably. Hold the swords with your left hand closer to the handle, and your right slightly higher."

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  Mirai followed his instructions, and he continued:

  "Using dual swords requires good balance and movement control. You must move in harmony to direct attacks and defend yourself."

  He showed her some basic movements, demonstrating attack and defense techniques, then requested:

  "Try to imitate my movements now."

  Mirai did so precisely, learning quickly and carefully applying what she received.

  After a while, he suggested:

  "Alright, let's start a mock battle. I'll make some simple attacks, and you need to block them and counter."

  He began attacking, and Mirai blocked the strikes then exchanged attacks with him. During the fight, he gave her advice:

  "Make your movement fluid. Don't stay static; move to maintain your balance."

  Mirai felt excitement and challenge, and put effort into applying what she learned. Over time, she began improving and becoming more capable of dealing with attacks effectively. She continued training seriously, enjoying every moment, and learned remarkably quickly, trying to execute the techniques Hikari explained to her.

  With each sunrise, Mirai became more flexible and responsive. After a week, she clearly began mastering the use of dual swords. They spent long hours daily, during which he explained new techniques and helped her develop her skills.

  One day, after Mirai felt confident using dual swords, Hikari decided to start training her with the spear. He took two spears from his bag and handed her one:

  "Today we'll train with the spear. It's a different weapon and needs a special technique."

  Mirai contemplated the spear curiously and announced:

  "I'm ready to learn anything new."

  Hikari began explaining:

  "The spear requires precision in judging distances and speed in movement. You must attack and defend at the same time."

  They spent the following days training, and Mirai learned quickly and applied what she received. The training was arduous but enjoyable. Over time, she began showing proficiency in using the spear.

  One day, after a long training session, Hikari announced while catching his breath:

  "Enough training for today, let's rest a bit."

  They sat on the grass beside the lake. Mirai contemplated the water and commented with a slight smile:

  "I didn't think I'd enjoy learning combat this much. It's extremely fun."

  Hikari smiled:

  "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

  Mirai inquired with interest:

  "Hikari, how did you learn all these skills?"

  He explained:

  "I learned them from my father. He trained me to use all types of weapons."

  She tilted her head questioningly:

  "There's something I don't understand... why don't you try to develop yourself in combat? Your strength and speed?"

  Hikari turned his gaze to the lake with a calm look, thinking carefully before answering. He took a quiet breath and revealed:

  "I can't... I lost my ability for physical development. My speed and strength won't change no matter how hard I try."

  Mirai's eyes widened:

  "How did you lose it?"

  He explained in a calm voice:

  "To obtain my healing abilities, I had to sacrifice a lot. Among those sacrifices was physical development. I can't even carry a heavy shield."

  Mirai remembered something she had forgotten due to her excitement for training:

  "By the way, how many healing spells have you learned?"

  He replied:

  "I have only three spells: curse removal, regular healing, and wide-range healing."

  She wondered:

  "Haven't you tried learning new spells?"

  He answered:

  "No, these spells are enough for me. I don't need more."

  Mirai was shocked and her look changed to an intense one:

  "Hikari... have you ever read a book about healing spells?"

  He clarified:

  "I read only one, which explained regular healing and curse removal. As for wide-range healing, I used it accidentally during an attack on Silvarin city, then learned it on my own."

  Mirai suddenly stood up and declared firmly:

  "I'll go back to the city now, wait for me here and don't move."

  Hikari was puzzled but nodded:

  "Alright."

  She left, and he remained sitting, contemplating her sudden behavior with wonder.

  After a short while, she returned carrying a large book in her hand. She sat beside him and handed him the book:

  "This is a book of light element spells, all high-tier. Read it, then try to execute what's in it."

  Hikari took the book and began reading. Despite its large size, it contained a limited number of spells.

  The first spell was "Poison Barrier," which creates a defensive barrier protecting against all types of poisons regardless of their strength.

  Mirai commented:

  "I don't think you can try it now, as there are no poisons here. And I basically have natural immunity against them."

  Hikari nodded:

  "Alright, I'll move to the next spell."

  He turned the pages until he reached "Greater Protection Spell," a spell that creates an invisible transparent barrier protecting from physical and magical attacks.

  Mirai suggested enthusiastically:

  "How about trying it now?"

  He hesitated:

  "I'm not confident in my ability to execute this magic, as it's not healing magic."

  Mirai encouraged him:

  "Try, you won't lose anything. Try to place the barrier on me."

  Hikari thought for a moment, then agreed:

  "Alright."

  Hikari stood firmly and held the book with both hands, beginning to read the spell to himself first, trying to comprehend every word and required movement. He felt a bit anxious but decided to proceed.

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then slowly raised his hands and focused his energy. He muttered the spell words in a low voice and felt a light energy flow from his fingertips. He slowly opened his eyes... but nothing happened. No barrier appeared around Mirai.

  Mirai insisted with confidence and enthusiasm: "Try attacking me now!"

  He wondered: "Are you sure?"

  She nodded, a confident smile on her face.

  Hikari took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment, then opened his bag and took out a wooden sword. He gripped it firmly and prepared to attack. He headed toward Mirai and raised the sword high, then attacked forcefully. But before the sword touched her, a transparent golden barrier appeared, deflecting the attack, and a wave of light spread across its surface. Hikari felt a strong shock in his hands, and the wooden sword broke in half under the recoil force.

  Mirai stared at the barrier in amazement: "See? The barrier works, and it's really strong!"

  Hikari commented in wonder: "I didn't expect the sword to break so easily."

  Mirai's enthusiasm increased: "Let's continue reading more spells."

  Hikari hesitated: "I don't think it will work, as my spells don't work on me. Let's continue reading more spells."

  Hikari turned the book's pages until he reached a new spell called "Regeneration," which regrows severed limbs by growing a new organ.

  He quickly turned to Mirai, warning: "Don't cut anything from your body!"

  Mirai laughed gently: "I won't do that, though I'm confident you'd succeed. Keep reading."

  Hikari continued reading until he reached the "Healing Flutter" spell, which allows summoning small butterfly-like creatures carrying healing energy that treat light and moderate injuries for people surrounding the caster.

  Mirai suggested: "This spell would be useful in group battles. Try it."

  Hikari held the book and read the details carefully, then closed it and took a deep breath. He focused his energy again and muttered the magical words. He felt a gentle energy rising from within him. He slowly raised his hands, and suddenly small glittering butterflies appeared, fluttering with their transparent wings and glowing with warm light. They spread around him and gently landed on his hands and shoulders.

  Mirai admired: "They're very beautiful." Then added: "Let's see if they can really heal."

  Hikari gently wounded his hand using a small knife. One of the butterflies gathered around the wound and began fluttering over it, but the wound didn't heal. The butterfly seemed to try, without result. Hikari showed no reaction, as he was confident healing wouldn't apply to him.

  Then Mirai gently wounded her hand. The butterflies quickly gathered around the wound and began fluttering gently until the wound completely disappeared.

  Mirai praised joyfully: "This spell is wonderful! Let's continue reading."

  Despite feeling tired, Hikari smiled: "Alright, let's continue." He began turning pages until he reached the "Link of light" spell, which creates a connection between two people, allowing the healer to sense the other's injury and heal them from a distance.

  Hikari felt amazed, and he was the one who suggested enthusiastically this time: "Let's try this spell!"

  Mirai agreed: "Alright, let's begin."

  Hikari read the instructions carefully, closed his eyes, and focused his energy again. He muttered the magical words and felt a deep energy emanating from within, as if an invisible thread began connecting him to Mirai's soul.

  He opened his eyes: "I feel like I'm connected to you somehow."

  Mirai confirmed: "I felt that too. I think the spell succeeded. Let's test it."

  Mirai stepped several paces away and gently wounded her hand. At the same moment, Hikari felt a prick in his hand, despite no wound existing. He focused his energy and began muttering healing words. Mirai felt a light warmth, and saw her wound gradually heal until it disappeared.

  She was amazed: "It worked! You healed my wounds from afar!"

  Hikari was impressed: "This is truly amazing."

  But suddenly, he felt severe exhaustion and almost fell to the ground, but he held himself together.

  He confessed to Mirai: "We need to rest a bit. I used a lot of magical energy today."

  Mirai agreed: "Yes, let's rest. We'll continue tomorrow."

  Hikari sat and leaned his back against a tree trunk, closing his eyes. The severe exhaustion made his eyelids heavy, and soon drowsiness overcame him and he slept without realizing.

  Hours later, he woke to find Mirai sitting beside him, watching him silently.

  He asked in surprise: "When did I sleep? What time is it?"

  She answered while looking at the sky: "It's midnight." Then she turned to him: "It seems your use of all those spells consumed your magical energy. I'm sorry for exhausting you."

  Hikari turned his gaze to the star-filled sky and smiled slightly: "Don't apologize. The spells I learned today are truly amazing. But there's something I didn't understand... how was I able to use barrier magic? I'm supposed to only master healing magic."

  Then he turned to Mirai questioningly: "Where did you get this book? I've never seen or heard of these spells before."

  Mirai revealed: "I took it from my home. It's one of a kind and is considered an ancient artifact. The book specializes in light magic. One of the demon kings used it to try merging the light and darkness elements. He tried a lot but failed. In the end, it was left in an old library and forgotten over time. As for the spells in it, they vanished from the world's memory."

  Hikari wondered: "How did you know I could execute the spells in the book?"

  Mirai pondered a bit, then lay on her back and looked at the sky, explaining:

  "Healing Field, the wide-range healing spell you used in the village, is mentioned in the book. When you told me about its abilities, I began to suspect it wasn't an ordinary spell. I had read this book when I was a child."

  She turned to him and continued:

  "There's something I want to tell you, but first, I'll tell you a story. This story happened thirty thousand years ago."

  Hikari followed her with clear interest, silent.

  Mirai began while still looking at the sky:

  "At that time, the world was different. It wasn't divided as it is now, but open to everyone, and wars filled the land. All races: humans, demons, elves, spirits, dwarves, demi-humans, oni, and vampires fought endless battles for control and resources.

  Amid this chaos, a demon named Astra appeared. She wasn't ordinary but possessed exceptional abilities and thirteenth-tier spells, a level hardly anyone mastered. She controlled crimson flames that burned everything, invisible gray lightning, and an impenetrable body. But her most dangerous possession was her ability to summon underworld soldiers, countless legions that followed her orders without hesitation.

  Astra became everyone's enemy. There were no more wars between races; instead, they all united against her. Every army sent to face her was crushed, and every attempt to kill her failed.

  Nevertheless, hope wasn't lost. A man named Arias appeared, who also possessed thirteenth-tier spells, like Phoenix Wings, Absolute Light, and Elemental Sword. He cooperated with the dragons of the four seasons and allies from various races, and they decided to stand against Astra.

  A legendary battle took place, but it didn't end as they expected. Three dragons were defeated, and all of Arias's companions fell, but the Absolute Light skill preserved their souls. In the end, Arias remained standing alone beside the Golden Dragon of Wisdom. When everyone regained consciousness, the dragon emerged carrying Astra's head... and Arias's head too. They had died together in the final attack."

  Mirai sighed and continued:

  "After that battle, everyone acknowledged the dragon's power, and she was crowned ruler over all races. She divided the world into three regions: for humans, for demons, and for other creatures. Thus began the age of peace. She imposed a strict law: no war between races, under any circumstances."

  Hikari commented: "I think I read about this story... but nothing was mentioned about Astra's or Arias's abilities."

  Mirai turned to him: "Have you ever heard of the Absolute Light skill?"

  Hikari shook his head: "No, this is the first time I've heard of it."

  She explained:

  "Absolute Light is a skill that enables its possessor to master any healing or support spell, and even curses. Whoever has it can break any curse regardless of its strength. In short, any support spell from the light element, they can use."

  Hikari was amazed: "It's truly an amazing skill. Strange that I've never heard of it before."

  Mirai clarified:

  "Because it's unknown. Arias was the only one who possessed it, and no one knows how he obtained it."

  Hikari was shocked, and before he could ask, Mirai announced in a calm voice:

  "But there's something else you should know... The truth is you possess the Absolute Light skill."

  Expressions of amazement and disbelief appeared on his face:

  "Me? How can that be? I've never heard of this before, and I don't think my abilities are special."

  Mirai smiled gently and revealed:

  "I, Hikari, had my powers stripped, including my healing ability. If I got a small wound, the bleeding wouldn't stop until I died. But you healed me. And among the properties of Absolute Light: healing any injury regardless, without any conditions or restrictions. Every injury of the thirteenth tier or lower can be treated immediately."

  Then she stared at him curiously:

  "Hikari... how did you obtain these powers? Of course, if you don't want to answer, that's fine."

  Hikari's eyes widened slightly. Then he took a deep breath, looked at the lake reflecting the sky's stars for seconds while thinking. Then he lay on his back and looked at the star-studded sky, revealing in a calm tone:

  "I guess... I should tell you everything. From the beginning."

  (To be continued)