The flames roared behind them, devouring the once-proud kingdom in a sea of destruction. The sky was painted in hues of orange and red, the thick smoke rising like a funeral shroud. The cries of the fallen had already faded into silence—only the crackling of fire and the occasional collapse of a burning structure remained.
Ren, Seraphina, and Lilia walked through the ruined streets, their footsteps quiet against the scorched ground. No one dared to stand in their way. Those who had resisted lay in pieces, their bodies nothing more than smoldering remnants of their final stand.
At the heart of it all, perched on the remains of the king’s throne, was Noct.
The black crow let out a sharp caw as Ren approached, its glowing crimson eyes locking onto its master. It had been waiting.
Ren extended his hand, and the crow immediately took flight, landing gracefully on his shoulder. He stroked the bird’s feathers absentmindedly, his mind already elsewhere.
“It’s done,” Seraphina said, admiring the destruction with a satisfied smirk. “Another kingdom reduced to nothing.”
Lilia, standing a few steps behind, watched the scene with a conflicted expression. She had followed Ren this far, but the weight of what they had done was starting to settle in her chest. This wasn’t just a victory. It was an execution.
Ren turned his gaze toward the castle gates, where a single spear had been planted firmly into the ground.
Atop it… was the severed head of the king.
His lifeless eyes stared blankly toward the ruins of his once-glorious empire, his golden crown now stained with his own blood. The final testament to his rule—a warning to the rest of the world.
Ren studied it for a moment before speaking, his voice devoid of emotion.
“This is what happens to those who stand in my way.”
Seraphina chuckled. “Poetic, isn’t it? A king who lost his throne, his kingdom, and his life—all in one night.”
Ren exhaled, his fingers lightly tapping Noct’s beak. “We’re leaving.”
Without another word, they turned away from the burning kingdom, their figures disappearing into the night.
The world had been put on notice. Ren had returned.
And this was only the beginning.
The trio moved swiftly through the dense, ancient woods, the trees stretching high into the sky like towering sentinels. The Elven Kingdom of Sylvalis lay just beyond the thick canopy—a place untouched by the flames of war for centuries.
Ren stood at the border, his piercing gaze scanning the towering silver gates ahead. The air here was different—calm, untouched by the corruption of humanity. It disgusted him.
He raised his hand. Noct, sensing his intent, let out a sharp caw. The air around them thickened, dark mist swirling at Ren’s feet, ready to consume yet another kingdom.
But before the order could leave his lips—
"Wait!"
Lilia stepped forward, placing herself between Ren and the elven city.
Ren’s crimson eyes flickered with mild irritation. Seraphina, however, was not so patient.
The moment Lilia blocked Ren’s path, Seraphina was already moving.
With a blur of motion, a dagger gleamed in her hand, aimed straight for Lilia’s throat.
But before she could strike—
"Enough."
Ren’s voice cut through the air like a blade. Seraphina halted instantly, frozen mid-attack. Her sharp golden eyes flickered toward Ren, frustration evident on her face.
“…You’re getting soft,” she muttered, reluctantly lowering her weapon.
Ren ignored her and turned his attention to Lilia, his expression unreadable.
“Why?” His voice was cold, but beneath it was a flicker of curiosity. “Why do you care what happens to this place?”
Lilia took a deep breath, knowing that every word she spoke now could determine whether the kingdom lived or burned.
“Because this place is different.” She met Ren’s gaze firmly. “This isn’t like the others. They don’t seek power, they don’t go to war, and they don’t rule through fear. They live in peace.”
Ren’s eyes darkened.
“…And?”
Lilia hesitated. She knew Ren didn’t care about peace. If anything, it was the very thing he despised.
But she needed to say something—something that would make him stop.
"Because I don't want to keep destroying everything."
The moment the words left her mouth, the air grew heavy.
Seraphina scoffed. “You think he cares about that?”
But Ren didn’t answer. He was thinking.
Lilia’s hands clenched into fists. “Is there truly nothing left in you that remembers the past? That remembers what it was like… before you lost everything?”
For a long moment, Ren simply stared at her.
Then, his lips parted.
“…I am looking for someone.”
Lilia’s breath caught. “Who?”
Ren closed his eyes briefly, his expression unreadable.
“…Someone taken from me.”
A pause.
Then, he turned toward the elven kingdom once more.
“…For now, we wait.”
The Elven Kingdom was spared. But for how long?
The towering silver gates of Sylvalis loomed in the distance, their shimmering runes pulsing faintly under the moonlight. The Elven Kingdom—untouched by war, hidden deep within nature’s embrace.
Yet, the moment Ren arrived at its border, the once-serene atmosphere turned to one of suffocating dread. The trees seemed to wither, the air itself felt heavier.
Word of his presence had already spread.
Within moments, the Elven King arrived.
A tall figure draped in emerald robes, his silver hair flowing like silk. Unlike other rulers who cowered behind their walls, he stepped forward without hesitation.
And then—
He knelt.
The sight was shocking.
Lilia's eyes widened. Even Seraphina raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
The Elven King lowered his head before Ren and spoke, his voice calm but pleading.
"Please, spare my kingdom."
For a moment, there was only silence.
Ren barely spared the kneeling king a glance.
Then, without a word, he walked past him.
His crimson eyes ignored the plea, ignored the desperation. He had no interest in meaningless groveling. He did not come here for destruction.
He simply wanted to see.
Lilia exhaled softly. The kingdom was safe—for now.
Seraphina, however, smirked. “What a pitiful sight. A king kneeling before another.”
The Elven King remained still, not daring to rise.
Ren's gaze remained forward as he stepped into the heart of Sylvalis.
For the first time in a long time—
He was simply observing.
The Elven Kingdom of Sylvalis was a place untouched by the cruelty of the outside world. Towering trees intertwined with shimmering bridges, glowing flowers lit the streets, and streams of silver water flowed through the city. It was a kingdom of beauty—yet fear tainted the air.
The elves whispered in hushed voices, their gazes filled with dread. A monster had entered their home.
But the Elven King—the one who had kneeled—walked beside Ren, showing him the kingdom personally.
Lilia followed in silence, observing the elves’ fearful expressions. Seraphina, on the other hand, looked bored—as if unimpressed by their so-called paradise.
As they entered the Royal Palace, Ren's steps suddenly stopped.
His crimson eyes locked onto something.
At the grand hall, displayed in a glass case, was a necklace.
A heart-shaped sapphire.
His world froze.
The air around him became heavy, suffocating. A darkness, unseen but felt, pulsed around his body.
The elves stepped back in fear.
The Elven King noticed the shift in Ren's presence and cautiously asked, "Is something the matter?"
Ren slowly turned to him, his voice colder than ever.
"Where did this necklace come from?"
His tone wasn't asking. It was demanding.
The Elven King hesitated, sensing the weight behind the question. He glanced at the necklace, then back at Ren.
“…That necklace has been in our treasury for decades. It was taken from a sealed ruin long ago.”
A sealed ruin.
Ren clenched his fists. Yuna’s necklace… here?
His red eyes burned, his anger rising.
"Tell me where that ruin is."
The Elven King hesitated. His hands trembled, his breath uneven.
Ren’s red eyes bore into him, unyielding, unforgiving. The very air around Ren felt suffocating, thick with an unseen force that pressed against the King’s chest.
“I—I will take you there,” the King stammered, lowering his gaze.
The elves who had gathered in the palace watched in horror. Their ruler—their proud and wise king—was cowering.
Seraphina smirked.“How pathetic,” she whispered to Lilia, who said nothing.
With slow, reluctant steps, the Elven King led them beyond the kingdom’s walls.
The deeper they ventured into the ancient forest, the quieter it became. No birds sang, no wind blew—only silence.
After what felt like hours, they arrived.
Before them stood a ruin—a forgotten place swallowed by nature. Thick vines covered the stone walls, the entrance was cracked and weathered, but most importantly… a barrier of golden light blocked the way.
A seal.
The Elven King swallowed hard.
“This ruin… it is cursed. No one who has entered has ever returned. We sealed it long ago to—”
Crack.
A sudden shatter echoed through the air.
The golden seal broke apart, its once-powerful glow fading into nothingness.
The ruin was now open.
The King’s face drained of color. “I-It shouldn’t have…”
Ren stepped forward, his expression unreadable. But his heart pounded.
Something—or someone—was waiting inside.
The air inside the ruin was cold, untouched by time.
The ancient stone walls loomed high, covered in strange runes that pulsed faintly as Ren, Seraphina, Lilia, and the Elven King stepped inside. Their footsteps echoed, breaking the silence that had ruled this place for centuries.
And then—
There she was.
At the very center of the ruin, beneath a grand archway of shattered stone, a crystal stood tall. It glowed with a faint, ethereal blue light, illuminating the darkness like moonlight frozen in time.
Inside it, suspended in slumber—
A girl.
Her long, white hair cascaded around her like threads of silver, her eyes gently shut as if lost in a dream. She looked exactly as she did beneath the moon that night when Ren danced alone. Untouched by time, unchanged, as if she had been waiting.
Ren’s breath caught in his throat.
“Yuna…”
His body moved before he could think. In an instant, he was before the crystal, pressing his hand against the cold, glass-like surface.
A faint pulse of magic responded to his touch, but the crystal remained firm—unyielding.
Ren closed his eyes, gathering his power. The air trembled, crackling with unseen force. The others stepped back as the pressure in the room grew unbearable.
With a deep breath, Ren poured a massive surge of his magic into the crystal.
Cracks began to spread.
The crystal shuddered, glowing violently as its surface splintered like breaking ice. A low hum filled the air, rising into a deafening shatter as the entire structure exploded into countless shards of light.
And in the next moment—
She fell.
Ren moved faster than instinct. His arms caught her fragile form just before she could hit the ground.
Her body was warm.
Her chest rose and fell with breath.
Her eyes fluttered open.
Slowly, painfully, her red eyes met his.
For a moment, she just stared. As if trying to remember, as if waking from a dream she had been trapped in for far too long.
Then—
A soft gasp.
“…Ren?”
His breath hitched.
A tear slipped down his cheek, falling onto her hand.
His voice, choked yet filled with warmth, finally spoke—
“I finally found you.”
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