Pieces Begin to Move

Chapter 6 –Pieces Begin to Move

The month of Deepsnow had begun.

While Malgareth worked in the shadows to uncover the identity 

of the council member involved in the capital’s destruction, Caelis’s condition slowly worsened. Now fully aware of the true cost of his secret magic, he chose isolation over comfort. He trained alone on a small, uninhabited island nearly ten kilometers from the capital, pushing his body beyond safe limits.

Kaelis, weakened after weeks of neglecting her health, had been 

strictly ordered to remain in the capital and recover. Thalen spent his days training relentlessly in the royal training hall. Serine adapted quickly to her new surroundings and showed remarkable progress. In the king’s absence, Eryx and Selwyn jointly oversaw the affairs of the realm, ensuring stability.

On the evening of 1st Deepsnow, XX23, Malgareth arrived at the 

island.

Caelis was resting on the grass, his body exhausted from hours of training.

“I didn’t expect this,” Malgareth said as he approached. “You really do train like a mad prince.”

Caelis remained seated on the soft green grass. “Why are you 

here?” he asked calmly. “Did you find the identity of the person behind the attack?”

Malgareth stopped beside him. “No. But, Ashbron, I do have 

news—something that might help.”

Caelis glanced at him briefly, then turned his gaze toward the setting sun.

“Don’t call me Ashbron again.”

Malgareth ignored the warning and sat down, placing his hand 

against the grass. “This place is peaceful,” he said. “Now I understand why you chose it. The view is beautiful.” He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Besides, everyone in the underworld—and even beyond—calls you Ashbron. It suits you.”

Caelis’s voice hardened. “You didn’t come here to admire the scenery.”

Malgareth rubbed the back of his head. “Right. I almost forgot.”

He paused. “In the past few days, the Merchant of Death has 

traded information with three individuals.”

Caelis frowned slightly. “You mentioned him before.”“Yes,” Malgareth replied with a faint smile. “Ashbron.”

Caelis stood and began walking toward the edge of the island. Malgareth followed.

“You know who they are?” Caelis asked.Malgareth lowered his gaze. “Only two of them. One is a member of the Council.”

He hesitated. “The other is the leader of The Veil of Null. They call him the Null Architect.”

Caelis stopped and turned toward him, confusion flickering 

across his face.

“Do you know what they discussed? Or their motive?”“No,” Malgareth answered quietly. “That’s impossible. No one 

knows how the Merchant approaches his clients—or when. Only two people ever know the truth of a trade: the Merchant himself, and the one he trades with.”

Caelis remained silent for a moment, eyes fixed on the horizon.

“…He’s interesting,” he finally said.

“I want to meet this Merchant of Death.”

Meanwhile, in the sea near the island, a ship passed silently through the waves.

It was completely concealed by magic—its presence impossible 

to sense.

On the deck stood a man dressed entirely in black. A large hood covered his face, hiding his features in shadow. Holding a small 

telescope, he observed the island carefully, watching Caelis and Malgareth from afar.

When he saw them speaking about the Merchant of Death, a cold smile curved across his lips.

A teenage boy approached him from behind.

“Master,” the boy asked cautiously, “why did you trade 

information we already knew with that council member and the Null Architect?”

The man laughed softly.“Kid,” he replied, lowering the telescope, “you’ll have to find the 

answer to that question yourself.”

He turned and began walking away. “Now let’s see what you’ll do, Ashbron… or should I say, the Twenty-First King of the White 

Nation.”

The boy followed him. Both entered the cabin, and moments later, the ship vanished—leaving no trace of its existence.

Back on the island, Caelis suddenly stopped and looked toward the sea—the exact direction the ship had passed.

“…I think someone was watching us,” he said quietly.Malgareth noticed the change in his expression and scoffed.

“Don’t tell me all that training has already dulled your senses,” he said. “Now you’re seeing things that don’t exist?”

Caelis turned to him. “It didn’t feel imaginary. I was certain 

someone was there.”

Malgareth placed a hand on Caelis’s shoulder.

“You outrank me in power,” he said calmly, “but I’m older. So take this advice—rest. You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

With that, Malgareth left the island.Caelis returned to the small shelter he had built after arriving 

there. After a simple meal, he lay down on the bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on his body.

“Did I really push myself this far…” he murmured.

“…that I can no longer tell the difference between reality and imagination?”

He closed his eyes.

“I should take a break.”

The next day, Caelis returned to the capital.

Caelis went to see Eryx first.

Standing near the royal garden, Caelis gazed at the flowers swaying gently in the winter breeze.

“Eryx,” he said, “increase the security around the royal castle.”

Eryx bowed. “It will be done immediately.”

Then he hesitated slightly. “May I ask why this sudden decision… Cael?”

Caelis turned toward him, raising an eyebrow.

“Just a precaution,” he replied calmly. “And why are you calling me Cael?”

Eryx smiled. “It was getting confusing to call you Caelis when 

Kaelis is around. So we gave you a nickname.”

“Why me?” Caelis asked.Eryx’s smile widened. “Because Kaelis suggested it.”

With that, Eryx walked away.

Caelis sighed softly.“One took the first half, the other took the last,” he muttered 

under his breath.

“…Did they plan this beforehand?”Shaking his head, the young king made his way toward Kaelis’s 

room.

The moment he stepped inside, Kaelis leaped onto him.“What happened?” she asked brightly. “Why, Elis, did you come to my room? Did you miss me?”Caelis struggled gently to free himself.

“No,” he said calmly. “Nothing like that. I just came to ask how you’re doing.”

Kaelis tightened her grip. “You can tell the truth, you know.”

Caelis laughed lightly. “I can see you’re doing just fine. Now take some proper rest.”

Reluctantly, she let him go.

Caelis left the room and walked down the corridor, where he soon encountered Selwyn.

As Caelis approached, Selwyn bowed respectfully.

“It’s good to see you again, my king.”

Caelis stopped. “Selwyn, it’s good to see you too. I want to meet the Pale Luminary again. Can you arrange a meeting?”

He paused. “And make sure that I go to meet him.”

Selwyn nodded calmly, without asking a single question.“As you wish, my king.”

With that, Selwyn departed.

Some time passed.

It was now mid-Deepsnow.

The board had begun to move.

The Null Architect had finally taken action.

At the same time, Caelis prepared to meet the Pale Luminary.And far from both of them, the Merchant of Death set out toward an unknown destination.Capital of the White Nation

Caelis departed from the capital alongside Eryx, Thalen, and Kaelis.

Their destination lay at the heart of the archipelago—the Central Island, where the Pale Luminary awaited.

None of them spoke during the journey.

The sea was calm, yet the silence felt heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

Somewhere on a Remote Island

A voice echoed through the wind.

“We will find the scrolls,” it said coldly.

“And when we do… the Council will fall.”

Shadows shifted among broken ruins as unseen figures moved with purpose.

Deep Within a Forest

The Merchant of Death walked alone beneath towering trees, his steps soundless against the forest floor.

Behind him followed his assistant, a young boy wrapped in a 

dark cloak.

The boy muttered quietly, more to himself than to anyone else.“I don’t understand what Master meant,” he whispered.

“But I know this much… something big is about to happen.”

He clenched his fists as he continued walking.

“I’ll tell you everything I see… everything I understand.”

Then he paused, looking ahead into the darkness.

“Until then—wait.”

To be continued…