A colossal explosion rang out, cutting off our conversation with Castiel Nemir.
What was that? I searched for an answer, thinking of Castiel's words.
"Stay if you want. But I won't be held responsible for what happens."
I remembered what he said.
He knew something was coming. And he won't take responsibility? What does he think of me?
"What's happening?" screamed Sery, completely shocked.
Castiel let out an amused laugh. "Zikron Zeta, come discover the true face your family put in power!"
Those words hit like a slap. What did he mean? Did the Duke orchestrate all this?
My mood soured. I needed to understand. A situation out of control is a horror I cannot endure.
I control nothing. It's driving me mad. I can't take it anymore.
I didn't even notice Stern leave—he had slipped away and returned wearing a battered suit of armor, clearly worn and mediocre.
Castiel rose from his dark throne and started putting on a pair of white sneakers, a black bomber jacket, and an all-black outfit. He looked casual. A stark contrast to the chaos about to unfold.
Screams echoed—terrified screams.
Ester, tuned to their trembling rage, stepped toward the door to go help the people.
"Hahaha, calm down, boy. This isn't something you can handle," Castiel said, clearly amused by our reactions.
Stern approached Castiel and knelt respectfully, like a worshipper before their god. He raised both hands, and in them I saw a matte-black mask with one crimson red eye on the left side and a pitch-black eye on the right.
Castiel took the mask and wore it. His ebony skin and onyx eyes disappeared. Only his braids remained visible. Looking at that mask was like staring into the abyss, but that crimson eye—
It looked like it had come from Hell itself.
"Follow me if you don't want to die."
I didn't argue. Following him, I knew I was about to get answers. I swallowed my pride. Seeing me say nothing, Sery and Ester—both wearing serious expressions—followed in silence. Stern shot us an arrogant smirk as we moved.
I wanted badly to put him in his place, but he wasn't worth my time. We left the hall and crossed a dark corridor. A faint tremor ran through the ground.
Gunfire echoed outside.
The clash of weapons mixed with war cries. Once outside, the scene froze my blood. People were killing each other.
A boy with a bruised face held a knife, trembling, facing a man with a soldier's bearing. The boy was shaking, tears of rage in his eyes. A desperate fury burned in them.
"You bastard! How dare you attack a child!" Sery roared, charging the man. He tried to defend himself, surprised—But Sery gave him no chance. She was feral, like a tiger. She circled him and struck with brutal force, without grace.
She was clearly enraged.
With a sweeping kick, the man collapsed. A loud crack followed.
Sery took the opportunity to snap his arms. The man groaned and tried to strangle her. But Sery was an Aspirant. Not just any Aspirant. She was my knight. Her potential was immense.
Her primordial pressure exploded—The man's body was dragged into the ground as if gravity had increased. The boy watching the scene panicked and ran off in a random direction.I wanted to follow and help him.
But I didn't have the time. Stern looked completely stunned by Sery's power. Castiel—I couldn't see his face, but from his aura, he was observing carefully. Ester, unlike us, was scanning the area with an indifferent yet smoldering expression.
Sery kept pummeling the man, shattering his legs. His face was pale, his eyes rolled back. He was unconscious. For a moment, I even thought he was dead. Sery spat on him and turned back toward us.
She knelt before me and said, in a trembling voice,
"Forgive me for acting without your permission, young master."
Her loyalty was too deep. I see her as a friend—maybe even a sister— And yet she keeps kneeling before me.
"It's not a problem. You did well," I answered.
Sery sighed in relief but bit her lip.I knew what she was thinking—
She has no right to act without my permission. But she broke the rule. And she blames herself.
"You didn't break any rule that warrants an apology."
Sery accepted this reluctantly and got up awkwardly. Castiel silently looked around.Even if I couldn't see his face, his aura told me he was amused.
What could possibly amuse him so much? As we advanced through the chaos, the dead began to appear— Men wearing navy-blue uniforms, marked with a two-pronged star logo. At first they were cautious, but upon seeing us, they attacked like their lives depended on it. Ester, Sery, and even Stern took care of them easily.
I hadn't expected much from Stern, but he proved more than capable. Castiel kept walking ahead, ignoring everything else. His "people" seemed to be the last thing on his mind.
65th Alvaris Street—
Once the prettiest part of the poor district—Was devastated. A massive crater scarred its center. Casualties? Yes. More than fifty. The explosion came from here.
And it wrought havoc. Buildings once luxurious now lay in ruins. Cries rang out. Smiles that once graced these faces were now drowned in tears.
Dear god… who's insane enough to cause such a massacre?
In my family's empire.
Who has the audacity to do this while we're in the city?
Who?
While we reeled in confusion, Castiel did not.
He always seemed to know what to do.
Is it experience? I don't know. But right now—I envied him.
It might sound ridiculous, considering our age difference— But right now, it doesn't matter.
"Are you going to keep watching from up there, Velvira?" Castiel shouted.
His voice echoed across the entire district like a warning.
"Watching you isn't exactly my favorite hobby, dear Castiel,"
replied a woman's voice. Who's speaking? Looking around, Sery, Ester, Stern, and I were confused.
The voice seemed to come from everywhere—And nowhere. As if it didn't exist. But Castiel had said Velvira. Who is she?
As I tried to make sense of it, one person came to mind— That woman from the video Perry showed us. The one who stood before Castiel. Is it her?
A terrifying pressure descended on us. That pressure!nShe's a Primarch too! Sery, Stern, and Ester collapsed. I almost fell to one knee under the pressure— But I couldn't allow it.
A Zêta never kneels. A Zêta always stands tall and faces adversity. I fought back against the pressure. My father's was far worse. His could drive anyone insane. To kneel here would be shameful.
I bit my lip hard. The taste of iron filled my mouth. A thin line of blood dripped from my lips. How are the others holding up? I don't know. I can't afford to think about them. My vision narrowed. I looked at my trembling arms. I was suffocating. It felt like the air had been stolen from me— As if I wasn't allowed to breathe.
But I fought. I pulled a blade from my pocket— And stabbed it fiercely into my left thigh. My blood splattered. Sery looked at me, eyes wide. Her gaze locked on my wound, then on me— Her eyes filled with hatred. My blood spilled— Even though I hurt myself, Velvira was the cause.
A sin has been committed.
Velvira must die.