Rei sat still, the flickering lamplight casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor of the tavern. The revelation that someone had been following him all this time was more than just unsettling—it was terrifying. Every decision he had made, every quiet moment he'd thought he was alone, had been watched. A single mistake, a misstep, and he might've been dead.
But even more disturbing was the looming threat of the so-called Mystic Church—a powerful religious organization branding him as a heretic simply for existing, simply for being… different.
His fingers tightened around the base of his scepter, its silent hum of chaotic energy the only comfort he could find amidst the whirlwind of uncertainty.
"I need information," Rei said finally, breaking the silence.
Levi leaned against the table, his expression grave. "The world's far more complicated than you think, Rei. Everything—your presence, your sorcery, your weapon—it all ties back to the Thousand Records."
Rei furrowed his brows. "What is the Thousand Records?"
Luc stood silent in the background, arms folded, golden eyes unreadable. He seemed almost like a phantom lingering in the corner, but he didn't interrupt. Maybe he understood that resisting Rei now would only provoke his wrath.
Levi exhaled slowly. "This story… it goes back 5,000 years."
The tavern quieted as if the air itself was listening.
"Back then," Levi began, "demons lived alongside humans, elves, dwarves, and beastkin. The world wasn't perfect, but it wasn't at war either. The demons had a king—a benevolent ruler. He was fair, wise, and often offered aid to other races when needed. Peace wasn't a dream then. It was reality."
Rei listened intently, eyes fixed on the man's face.
"But peace never lasts," Levi continued. "The king grew old. As death crept closer, he had to choose a successor. He had two sons and three daughters, but only the sons were eligible for the throne. That's how the old laws worked. The elder son… he was cruel, calculating. He saw people as tools. The dwarves were useful because of their strength and craftsmanship. The elves—valuable for their precision and eyesight. Beastkin—prized for their instinct and raw power. But humans…"
Levi's lips curled in disdain as if repeating the thought disgusted him.
"…humans, he considered worthless. No shared gift, no innate power. Even magic was rare among them. In his eyes, they were leeches feeding off the demons' generosity."
"And the younger son?" Rei asked.
"He was different. Kind-hearted. Idealistic, perhaps, but strong. He judged people not by their race or power but by their hearts. The king saw this. Against tradition, he declared that the younger son would inherit the throne."
Rei could already feel where this was going.
Levi nodded grimly. "The elder son was furious. Two of the three daughters joined him, driven by ambition or hate. But the third daughter, the youngest, stood by the younger prince. On the day of the coronation, the elder son struck. The younger brother was assassinated in cold blood."
A cold silence fell. Rei's jaw tensed.
"The third daughter barely escaped with her brother's loyal soldiers. Meanwhile, the elder son claimed the throne and turned the demon nation into a nightmare. They subjugated the dwarves. Split the beastkin—some bent the knee, others rebelled. The elves and humans stood against them… and they were losing."
Levi's voice dropped to a whisper.
"But then came Blaze. A lone warrior… and the Millennium Sage."
Rei's eyes widened slightly. He'd heard that name once, buried in a dusty library text.
"Blaze wasn't ordinary. He had Qi. Magic. Techniques. Knowledge. Healing. Superhuman strength and stamina. A walking legend. And the sage—he was no less a miracle. With strategy and wisdom, they began to turn the tide. But the demons were many. Too many. So the sage gave Blaze an astral weapon."
"A what?" Rei asked.
"An astral weapon," Levi repeated. "Not forged by man or god. A weapon born of the universe itself. It could only be used once. It looked like a javelin, but within it… flowed the forces of space and time."
"And Blaze used it?"
"Yes," Levi said. "He sealed the demons. Their king, their armies—all of them. But no one knows what happened to the third daughter. She and her troops vanished."
Rei remained silent. The weight of this history was beginning to press against him like a stone wall.
"Afterward, the sage broke Blaze's powers into seven factors: Magic, Qi, Technique, Knowledge, Healing, Strength, and Stamina. Three human kingdoms inherited three of these—Astria took Knowledge, Weiss took Strength, and Houlthart took Technique. The Osward family of the GALU Republic took Stamina. The other three factors remain unbound, only appearing to those deemed worthy."
Levi leaned in closer, voice low. "But that wasn't the end. Three and a half millennia later, a new prophet arose. The Century Sage. He foresaw the demon army's return—this time, stronger. The world would perish."
"But he gave a solution," Luc interrupted at last.
Rei turned toward him, tense but silent.
"The Century Sage created a thousand books," Luc continued. "Each one containing specific paths—steps for individuals and families to follow. If they adhered to the guidance, their descendants would grow stronger. Eventually, we'd have enough warriors to counter the demon resurgence."
"But…" Rei said.
Luc nodded. "But the timeline had enemies. Three Fate Demons came from the future, sent to assassinate those growing too strong. One hundred years before the war, they interfere—trying to prevent the rebirth of Blaze's legacy."
Rei felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine.
"And now…" Luc said, voice neutral, "You've arrived. An anomaly."
Rei's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"The bandits that attacked Orville village when you were a child? They weren't supposed to. They were meant to attack a different village entirely. But your reforms—the flourishing trade, education, prosperity—drew them in."
Rei clenched his fists.
"You thwarted them," Luc added. "That wasn't supposed to happen. Not yet. They were to destroy two more villages before they were challenged."
Rei's heart pounded in his chest.
"The boy, Bret? Meant to be anti-patriotic. Your changes to the school system made him loyal to the country."
"Marie—your little sister—was never meant to be born," Luc said, his voice dipping lower. "But your negligence toward your mother during that period created unforeseen emotional ripples… and led to her birth."
Rei stood frozen.
"And Levi…" Luc looked over. "He was supposed to mentor a different boy. One who'd become key in the coming war. That boy never arrived. Instead, you did."
"You're changing fate, Rei," Luc said. "Twisting paths the records never predicted. You're the anomaly."
Rei's voice was hollow. "And the countries…?"
"They're watching you," Luc said. "One wants your sorcery. Another, your trade techniques. Another, your knowledge."
Rei's voice turned sharp. "And what does this country want?"
Luc smiled faintly. "Your strength."