Three hours earlier.

  Rain pours over the entire city, drenching every roof and alley in Rilgohin. The streets are empty, with only the occasional sound of footsteps strutting across the wet sidewalks. At this time, Emmod and Novel are in an unremarkable shop in the Whitepool District, at Korbach the hatmaker's place, 'Redurb's Hats'.

  Due to the weather, customers stayed away today. Korbach and his apprentice, Sinul, took advantage of this to tidy up the shop. Even the deepest corners were thoroughly cleaned to pass the time.

  However, when Emmod and Novel entered, they paid little attention to this work.

  The brothers didn't intend to stay long. They had been nearby by chance, and since Korbach had picked them up from the castle, they thought this would be the best place to get out of the rain for a moment before heading home.

  "Do whatever you want. We're closing in an hour," Korbach said indifferently as he continued cleaning his work machines. That was a little less than an hour ago.

  For the past half-hour, they've been sitting together by the small fireplace, drinking tea after Novel managed to convince Korbach to join them.

  Sinul also used this as a chance to finish his work early.

  He went on to talk about the small place he called a "filthy hole" where he lived alone in the Shinemore District.

  "Has it always been such a ghetto?" he asks Korbach directly.

  "No," Korbach replies, "The creation of the four city districts after the takeover of the land led to that. The ones responsible, especially the king and the officer of this district, Barder, quickly managed to systematically exclude the citizens there from the rest of Rilgohin's society."

  "Why?" Novel asks.

  "Well," Korbach begins, leaning back in his chair, "It's a common tactic when you want to isolate and confine a specific group of people who are seen as inferior by the ruling society and treated accordingly."

  "And which group of people is that?" Novel asks, confused.

  "Can't you think of anyone?" Korbach responds.

  The boys' faces are filled with thought. Novel and Sinul are at a loss as to whom Korbach could mean. Only Emmod has a plausible answer in mind.

  "The Crimson Crusaders," he says confidently.

  Korbach nods in agreement.

  "Unbelievable," Sinul says, astonished.

  "We even know some people who live there," Novel adds, emphasizing, "But they have nothing to do with the crusaders, I think."

  "I suppose that's because no one wants to be associated with the crusaders ideologies anymore, hoping to escape the district. Living there automatically means living in extreme poverty," Korbach explains.

  "But if I may ask," he continues, "Who do you know that lives there, besides Sinul, of course?"

  "Mitch and Prigill," Novel answers promptly, "They're siblings too and in our class."

  "I don't have that kind of luck," Sinul says regretfully.

  "Why not?" Emmod asks.

  "No money. No support from my parents," Sinul lists pitifully, "It's barely enough for my hovel, which I'm already very grateful for. But it'll be a while before I can afford something decent in one of the other districts."

  "It's really a shame," Korbach says angrily, "It used to be that anyone striving to gain more knowledge could go to school. Today, it's almost a privilege, which only became clear after the creation of the four districts."

  With that, Korbach stands up and pours the contents of his cup into the fire, which flares up brightly.

  "You don't seem to be from the wealthiest sort either," Sinul says directly to the Brymbach brothers, "How is it that you have money for school?"

  He has already noticed that the brothers aren't wearing the cleanest or most well-kept clothes.

  Emmod and Novel are unsure whether to take Sinul's remark as a compliment or an insult.

  "Our mother told us that our father inherited a lot of money from our grandparents," Emmod replies, "After his death, she inherited it and put it aside. The rest is barely enough for a small house on the outskirts of the city, but we can manage."

  "Well, that's something," Sinul says.

  "But let me tell you what's the worst part of my district," he continues, steering the conversation back to himself.

  Emmod and Novel don't mind and listen intently.

  "The crooked soldiers," Sinul reveals, "They take bribes, abuse their privileges, and the authority of their positions!" he says angrily.

  "Are they allowed to do that?" Novel asks, baffled, "Can't the officer do something about it?"

  "Him?" Sinul laughs bitterly, "Who do you think the soldiers learned it from?!"

  Emmod and Novel are speechless.

  "Fortunately, right next to my apartment is the Rogue District," Sinul continues, "The soldiers avoid that district."

  "Why?" Emmod asks, looking at him as curiously as Novel.

  "Well..."

  "Stop with your ghost stories," Korbach interrupts.

  "But old man," Novel says, frustrated, "We're old enough for ghost stories."

  "It would be nice if he were only talking about ghosts," Korbach says, "Wait, what did you just call me?"

  Suddenly, the bell rings and the front door swings open. A gust of wind blows into the store before the door closes on its own again.

  "Korbach. I need..." the man begins, out of breath, but he awkwardly stops when he rounds the corner.

  Droplets run from his soaked clothes onto the floor. He is wearing black boots, covered in mud, brown pants, and a brown cloak with a hood pulled up.

  "You?" the man asks, shocked, after realizing that he had just saved Novel from a beating by Korbach.

  The voice sounds strangely familiar to them.

  The man pulls back his hood.

  "You?" Emmod responds, equally shocked.

  "Uncle Ko!" Novel shouts excitedly, rushing toward him to hug him. "You're back. But why are you here?"

  "I'd like to know that as well," Korbach says suspiciously.

  "Me?" Ko replies, "What are you two doing here?"

  "Just hanging out," Emmod says dryly. "How are you?"

  G-O-N-G.

  A large grandfather clock in the shop chimes. It's eight o'clock. An hour has passed since Emmod and Novel arrived at the shop. For Sinul, this means only one thing.

  "Time to clock out," he says, standing up casually. "See you around," he says directly to Emmod.

  "Make sure you don't get into any trouble," Korbach calls out, as Sinul puts on a large top hat—something he always wears when heading outside, though today he'll have to be careful not to let the strong wind blow it away.

  "Yes, yes," Sinul begins, tipping his hat slightly, 'See you next week,' he shouts, as the bell rings, wind blows some leaves into the shop, and the door closes behind him.

  Korbach sighs before turning his gaze to Ko. He looks worn out, with dark circles under his eyes. Even his wrinkles have wrinkles. He simply looks tired of life.

  But Korbach sees more behind that.

  "Have you been drinking?" he asks slowly.

  "No. Why would you say that?" Ko replies sadly, avoiding eye contact.

  Aside from the fact that Ko smells of alcohol, he can't stand still, sways, and his hand is trembling. Korbach's suspicion is confirmed.

  "What happened in Saharka?" Korbach asks sharply. "Why are you really here?"

  Ko snorts.

  "Saharka?!" Novel exclaims in surprise. "So that's where you've been this whole time."

  No response. Emmod and Novel have never seen their uncle so distant.

  "You need to notify someone," Ko says directly to Korbach, ignoring his nephews. "Your friend from far away."

  Korbach clears away the tray with the empty cups and the teapot.

  "I don't have many friends, Ko," he says, "and none of them live far away."

  "Are you saying that because he's now called the Phantom in certain circles?" Ko replies.Korbach remains standing with his back to them. Fortunately for him, the others can't see his widened eyes."Too much depends on it, Korbach," says Ko resolutely and takes a step forward.Korbach sighs.

  "He cut off contact a few years ago," Korbach finally says. "Many letters, no replies. None. I don't even know if he's still alive," he explains with a heavy voice.

  "We have no choice," Ko replies firmly. "Time is running out, and the fate of the world may depend on this."

  Emmod and Novel don't understand a thing. Nevertheless, Korbach agrees and follows their uncle into the small back room, deliberately shutting the door behind them.

  As two responsible children their age would do when adults are having a private conversation they shouldn't overhear, they sprint to the door and press their ears as close as possible, eager to catch every word.

  "Tell him that I was too late. I was too late," they hear their uncle say at the beginning.

  "So it's really true," they hear Korbach respond. "My deepest condolences, Ko."

  For a brief moment, they hear nothing else. So, Novel peeks through the keyhole.

  He can just make out Korbach writing on a piece of parchment while their uncle whispers the words to him. This goes on for a while until they start speaking in normal voices again.

  "You know his mindset," Korbach says with concern. "If he's still alive and reads the message, he will move heaven and earth to act," he continues. "What I mean is, the risk of something happening to them is very high," he says intently.

  "That risk has always been high. Since their birth," their uncle replies, sounding no less worried. "But I wouldn't ask you if there was another way."

  Emmod has had enough. He opens the door.

  "Can you stop talking in code and tell us what's really going on?!" he says.

  "No," comes the firm and synchronized response, before they change the subject.

  "But that stuff you're drinking isn't an escape," Korbach says as they come out of the back room.

  "An escape?" their uncle repeats with a slight laugh. "Not at all, but it's a help."

  "That's what you think, until you wake up tomorrow and realize nothing has changed. You can't drown your sorrows in alcohol, Ko," Korbach insists.

  "I know the pain runs deep," he adds, placing a hand on Ko's shoulder. "But spend your time on things that truly matter. Things that will help you forget the sorrow. Like spending time with your nephews."

  Ko's eyes drift to the boys and narrow slightly. His mouth lifts into a smile, his cheeks rising. For the first time in a long while, genuine joy is reflected on his face.

  Despite the constant weight of sorrow on his heart and how dark the world has become around him, the past few days have reminded him of how much the things he still has in life mean to him.

  "You're still wearing your bandana," Ko says in surprise.

  "I wear it every day," Emmod replies proudly.

  This fills Ko with pride as well.

  "Thank you, Korbach," he says cheerfully.

  Korbach snorts, leaning one arm over the mantelpiece, resting his head on it, and staring into the warm fire below.

  "It's the least I can do," he says, sounding troubled.

  To Emmod and Novel, it feels dramatic.

  "Come on. I'll take you home," Ko says calmly to them.

  "See you next time," Emmod and Novel call out, but Korbach remains motionless by the fireplace.

  Not even a goodbye comes back, which they find rather strange.

  They open the door, but they'd rather close it again immediately—the storm has started outside.

  "Better if we go to my place first," Ko says decisively. "Until the storm dies down."

  Emmod and Novel have no objections to that, as the wind blows the rain with full force into their faces.

  Luckily for them, Ko's housing is a bit closer to Korbach's hat shop than their own house.

  Unfortunately, his cabin is nowhere near as well-protected as their house—both inside and out.

  They quickly enter through the unlocked door. Why would it be locked?

  There's nothing of value in the cabin to steal anyway.

  There are no carpets and hardly any furniture—just a chair, a table, and a bed that look like they might break just from being looked at.

  Like the cabin itself, everything is made of wood. The roof leaks, and the plaster is falling off the walls due to moisture, causing mold to grow. The floorboards creak with every movement.

  It wasn't Ko's first choice to take the two to his place, but for now, he had no other option. Striking a match, he lights several lanterns scattered around the room.

  Here, Emmod and Novel feel quite comfortable and sit on the edge of the bed.

  Meanwhile, Ko opens the door to his small garden, where a bucket full of rainwater stands.

  "Are you thirsty?" Ko asks.

  Emmod and Novel shake their heads.

  Ko takes several large gulps from the bucket.

  "That hit the spot," he says, wiping his mouth.

  "So, what have you been up to the past few weeks?" he asks, taking another drink.

  "Made friends with the princess," Novel replies.

  Ko chokes and starts coughing.

  "You have to stop saying it so casually," Emmod says, shaking his head.

  "You what?! Does your mother know... Does the king know..."

  "Yes. Yes, and yes," Novel says, now annoyed. "Everyone knows. Everyone gets along. Everything is fine."

  "Not sure if everything is fine," Emmod comments.

  "Why?" Ko and Novel both ask, confused.

  "Novel had an argument with the princess," Emmod explains.

  "YOU DID WHAT?!" Ko yells, clutching his head.

  "I didn't," Novel protests. "I just told her to overcome her fear."

  "Her fear? Fear of what?" Ko asks, now calmer.

  "Fear that she'll endanger her family if she steps out of line," Novel replies, "and that there'll be consequences for her entire family."

  "She's tired of her parents controlling her life," Emmod adds. "More specifically, her father."

  "So, I just asked her what's holding her back," Novel continues.

  "And called her father a liar to make others more obedient. You told her to go against her family, even though she doesn't want to risk them getting hurt," Emmod lists off.

  "All I said was she should overcome her fear and have the courage to speak her own mind when she feels it's right."

  "You're lucky the prince wasn't in the room at the time," Emmod says condescendingly.

  "Why?" Ko asks, puzzled.

  Emmod points to Novel's forehead.

  "What about it?" Ko asks.

  "That's where he got kicked by the prince during their first meeting."

  Ko's jaw nearly hits the floor.

  "Don't worry," Emmod says, slamming his right fist into his left palm, "he'll get that back," he adds, trying to reassure Ko, who awkwardly scratches his forehead.

  "Anyway," Ko says, stressed, "what are you planning to do next?"

  "We want to help her," Emmod replies firmly.

  "You help others more than you help yourselves," Ko says, laughing at the irony.

  "Don't get me wrong—that's not a bad trait. But why this girl in particular?" Ko asks, curious.

  "She wants to live life on her own terms, independent of her status," Emmod answers. "Even though she has everything. She's in a safe harbor and could possibly stay there her entire life. Why not? Everything's there."

  "She knows she needs to change something but doesn't have the courage to do it alone," Novel adds.

  "Even though something deep inside her says, 'This doesn't feel right,'" Ko concludes. "She's lost. And you want to help her find the right path for herself, don't you?"

  Emmod and Novel nod in agreement.

  "If what you've told me is true, you have more in common than you realize," Ko says, astonished. "It's truly impressive that despite your different lifestyles, your values and dreams are so similar," he continues. "But at the end of the day, you can't walk the path for someone else. You can only accompany them," he explains. "But if you really want to help the princess, I might even be able to lend a hand. We'll save that for another day, though."

  With that, he quickly dashes the excitement of his nephews.

  "Are you hungry?" he asks as he looks out the window onto the street.

  Emmod and Novel shake their heads.

  "Good," Ko says, "I don't have anything here anyway."

  "How's the training going?" he asks, though his gaze remains fixed on the street.

  "We've trained almost every day since you left," Emmod says proudly. "We're ready for the next step."

  "The next step?" Ko asks, surprised.

  "Using these exercises against real opponents," Emmod continues.

  "Using these exercises against real opponents..." Ko repeats absentmindedly.

  "Ko?"

  "Hmm?"

  "Are you okay?" Emmod asks.

  "Why wouldn't I be?" Ko replies, perplexed.

  "You're looking out the window unusually often," Emmod replies softly, noticing that Ko has caught himself doing it this time.

  "I'm just checking the weather," Ko lies.

  "Okay," Emmod says with a shrug.

  Ko slowly begins to sober up. He sits down on the chair at the table, reaches into his pocket, pulls out a small, round object, and places it on the table.

  It's a silver coin.

  Novel notices that it's the same coin Ko had been closely examining a few weeks ago in the tavern.

  "Ko, what do you find so special about that coin?" Novel finally asks, boldly.

  Ko looks at him, puzzled.

  "You often play with it or just stare at it for a long time. But it's just a regular silver coin, isn't it?"

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  "No," Ko says with a smile, "it's not."

  He stretches out his arm, holding the coin between his fingers, so his nephews can take a closer look.

  "Does this symbol look familiar to you?" he asks, intrigued.

  Emmod and Novel shake their heads.

  "When you overcome your fears, you'll recognize it."

  Then, he deftly rolls the coin across his fingers.

  "But first, you need to stop thinking you're powerless, because there's always a way to create change," he continues. "To find that way and change your life and surroundings, you first have to change yourself."

  At that moment, Emmod and Novel don't understand a word.

  Ko rolls the coin across his fingers again. Then, he gestures for Novel to come closer. Emmod watches from the bed.

  "So, you're asking why this coin is so special," Ko begins, as he examines the coin in the light. "The symbol engraved on both sides is a four-leaf clover. Four-leaf clovers, you must know, are very, very rare to find. That's why there are only two duplicates of these silver coins," he explains. "Each leaf of the clover has a different meaning. The first leaf stands for luck. The second leaf symbolizes health and protection from illness. The third leaf stands for special blessings that the bearer of the coin may receive. The fourth leaf stands for familial love and connection. Since there are only two of these coins, they symbolize a magical bond between two family members, no matter how far apart they are."

  Emmod and Novel are surprised to hear their uncle think so deeply about it.

  "Who has the other one?" Novel asks, clearly eager to know who this person is that means so much to their uncle.

  "My son," Ko replies.

  "WHAT?!" they both shout at once.

  "We have a cousin?" Emmod asks.

  "Why have you never told us about him?" Novel asks.

  "You never asked," Ko says, smiling.

  "Is that why you were away?" Emmod asks. "Were you looking for him in Saharka?"

  "No. Wherever he may be, I hope he's safe," Ko answers softly before briefly drifting into thought.

  "That's why..." he continues, "I want you to take it, Novel."

  "But-but I don't even know your son. I-I..." Novel stammers, "If it's so important to you..."

  "You know how much it means to me," Ko says. "That's why I know you'll take good care of it. It'll be safer with you than with me."

  Ko places the coin in Novel's hand, gently closes his fingers around it, and pats his hand softly.

  "And maybe, in the not-so-distant future, you'll use it to find my son," he says, hopeful.

  "What makes you so sure someone else doesn't have it by now?" Emmod says pessimistically. "It could've been lost, stolen, or maybe he threw it away himself."

  "He'll have that silver coin with him. I'm sure of it," Ko replies with certainty, "in the hope that when times get better, we'll be reunited."

  "But where have you been all this time?" Emmod asks, eager to learn more, while Novel sits back down next to him, still examining the silver coin.

  "I was searching for my brother," Ko answers wearily, causing Emmod and Novel to look up at him, intrigued.

  "Not your father, unfortunately," he corrects himself. "You have another uncle."

  "Yeah, we know you don't mean our father..."

  "Wait. What?!" Emmod interrupts himself, stunned.

  "You have another uncle..." Ko repeats.

  "No, no, no," Emmod quickly interrupts again. "You said 'not our father.' But you and Mom always told us there were only two siblings—you and her. That you're her brother, not our father's."

  Ko sighs.

  "She wanted to protect you, but what's the point now?" he says, and his nephews immediately notice how much more open he's become thanks to the alcohol.

  "You're right," Ko admits. "I'm not your mother's brother; I'm your father's brother."

  Emmod and Novel's eyes widen in shock.

  "And I'm not alone," Ko continues. "Including me, you have two other uncles. Three uncles. Four brothers, counting your father."

  Now Emmod and Novel's jaws practically hit the floor. Novel can hardly believe they have such a large family.

  Emmod, on the other hand, is more upset that their mother and uncle had lied to them again, supposedly to 'protect' them, as always.

  "And did you find him?" Novel asks, clearly interested.

  Ko looks broken as he answers.

  "Shortly after the start of summer, I received word that he was in great danger," Ko begins. "I knew I had to find him somehow, talk to him, warn him, and save him," he explains. "That's why I left. But when I arrived, it was already too late."

  "What happened?" Novel presses further.

  Ko chokes back a sob.

  "He was already dead when I reached Saharka," Ko says sorrowfully. "And there is no trace of his wife and children. No one could tell me whether they are still alive or whether they suffered the same fate."

  Emmod and Novel didn't know what to make of all this. They had never even heard of this uncle until a few seconds ago.

  "But why did he die?" Emmod asks after a brief pause. "You said he was in danger. Was he... murdered?"

  Emmod seizes the moment, knowing Ko is still not fully in control of his senses and more talkative than usual.

  Was it morally the right time to ask? That's debatable. But for Emmod, this might be the only chance to learn more.

  "Mom always says Dad had an incurable heart condition," Emmod continues. "Please be honest, Ko. Is that true? Or did something else happen that led to his death?"

  Ko studies him for a moment before sighing.

  "The truth is, your uncle and your father were great men," he begins. "But just like me, they carried special powers within them," he says seriously. "With those powers, we could defeat the strongest warriors—hundreds of them on a single battlefield," he continues with intensity. "We became such a great threat that some of our enemies declared our powers a sin. More and more people believed it, even our friends. So, friend and foe alike joined forces to defeat us once and for all. Since then, we've been on the run, hiding from them," he explains. "We went our separate ways, each man for himself. We tried to take on new identities, live new lives, and leave the past behind. But in Saharka, I realized we can't. No matter where we are, even in the farthest corners of the earth. We can't run from who we are. Our past will always catch up with us. Always."

  Emmod and Novel take a moment to process what their uncle has just revealed.

  "Ko," Novel begins cautiously, "What role did you play in the war?" he asks. "No, what role did our family play in the war?"

  "I thought you would've figured that out by now," Ko responds with a slight grin.

  "This is insane," Emmod interrupts.

  "You think so?" Ko asks.

  "YES! You're insane," Emmod says, shaking his head. "You've had one too many, Uncle," he adds.

  "This is all just coming from your imagination!"

  "Believe what you want," Ko says, unconcerned. "I was the oldest and responsible for my younger brothers. But back then, I couldn't save them, and nothing has changed to this day," he says, mournfully. "I just want to make sure you don't make the same mistakes that led to our downfall. I don't want you to meet the same fate," he adds emphatically.

  Suddenly, Ko notices a light shining about 50 meters away from one of the houses across the dark street. The owner's dog has started barking loudly.

  Meanwhile, Emmod glances at his younger brother, trying to wordlessly signal that Ko has lost his grip on reality.

  "Novel," Ko says darkly, surprising his nephews, who hope Ko didn't notice Emmod's gesture.

  "In the cellar, in a small wooden chest to the left of the door, there's parchment, a quill, and an inkwell. Bring me a sheet, the quill, and the ink," he says, without taking his eyes off the house across the street.

  "Now!" he says urgently.

  Novel doesn't ask questions and quickly runs to the cellar, while Ko calls Emmod over to him.

  "Do you see that house?" Ko asks.

  "Yeah."

  "Three people just went inside," Ko explains. "When they come out, you immediately move away from the window and let me know, understood?"

  "But..."

  "Just do it!" Ko commands, pushing Emmod toward the window.

  A few seconds later, Novel returns with the materials. Ko, dissatisfied with his speed, snatches them from his hands. He rips the parchment unevenly and tensely sits down on the chair. Hastily, he dips the quill into the ink and presses it forcefully onto the parchment. The words are hard to make out. The only sounds louder than his frantic writing are the dog's barking and the occasional rumble of thunder.

  "What are you writing?" Novel asks worriedly, but Ko doesn't respond.

  "The dog stopped barking," Emmod notes.

  "Yes, unfortunately," Ko replies. "What do you see?" he asks immediately after.

  "Everything's quiet," Emmod says. "No, wait. I see someone. A man. Either he stumbled or was pushed by someone."

  "And what else?" Ko asks, dipping the quill back into the ink.

  "He's kneeling. He's trembling and begging," Emmod says calmly. "Wait, the man is being threatened!"

  Novel tries to push past his brother to see, but Ko grabs his arm so forcefully that he nearly yanks it out of its socket. Novel yelps in pain.

  Emmod doesn't notice, too focused on the activity outside.

  "There are... three of them..." Emmod stammers nervously.

  With lightning reflexes, Emmod darts away from the window.

  "The man pointed over here," Emmod says fearfully. "They looked this way."

  "Did they see you?" Ko asks sharply.

  "I don't think so. But..."

  Ko quickly crumples the parchment he had been writing on.

  "Take this," he says anxiously, shoving the balled-up paper into Novel's hand without waiting for his consent.

  "What am I supposed to do with this..."

  "You've got maybe a minute," Ko interrupts, leaps into the center of the room and, with ease, pulls up three floorboards. The brothers sees a small hollow space beneath.

  "Never forget one thing," Ko begins, kneeling down beside them. "Alone, you are strong," he says, placing a hand on their shoulders. "But together—you are stronger!"

  He looks them each intensely in the eyes.

  "As brothers, you have a responsibility to one another."

  "What responsibility?" Novel asks.

  "To protect each other—at all costs," Ko replies, before his gaze shifts to the older Brymbach.

  "Especially you, Emmod," he says, giving his shoulder a firm shake. "Don't make the same mistakes I did. You'll regret it for the rest of your life, and you'll never forgive yourself if something happens to them."

  Both brothers secretly wonder why all of this sounds like a farewell.

  "Take good care of yourselves and your mother."

  "What do you..."

  Before Novel can finish his sentence, he collapses like a sack of potatoes as Ko's hand strikes near his carotid artery with surgical precision.

  Paralyzed, helpless, and unable to make a sound, Novel is caught by Ko.

  Emmod stands frozen, shocked and unable to react or speak.

  He too is rendered powerless by Ko, who catches him just like he did with Novel.

  "I made a promise to your parents, and I will keep that promise until the day I die!" Ko says, determined. "I'm sorry it has to end this way."

  He then gently but hurriedly places them in the hollow under the floor.

  Afterward, he carefully replaces the floorboards above them.

  "No matter what happens, don't move—don't make a sound—no one can know you're here. Only come out when you're sure you're alone!" he instructs them firmly.

  As if on cue, there are three loud knocks at the door.

  "Trust me!" Ko whispers to them one last time.

  Emmod and Novel's eyes follow Ko as he sits back down in the chair.

  They are in shock, terrified, and would love to scream.

  It feels to them as if they are asleep, only their minds are awake. They are aware of everything happening around them, but they are unable to move—their bodies are paralyzed.

  Once again, there are three heavy knocks at the door, but Ko doesn't move.

  Instead, he picks up his quill and begins scribbling on the small piece of parchment.

  'C-R-A-C-K'

  Dust fills the air. Unfazed, Ko's gaze falls on the door, now lying in the middle of the room, and then briefly on his nephews, who are hidden under the floorboards, which now have several cracks from the strong impact. He doesn't need to look up to know who's entered.

  "There's one question I've always wanted to ask," Ko says, tapping his quill on the table a few times. "What kept you waiting so long?" he asks.

  The smile on their masks is unnecessary at this moment.

  Three Black Guardians from Londe stand in the room.

  "I hope we're not causing any trouble," says the Guardian woman. "We were just looking for shelter from the rain."

  "Then you've definitely chosen the right house," Ko says sarcastically. "Make yourselves comfortable; everyone's welcome here."

  "Charming," replies the Guardian woman.

  "Leo," she says.

  Without saying another word, the tall guard with the wide-brimmed hat lifts the door lying on the floor and positions it back in the door frame.

  Emmod and Novel can barely see anything from under the floorboards, except for Ko, who occasionally glances over at them. They only hear voices and the heavy boots making every floorboard creak with each step.

  Now that the sound of the rain outside is no longer a distraction and they are all alone, the Black Guardians spread out around the room, positioning themselves near potential escape routes.

  The large Guardian stands with his arms crossed in front of the entrance door, the Guardian woman leans against the wall next to the open cellar door, and the third Guardian sits on the table next to Ko by the window.

  He moves the inkwell and quill aside and glances at the parchment on which Ko had scribbled wildly. His sword, resting in its sheath on his belt, is now directly aimed at Emmod and Novel beneath the floorboards. They have never seen such a beautiful sword before, and they silently hope it doesn't accidentally fall out and strike one of them through the cracks in the floorboards.

  After inspecting Ko's scribbles, the Guardian looks around the room. There isn't much to see, though. He lets out a mocking laugh, amused by the state of the shabby house.

  "You've been hiding in the shadows for quite some time," says the guard with his dominant smile, "But eventually, the sun moves on."

  "I expected you much sooner," Ko smirks provocatively. "Because of the attacks," he adds with a grin.

  "So, you admit to being the mastermind behind the attacks in the city?" the Guardian asks.

  "If that's enough to make you leave—yes," Ko replies.

  "Good to know," the Guardian says, impressed. "Too bad we're not here because of those trivial attacks," he adds. "No, we're here for something much more bothersome."

  With that, he switches places with the large Guardian, who now positions himself directly in front of Ko.

  "We received word that you were involved in a bar brawl a few weeks ago," the large Guardian says darkly.

  Ko studies him for a few seconds, but he's neither intimidated by the satisfied smile on his mask nor by his towering stature that nearly reaches the ceiling.

  "Have the mighty Guardians of Londe fallen so far that you're now sent for something as insignificant as a fight?" Ko says mockingly. "Has your beloved council grown bored?"

  Emmod and Novel's eyes widen in fear as the table Ko is sitting at is violently thrown against the opposite wall by the large Guardian, shattering into several pieces.

  Their hearts pound with terror.

  Ko, however, remains unfazed, more annoyed by the fact that he'll now have to get a new table.

  "It wasn't the fight itself that drew our attention," the Guardian sharply condemns him.

  "But the fact that a person involved suddenly changed their eye color—that's rather strange," says the Guardian woman at the cellar door.

  In that moment, Ko remembers that his eyes glowed with an orange light during the one-sided fight. But no one who was in the tavern that day would have ever betrayed him. No one except...

  The only person who looked him in the eye and noticed the change.

  The only man Ko spared from the Fearsome Five.

  Ko realizes it.

  "A tattletale, isn't he?" Ko says. "Let me guess. Fiery red hair, lanky, with a few stray hairs between his lip and nose."

  "We have our eyes and ears everywhere," the Guardian woman says cautiously.

  "Because we're dispatched for such extraordinary cases—Koro Wynfre," says the Guardian with the jester's cap, drawing his sword from his belt shortly thereafter.

  Koro, however, merely smirks.

  The shimmering tip of the sword reflects in Emmod and Novel's eyes.

  Novel grows restless and begins to breathe more heavily. Like his brother, he slowly regains more control over his body, who can now slightly move his arms.

  The large Guardian kicks the chair out from under Koro, causing him to fall to the ground. Then he and the Guardian woman grab him by the arms and yank him to his knees, right above his nephews. Both are still unable to speak. Novel struggles with all his might to move until Emmod grabs him by the arm to calm him.

  The Guardian with the jester's cap places the cold sword directly against Ko's neck.

  "You are the greatest war criminal in this world, the feared leader of the Crimson Crusaders! As long as a breath escapes your lips, you mock all those you have sent to the beyond with your bestial violence!" the Guardian thunders. "You are a devil, and it's time to banish you back into the darkness of the earth!"

  "Koro Wynfre—in the name of the High Council of Londe—we condemn you—to death!"

  The Guardian raises the sword high into the air.

  Novel's mouth opens sluggishly.

  "Any last words?" the Guardian asks him directly.

  Ko looks down between the floorboards and meets Emmod and Novel's gaze directly.

  "Irony of fate," he says, smiling at them.

  Emmod reacts instantly, covering Novel's mouth with his hand just as he almost would have betrayed them in shock as Ko's head rolls across the floorboards.

  Fortunately, Emmod had already regained enough control of his body to prevent him from doing so. But he, too, must suppress the pain that wells up inside him with the last of his strength.

  Blood drips from their uncle's torso, seeping through the floorboards and soaking their bodies. Emmod and Novel wonder when this nightmare will end.

  "That bastard," they hear the Guardian who executed the beheading say.

  "Look at this," he adds, standing directly over the brothers.

  Their hearts pound in their throats, but today is not their day to die.

  The Guardian lifts Ko's severed head high.

  "He's smiling," he says, showing the others the face.

  And indeed.

  Koro Wynfre met death with a smile, a smile that puts the artificial expressions on their masks to shame. For it is real and filled with love.

  "Well, that's done," the Guardian says cockily, tossing the head aside carelessly as if it were a plaything.

  "Not quite yet. Search the cellar and the garden," the large Guardian orders the others, lifting Koro's head again in the same motion.

  "Perhaps we'll find clues to other allies or if he had family," he adds.

  "Looking at this place... probably not," the Guardian woman adds condescendingly.

  "And then?" the Guardian asks as he puts his sword back into his dual sheath.

  "And then it will be time to pay the king a visit," the large Guardian replies cunningly.

  Their search is brief and marked by a lack of thoroughness, as their mission has been a complete success.

  They extinguish the lanterns and close the door, unaware that the souls of Emmod and Novel continue to shine within this dark place.