Darkness.
Silence.
An endless silence stretched across a world untouched by time.
Floating in the center of that endless void stood a magnificent throne carved from a crystal unlike any found in the Mortal Realm. It radiated a soft azure glow, as though an entire ocean had been trapped inside stone.
It was known as the Life Ocean Stone Throne.
Embedded around the throne were twelve ancient gemstones, each pulsing faintly with a life of its own.
They represented the twelve kings of old...
Rulers who had once stood at the peak of existence before entering an eternal slumber countless ages ago.
Legends claimed their bodies had vanished long ago.
Yet fragments of their authority remained sealed within those stones, waiting...
Watching...
Remembering.
Upon that throne sat a young man with long silver hair cascading over his shoulders like moonlight. His striking silver eyes were calm, unreadable, carrying the weight of someone who had witnessed centuries pass as though they were mere moments.
His fingers lazily tapped against one of the glowing stones.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
The rhythm echoed throughout the empty hall.
"Lorette Xandra Deshmuck."
The prince spoke without raising his voice.
Yet his words traveled effortlessly across the endless palace.
A ripple appeared in the darkness.
Moments later, a woman stepped forward.
She wore a long black cloak that flowed behind her with every movement. A dark mask concealed the lower half of her face, revealing only a pair of sharp obsidian eyes.
Those eyes narrowed slightly.
"Silver-haired," she replied, folding her arms. "Have you finally forgotten how to greet your elders?"
The prince looked at her.
Then...
He laughed.
A genuine laugh.
His silver hair slipped over one eye as two small dimples appeared on his cheeks, making him resemble a carefree young noble rather than someone who sat upon the greatest throne in existence.
"Respect?" he asked with amusement.
"You lost the right to demand respect the day you called me a brat."
Deshmuck clicked her tongue.
"And you deserved it."
Their exchange would have shocked anyone fortunate—or unfortunate—enough to witness it.
Across countless realms...
Entire civilizations trembled at the mere mention of Lorette Xandra Deshmuck.
Others spent lifetimes searching for the mysterious Silver-Haired Prince.
Yet here they stood...
Arguing like siblings.
The prince leaned back against the throne.
"I need your report."
"It isn't finished."
"I know."
"Then why summon me?"
"Because I want it tomorrow."
Deshmuck stared at him.
For several seconds...
Neither spoke.
Finally, she sighed.
"You never change."
"And you take too long."
A vein appeared on her forehead.
"You're testing my patience."
"So I've been told."
The prince smiled again.
His calm expression suddenly disappeared.
"The pendant."
Deshmuck froze.
"What about it?"
"It reacted."
Silence.
The playful atmosphere vanished instantly.
"It shouldn't have," she answered quietly.
"But it did."
The prince raised his hand.
A silver projection appeared between them.
Within it...
A teenage girl slept peacefully inside an ordinary bedroom.
Around her neck rested a silver pendant.
At first glance, nothing seemed unusual.
Then—
The pendant emitted a brilliant silver light.
At the exact same moment...
The pendant hanging around the prince's neck glowed in perfect synchronization.
Deshmuck's eyes widened.
"No..."
The image continued.
A shadow emerged from the corner of the girl's room.
It possessed no clear shape.
Only overwhelming darkness.
Then the shadow slowly condensed into a tall man with impossibly long silver hair and crimson eyes.
A massive scar stretched across his face.
The prince whispered one name.
"Ezerus."
The projection froze.
Neither of them spoke.
After several moments, Deshmuck finally broke the silence.
"So..."
"He found her."
"Yes."
"Did he notice the synchronization?"
"I don't know."
She clenched her fists.
"He wasn't supposed to reach the Mortal Realm this early."
"The veil is weakening."
Deshmuck lowered her head.
"I know."
The prince rose from the throne.
For the first time since she had arrived...
His expression became completely serious.
"The synchronization has begun."
Deshmuck slowly looked up.
"How much?"
"Unknown."
"That's impossible."
"The pendant refuses to reveal the percentage."
A rare look of concern crossed Deshmuck's eyes.
"It has never hidden information before."
"I know."
She turned away.
"This isn't good."
"No."
"The seal..."
"...is beginning to fail."
Neither of them wanted to finish that sentence.
Because both knew what would happen if the seal completely disappeared.
Entire worlds...
Would remember a forgotten name.
The prince looked directly into Deshmuck's eyes.
"Protect her."
"I always have."
"No."
His voice became firmer.
"This time..."
"Protect Anita."
Not...
"Anny."
Deshmuck's breathing stopped for the briefest moment.
"You used her real name."
"I did."
She remained silent.
After a while, she spoke softly.
"So..."
"It really has started."
The prince gave no answer.
Instead, he waved his hand.
The projection vanished.
His throne dissolved into countless silver particles until both he and the throne disappeared into the endless darkness.
Only his voice remained.
"I'll be waiting for your report."
Deshmuck sighed heavily.
"That damn brat..."
She rubbed her temples before her figure blurred and vanished.
---
Senegal, Mortal Realm
Golden sunlight poured across the bustling streets as students streamed through the front gates of St. Xavier International High School.
Laughter filled the air.
Cars lined the roadside while chauffeurs waited patiently for their employers' children.
Among the crowd walked two girls.
One had long black hair tied neatly into a high ponytail that swayed with every step.
A silver pendant rested quietly against her chest.
Her name was Anita Zedrack.
Though almost everyone simply called her...
Anny.
Walking beside her was her best friend, Kiara Daniels.
Unlike Anny's calm personality, Kiara wore a permanent expression that warned people not to test her patience.
Today's classes were so boring," Anny groaned as she stretched her arms.
Kiara rolled her eyes.
"You say that every single day."
"Because it's true."
"You also say you'll start studying every evening."
"I do!"
"You sleep instead."
"...That happened once."
"It happened yesterday."
Anny laughed sheepishly.
"Fine... maybe twice."
"Try every day."
The two burst into laughter, earning curious glances from nearby students.
"So," Anny asked, nudging her friend's shoulder, "are you free tonight?"
Kiara raised an eyebrow.
"What are you planning?"
"I was thinking we could go out for something cold."
"Ice cream?"
"Exactly."
Kiara pretended to think for a moment before smiling.
"Be ready by seven."
"It's a date."
"Don't make it sound weird."
The girls laughed again.
Anny was well known throughout the school.
Not because she was the loudest...
Nor because she came from a wealthy family.
People simply found her easy to like.
She was kind.
Calm.
Always willing to help others.
Her father, Zedrack Mawims, was the CEO of Mawims Airport, one of Senegal's busiest international airports.
Her mother had died shortly after giving birth to her, leaving Zedrack to raise his only daughter alone.
Kiara, meanwhile, was the daughter of Daniels Will, owner of Dan's Automobile Company.
Her older brother, Kyle Daniels, was studying fashion and modeling in France.
The girls had been inseparable since elementary school.
Different personalities...
Yet the perfect pair.
As they reached the school gate, they stopped.
"Bye, Kia."
"See you tonight."
They waved before heading in opposite directions.
Neither noticed...
The silver pendant around Anny's neck shimmered for less than a second.
Far away...
In a place beyond the Mortal Realm...
Another pendant answered.
And somewhere in the darkness...
A pair of crimson eyes slowly opened.
"Ezerus..."
The voice was barely a whisper.
"...I've found you."
End of Episode 1
--.