Evening fell on the camp.
Inside a tent, a woman's cries echoed—sharp, painful, and filled with desperation. Guards stood tightly packed outside, their expressions tense, none daring to step inside.
Not far from the tent, Toji sat alone on a large rock. The fading sun painted the sky in shades of orange and crimson. His hands were clasped together, his head slightly lowered, tears silently slipping from his eyes as he prayed.
Footsteps rushed toward him.
A warrior arrived, breathing heavily, fear and grief written across his face. He lowered his head.
"Lord Toji…"
Toji did not turn away from the sunset.
"What is it?" he asked quietly.
The warrior's voice broke.
"We lost two more warriors. Our brave comrades—Minako and Mahito—never made it back."
Toji's eyes widened. Anger burned within them—anger toward the Hunters, and deep respect for the fallen.
He stood up slowly, closing his eyes.
In silence, he bowed his head.
Seven other warriors stood nearby. They had heard the news. One by one, tears welled in their eyes as the weight of loss settled over them.
Toji opened his eyes.
Toji and the warriors placed a hand over their chests.
"Without sacrifice," they said together,
"victory isn't possible."
Toji lifted his gaze to the sky.
Minako… you were the bravest of us all.
He knelt down, pressing his fist to the ground.
"Rest in peace, my friend."
Rising again, Toji cracked his neck, his expression hardening.
"They will regret this."
He leapt down from the rock and gripped his sword firmly in his right hand.
"Prepare the horses," he ordered.
"This will be the last night for Kazim Fort."
A warrior stepped forward, shaking.
"But Lord Toji… our forces are only A to D rank. They can't stand against S-rank Hunters!"
Another warrior struck him across the shoulder.
"How selfish can you be?" he snapped.
"Even after seeing our friends die, you still speak like this?"
Before the tension could rise further, hurried footsteps approached.
A maid came running, her face glowing with joy.
"Lord Toji!" she cried happily.
"It's a boy!"
The camp froze.
For a moment, grief and rage were pushed aside—
as new life entered the world.
Her words lingered in the air.
Toji froze mid-step. The tension in his body eased slightly, and his grip on the sword loosened without him realizing it.
The warriors around him fell completely silent.
Slowly, Toji turned his head.
"A… boy?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The maid nodded, her eyes shining with relief and joy.
"Lady Shizuka is safe," she said softly.
"And the child is healthy."
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
The wind passed through the camp, rustling cloth and firewood. No one spoke. No one moved.
Toji lowered his gaze to his hand.
It was trembling.
Tears fell—
not born from rage,
but from something far deeper.
"So…" he murmured quietly,
"life still dares to be born… even in this war?"
He exhaled slowly, as if releasing the weight he had been carrying all along, and closed his eyes.
For the first time that night,
the darkness around him felt… just a little lighter.
The faces of Mahito and Minako flashed through Toji's mind—
their smiles, their voices, the weight of their sacrifice.
Toji opened his eyes.
They were calm now, yet firm beyond doubt.
"Delay the march."
The warriors around him stiffened in shock.
"But Lord Toji—!" one of them began.
Toji raised a single hand.
"One night."
Silence followed.
After a moment, the warrior bowed his head.
"On your mark, my lord," he said.
"We will keep the horses and soldiers ready."
Toji nodded.
Then, turning toward the tent, he spoke quietly—
"War can wait… one night."
From inside the tent, a faint cry echoed—
sharp, fragile, and alive.
Toji stepped closer, stopping just outside the entrance.
He did not enter.
Toji spoke quietly, his voice barely more than a vow.
"You were born into a cruel world, child."
His gaze shifted toward the darkening horizon, where the silhouette of Kazim Fort loomed in the distance.
"But I swear…"
His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.
"No Hunter will ever lay a hand on you—
as long as I am still breathing."
Far away, lightning flashed across the forest, briefly illuminating the land as thunder followed like a warning.
Scene Shifts — Kazim Fort
Massive stone walls rose high beneath the glow of countless torches. Golden banners fluttered proudly in the night air, each one bearing the unmistakable crest of Kazim Fort.
Lanterns lit every corridor and tower, bathing the fortress in warm light. Music echoed through the halls, laughter mixing with celebration as the entire fort pulsed with life.
Drums beat in a steady rhythm, their echoes weaving through the night. Laughter filled the air, bright and carefree.
Servants hurried back and forth across the courtyard, balancing trays of food piled high with roasted meats, fresh fruits, and shining goblets of wine. The scent of celebration lingered everywhere.
Inside the royal courtyard, a long table stretched across the hall. Nobles sat beside generals, royal relatives mingled with high-rank Hunters, all sharing stories beneath glowing lanterns.
Children ran freely between the stone pillars, their laughter ringing like bells as they played without a care in the world.
Nearby, elders sat together, smiling softly as they reminisced about the past.
A royal elder chuckled, raising his cup.
"Tomorrow, our princess leaves this fort—to become a bridge between lands," he said warmly.
"Time truly flies."
A royal lady covered her mouth, emotion shining in her eyes.
"She was so small back then," she said softly.
"I still remember how she used to hide behind those very pillars."
Soft music flowed through the hall—gentle flutes and quiet strings weaving together like a lullaby.
At the center of the royal hall sat the royal family.
The King of kazim stood tall, broad-shouldered and dignified, clad in ceremonial armor that reflected the warm glow of lantern light. Strength and authority radiated from him with every breath.
Beside him sat the Queen, composed and elegant, her calm smile carrying both pride and reassurance.
Between them sat the Princess.
She wore a royal blue dress that shimmered softly as she moved. Her posture was perfect, her expression gentle—yet her eyes seemed distant, as if her thoughts lay far beyond the walls of the fort.
The King rose, lifting his cup.
"To my daughter."
The hall gradually fell silent.
"Tomorrow," he continued, his voice firm yet warm,
"you will unite two great houses."
A proud smile crossed his face.
"You carry not just our name…"
"…but our future."
All eyes turned toward the Princess.
She lowered her gaze slightly, hands folded in her lap, accepting the weight of those words with quiet grace.
The Princess rose from her seat and bowed deeply.
"Father… Mother," she said softly,
"I will not bring shame to the Kazim Kingdom."
The Queen looked at her with gentle eyes.
"You don't need to be strong tonight," she said kindly.
"Just be happy."
The Princess's lips curved into a faint smile.
At that moment, a group of royal siblings approached, their expressions playful.
One of her brothers grinned.
"So this is our last night of you stealing our blankets," he teased.
Her sister laughed, crossing her arms.
"Tomorrow, she becomes someone else's problem."
The Princess laughed—
this time, genuinely.
Her eyes shimmered as she spoke.
"You'll miss me."
Another brother placed a hand on his chest, his face suddenly serious.
"Of course we will."
A loud boom echoed overhead.
Fireworks burst into the sky above Kazim Fort, painting the night with streaks of gold and crimson. Light reflected in the Princess's eyes as she looked up, surrounded by laughter, warmth, and family.
For this brief moment—
she was not a symbol,
not a bridge between houses.
She was simply a daughter,
a sister,
cherishing her last night at home.
And above them all,
the fireworks continued to bloom—
brilliant, fleeting.
Colors painted the night sky—gold, crimson, and violet—spreading like living fire across the heavens.
Cheers erupted from below, laughter rising as the fireworks bloomed one after another.
Yet at the edge of the rooftop, far from the heart of the celebration, a lone man stood in silence.
He wore noble attire, refined and elegant, but he remained within the shadows, untouched by the joy around him.
His eyes were sharp.
Observing.
Calculating.
Nothing escaped his gaze.
He leaned slightly toward the guard standing beside him and spoke quietly.
"Ensure security is doubled tommarow."he said
The guard straightened at once.
"Yes, my lord."
The nobleman's eyes drifted back toward the celebration below—the royal family, the laughter, the glowing lanterns.
"There must be no trouble," he murmured.
"Not in tommarow's wedding."
Above the hall, the roof lay open at its center, revealing the sky where fireworks continued to bloom.
Below, the music began to grow louder—
yet beneath its rhythm.
The princess lifted her gaze toward the sky.
Fireworks bloomed above the fort—gold and crimson flowers tearing through the darkness before fading into ash.
For a fleeting moment, her smile disappeared.
She pressed a hand lightly against her chest, as if trying to steady something unseen.
"I don't know why…" she whispered.
The noise around her felt distant.
She shook her head, forcing a faint smile back onto her lips.
"But tonight feels… strangely heavy."
The celebration continued.
Music played. Laughter rose. Lanterns glowed brighter as the night deepened.
From afar, the fort shone like a jewel—alive with joy, unaware of the shadows drawing closer.
Scene Shift — Warrior's Hideout
Small campfires flickered between scattered tents, their flames swaying with the night wind.
Toji stood alone outside the tent.
He did not move.
Far beyond the mountains, faint sparks bloomed in the sky—tiny, distant fireworks, barely visible from here.
Gold.
Crimson.
Toji watched the distant lights in silence.
The faint echoes of celebration drifted across the mountains, carried by the night wind.
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
"So… they celebrate?" he murmured, his eyes narrowing.
A slow, dangerous smile curved across his face—one that held neither joy nor mercy.
"Enjoy it," he said softly.
"While you still can."
His fingers curled into a tight fist.
For a brief instant, a strange lightning-like aura flickered around his hand, crackling silently before fading into the darkness.
Far away, the last firework dissolved into the sky.
The night grew still.
And somewhere between celebration and slaughter—
fate took its first step forward.
CHAPTER ENDS