"A report, Your Majesty."
A soldier knelt before the throne.
"Prince Lucen has returned to the palace with the Wind Knight and the Sword Knight."
The king rose at once.
Lucen stepped forward with the two knights and reported everything they had discovered—
the dead hunters, the vanished trail, the northern mountains.
The king's face hardened.
"That mountain range is far more dangerous than you realize," he said.
"Two years ago, I led a full army there."
His voice lowered.
"I was the only one who returned alive."
The hall fell silent.
"The air itself rejected us," the king continued.
"Even our Sacred Knights began bleeding… and died where they stood."
Lucen clenched his fist.
"But it couldn't kill you, Father. That means its power isn't enough to destroy someone with an Eye of Power."
The king hesitated.
"That night…"
His gaze drifted, unfocused.
"It felt as though someone was controlling that place."
Suddenly, his body stiffened.
A voice echoed deep within his mind.
A wound within the mist… whose blood is this?
Be calm, king. You will remember nothing.
The king collapsed.
"Father!" Lucen shouted, rushing forward.
Moments later, the king gasped and forced himself upright.
"So it's possible," Lucen said quietly,
"that those with Eyes of Power can be controlled."
He straightened.
"Then we'll need others like us."
The king nodded grimly.
"In our kingdom, only five possess Eyes of Power."
He counted on his fingers.
"The Wind Knight—Eye of Wind.
The Sword Knight—Eye of the Sword.
The two princes—Light and Darkness.
And myself—with the Eye of Fire."
His gaze sharpened.
"But Romeo stays."
Lucen frowned. "Why?"
The king stood fully.
"Because if we die in that place, this land will still need a ruler.
A king."
No one spoke against him.
"Prepare the army," the king ordered.
"Request aid from the Elven Kingdom.
Ask the Elf Queen to send forces for the conquest of the North."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the Wind Knight replied.
Lucen entered Romeo's room later that night.
"We're launching an assault on the northern mountain caves," he said.
Romeo turned sharply.
"That's impossible. You said yourself they can't be found."
"That's right," Lucen answered.
"We won't find them."
He met Romeo's eyes.
"We'll use the power of six Eye-bearers…
and erase the entire mountain range."
Romeo's breath caught.
"Then I'm coming with you."
Lucen shook his head.
"No. You're staying."
"Why?" Romeo demanded.
"Father doesn't trust you."
Anger surged through Romeo.
Shadows spiraled around his feet, forming a teleportation circle.
Before it could activate—
Slash.
A blade of pure sunlight cut through the circle, slicing it in half.
The shadows shattered and vanished.
Romeo staggered back.
Lucen stood between him and the exit, the Sword of the Sun glowing faintly in his hand.
"You're not going anywhere," Lucen said calmly.
"This entire palace is under my light. As long as I'm here, no shadow teleport will work."
Romeo clenched his fists.
"…So that's how far your power reaches now."
Lucen lowered his blade slightly.
"This isn't about power," he said.
"It's about survival."
He turned away.
"Stay here, Romeo.
That's an order."
The light faded.
Romeo was left alone—
with shadows that no longer answered him.
Your Majesty," a soldier announced, kneeling.
"Queen Elia. The Wind Knight from the Sun Kingdom has arrived to speak with you."
"Let him enter," Queen Elia said calmly.
The Wind Knight stepped forward and bowed.
"I carry a message from King Aldric," he said.
"Greetings, Queen Elia. It has been a long time."
He straightened.
"King Aldric intends to destroy the northern mountain caves.
For that, he requires your power."
Queen Elia rested her chin on her hand.
"And what kind of assistance are you requesting?"
"We ask for your aid," the Wind Knight replied,
"as well as the support of the Queen of Thunder and the Ice Knight."
Queen Elia's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And what do I gain from this?"
The Wind Knight did not hesitate.
"As you know, agricultural growth in your lands has weakened.
Conflicts along your border with the giants have also increased."
He took a breath.
"After your assistance, the Sun Kingdom will secure your borders.
In addition, Prince Lucen—the Prince of Light—will be sent here."
Queen Elia raised an eyebrow.
"He will use the power of sunlight to strengthen your crops."
Silence filled the chamber.
Finally—
"Accepted," Queen Elia said.
She paused, then looked back at the Wind Knight.
"Wait."
Her voice hardened.
"Deliver this message to King Aldric as well."
She stood.
"Dragons have been appearing more frequently as of late.
And the boy who bore the Shadow of Dragons…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"…has vanished."
Very well," Queen Elia said.
"What is the plan?"
The Wind Knight straightened.
"I will explain, Your Majesty."
"You and the Ice Knight will lead your forces toward the northern mountain caves.
I will advance alongside the army."
He continued,
"King Aldric, Prince Lucen, and the Sword Knight are also on their way—
marching with a much larger force."
Queen Elia paused.
"And what of Prince Romeo?"
The Wind Knight shook his head.
"He will not be joining us."
"King Aldric fears being left without an heir."
A faint smile crossed Queen Elia's lips.
"A shame," she said.
"I would have liked to witness the power of his darkness myself."
She turned sharply.
"Ice Knight," she called loudly.
"Prepare the army for war."
"At once, Your Majesty," the Ice Knight replied.
The Wind Knight let out a short laugh.
"I like your spirit."
Queen Elia glanced back at him, eyes sharp.
"What did you expect?" she said calmly.
"I am the one who slew eight dragons with my bare hands."
The Wind Knight bowed slightly.
"Truly… you are magnificent."
The King and the Queen arrived at the designated location overlooking the Northern Mountains.
A heavy silence filled the battlefield.
King Aldaric:
Queen Elia… do you know how long it's been since the last time we met?
Queen Elia:
Greetings, King Aldaric.
At once, everyone around them knelt to the ground.
Queen Elia:
So, this is where we end it.
The conquest of the Northern Mountains.
King Aldaric:
That's correct.
Queen Elia:
Then tell me—what's the plan?
Lucen stepped forward.
Lucen:
Greetings, Queen Elia.
I am Prince Lucen, the Prince of Light.
And this is my master, the Sword Knight.
Sword Knight:
It is an honor to stand before you, Queen of Thunder.
Queen Elia:
Likewise.
Enough formalities.
How do we destroy the mountains?
Lucen unfolded a large map, placing it on a stone altar.
Lucen:
This is a complete map of the Northern Mountain range.
My father and Queen Elia will advance from the front,
using overwhelming magic to suppress the area.
At the same time—
I will attack from the eastern side together with the Ice Knight,
damaging the core of the mountains and triggering a massive collapse.
Lucen (continuing):
Then, the Wind Knight and the Sword Knight will construct a spell formation in the sky.
That formation requires the power of all six Eye bearers.
All of us will combine our abilities
and release them simultaneously toward the ground.
With that single strike,
the entire Northern Mountain range will be erased.
Wind Knight:
This level of combined power is more than enough to destroy the mountains.
However—
If it were truly that simple,
we wouldn't have brought such a massive army with us.
Lucen:
Exactly.
There is a chance that an army of monsters will emerge from the caves.
And it's also possible that other Eye bearers are hiding within the mountains.
Queen Elia:
Tch… fine.
Let's stop overthinking it.
I'm already bored.
Let's finish this quickly.
King Aldaric stepped closer to the queen and spoke in a low voice.
King Aldaric:
The Wind Knight told me about the boy with the Dragon Shadow.
Queen Elia:
That's right. That boy possesses immense power. In a way, he is part of the very prophecy Queen Amelia once spoke of.
A prophecy that said:
When a boy is born bearing the Shadow of Dragons and the Dragon Eye, the world will be led toward ruin, and the Gate of Dragons will be
opened.
Queen Elia:
Remember this well—only those two princes can stop the prophecy.
King Aldaric:
You know it yourself. Lucen alone is more than enough.
Queen Elia:
Be careful. Do not separate the two brothers.