As soon as Sires opened Roliya's diary, he began reading.
The first page said:
"Today is my little brother Sires' first day of training. I wonder… will he be able to make new friends?"
He turned the page.
"Today my brother made a friend. His name is Warmeo. He even invited him home. Warmeo has a little sister too—her name is Dozzy. She looks just like a fairy."
A tear rolled down Sires' cheek.
He kept reading.
"There is another friend—Vizard Ires. He is a little serious. Today my brother, Warmeo, and Ires went out together."
Next page:
"They came back completely dirty. I scolded them and told them to clean themselves. After that, I cooked food for all three of them."
Sires couldn't hold back his tears.
But he continued.
The handwriting changed—more shaky, more painful.
"Today was the most painful day of my life. Sires' mother and father were killed."
Sires' hands trembled.
"After that… Ires never appeared again."
He quickly turned the page.
"Next morning, when I went near the river, I saw someone teaching strange magic to a group of people. When I looked at that boy closely, I began to doubt… was it Vizard Ires?"
"The magic he was teaching did not feel pure. It felt dark."
"They sensed my presence. I ran back home."
Sires slowly closed the diary.
His eyes were filled with anger.
"I suspect it was you, Vizard Ires."
He clenched his fist.
"I believe you killed my sister. This time… you will not escape from me."
Meanwhile…
Vizard Ires said to Magnus,
"Go. Provoke the people of Stella. Turn them against Elvin and his companions."
Magnus nodded.
"Yes, Master."
"But Master… you said we should wait a few weeks."
Ires' voice turned cold.
"Yes. But now I'm in a hurry. Go. Announce the war."
Magnus obeyed and headed toward Stella's royal palace.
He asked the King,
"Are the soldiers ready to bring destruction?"
The King replied confidently,
"Yes, we are ready."
Magnus ordered,
"Gather everyone. Announce the war."
The King called all the soldiers and declared loudly:
"My companions, after two days, we will attack Elvin."
The soldiers who were not manipulated were shocked.
They exchanged worried looks.
After the King finished his long speech, those non-manipulated soldiers secretly gathered in a room.
One of them said,
"We must inform Master Sires. The war has begun."
Another added,
"Yes… and we should warn Master Dozzy so she can prepare."
One soldier quietly left the room, heading toward Sires.
The storm was about to explode.