Hiro awakens in an unfamiliar room, lying on an extravagant bed. The sheets are of the finest silk, and the room is decorated with lavish furnishings. Confused and disoriented, he sits up, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Just then, a maid bursts in, her eyes wide with shock. "Prince Leon has awakened after a week of slumber!" she exclaims.
Realizing he must be in some kind of alternate world, Hiro decides to play along, pretending to have lost his memory. As he listens to the maid's hurried explanations, a strange sense of déjà vu creeps over him. The name "Leon" tugs at something deep in his mind, as if it's a forgotten piece of a puzzle.
Soon, a doctor enters, asking him a series of questions about his health and memory. The maid reveals that he is Prince Leon, the second son of the great King Alaric, and a prince of this kingdom. But as they speak, Hiro notices something odd—the doctor's probing questions, the way the maid's eyes dart nervously. They're hiding something.
He nods silently, playing the role of the confused prince, but inside, his mind races. There's more to this place than meets the eye, and he's determined to uncover its secrets. After the doctor and maid leave, Hiro stands by the window, staring out at the unfamiliar landscape. A chill runs down his spine as he realizes that the statue's eyes—the same glowing red stones—are embedded in the castle's walls.
Meanwhile, on a distant battlefield:
King Alaric, locked in a fierce battle with the demon lord, falls in combat. But as he breathes his last, a strange, fleeting smile crosses his lips. The news of his death spreads like wildfire, plunging the kingdom into mourning. Prince Magnus, the first son, consumed by rage and grief, orders the kingdom's remaining forces to prepare for a counterattack.
However, the kingdom's head mage intervenes, warning Prince Magnus that with his current power, he cannot hope to defeat the demon lord. The head mage proposes a ritual to transfer King Alaric's abilities to Prince Magnus, but it requires the king's body. Desperate for power, Prince Magnus agrees, unaware of the head mage's true intentions. The ritual is completed, but as Magnus rises, a shadow crosses his face—a brief moment of hesitation, as if he senses something is amiss.
Just as the ritual concludes, a messenger arrives with news that Prince Leon has awakened. Prince Magnus rushes to his brother's side, greeting him warmly but with an undercurrent of urgency. "I'm glad you've recovered, but there's no time to waste," he says, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
Hiro—now Leon—watches Magnus leave, a sense of unease settling over him. Something isn't right. He starts to question those around him, but everyone is tight-lipped, their responses carefully measured. The more he digs, the more he feels that this world is hiding dark secrets.
On the battlefield:
Prince Magnus charges into battle, the added power of King Alaric surging through him. He tears through the demon ranks, cutting down generals with ruthless efficiency. But something feels off—he can sense it in the way the demons seem to hesitate, almost as if they know something he doesn't.
The demon lord finally enters the fray, and Magnus, fueled by rage and the king's power, engages him in battle. But just as he gains the upper hand, a searing pain rips through his chest. The poison takes hold, and he stumbles, realizing too late that he's been betrayed.
The demon lord smirks, sensing his weakness. "So, the mighty prince has fallen. What a shame."
Magnus snarls, "I won't die by your hands," but his strength is fading fast. Desperate, he whistles sharply, summoning his sacred eagle. With a grim smile, he prepares his final move.
Using all his remaining energy, Magnus casts a powerful sealing spell, trapping both himself and the demon lord within a domain. The demon lord, sensing the danger, tries to escape, but it's too late. As the seal takes hold, Magnus imprints a blood seal onto a crystal, entrusting it to the eagle. "Take this to Leon," he commands with his dying breath.
The eagle takes flight, carrying the crystal to Prince Leon. As Magnus falls to the ground, the last thing he sees is the shadow of the head mage, watching from afar, a sinister smile on his lips.
Back at the castle:
Hiro stands at the window, lost in thought, when the eagle appears, dropping the crystal into his hands. As he examines it, the red glow within the crystal pulses ominously, the same unsettling light as the statue's eyes. A voice echoes in his mind, "The truth lies within," sending a shiver down his spine.
Prince Magnus is dead!!!!
And Hiro, now holding the key to a mystery far darker than he imagined, realizes that he's entangled in a web of secrets and lies, with no clear path out.