"So… how was your mission? Did you succeed?"
Daita's smirk faded a little, replaced by a cooler expression as he crossed his arms.
"Partially." He looked away, his gaze narrowing as it followed the light spilling across the corridor floor.
"…I went for something else, but ended up doing something else entirely. A faint sigh slipped past his lips. "I failed to make Grandpa agree." his voice shifted, touched with a note of intrigue. "But… what I found wasn't what I expected. It's far more interesting."
Akira tilted his head curiously, "How interesting?"
Daita clicked his tongue, his smile creeping back, mysterious and unreadable.
"That… I won't tell you. Even the Seventh Prince has the right to keep some secrets."
Akira let out a quiet chuckle as Daita continued, his tone now serious.
"Still… there are some secrets I discovered during this mission that must be discussed seriously. But before that—" He turned on his heel, already heading down the corridor. "—I need to report to His Majesty before he orders me to be locked away for seven days and seven nights without food. Just like you were, for being late."
Akira instantly stepped forward, flicking Daita's forehead with a snap of his fingers.
"Daita, how can you expect the same punishment? His Majesty adores you. It wouldn't be that strict."
Daita winced, rubbing the spot. "I know, but he's terrifying when he's angry. And you—" He pointed at Akira with narrowed eyes. "Stop flicking my forehead everytime! it hurts my pride."
He sighed, turning away with a groan. "I'll never understand why His Majesty adores me more than his only son."
With a glance over his shoulder, he took a step back and in one swift, practiced motion, vanished down the corridor. The sudden gust left the hem of his robes fluttering behind him.
The prince chuckled softly, Then his expression grew distant as he turned in the opposite direction, footsteps echoing against the floor.
"Yeah… you're right." His voice lowered, almost to a whisper.
He paused, lifting his face toward a stained glass window lit gold by the setting sun.
His hand slid into his sleeve, fingers brushing a small, delicate single pearl bracelet tied snugly around his wrist. old, yet clearly precious. The silence pressed in, heavy and sacred.
He exhaled slowly, his thumb gently tracing the curve of the pearl.
"Let's meet again soon."
———-
The golden flame flickered as the Emperor lit a candle in the quiet of his chamber. Its glow cast warm, dancing shadows across the carved walls. He set the flame aside, and just then—
Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed with weight.Without turning, he waved a hand, and the grand doors creaked open.
"Come in," the Emperor said, his voice calm but edged with unspoken.
Daita stood outside, inhaling deeply before stepping in. His posture was composed, but a subtle tension clung to his shoulders. The heavy doors slowly shut behind him with a final thud.
The Emperor finally turned, his expression unreadable as he walked forward, candlelight glinting in his sharp eyes.
"So… you're finally back?"
Daita dropped to one knee without hesitation.
"Your Majest— Uncle, I'm sorry. I know I vanished without a word, and I know you're furious. I accept whatever punishment you decide, and I'll return to the sect immediately."
The Emperor paused, then stepped forward and firmly gripped Daita's arms, lifting him to his feet. Daita kept his gaze low, reluctant to meet his uncle's eyes.
"Daita," the Emperor said, his tone softer, "you don't need to avert your eyes. Yes, I'm furious—but you've apologized. That's enough. However…" his gaze sharpened, "you owe me the truth."
Daita's jaw tightened. He nodded.
"Yes. I'll answer."
"Where were you all this time?"
Daita didn't answer immediately. Then, with a quiet breath, he replied.
"…I wanted to see snow."
The Emperor blinked. "Snow?"
"Yes. That's why I went up snowy mountains. I wanted to see snow… to be alone with it for a while."
A long silence followed. The candle flame flickered between them.
"You're serious?"
"I am." Daita finally looked up. "Have I ever lied to you, Uncle?"
The Emperor's gaze lingered on him, searching for deception but all he saw was honesty tinged with something else. He studied Daita's face for a long moment before his stern expression softened. At last, he gave a small nod and offered the faintest hint of a smile.
Then he turned away, the folds of his robe catching the flickering candlelight.
Daita exhaled silently in relief, his shoulders loosening. But the calm was short-lived.
"It's good," the Emperor said suddenly, "that you didn't blindly fall into Akira's tricks. His actions are never without some hidden reason."
Daita's lips twitched into a smirk, but he quickly composed himself as the Emperor turned to face him once more.
"That's why I always warn you to keep your distance from him. But you never listen."
Daita took a step forward, his voice calm.
"Uncle, you know I'm not easily fooled. I've told you many times. my closeness to the Crown Prince is deliberate. I stay beside him so I can keep an eye on him… and report everything to you."
The Emperor gave a slow nod, walking over to the couch. He sank into it with a tired sigh, leaning back and gazing at the ceiling as if weighed down by thoughts.
"Keeping an eye on him is one thing," he murmured, "but controlling him is becoming harder each day. I wonder when he'll disappear again…"
Before his words could settle, a loud knock rang through the chamber.
The Emperor groaned and lazily waved a hand. The grand doors opened with a creak.
Three palace guards rushed in, panic written all over their faces. They dropped to one knee, panting and speaking in unison:
"Your Majesty…t-the Crown Prince has escaped the palace again!"
Hearing those words, the air in the chamber turned still too still. The candle flickered violently as though recoiling from the weight of the news. Both Daita and the Emperor froze for a split second, eyes wide. Then, in perfect unison, their voices rang out sharp, stunned, and utterly horrified.
"WHAT?!"
——————
The forest was dense trees with twisted roots loomed on either side, their thick canopies choking out the last light of day. Shadows crawled like ink across the damp ground as Crown Prince Akira moved forward, silent and steady.
His white robe, now streaked with dirt and leaves, swayed behind him. He reached a moss-covered stone wall at the base of a cliff, where no path continued, no wind stirred.
Akira lifted his hand and whispered something under his breath. A soft shimmer rippled through the air then with a sudden pulse, the illusion dropped.
A narrow crack appeared in the rock, glowing faintly. Then he placed a hand on it.
Clack.
Stone grinded against stone as the passage shifted open, revealing a steep, jagged descent into darkness. Without hesitation, he jumped without hesitation and landed with the grace, dust rising around him. Brushing his shoulders off calmly, he exhaled.
Then—
Grrrrrrrrr…
A low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows ahead, rising into an angry, beast-like snarl.
Akira didn't flinch. Instead, he let out a long, tired sigh and raised his hand again, fingers flicking outward.
Flick.
One by one, soft blue flames ignited along the cave walls, casting eerie light across the cold stone and rusted iron
Almost instantly, the sound of Chains rattled furiously and the air was split by a furious growl turned into a scream two sharp cries of rage and fury.
In the far corner of the cavern, shackled in glowing chains, two fox demons barely more than pups—emerged from the shadows with eyes blazed with untamed fury, Their golden fur stood on end, lips curled to reveal sharp white fangs.
Akira took a slow step forward.
The moment his foot touched the ground, one of the foxes lunged with a savage cry, leaping straight at his face. But immediately the glowing chains yanked it back mid-air, slamming it to the ground with a growl. No sooner had it fallen than the second pup sprang after it, just as vicious only to be pulled back by its bindings with the same jarring force.
They didn't stop.
Again and again, they launched at him, each time brought down by the harsh grip of their enchanted chains, claws scraping stone, snarls echoing louder.
Akira stood motionless as the two fox pups thrashed and lunged, their snarls echoing through the cave like a storm refusing to quiet. Chains groaned, dust scattered, but he didn't move.
After a while, their fury gave way to exhaustion.
With a final, frustrated growl, they both collapsed to the stone floor—chests heaving, claws twitching, their rage spent for now.
Only then did Akira step forward. Slowly. Calmly.
He knelt before them, one knee to the ground, and extended a hand. His fingers brushed gently over their fur, stroking between their ears.
Though they still growled under their breath, neither had the strength to resist. They remained there, pressed to the cold floor, chained and weary.
His touch didn't waver.
"Hatred," he murmured, voice soft, "is fire buried beneath ash."