Amidst the ruins of a castle cloaked in silence…
A dark aura choked the air. Kazuki's small body stood firm among the wreckage, his black cloak fluttering like an unquenchable curse.
Before him, the leader of the criminal faction, Gorath, roared in fury.
His eyes glowed blood-red, veins bulging, and dark mana exploded from his body like a storm straight out of hell.
"You… damn brat! I'll kill you right here and now!!"
The mana blast consumed everything. Buildings crumbled, the ground split open, and the air turned into sharp blades.
But Kazuki… didn't move.
One hand hidden beneath his cloak. Cold eyes. No trace of emotion.
As if it was all just the whisper of an autumn wind—too noisy to bother listening to.
And when Gorath lunged…
One step.
One movement.
White Blade was drawn from the shadows.
CLANG!!
Gorath's attack was parried like dust.
Kazuki leapt lightly, graceful as a dancing shadow, and struck Gorath's chin with a fierce kick.
"…Tch. Boring."
His voice was cold. Flat. But it echoed like rewritten fate.
Before Gorath could even fall, Kazuki was already in front of him and—
STAB!
White Blade pierced straight into his heart.
STAB!
Again. Deeper.
Gorath's body lifted slightly. Blood splattered violently, but Kazuki didn't even blink.
"You call this resistance? Don't put me to sleep."
Gorath roared. Choking on pain. But his moments were numbered.
Kazuki raised his left hand.
One spell.
「Death Bloom」
A shadow flower bloomed. Not many—just dark petals whispering softly to death.
Gorath looked at Kazuki. His body weakened. His eyes began to fade.
"…You… monster…"
Kazuki slowly tilted his head down. A faint smile—not warm, not pleased, only mocking…
…like a bored god.
"This round… is mine."
And Gorath's body fell. Never to rise again.
The wind returned to stillness. Only Kazuki's footsteps echoed, fading into silence.
He never looked back at the corpse he had slain.
To Kazuki… it was just another fragment of a story not worth retelling.
---
The Next Morning
Heavy footsteps echoed through the courtyard of House Altherion.
Lycia… his older sister, had finally returned. Her body battered, wounds everywhere, dried blood on her leather armor. Her breath short. But she was still alive.
Kazuki stood at a distance. His gaze calm, a faint smile on his lips—one that no one could ever quite interpret.
"Just as predicted."
Without a word, Kazuki raised his hand.
Golden healing magic enveloped Lycia's body.
But there was no embrace. No "welcome back."
Kazuki looked to the sky. His white hair danced with the morning wind.
And as if leaping from the breeze itself, he appeared atop the roof of House Altherion.
Standing still.
Like a sovereign of the night, watching the world he had prepared to burn.
"All the pieces have moved… Time to play the next act."
But then…
Silent footsteps approached behind him.
Kazuki didn't turn.
He knew who they were.
The members of Nocturne Eclipse, his companions in the shadows, now stood quietly behind him.
The wind carried an unfamiliar presence. A sense of farewell.
Kazuki closed his eyes briefly, then spoke flatly:
"You lot? What are you doing here now?"
A small step forward. Neera, representing the group, bowed deeply.
"We've come… to ask your permission, Lord Kazuki."
"We wish to meet our families… and after that…"
"…we will leave this organization."
For a moment, even the wind fell silent. Kazuki's eyes opened slowly.
Neera met his gaze.
"However… perhaps, someday… we shall meet again."
Kazuki remained silent.
His gaze was calm… but his heart recorded everything.
Nothing could deceive the master of shadows.
He didn't stop them.
Only said silently in his heart…
"Tch… Why's it turning out like this?"
"I haven't even played the final act… and all my pieces are disappearing, one by one?"
And one by one, the members of Nocturne walked away…
Leaving behind only their shadows on the ground.
Shadows that once shook the world… now just memories.
Kazuki stood alone.
Above the world.
Staring at the sky now slowly devoured by the midday light.
---
Next Chapter:
"The White Reaper Enters Magia Veritas Academy"
A shadow walks into the light.
No more organization. No more army.
But with a faint smile and a burning madness.
Because…
True shadows… never truly fade.