The Iyont Empire was a searing hot country. As such, people also called it ‘The Empire of the Sun.’ The sun rises quickly and sets late, and winter doesn’t even happen.

Eton’s destination was Mount Alkmaar in the northern part of the Iyont Empire. Alkmaar was a mountain with eternal snow that never melts all year round, so it has a different temperature. Once you are near Mount Alkmaar, it quickly turns cold. The presence of humans was also rare due to the large amounts of mountain beasts.

People said that Alkmaar was a sacred place. Some also said that a god lives there. Otherwise, how could such weather be possible?

But they’re not wrong. A god truly lives on Mount Alkmaar.

“It’s me.”

Eton stood in front of a small and shabby house that looked worse than where commoners lived, let alone a god. Well, Belkiel has liked simple things since a long time ago.

“Open the door. It’s me, Eton.”

Kiik

Soon, the door opened with a squeak.

The one who opened it was a young boy that looked to be fourteen or fifteen at most. Of course, this is only based on appearance. Clear silver-blue eyes stared at Eton.

“It’s been a while, Belkiel,” Eton said with a smile.

***

The house was homely with the wooden table and chairs, a low bed, and a pure white fleece carpet on the floor. Unlike his shocking appearance, Belkiel liked these kinds of simple things.

Eton sat down on his bed.

Belkiel glanced at Eton, then poured water to boil in an old scrap metal kettle.

“Now you are living like a human, aren’t you?” Eton asked.

“It isn’t so bad.”

“But it takes a lot of time. Why don’t you give me the kettle? It won’t take a long time for me to warm it up.”

“You weak man, you don’t have the power to say that, just wait quietly.”

A weak man.

It wasn’t just a word. Belkiel was also well aware of his current situation. The fact that Eton couldn’t regain his original power.

“You meanie. I’ve almost gotten all my power back again. I prioritize the quality, not quantity, you know.”

“If you’ve almost gotten your power, why are you here now?”

Belkiel’s voice was slightly chilly, but Eton knew that he was worried about the matter.

Belkiel was always like that. His expression of his emotions was awkward, and it looked like he was grumpy for no reason. Just like right now.

“Something happened.”

“Of course it did. You always have an ulterior notice,” Belkiel grunted again.

Soon the water finally boiled. Belkiel handed the teacup then pulled out a chair so he could sit facing Eton.

“I saw a priest while on my way. He was a very terrible guy. Why are you leaving them alone?”

“Because it has nothing to do with me,” Belkiel said, sipping his tea. “I have no interest in human affairs. Whether they want to war or cut off each other’s throats, it’s not my business.”

“…You’re still like that, huh. Or should I say your indifference is getting worse?”

“So, that’s why you also should stop now.”

“What?”

“Your reason for coming to the Iyont Empire is not only for the sealing stone, right? There must be another reason.”

Eton went still.

“That- you… How did you know?”

“I know how you think. Both back then and now.”

Belkiel was right.

He came here to find the sealing stone, but Eton also tried to find out information about Lize’s bloodline.

Since Lize had been a dancer, Eton first looked for dancers and musicians like her. Asking and asking, he searched the entire empire.

However, he only found a few pieces of information.

People said that Lize’s ancestor, a woman whose name is no longer known, was an exile from the Denhelder Empire.

Therefore, her descendants lived in hatred of the Denhelder Empire all their lives. He also heard that they wouldn’t even want to go there.

The reason is unknown.

It was already over a thousand years ago, so the story just passed around like a fairy tale.

What Eton still didn’t understand was why the majority of her descendants were daughters. There were times when a son was born, but they all died before they reached adulthood, so said an old woman, who he’d barely found.

When he asked how she knew about it, the old woman had replied:

‘I know Lize. I was the midwife when her mother gave birth to her.’

Lize’s mother, who didn’t live long, talked about the same thing as what her daughter said.

‘Just from here to there, from there to here, from there, eventually back to this place… it’s just such a life.’

Eton belatedly understood Lize’s words back then, and he eventually came to Belkiel’s place.

“Well, anyway,” Belkiel put the teacup on the table. “You look better than I thought. Your hair color is a bit of a mess, but… I thought you were going to be worse off.”

“And why are you not surprised? It’s like you knew in advance that I would wake up.”

“I thought you would awaken and come here soon. But it was a lot later than I expected.”

“What are you talking about?”

Belkiel stared at Eton and got up from his seat. Following that, he rummaged through a desk drawer and brought out a small box.

“Open it.”

Eton slowly opened the box. Suddenly, his body stiffened.

“It was split in half.”

Inside the box was a sealing stone. A perfectly shattered sealing stone.

“Exactly 22 years ago, all the sealed power was absorbed. All that’s left behind is the shell.”

“…What?”

“There’s no one you suspect?”

“…”

“Ah, there is someone.”

There was only one person.

“A child with your name.”

‘Yes, Brother Raytan has red eyes too. But his hair is black unlike yours…’

“The child who has the same eye and your original hair color.”

‘I know that Brother and Uncle share the same eye color, but there’s nothing more. Even your hair color is different, right?’

“Your descendant.”

“…It’s impossible,” Eton’s red eyes shook wildly. “How could that woman have given birth to my child… There’s no way.”

“No matter how long I waited, you didn’t come, so I thought something was strange. And then I went to Denhelder to check myself. I checked thoroughly. The kid’s name is Raytan.”

“…”

“Anyway, your’s and Syarhwina’s daughter is the beginning of the bloodline.”

“…Why?”

“…”

“Why…”

You betrayed me.

Left me alone.

Why?

How could you?

The words he couldn’t even say out loud kept revolving around his head.

“Didn’t I tell you countless times back then? The human mind is unfathomable and unbelievable,” Belkiel said with a cold face. “The reason men were rare among the descendants is that they died early even when they were born. Originally, the master of your power was a man, so passing over the daughters, your heredity must have been passed down only to the sons of your direct descendants. And since half the blood is that of a human’s, it’s hard to accept such power. That’s why most of them died.”

Belkiel continued talking.

“He is the exception. He is the only child who can receive your power. In other words, the descendant who resembles you the most. So, on the day that child was born, the sealing stone broke. The power must have gone to that child as well.”

‘However, Brother Raytan pretended to know it. And I know he definitely can’t. I learn Kazaki too, so it’s as clear as day that he—”

“… What did you say?”

“What?”

“What did he read? What did he say this word is in ancient language?”

“Um… He said the name is Syarhwina.’

‘Your brother… Is he able to do fire magic? You know, like me?’

‘Eh, him doing that? There’s no way.’

“He may not have fully absorbed it yet. It may not have appeared yet. Even if it has, it would be an insignificant amount. He is probably still not aware of it, but if there is an opportunity… Everything is just a matter of time. And then…” Belkiel bit his lip a little. “…he might even take away all of your power.”

To tell the truth, there was originally only one sealing stone. But then the power was divided into two.

Unlike Eton, Belkiel did not believe in humans, so he thought that Syarhwina might betray him. So, in case something happened. He kept one-half of the sealing stone. Belkiel left Denhelder with it in his hands.

Leaving Denhelder like that… Belkiel regretted it all the time. If he had been at Eton’s side in the past, he could have stopped the stupid idea of splitting the power of the sealing stone into two.

The second sealing stone kept in Denhelder was the thing that energized Eton after he woke up. However, the power contained in that sealing stone was less than half of what it originally had.

And the rest of the power was now possessed by Raytan.

They don’t know when it will awaken.

However, on that day in the past, if the enraged Eton could rampantly kill all the people who served and loved him… It was sure to be an enormous amount of power.

“Eton, don’t go back to Denhelder,” Belkiel said while staring at him.

“Just stay here. That’s the only way you can live longer.”

His dark black hair became a pale ultramarine. And someday, it will fade to completely white.

If Eton lost all of his power… that’s what will happen to him.

“I can help. I’ll find a way. So just stay by my side this time.”

“…”

“Eton,” Belkiel once again called his name. However, Eton did not answer.

Eton didn’t react and only stared blankly into space.