The scene opens with the golden hues of dawn breaking through the dense canopy of the forest. Birds chirp softly, and a gentle breeze rustles the leaves. The camera pans to Sofia, who stirs awake, rubbing her eyes. As she sits up, she glances around and notices everyone still sleeping—Mark, Elisa, Lily, and Liliana. But one person is missing.
"Where is Astor?" she thought, her brows furrowing in concern. "Did he leave us behind? No... he wouldn't abandon us, especially not these two," her gaze shifted toward Lily and Liliana, who were peacefully curled up beside each other.
Sofia stood up, brushing off the leaves stuck to her cloak. She stretched briefly before making her way toward the nearby river. As she approached, she paused at the sight before her—Astor, shirtless, washing his face in the cool stream. The morning light highlighted the scars on his back and shoulders, each one a story untold. A sudden heat flushed her face, and she quickly turned around, pressing her hands to her cheeks.
"Why is he shirtless?" she thought, her heart racing. "No, what am I thinking? He isn't Starmon... or is he? It's a new day—maybe Starmon is back?" The uncertainty tugged at her, and with a deep breath, she decided to find out.
Gathering her composure, she approached him and said softly, "Good morning."
Astor glanced at her briefly and replied with an indifferent tone, "Oh. Good morning."
His cold response confirmed her suspicion. "So, he's still Astor," she thought with a sigh. Without another word, she knelt by the river, cupping water in her hands to wash her face and drink. Silence lingered between them, the only sounds being the soft rippling of the water.
As she discreetly observed him, her gaze traced over his muscular frame. Unable to hold back her curiosity, she finally asked, "Is this... your body? Or Starmon's?"
Astor, caught off guard, turned his head slightly. "Huh?"
She hesitated but then clarified, "I mean... does your body transform when you take over? Or is it the same for both of you?"
Astor let out a small scoff. "Does it really matter?"
Sofia immediately regretted asking. "Why did I even bring that up? Stupid," she scolded herself internally.
Without waiting for a response, Astor stood and stretched before heading back toward camp. "Once everyone wakes up, we leave for Aetherium. No more excuses."
Sofia frowned. "Can't you be a little kinder to others? It wouldn't hurt you."
Astor paused briefly but continued walking. "Kindness and love make a person weak. I need strength—to kill Malakar Veilgrave."
"No! You're wrong!" Sofia shouted.
Astor stopped, turning his head slightly to the side, his expression unreadable.
"Love and kindness don't make someone weak; they make them stronger!" she insisted. "The people of Aetherium trust each other—that's why we were able to rescue the children and so many others. The people of Moonveil, that old man, loved his son and daughters. He believed in us, and because of that, we freed them from Lirion's grasp!"
Astor's voice darkened. "At what cost?"
Sofia flinched.
Astor's tone sharpened as he continued. "People of Moonveil trusted us you say? Then what you say about those who believed that we would save their families? What happened to them after seeing their dead bodies? Old man loved his son and daughters? Then don't his son and his daughters loved him? Whole Rescue team was slaughtered by Lirion's guards and can you image what happened to their family after watching them? They were traumatized in shock and if you see them then you will feel they were saying "if the imprisoned one were already dead." Now tell me why your this so-called love moves in one direction?"
Sofia opened her mouth to argue but found herself speechless.
Astor's voice lowered, carrying a weight of sorrow. ""I know I have always said freedom wants sacrifices but remember if you want to protect your loved one then you should be able to protect him with your own strength." He turned away, his voice now barely above a whisper. "Otherwise, you'll only watch them die before your eyes."
Without another word, he walked toward the forest where the others were still asleep.
Sofia remained standing near the river, her mind spinning. She recalled the faces of those who had lost everything—the sorrow, the emptiness in their eyes. The weight of his words settled heavily in her heart. She realized... he wasn't entirely wrong.
Lost in thought, she slowly followed him back, deep in contemplation about the fragile balance between love, strength, and survival in their cruel world.
As Sofia walked, lost in thought, a sudden force pulled her back. A strong hand covered her mouth before she could react. Her eyes widened in shock, but before she could struggle, she heard a whisper near her ear.
"Shh," Astor hushed her, pressing a finger to his lips. "Look over there."
Peering from behind a thick tree trunk, Sofia's gaze followed Astor's. A group of rugged men stood near a row of caged women, their wrists bound and fear evident in their eyes
One of the men, shifting uncomfortably, paused and scanned the surroundings. "Did you hear that?" he muttered.
Another, carrying a crude axe on his shoulder, scoffed. "Probably just an animal." We've got deliveries to make today, so quit getting jumpy."
The first man hesitated before nodding. "Yeah… Alright."
Sofia, still crouching, turned to Astor and whispered, "Who are they?"
"Not sure," Astor replied, his sharp eyes locked on the scene. "But by the looks of it, they're either bandits or slave traders."
Before Sofia could respond, a quiet but deliberate voice interrupted from behind.
"Ahem."
She froze. Slowly, both she and Astor turned their heads.
Standing with arms crossed were Elisa, Mark, Lily, and Liliana.
Elisa arched an eyebrow. "Care to explain what's happening here… secretly? And also—" she smirked, eyes flicking to Astor's bare chest. "Without a shirt?"
Sofia, flustered, shot up to her feet. "It's nothing! He just suddenly dragged me!"
Elisa nudged her playfully with her elbow, smirking.
Meanwhile, Lily approached Astor, handing him his shirt and robe. "Here, Astor. Your clothes."
Astor took them without a word and quickly put them on. Then, adjusting his robe, he said, "Now that everyone's here, let's go back to Aetherium. If we move now, we should be there—"
"Go?" Sofia cut him off, her voice firm. "What about those women?"
Elisa frowned. "Women? What women?"
Sofia quickly explained what she and Astor had seen.
Mark's face darkened. "Wait—you're saying you're just going to walk away and leave them like that? And you call yourself a man?"
Astor crossed his arms, unimpressed. "What if they really are just traders? Why should I get involved in their business?"
Mark clenched his fists. "Do they look like honest traders to you? Look at those women! They're in cages, pleading for help!"
Astor let out a short, amused scoff. "So you judge people by their appearance? How pathetic."
Mark gritted his teeth, irritation flashing across his face. "I—That's not what I meant!"
Astor turned slightly, his tone cold. "Fine. If you insist… I'll just kill them all and set the women free. Problem solved."
Sofia stepped forward, blocking his path. "No! We'll handle this another way. I have a plan."
The screen faded to black.
The bandits moved forward with their horse-drawn cart, the caged women inside trembling in fear. Some of the bandits walked alongside, weapons at the ready.
Up ahead, two figures stood still in the middle of the path. Cloaked in black, their faces obscured, they remained unmoving as the bandits approached.
The entire group came to a halt.
Their leader stepped forward, eyeing the mysterious figures with suspicion. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"
Astor, his voice calm and composed, replied, "Excuse me! I'm just a merchant, and this is my daughter. We're lost. Could you help us?"
The bandit leader narrowed his eyes. "Lost, huh? And if I do help you… what's in it for me?"
One of his men stepped in impatiently. "Boss! We don't have time for this! We need to deliver them, or Lirion's gonna kill us!"
The leader waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, I know." He turned back to Astor. "So, merchant, what's your offer?"
Astor reached into his robe. "I'll give you 100 gold coins if you escort us safely to town."
The leader raised an eyebrow. "Where are you headed?"
"Aetherium," Astor answered smoothly. "My cart is just beyond those trees."
The leader chuckled. "Aetherium's in the opposite direction. Helping you will slow us down." His smirk widened. "But… if you really want my help…" The other bandits grinned, stepping closer.
The leader's voice dripped with amusement. "Give me your daughter, and I might consider it."
Astor stiffened. "My daughter? Why?"
Meanwhile, behind the cart, Sofia, Elisa, Mark, and Lily were already in position. Elisa crept forward, skillfully slipping the keys from a bandit's belt. Quietly, she unlocked the cage.
Sofia put a finger to her lips, silently instructing the enslaved women to remain quiet as she signaled them to escape. One by one, they began slipping out.
On the other side, Astor continued stalling. "I can't give you my daughter," he said, his tone neutral. "But if it's wealth you want, I'll give you everything I have."
The leader smirked. "Sorry, but no deal. Nothing personal, merchant—but don't worry, I'll take good care of your girl."
He gestured to one of his men. "Take her."
Just as the bandit reached for Liliana, a sudden thud broke the tension.
One of the escaping women tripped. The noise was slight, but it was enough. A nearby bandit turned, his eyes widening as he saw the emptying cage.
"Boss!" he shouted. "They're escaping! It's a trap!"
The entire group of bandits whirled around.
The leader's grin vanished. "Don't let them escape! And get that bastard merchant and his daughter, too!"
The bandit reaching for Liliana hesitated, then turned to grab her—only for Liliana's claws to pierce his throat. Blood sprayed as he gurgled, and in the next instant, she delivered a crushing punch, sending his body flying.
As she straightened, her hood slipped slightly, revealing her ears.
The leader's eyes widened. "A beast girl?" He let out a dark chuckle. "So, you wanna fight? I'm Kelvin, and we are Whispers of Fear! You've just made the biggest mistake of your lives. Now you're gonna pay for it!"
Astor remained motionless, his hand resting behind his back.
Nearby, Sofia, Elisa, and Mark had just finished helping the last of the women.
Sofia sighed. "I told him not to fight."
Lily, gripping her sword, turned back. "You guys protect the women—I have to go!"
As the bandits swarmed, Liliana moved like a whirlwind, tearing through them with raw strength. Her claws sliced through flesh, her fists shattered bones.
One bandit charged at Astor—only for his hand to be severed mid-swing. He barely had time to scream before Lily drove her blade through his chest.
Side by side, Lily and Liliana protected Astor, cutting down the bandits with ruthless precision.
Kelvin watched in horror as his men fell one after another. When the last body hit the ground, his face turned pale.
"H-How…?" he stammered. "We are Whispers of Fear! How can we lose?"
Astor, who had remained still the entire time, finally moved. Step by step, he advanced toward Kelvin.
Something about his slow, deliberate pace sent chills down Kelvin's spine.
Shaking, Kelvin drew a dagger. "S-Stay away from me!" he stammered. "Or I'll—"
Astor tilted his head slightly. His voice was ice. "You'll what?"
Kelvin's mind raced. Who is this guy? His instincts screamed at him—this man is on another level. "I have to escape!"
Falling to his knees, Kelvin's bravado shattered. Tears welled in his eyes as he blurted out, "I-I'm sorry! We didn't have a choice! Lirion forced us! If we don't deliver the slaves, he'll wipe us out!"
Astor crouched beside him, his expression unreadable. "You called yourselves the Whispers of Fear…" His eyes gleamed under the hood. "But do you know who we are?"
Kelvin swallowed hard.
Astor extended his hand. "The dagger."
Hands trembling, Kelvin hesitated—then handed it over.
Astor smirked. "We are YTs…" His voice turned chilling. "Those who Yearns to Triumph."
Kelvin's breath hitched. Desperation filled his voice. "Please… forgive me!"
Astor's smirk grew. "Oh? What's wrong? Got the wrong idea?"
He turned to Liliana. "You wanted my girl, didn't you?" He crooked a finger. "Go on, take her."
Kelvin's body went rigid. "W-Wait! You're not… mad?"
Astor's voice was unnervingly calm. "Why would I be?"
Sofia's sharp voice cut in. "What are you doing, Astor?"
Kelvin, now drenched in sweat, hesitated. He slowly reached for Liliana—
A flash of silver.
Kelvin's agonized scream tore through the air as his hand was severed.
"You bastard—!"
Astor grabbed him by the hair, yanking his head back. Cold steel pressed against his throat.
Kelvin's breath hitched as he stared into Astor's hooded face.
For the first time, he saw them, Those glowing, blood-red eyes.
The scene is tense, Kelvin's breath ragged as Astor's dagger lingers at his throat. The silence is broken by a sudden, sharp voice.
"Stop!"
Astor's dagger halts mid-motion as he turns his head slightly, his glowing red eyes narrowing at Sofia, who stands firm, her expression filled with conviction.
"How can you kill a human so easily? Don't you feel anything for them?" she demands.
Astor scoffs, his lips curling into a smirk. "What's wrong with it?" He gestures toward Lily and Liliana. "Lily is a demon. Liliana is a beast. And I..." He laughs, a dark chuckle reverberating through the air. "I'm a MONSTER."
Kelvin falls to his knees, trembling, hands clasped in desperate prayer. "Please! Spare my life! I won't do it again. I swear I won't even show my face to you!"
Elisa steps forward, her voice softer yet firm. "Astor, please. He said he did this because Lirion forced him. Just let him go."
Astor, still holding the dagger near Kelvin's throat, doesn't waver. "This isn't about the slave women," he says, his voice eerily calm. "This is for the rubbish he dared to say about Liliana."
Kelvin's breath hitches, realizing how precarious his situation truly is. "Sir! I swear I won't ever—"
Sofia steps closer, her voice more urgent. "Astor, forgive him... for my sake."
Astor chuckles, then throws his head back in laughter. "For your sake?" He steps back, lowering the dagger. "Go, bro. You're really lucky today."
Kelvin scrambles to his feet, backing away slowly. Astor's gaze turns cold. "But remember this—if I see your face again, I will tear you to pieces."
Kelvin doesn't hesitate. He turns and dashes into the forest, his voice trailing behind him, "Thank you! Thank you!"
As the tension eases, Astor exhales and stretches. "Well, now that everyone is safe, let's head back to Aetherium."
Sofia steps in front of him, crossing her arms. "Wait, like this? You're just going to leave those women behind?"
Astor shrugs. "It's none of my concern."
Mark clenches his fists, irritation flashing in his eyes. "Ughh! Do what you want, then! We will escort them. If you want to go, go by yourself!"
Mark turns to one of the rescued women. "Where did you come from?"
The woman, still shaken, replies, "Kingdom Marvia."
Astor nods indifferently. "Fine. I don't care. But I'm not stopping for you."
Mark sighs, looking back at Astor with frustration. "Just do me one favor."
Astor remains silent for a moment before nodding slightly. With that, the group splits—Astor, Lily, and Liliana heading toward Aetherium, while Mark, Elisa, and Sofia take the freed women toward Kingdom Marvia.
As they part ways, the screen fades to black. Then, the title card appears on the screen:
"Chronicles of YT"
Episode 6: Wrong Path
The scene opens with Astor leading Lily and Liliana through the forest toward Aetherium. The sun casts long shadows as they walk in silence.
Astor smirks, breaking the quiet. "Perfect. At this pace, we'll be there in two hours."
Lily hesitates before speaking. "Astor—"
Astor said "I'm waiting to see who I'll face next."
"ASTOR, LISTEN TO ME!" Lily shouts, halting in place. Astor and Liliana stop as well, turning toward her.
Lily's expression is serious. "We should go to Marvia. I think they're in trouble again."
Astor narrows his eyes. "Why should I help them? They chose their own path. I don't care about them."
Lily steps forward, frustration clear in her voice. "What happened to you? This isn't you! How can you just leave people behind?"
Astor's tone is cold. "You know everything about me, and you're still saying this?"
"I know what happened to you. I know what will happen to you," Lily says, her voice trembling. "But I also know you can't just stand by and watch innocent people die."
"You're wrong," Astor replies sharply. "No one in this world is innocent. Don't waste your time." He turns and starts walking again.
Lily's voice rings out, filled with urgency. "What if something happens to Sofia? Or Elisa? Or Mark?"
Astor stops but doesn't turn. "The deal was about Starmon only. When my task is done, I'll give his body back. I never took responsibility for anyone else."
Lily clenches her fists. "Then you'll let them suffer the same fate as you?"
Astor exhales. "If it's their fate, I can't change it."
Tears well up in Lily's eyes. "Then why did you save me?"
Astor finally stops completely. A pause lingers before he mutters, "I don't know… Maybe it was just your luck."
Lily wipes her tears, determination in her voice. "Then I'm going to help them. Sorry, Astor, but I can't support you in your fight against Malakar Veilgrave."
Astor didn't turn to look at Lily but said, "As you wish. I can kill Malakar alone. I don't need anyone."
Lily's heart ached at his words. Tears streamed down her face as she clenched her fists. Without another word, she turned around and started walking away. "Then goodbye," she whispered.
Liliana, standing beside Astor, was scared by the argument unfolding before her. She tugged at Astor's robe to get his attention and tell him about Lily. When she looked up at him, she saw something shocking—a single drop of water falling from Astor's eye.
Astor doesn't acknowledge it. Instead, he keeps moving forward, silent. Liliana follows behind him hesitantly.
As they walk, Astor's thoughts are filled with Mary's face. The past flashes through his mind, memories of the warmth she once brought him. Liliana calls out to him again and again, but he doesn't respond.
Suddenly, Astor stops. With a furious yell, he punches a nearby tree, the bark cracking under his strength. "WHY?! WHY?! Am I wasting my time? I'm trying to protect them from a bigger threat, and they still think I'm at fault! MARY! I promise—I will kill Malakar for what he did to you!"
Liliana, frightened yet resolute, steps closer. "Master... can I say something?"
Astor glares at her. "You want to leave too? Then go. I won't stop you."
Liliana shakes her head. "No. I am your servant, Master. I will go wherever you go. But... please think about it. If Lady Mary were here, what would she do?"
Astor's body tenses. Images of Mary's happiest moments flood his mind—her smile, her laughter, her kindness. Slowly, his clenched fists loosen, and his anger fades into a heavy silence.
Lily arrives in Marvia. As she enters the village, her eyes widen in shock—many people are lying on the ground, their bodies frail from starvation.
"What could have happened here?" she wonders.
Suddenly, a desperate man rushes at her from behind, grabbing her hand. "Food! Food!" he cries, his voice weak and trembling. Before Lily can react, he begins licking her hand, his hunger overriding his sanity. More starving men notice and begin approaching her, their sunken eyes filled with desperation.
A swift kick lands on the man's face, sending him flying. The camera pans up to reveal Astor, clad in a black robe, his expression unreadable. "Stay away from Lily, or I will cut your filthy tongue," he warns coldly.
The villagers stop, their heads lowering in despair.
Lily glares at him. "Why did you come now? You said you didn't need anyone."
Astor exhales. "You asked why I saved you before?" His voice softens slightly. "Because my heart told me to." He looks directly at her. "I need your help, Lily."
Tears threaten to spill from Lily's eyes, but she quickly wipes them away. "Stupid," she mutters. "You never know what to say or when to say it."
Astor smirks. "Then teach me."
Meanwhile, the man Astor kicked sits up, clutching his face. Liliana hands him a piece of bread, which he devours like a starving animal.
Astor crouches beside him. "What happened here? Why is everyone in this condition?"
Between bites, the man stammers, "We… we have no food. We haven't eaten in days."
Lily frowns. "But why? Doesn't this kingdom have enough food?"
Liliana asks, "A few hours ago, some people arrived with the rescued women. Where did they go?"
The villagers freeze, their eyes darting toward one man in the crowd.
"I told them it's the king's fault, but they won't listen—"
Before he can continue, the villagers silence him, forcing him to the ground.
Astor strides toward them, his red eyes gleaming with intensity. "What do you know?"
Another villager quickly interjects, "Don't mind him. He's mad—he always says random things."
Astor's gaze turns ice-cold. "Let him speak."
The villagers reluctantly release the man. He gasps for breath before blurting out, "I saw the king talking to someone—a man in a robe, bleeding. I swear, he was one of the 'Whispers of Fear.' But these people don't believe me. Then, three so-called 'heroes' arrived with our women—"
Astor's voice turns deadly. "Where are they now?"
The man hesitates, then mutters, "In the castle… They're in the castle right now."
Astor turns toward the castle, but the villagers block his path.
Lily frowns. "We're trying to help you. Why are you stopping us? We're not your enemy."
Astor's patience thins. "Move aside, or I'll make my way through force."
One villager steps forward. "We can't let you go. The king promised he'd rescue our women from the 'Whispers of Fear' and the 'Fake Heroes.' He also swore he'd provide us with food."
Liliana's eyes narrow. "Fake heroes? But we saved them from the Whispers of Fear!"
"Keep quiet, you monsters!" another villager snaps.
Astor clenches his fists, but Lily places a hand on his arm, stopping him. "Leave this to me." She steps forward. "I'm sorry, but not only your women, but our friends are in danger too. Trust us—we will save them all."
She raises her hand and casts a spell. "Sleep."
A giant magical circle forms upon the villagers, and one by one, they collapse into a deep slumber.
Lily turns to Astor. "Let's go."
When they reach the castle gates, two guards block their way.
Astor said "Open the door!"
One of the guard said "We can't open the gate. It's an order."
Astor sighs, turning slightly. "Order… right."
The camera shifts inside the castle.
CRASH! The gates are suddenly blown open, and the guards are flung inside, unconscious.
Astor steps inside. "Was I requesting until now?"
He turns to Lily and Liliana. "Lily, Liliana—go rescue the prisoners. I'll deal with this bastard king."
As they prepare to move, Astor senses something. He shoves Liliana aside just as the wall behind her explodes.
A monstrous, human-like beast steps through the dust—an experiment. Its right arm is a gleaming blade.
Astor grips his sword. "Change of plans. Liliana, rescue the prisoners. Lily, get the king. I'll deal with this."
The camera zooms in on Astor's glowing red eyes. The screen fades to black.
Episode Ends.
"Chronicles of YT"
Episode Title: Wrong Path