The morning was quiet when a courier arrived at the gang's residence, the seal unfamiliar but elegant. Alex tore it open with impatient fingers, and inside was a single sheet of paper, ink flowing in precise, deliberate script:
"I know you have discovered part of the truth. Come to the eastern edge of the Mystic Forest at sundown. There, I will explain everything you must know about your kingdom, the King, and the past sins of Hensville.
—Professor Callum Dareth"
The room fell silent. Even Riven, usually quick to react, simply raised a dark brow.
Alex's hands trembled slightly as he reread the letter. "He… he knows we've pieced some of it together," he murmured.
Saphira's eyes narrowed. "Then he wants to control how much we know before we act. We have to go—carefully."
Lady Marriane, always composed, leaned forward. "This is the opportunity we've been waiting for. The full truth lies ahead. But… be prepared. What you learn may challenge everything you thought you knew."
The sun dipped low over the forest when they arrived at the appointed spot. The trees whispered in the wind, shadows stretching long across the mossy ground. A figure stepped from between the trunks—tall, composed, and unmistakably Professor Callum Dareth. His earth-affinity aura rippled faintly in the dim light.
"You've done well to come," Callum said calmly. "I will not waste time. You need to know the truth about the King, my father Lord Darius, and Hensville itself."
He began slowly, laying out the tale:
The King of Hensville and previous dukes discovered a mystical beast possessing all Mana affinities, the true source of the kingdom's magic.
They imprisoned the beast, siphoning its cores to distribute among the Dukedoms—fire, water, air, light, dark, earth. Each Dukedom passed the Mana to their descendants by birth.
The Dukedom of Veymore had no Mana, relying on alchemy instead.
Duke Alaric stumbled upon the chained mystical beast. Realizing the truth of the kingdom's power, he threatened to expose it.
The King killed Alaric, his adopted son, and all of Veymore to suppress the secret.
Lord Darius, however, had been the object of the King's one-sided affection. When Darius refused the King's proposal, he was spared—but his grief and anger were immense.
The King destroyed Alaric's soul and attempted the same with the son, but Lord Darius absorbed his son's soul, preserving it.
Darius was exiled, promising revenge.
Callum paused, gaze darkening. "And now that revenge begins."
The gang stiffened.
"The Mystic Forest is home to many lesser mystical beasts, weak but still potent," Callum continued. "Father is using his dark mana to corrupt them, turning them into creatures of destruction. They will not stop until every citizen of Hensville is dead—including the King, his descendants, the current Dukes, and their families."
Riven's breath hitched sharply. His eyes were wide, jaw tight. "You don't understand," he growled. "There's so much you don't know about what dark mana can do. Even a single touch can twist a soul, distort the body… prolong life unnaturally. And he—he's only just begun."
Alex's chest tightened, his hands curling into fists. "So… this is it. Everything we've been afraid of… it's real. The King's crimes, Darius's power… the mystical beasts…"
Callum's eyes swept over them. "Now that you know the whole truth, you must decide whose side you will choose. But know this—regardless of your choice, the revenge will come. My father's promise is unstoppable."
Saphira's voice was quiet but resolute. "Then we face it together. Whoever we side with… we will not let innocents be destroyed unnecessarily."
Edrin's jaw clenched. "We've seen enough cruelty to know we can't ignore this. Hensville deserves the truth, and someone has to survive to reveal it."
Kael's gaze remained calm, but his hand brushed Edrin's arm—a silent pledge of trust.
Alex swallowed, looking at each of them in turn. "Then we stick together. We find the truth… and decide what to do with it. We'll protect those who can't protect themselves, no matter what."
Riven's hand found Alex's, giving it a firm squeeze. "And I'll be with you through it. Every step. No matter how dark it gets."
Callum nodded, satisfied. "Good. But remember—this world has no mercy. Those who hesitate will fall. Choose your path carefully, for the storm is coming, and there will be no second chances."
The forest seemed to tighten around them, wind whispering warnings through the trees. The truth had been revealed, and with it, the weight of the coming reckoning. The gang stood together, hearts heavy but resolute, ready to face whatever would come—bound by friendship, loyalty, and the certainty that nothing would be the same again.