Sable Escalates the Hunt
Inside the capital, King Sable slammed a report down so hard the table cracked.
"The Eclipsed Order struck my prison caravan AGAIN?!"
The scout trembled.
"T-The destroyed wagon and the bodies… matched their strength, sire."
"It WAS them," Sable hissed.
"Send every knight captain, hunter, and assassin.
The Eclipsed Order must be erased."
The Dreaded Knight bowed.
"It will be done."
Market Trouble
The Eclipsed Order slipped into a small trading village, blending in with merchants and travelers.
Sataro moved through the stalls calmly—
Until a young merchant woman stepped in front of him with a confident smile.
"Well hello… strong traveler.
You're new here, aren't you?"
Nova stopped in her tracks.
Her eye twitched.
Sataro nodded politely.
"Just buying supplies."
"Oh, if you need anything—"
She gently touched his arm.
"—come find me."
Nova appeared behind Sataro so fast the air shifted.
She smiled sweetly at the woman…
but her aura said death.
"Oh hiiiii~
And who exactly are you touching?"
The woman flinched, startled.
"I-I was just—"
Nova cut her off sharply.
"He's married."
Sataro blinked.
"I'm… what?"
Nova put a hand on his chest and leaned into the bit HARD.
"Yes, married."
She gave Sataro a dramatic pat.
"Me? I'm the wife.
We have children together."
Haruto choked.
Ren started wheezing.
Lira covered her mouth.
Bjorn clapped.
The merchant woman froze.
"O-Oh. I… I didn't realize— I'm sorry!"
She ran away in panic.
Nova kept up her smug act until the woman was gone…
Then the second the woman disappeared—
Nova's entire body went stiff.
Her smirk vanished.
Her face turned scarlet red, ears glowing like fire.
She hugged her arms tightly against herself, trembling.
A tear even gathered in the corner of her eye as she whispered:
"Oh my god… what did I just SAY—
I can't—
I can't believe I said that—
I wanna die—"
She tried to turn away, wiping her eyes quickly, mortified.
Sataro stared at her.
"…Nova?"
She squeaked.
"D-Don't look at me— I wasn't serious—
I panicked— I'm gonna puke—"
Ren whispered to Haruto:
"She's actually CRYING from embarrassment—"
Haruto nodded, wide-eyed.
"Yeah… she's done for."
Sataro's expression softened for a split second…
Then he smirked.
"You said you're my wife?"
Nova shrieked,
"S-SHUT UP— DON'T SAY IT OUT LOUD—"
Bjorn nodded, proud.
"Mom is very emotional today."
Nova: "PLEASE STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
Haruto's Vision Intensifies
Before Nova could combust, Haruto staggered suddenly.
His eyes turned hazy as the world around him vanished.
He saw:
A burning kingdom
Chains wrapping the sky
The Demon King Arkhamis towering above the flames—
"The hunt begins.
The bloodline will fall."
Haruto gasped, grabbing his skull.
Sataro caught him immediately.
"Haruto! What did you see?!"
Haruto forced a shaky smile.
"N–Nothing.
Just dizzy…"
But he kept his cursed pentagon hand hidden behind him, still glowing.
Bjorn and the Shinies
Bjorn gasped loudly.
"OOH!! SHINY!!"
Everyone nearly jumped out of their skin.
Bjorn pointed at a man wearing a gold necklace.
Bjorn:
"I LIKE SHINIES.
I once stole MANY shinies from a mean chief.
HID THEM in forest.
Very secret. Very shiny."
Haruto blinked.
"You… hid treasure?"
Bjorn nodded with childlike pride.
"Yes! Bag of shinies! Gold coins!
Even a gold cup I used to lick!"
Nova gagged.
"WHY would you lick a cup?!"
Bjorn shrugged innocently.
"Gold tastes like victory."
Ren:
"I adore this man."
Sataro sighed deeply.
"So you hid treasure… and forgot to mention that until now?"
Bjorn flexed.
"You are my new family! I tell my family everything!"
Nova smirked, still red.
"Yes kids, tell Mom and Dad everything."
Sataro:
"…Don't."
Haruto grinned.
"Too late, Dad."
Nova's face turned redder than fire.
"STOP CALLING ME MOM!!"
Sataro leaned close.
"You're really leaning into the wife thing today."
Nova almost collapsed.
"STOOOOP—"