The grand council chamber of Frostalia was unusually silent.
A massive circular table stood at its center, carved from ancient white stone and decorated with intricate snowflake patterns—the symbol of the kingdom.
Seated around it were the six great noble houses that had protected Frostalia for generations.
At the head of the table sat King Asfer Frostalia, his calm sapphire-blue eyes surveying every noble present.
To his right sat Rurik Frostbane, the head of House Frostbane. He was a broad-shouldered man with a thick silver beard and piercing gray eyes. Numerous scars covered his weathered face, each one a reminder of countless battles fought defending Frostalia's borders. Even while seated, he carried the overwhelming presence of a veteran warrior.
Beside him sat Thorek Icepeak, the head of House Icepeak. His long pale-blue hair rested neatly over his shoulders, and his sharp icy-blue eyes never seemed to miss a single detail. Dressed in elegant blue-and-white noble robes trimmed with fur, he was known throughout the kingdom for his calm judgment.
Across from him was Cedran Whitecrest, the head of House Whitecrest. His neatly combed golden-blond hair and refined features gave him the appearance of a scholar rather than a noble lord. His emerald-green eyes remained thoughtful behind every conversation, and his spotless white attire reflected his meticulous nature.
Next sat Borin Silverfang, the head of House Silverfang. A heavily built man with short ash-brown hair and a thick beard, he possessed powerful arms forged through years of military service. His fierce amber eyes and stern expression made him appear intimidating even in silence.
Beside him was Arlen Northwatch, the head of House Northwatch. Tall and lean, he possessed long black hair tied behind his back and sharp steel-gray eyes that constantly observed everyone around him. Years spent guarding Frostalia's northern frontier had made him cautious and disciplined.
Finally, there was Varek Skyward, the head of House Skyward. He was the youngest among the six. His shoulder-length silver hair moved gently with every breeze entering through the chamber windows, while his calm sapphire eyes reflected quiet confidence. Though young, his wisdom had already earned the respect of every noble present.
The atmosphere inside the chamber was unbearably heavy.
King Asfer slowly broke the silence.
"This..."
"...is the second time the branch of the World Tree has fallen."
His voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Both times..."
"...the entire world was struck by a devastating earthquake."
Arlen lowered his head.
"You are correct, Your Majesty."
"The last time such a disaster occurred..."
"...it was because of that ArchdemonGeneral."
"Millions lost their lives."
Borin folded his muscular arms.
"Fortunately..."
"...this time the casualties are far fewer."
Cedran sighed deeply.
"Our kingdom already stands at the edge of destruction."
"And now..."
"...an earthquake."
"What terrible fortune."
Before anyone could continue...
Thorek slowly rose from his seat.
"My King..."
"There is another matter."
Every gaze immediately turned toward him.
Thorek's normally composed expression had become unusually serious.
"My civilians have reported sightings..."
"...of Dark Beings..."
"...within the mountains under House Icepeak's territory."
Silence.
For a brief moment...
No one spoke.
Then—
Rurik slammed his fist against the table.
"Impossible!"
"Every Dark Being was exterminated by the Six Heroes seven hundred years ago!"
"I wish that were true," Thorek replied quietly.
"But every adventurer I hired..."
"...and every knight I dispatched to investigate..."
"...never returned."
The chamber became deathly silent.
Fear slowly appeared on every face.
King Asfer lowered his eyes.
"...So..."
"...this truly is the beginning of Frostalia's end."
He remained silent for several moments before speaking again.
"As a father..."
"...what I am about to do is unforgivable."
"But..."
"...as the King of Frostalia..."
"...I have no other choice."
He turned toward one of the royal servants standing nearby.
"Bring Prince Alendro to me."
The servant immediately bowed.
"At once, Your Majesty."
He hurried from the council chamber.
...
Elsewhere...
Inside the royal palace...
BOOM!
A heavy punch crashed into Erek's face.
His small body stumbled backward before falling onto the polished floor.
Blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth.
He struggled to stand.
"B-Big Brother..."
"Wha—"
Before he could finish—
BAM!
Another punch struck his face.
Erek crashed into the wall.
Alendro looked down at him without the slightest hint of emotion.
He slowly tightened his fist once again.
Gathering all his strength...
He stepped forward.
Just as his next punch was about to land—
Creeeak...
The bedroom door suddenly opened.
A royal servant hurried inside before lowering his head respectfully.
"Your Highness."
"His Majesty requests your presence immediately."
Alendro stopped.
Without saying a single word...
He slowly lowered his fist.
Taking a clean white cloth from a nearby table, he calmly wiped the blood from his knuckles.
After folding the cloth neatly...
He walked past the servant and quietly left the room.
Click.
Silence returned.
Erek remained lying on the floor.
His entire body ached.
"...Two years..."
He stared blankly at the ceiling.
"For two years..."
"...I've been beaten countless times."
"By Alendro..."
"...and by Queen Glories."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"The reason..."
"...is simply because I am my mother's son."
He slowly closed his eyes.
"My father has three wives."
"Two of them..."
"...Queen Glories and Queen Selene..."
"...belong to two of Frostalia's Great Noble Houses."
"Their marriages to Father were political alliances."
"But my mother..."
"...Lady Luna..."
"...was only the daughter of a baron."
"Father married her..."
"...because he truly loved her."
His expression gradually became colder.
"They believe..."
"...that because Father loves Mother more than anyone else..."
"...I will one day inherit the throne."
"And because of that..."
"...they despise us."
"They hate Mother..."
"...and they hate me."
The room fell silent once more.
Only Erek's quiet breathing echoed through the chamber.
Far away...
King Asfer waited for his eldest son.
The future of Frostalia...
Was about to change.
The servant soon returned to the council chamber.
Behind him walked the First Prince of Frostalia.
Alendro Frostalia.
The moment he entered, every noble turned toward him.
Without hesitation, Alendro knelt before the throne.
"You called for me, Your Majesty."
King Asfer looked at his eldest son in silence before speaking.
"Rise."
Alendro obeyed.
"My son..."
"Reports have reached us from House Icepeak."
"There have been sightings..."
"...of Dark Beings."
The chamber became silent once more.
"I want you to travel to the Icepeak Mountains."
"Find them."
"And execute every last one of them."
Alendro's expression never changed.
"As you command, Father."
King Asfer slowly continued.
"If you successfully complete this mission..."
"...I shall officially name you..."
"...the Crown Prince of Frostalia."
Silence.
Every noble froze.
Even the heads of the Six Great Houses exchanged shocked glances.
Then...
A faint smile appeared on Cedran Whitecrest's face.
Alendro bowed respectfully.
"I shall not disappoint Your Majesty."
Without another word, he turned and left the council chamber.
...
Outside the palace...
Alendro walked calmly through the royal gardens.
"Alendro."
A familiar voice called from behind him.
He stopped.
Turning around, he immediately bowed.
"Grandfather."
Cedran Whitecrest slowly approached with a satisfied smile.
"So..."
"The throne is finally within our reach."
Alendro remained silent.
Cedran's expression gradually became serious.
"But don't allow your confidence to become arrogance."
"Marching into the Icepeak Mountains without proper preparation would be foolish."
Alendro calmly replied,
"There are no Dark Beings."
"They vanished seven hundred years ago."
"These reports are nothing more than frightened villagers imagining monsters."
"This mission..."
"...is merely the easiest path to becoming Crown Prince."
Cedran chuckled softly.
"Perhaps."
"But a wise ruler prepares for every possibility."
"I shall personally assemble an escort worthy of the future Crown Prince."
Alendro nodded.
"I trust your judgment, Grandfather."
The old noble smiled.
"You always have."
...
Elsewhere...
Prince Erek quietly walked through the palace corridors before stopping outside a familiar room.
He gently knocked.
"Mother."
The door opened almost immediately.
Lady Luna smiled warmly.
"Erek."
The moment her eyes landed on his bruised face...
Her smile vanished.
"Erek!"
She rushed toward him without hesitation and gently embraced him.
"They hit you again..."
Her voice trembled.
"It was Alendro... wasn't it?"
Erek remained silent.
Tears slowly formed in Luna's sapphire eyes.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm so sorry."
"This is all because of me."
"If I hadn't been born into such a low-ranking noble family..."
"...none of this would have happened."
Erek quietly returned the embrace.
Inside his heart...
A warmth he could never explain slowly spread.
"...Mother."
He closed his eyes.
"For some reason..."
"...being with you..."
"...makes me feel at peace."
"In my previous life..."
"...I ruled an empire."
"I possessed unimaginable power."
"But..."
"...I never experienced something like this."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I am finally able..."
"...to enjoy a childhood."
"And this time..."
"...I am not alone."
...
Two months later...
The Icepeak Mountains.
Endless snow covered the towering peaks beneath a gray sky.
Freezing winds howled through the narrow mountain passes.
Alendro's expedition steadily climbed higher.
Behind him marched dozens of Frostalia's finest knights.
Each remained alert, their hands never leaving the hilts of their weapons.
The journey proved far more difficult than anyone expected.
Blizzards suddenly swept across the mountains, forcing the soldiers to seek shelter among rocky cliffs.
More than once, enormous avalanches thundered down nearby slopes, barely missing the expedition.
Several mountain beasts attacked without warning.
Gigantic Frost Wolves lunged from the snow, only to be cut down by Alendro's flawless swordsmanship.
Ice Bears, nearly twice the size of horses, charged the formation.
The royal knights held the line while Alendro struck the final blow.
Days passed.
Supplies grew scarce.
The freezing temperatures tested everyone's endurance.
Even veteran knights began doubting the existence of any Dark Beings.
One evening...
The expedition reached a wide snow-covered valley.
The wind suddenly stopped.
Everything became unnaturally quiet.
Alendro frowned.
"...Something isn't right."
Then—
A deafening roar echoed across the mountains.
ROOOOOOAR!
Every knight looked toward the sky.
Their faces turned pale.
A colossal dragon descended through the clouds.
Its enormous crimson wings covered the sky itself.
Before anyone could recover...
Figures emerged from every direction.
A graceful vampire stepped onto the snow.
A towering demon carrying a gigantic axe walked forward.
Werewolves appeared among the cliffs.
Dwarves stood with heavy war hammers resting upon their shoulders.
One by one...
Dark Beings surrounded the entire expedition.
There was no escape.
Alendro slowly drew his sword.
His calm sapphire eyes met the countless crimson eyes staring back at him.
The snow-covered valley fell into complete silence.
The battle...
Was about to begin.