The morning sun slowly spread across the narrow street, where rows of small shops stood packed together in a strange yet lively crowd. The aroma of freshly baked bread, the sharp scent of raw meat, and the sweet fragrance of fruits and vegetables blended together in the air.
People of all kinds filled the street. Merchants loudly advertised the prices of their goods, children ran through the alleys playing games, and a few guards leisurely patrolled the area. On the surface, everything looked peaceful.
Amidst the bustling crowd walked a young man. His light golden hair shimmered under the morning sunlight. He appeared to be around twenty-one years old, yet his eyes carried the seriousness of an old man. Every now and then, an odd emptiness flickered within them, as though an old wound still lingered deep inside his heart.
Sora carefully observed every shop, as if he were searching for someone—or something. In reality, he was simply starving and waiting for his friend, Raijin, to return with food. He paused in front of the butcher's shop, then the fruit stand, and even the bakery from time to time. Despite his casual movements, there was a strange sense of purpose behind every glance. A faint tension rested on his shoulders, as though even the wind could sense his unease.
Then, amidst the crowd, a familiar figure caught his eye.
At first, he couldn't believe what he was seeing, but the next moment, relief spread across his face.
The young man looked about twenty-one years old. His thick black hair framed his face, and his deep blue eyes stood out beneath it. He wore a light yellow shirt with faint white shades, black pants, and black shoes. A sword hung from the brown belt around his waist. He walked with calm, measured steps, yet Sora felt an inexplicable pull in his heart, as though fate itself had brought them together.
Unable to hold himself back, Sora suddenly shouted across the street.
"Raijin!"
His voice echoed through the marketplace.
Pedestrians turned around in surprise, but Sora paid them no attention. His eyes remained fixed on that one person. Deep inside, there was also a faint anxiety—something he had never shared with anyone.
Raijin turned around in slight surprise.
"Oh, Sora... what are you doing here? I thought you'd still be at home. I've already bought everything."
Sora smiled and joked,
"Yeah, I found you. Looks like I'd have starved without you."
Laughing together, the two walked toward a quiet alley where the cool morning breeze brushed gently across their faces.
On the way, they stopped at a few food stalls.
Sora bought some freshly fried fritters, while Raijin picked up a bowl of hot soup.
Since childhood, they had always stood by each other's side through every hardship. There were times when they couldn't even afford a proper meal, yet neither of them ever allowed the other's spirit to break.
Thinking of those days, Sora tossed one of the fritters into the air toward Raijin.
Raijin caught it with a clap and sighed.
"Quit acting like a child, Sora."
"So, what? You want me to stay serious all the time?"
Sora laughed.
Yet a tiny question quietly surfaced in his heart.
Will I really be able to live up to Raijin's expectations?
Their cheerful conversation gradually turned serious.
"So... how are we supposed to defeat the monster called Lord?"
The moment the name Lord left their mouths, several nearby people instinctively looked toward them.
An old man immediately lowered his head.
A woman hurried away while tightly holding her child's hand.
Even a few shopkeepers paused their conversations for a moment, as though merely speaking that name brought bad luck.
The two glanced around before lowering their voices.
Then they completely ignored everyone's reactions, as though they knew nothing.
After thinking for a while, Raijin looked at the sword hanging by his waist and said,
"First, we need to learn about his location and strength. Tomorrow, we'll search the place where he was last seen."
Both of them fell silent.
Worry was visible in their eyes, but their friendship kept the atmosphere from becoming too heavy. Their occasional laughter and playful banter added a touch of humanity to an otherwise grim plan.
Without anyone noticing, Raijin suddenly felt a faint warmth in his palm.
It was as though the Seed of his Soul had trembled ever so slightly with a mysterious energy.
The sensation was insignificant...
Yet a spark of determination flashed across his eyes.
Raijin finished the last sip of his soup and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Ever since childhood, Lord's reign of terror had haunted him.
He had witnessed villagers living every single day in constant fear. Seeing that fear reflected on people's faces had become his greatest motivation.
He wanted to put an end to that nightmare so everyone could finally live freely.
Still...
A trace of uncertainty lingered deep inside him.
Would he truly have the courage to face that very fear himself?
Sora lowered his head.
His reason for fighting was even simpler.
Raijin was his closest friend.
He knew that no matter what challenge Raijin chose to face, he would stand beside him.
Yet somewhere deep inside Sora also hid an unspoken fear—one he had never revealed to anyone.
It was his courage...
And his friendship...
That pushed him onto this dangerous journey against Lord.
Eventually, as night blanketed the town in silence, the two returned to their separate rooms.
In the dim light, both worry and hope could be seen on their faces.
Tomorrow's investigation would bring them a new challenge.
Their friendship alone would give them the strength to face it.
That night, neither of them fell asleep easily.
As they stared silently at the ceiling, only one question echoed endlessly in their minds.
Could they truly face the monster that the entire Leone Continent feared?
---
Morning sunlight slowly entered through the windows as Sora and Raijin awoke.
The house was unusually quiet, as though the world itself was holding its breath before an important decision.
Without exchanging many words, they finished a simple breakfast.
No jokes.
No laughter.
Today felt different.
After breakfast, they headed in separate directions with the same goal—
To uncover the truth about Lord.
Raijin visited one shop after another.
Some people immediately changed the subject out of fear.
Others closed their shops the moment they heard Lord's name.
Eventually, he arrived at a weapon shop.
Swords, spears, and armor lined the walls.
The smell of iron and oil filled the air.
An unusual silence lingered inside.
Dust covered many of the weapons hanging on the walls, as though no one had touched them in years.
It felt as if the owner had witnessed something so terrifying that the fear had never truly left his heart.
This was Takashi's Weapon Shop, where every item reflected both years of craftsmanship and years of fear.
Raijin walked directly to the counter.
"Do you know anything about Lord?"
The shopkeeper's eyes instantly turned cold.
"Don't you have any manners?"
he said bluntly.
"When asking someone a question, you introduce yourself first."
Raijin paused for a moment before lowering his head.
"My apologies. I was a little anxious."
"My name is Raijin."
The shopkeeper studied him for a few seconds before replying,
"Very well."
"My name is Takashi."
Raijin repeated his question.
"Can you tell me anything about Lord?"
Takashi's voice became quieter.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Don't you know how dangerous he is?"
"I do," Raijin answered without hesitation.
"That's exactly why I'm asking."
"My friend and I are going to kill him... so people can finally stop living in fear."
Takashi didn't laugh.
Instead, an old sorrow appeared in his eyes.
"Calm down, kid."
"I used to be just like you."
He lifted one leg of his trousers.
His right leg was made entirely of wood.
"I once went to kill him with my own team."
"But the moment we stood before him..."
"We couldn't even move."
"We didn't even know what was happening inside our own minds."
"There was only one thought."
Run.
As he spoke, Takashi's breathing became heavier.
His eyes drifted into the distance, as though he had returned to that horrifying day.
Sweat slowly formed on his forehead.
His hand trembled unconsciously.
His fists tightened.
"Our leader somehow gathered enough courage to tell everyone to run together..."
"But no one moved."
"They all stood frozen."
"I was the only one who managed to step back."
"No one else even moved from where they stood..."
"And that was the day I lost this leg."
Silence filled the shop.
After several moments, Takashi asked,
"Even after hearing all this..."
"Do you still want to go?"
Not a trace of fear appeared in Raijin's eyes.
Though a chill quietly ran down his spine, as though an unknown terror had brushed against his back.
"Yes."
"I'll go."
For a few moments, the entire shop fell silent.
Even the sounds from outside seemed distant.
Takashi simply stared at Raijin, as though he were looking at someone who had already written his own fate.
"I know Lord's reign is built entirely upon fear."
"And we're going to defeat him."
Takashi continued staring at him.
Then suddenly...
His expression changed.
For just an instant, he saw someone else standing before him.
His former leader.
His older brother.
"You remind me of someone."
"If you truly wish to defeat him..."
"Then remember one thing."
"Never fear him."
He slowly pointed toward the west.
"His castle lies in the west."
"That's where you'll find him."
"...The west."
The moment those words were spoken, a customer standing outside suddenly froze.
He glanced at Takashi for a brief moment...
Then quietly walked away without buying anything.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Sora was conducting his own investigation.
Everywhere he went, he heard the same stories.
Fear.
Broken courage.
Failed attempts.
Every story ended the same way—
No one could stand before Lord.
For Sora, these stories only strengthened his determination to stand beside Raijin until the very end.
Still...
A faint shadow lingered in his eyes.
An unspoken mixture of fear and doubt quietly settled within him.
By evening, the two returned home.
During dinner, they shared everything they had learned that day.
Terrifying stories.
Failed victories.
And the mysterious west.
Finally, they reached a decision.
The day after tomorrow...
They would set out toward the west.
Night fell once more.
The house became silent again.
But this silence felt heavier—
Like the calm before a storm.
Sora and Raijin lay in their beds with their eyes closed.
Sleep remained far away.
Their thoughts were fixed on only two things—
The west...
And Lord...
The one who awaited them at the end of their destiny.