The ruined kingdom felt different without Juluis.
Too quiet.
For years, his presence had filled the place—even when he said nothing. The sound of his footsteps during morning training. The calm way he watched every sparring match. The silent pressure that reminded the two boys someone stronger was always nearby.
Now that pressure was gone.
And the silence felt heavier.
Sora sat on a broken pillar in the courtyard, tossing a small stone up and down.
"He really left."
Johan leaned against the ruined wall nearby, arms crossed.
"Yes."
"That's it? Just yes?"
"What else do you want me to say?"
Sora caught the stone and looked at the empty training field.
"…He could have told us."
Johan didn't respond.
The wind passed through the ruins, carrying the faint sound of grass moving across the valley.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Sora suddenly stood.
"Well."
Johan glanced at him.
"Well what?"
"We can't just stay here forever."
Johan tilted his head slightly.
"And do what?"
Sora pointed toward the broken gate.
"Go see the world."
Johan raised an eyebrow.
"You sound excited."
"I am."
Johan sighed.
"…You're unbelievable."
Sora grinned.
"What? You're not curious?"
Johan looked around the ruined kingdom.
The place where he had lived alone before they arrived.
The place where he had trained for years.
"…I already know the world is terrible."
Sora shrugged.
"Then let's go fix it."
Johan stared at him.
"That's the stupidest thing you've said today."
"Today?"
"Yes."
Sora laughed.
Then he grabbed his sword from the rack near the wall.
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
Johan frowned.
"You decided that already?"
Sora shrugged again.
"Staying here won't make us stronger."
Johan looked toward the valley beyond the broken gate.
The world Juluis had once walked through.
"…Fine."
Sora blinked.
"That was fast."
Johan pushed himself off the wall.
"If you're going out there, someone has to stop you from getting killed."
Sora smirked.
"You mean someone has to stop you from losing."
Johan's eyebrow twitched.
"…Try saying that again."
The next morning, the ruined kingdom stood silent as the two boys walked toward the gate.
Each carried only what they needed.
Their swords.
A small pack.
And the years of training Juluis had given them.
Sora stopped for a moment before leaving.
He looked back at the courtyard.
The broken pillars.
The training ground.
The place where they had spent so many years fighting and shouting.
"…You think he'll come back?" Sora asked quietly.
Johan stood beside him.
"…No."
Sora looked at the sky.
"Yeah."
Neither of them spoke again.
Then they stepped through the gate.
And left the ruins behind.
Several days later, they reached a small town.
The place was crowded with merchants, travelers, and soldiers.
Sora stared at everything with wide eyes.
"So many people…"
Johan walked beside him calmly.
"You've seen towns before."
"Not this big!"
Sora pointed at a street vendor.
"What's that?"
"Food."
"I know that!"
"Then stop asking."
Sora ignored him and walked toward the stall.
But before he could reach it—
a loud crash echoed through the street.
A group of armored soldiers had surrounded several villagers near the center of town.
One of the soldiers shouted,
"Taxes were due three days ago!"
The villagers looked terrified.
"We—we don't have enough yet—"
The soldier slammed his spear into the ground.
"That's not our problem."
Sora frowned.
"What's happening?"
Johan crossed his arms.
"Power."
The soldier grabbed one of the villagers by the collar.
"You people think the kingdom protects you for free?"
Sora's expression hardened.
"…Hey."
Johan glanced at him.
"Don't."
But Sora was already walking forward.
The soldier turned.
"What do you want?"
Sora scratched his head.
"You're bothering them."
The soldiers laughed.
"And who are you?"
Sora pointed his thumb at himself.
"Just a traveler."
One soldier stepped forward.
"Then travel somewhere else."
Sora sighed.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Johan pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…Idiot."
Water slowly gathered around Johan's hand.
The soldiers noticed.
"…Magic?"
Sora drew his sword.
"Ready?"
Johan looked annoyed.
"I didn't agree to this."
But the water in his hand was already swirling faster.
Sora grinned.
"Too late."
The fight was over quickly.
Too quickly.
Sora moved like a storm across the street.
Johan's water magic struck like blades.
The soldiers never stood a chance.
When it was over—
the street was silent.
The villagers stared at them in shock.
Sora sheathed his sword.
"…That was easier than training."
Johan glanced at the fallen soldiers.
"…These were just regular guards."
One of the villagers stepped forward slowly.
"Who… are you two?"
Sora thought about it for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"…Nobody important."
Johan turned away.
"We're leaving."
Sora waved goodbye to the villagers.
"Take care!"
As the two boys walked out of town—
Johan spoke quietly.
"You know what we just did."
Sora looked at him.
"Yeah."
"You attacked soldiers of a kingdom."
Sora shrugged.
"They started it."
Johan sighed.
"…You're impossible."
But deep inside—
both of them knew something had changed.
That small fight…
was only the beginning.
Soon, their actions would spread from town to town.
Then kingdom to kingdom.
And one day—
the world itself would begin whispering two names.
Sora.
And Johan.
The ones who stood against kings.
The ones who started a rebellion.
The ones history would later call—
The Rebels.