The courtyard felt… off.
Moments ago, it had been filled with noise.
Excitement.
Laughter.
Plans for the holiday.
But now—
There was a strange silence hanging around Team 18.
Because Seraphina was gone.
She hadn't said a word.
Not a goodbye.
Not a glance back.
She had simply turned…
…and walked away.
---
The Message That Changed Everything
Lyrielle was the first to speak.
"…That wasn't normal."
Aurelia crossed her arms.
"She didn't even argue with me."
"That's how I know something's seriously wrong."
Kael looked toward the direction Seraphina had left.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…The scroll."
Lucien nodded.
"…It wasn't just a family message."
There was tension in his voice.
"The Silver Kingdom has sent out a royal decree."
Lyrielle looked at him.
"…What kind of decree?"
Lucien spoke slowly.
Carefully.
"As part of their ancient tradition…"
"The royal family has announced a Grand Tournament."
Aurelia raised an eyebrow.
"…So?"
Lucien continued.
"The participants…"
"…are warriors of our age."
"…and those up to three years older."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"Still sounds normal."
Lucien's eyes darkened slightly.
"The winner…"
"…is granted one wish by the King."
Aurelia smirked.
"Now that sounds interesting."
Lucien finished—
"…and will be engaged to the princess of the Silver Kingdom."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
Lyrielle's eyes widened slightly.
"…Seraphina."
Aurelia's smile faded.
"…That's messed up."
Kael said nothing.
But his fingers slowly tightened.
---
The Rush
Without another word—
Lyrielle turned and started running.
"Her room."
Aurelia followed immediately.
"Yeah—she wouldn't just leave like that."
Lucien moved without hesitation.
Kael walked last.
But his pace was faster than before.
Something inside him…
Was changing.
---
The Empty Room
The door to Seraphina's room was slightly open.
Lyrielle pushed it.
It creaked softly.
Inside—
Everything was clean.
Organized.
Empty.
Her belongings were gone.
The room felt… abandoned.
Aurelia stepped inside slowly.
"…She really left."
Lyrielle's gaze fell to the desk.
"…Wait."
A single piece of paper lay there.
Folded neatly.
Lucien picked it up.
"…A letter."
Kael didn't move.
"…Read it."
---
Seraphina's Farewell
Lucien unfolded the paper.
The handwriting was elegant.
Precise.
Calm.
But something about it felt… different.
Then he began to read.
---
"To my team…
No…
To the only people who ever treated me as just… Seraphina.
By the time you read this, I will already be gone.
I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye properly.
If I stayed any longer… I might not have been able to leave at all."
---
Lyrielle's hands trembled slightly.
Aurelia looked away.
Lucien continued.
---
"The time I spent with all of you…
Was the happiest time of my life.
Not as a princess.
Not as a symbol.
But as a person.
For that…
Thank you."
---
The room felt heavier.
Kael's gaze lowered slightly.
---
"Lyrielle…
Stop worrying so much.
But also… never stop caring.
That's your strength."
Lyrielle bit her lip.
---
"Aurelia…
Try to be a little less reckless.
Just a little.
But… don't lose your fire."
Aurelia let out a quiet breath.
---
"Lucien…
You see more than you say.
But sometimes… you should say it."
Lucien's grip tightened slightly on the paper.
---
Then—
There was a pause.
Before the final part.
---
"Kael…"
---
The room went completely silent.
Lucien hesitated for a moment.
Then continued.
---
"You are… strange.
But in a way I don't dislike.
Don't carry everything alone.
Even if you think you have to.
…And please…
Stay alive."
---
Kael's eyes didn't move.
---
"This is my last day at the academy.
Not because I want it to be…
But because it has to be.
The Silver Kingdom does not allow its princess to live freely.
And I have a role to fulfill."
---
Lyrielle whispered—
"…No…"
---
"I wish all of you…
Happiness in the days to come.
And if fate allows it…
Perhaps we will meet again.
— Seraphina"*
---
The Breaking Point
Silence.
No one spoke.
The weight of her words filled the room.
Aurelia clenched her fists.
"…So that's it?"
"She just… accepts it?"
Lyrielle shook her head.
"…She didn't accept it."
"…She had no choice."
Lucien folded the letter slowly.
"…The Silver Kingdom's traditions are absolute."
Kael still hadn't moved.
His head slightly lowered.
His hands clenched tightly.
---
The Shift in Kael
Something changed.
For the first time since entering the academy—
Kael's expression lost its calm.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Then slowly—
He raised his head.
His eyes…
Were different.
Colder.
Sharper.
Burning.
---
Aurelia noticed first.
"…Kael?"
He didn't respond immediately.
Then quietly—
"You all asked me something earlier."
They looked at him.
"…Where I was going during the holidays."
Lyrielle's heart skipped slightly.
"…Kael…"
He stepped forward.
His voice steady.
But filled with something dangerous.
"…I didn't have an answer back then."
A pause.
Then—
His hand clenched tightly.
The air around him felt heavier.
---
"…But now I do."
---
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"…What are you planning?"
Kael looked toward the window.
Toward the distant horizon.
Toward the direction of the Silver Kingdom.
---
"…I'm going to bring her back."
---
Silence.
Absolute.
---
Aurelia stared.
"…You're serious."
Kael didn't look at her.
"…She didn't leave because she wanted to."
Lyrielle's voice trembled slightly.
"…Kael… that's a royal kingdom."
"…That's not something we can just—"
Kael interrupted.
His voice sharper now.
Stronger.
---
"…I don't care."
---
For a moment—
It felt like someone else was standing there.
Not the calm Kael.
Not the quiet Kael.
But something far more dangerous.
---
His eyes burned with determination.
---
"…I'm not letting her be trapped in something she doesn't want."
"…Not after everything."
---
Lucien watched him carefully.
"…You understand what this means."
Kael nodded.
"…Yeah."
Aurelia slowly smiled.
"…Now THIS is interesting."
Lyrielle looked at him.
Conflicted.
Worried.
…but something in her heart…
believed him.
---
The Final Line
Kael turned toward them.
His voice calm again—
But the fire hadn't disappeared.
---
"…I'm going to rescue my friend…"
---
A pause.
Then—
His eyes sharpened.
Fierce.
Unyielding.
---
"…from the tyranny of her own kingdom."
---
The wind moved through the open window.
The letter fluttered slightly on the desk.
And for the first time—
It didn't feel like a farewell.
---
It felt like the beginning of a war.
---