Aleck let out a slow breath as he stared up at the clouded sky.
The dull ache still lingered in his body.
My injuries are already healed… but it still stings.
He flexed his fingers slightly, testing the soreness.
It wasn't like before.
Normally, he wouldn't even be able to stand yet.
I really can take a lot more damage now…
A strange warmth flickered in his chest.
Then his expression stiffened.
No… I can't let anyone know.
Not about the mark. Not about the Goddess. Not about any of it.
His thoughts tangled together, swirling endlessly in his mind.
He barely noticed the footsteps approaching.
"Hello…"
A soft voice called out cautiously.
"…are you still alive?"
Aleck blinked.
The red-haired girl was kneeling beside him, leaning forward slightly, studying him with open curiosity.
She tilted her head.
"He isn't dead… is he?" she murmured quietly to herself.
Aleck frowned.
"I'm alive," he said flatly. "Thanks for your concern. But I don't need it."
He pushed himself up slowly, dust falling from his clothes, and began walking toward the only place he could call home.
The Embrek Church of Light.
He heard footsteps behind him.
Soft. Persistent.
He glanced sideways.
She was following him.
Aleck stopped abruptly and turned toward her.
"Are you stupid?" he asked bluntly. "Why are you following me?"
The girl froze for a moment, caught off guard.
Then she lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.
"…Because I'm new here," she said quietly. "I don't know the way to Uncle Oliver's house."
Aleck stared at her.
"…You really are stupid," he muttered, turning forward again and continuing to walk.
She didn't seem offended.
Instead, she simply walked beside him.
After a few moments of silence, she spoke again.
"…Why did they call you devil-spawn?"
Aleck stopped.
He stared at her.
Is this girl serious?
He looked away, exhaling quietly.
"I don't know everything," he said. "But… a long time ago, there was a Demon King. He had black hair."
He reached up unconsciously, touching his own hair.
"Ever since then… people think black hair is a bad omen."
The girl listened carefully.
Then she asked, completely serious:
"…Are you the Demon King's child?"
Aleck froze.
He turned toward her slowly.
"You really are stupid," he said. "He died over a hundred years ago."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Wow," she said softly. "I learned something new today."
She smiled.
"Thank you, devil-spawn."
She said it so casually. So innocently.
Not like the others.
Not with hatred.
Aleck's hand clenched into a fist instinctively.
For a moment, he considered hitting her.
But he stopped himself.
Her clothes were too clean.
Too refined.
Silk.
And the ring on her finger—
She was a noble.
He turned away and continued walking.
Soon, the familiar gates of the Embrek Church came into view.
He stopped.
As Aleck approached the front gate of the church, his eyes instinctively scanned the surroundings.
A habit.
He didn't know when it had started—but he was always watching now.
Always cautious.
He noticed the girl still standing beside him.
Closer than before.
He frowned and glanced at her.
"Go inside," he said. "Check if the prayer has started yet."
He tried to sound calm, but inside, panic lingered.
If he missed prayer again, Reyla would definitely kill him.
Or worse—train him.
"I don't think it has."
The voice didn't come from the girl.
It came from behind him.
Before Aleck could react, a hand grabbed the back of his neck.
Firm.
Familiar.
"And why," Reyla's voice said slowly, "are you covered in dust again?"
Aleck froze.
He turned his head slightly.
Reyla stood behind him, her emerald eyes narrowed with suspicion.
The girl beside him spoke before he could answer.
"That's because big brother Olric beat him."
Reyla's expression changed instantly.
Her eyes sharpened.
"…Olric?"
The girl stepped forward slightly.
"I'm Amber," she said politely. "Amber Greywhite. Daughter of Ethan Greywhite."
She paused briefly.
"…and his friend," she added, glancing at Aleck. "Though I don't know his name."
Aleck blinked.
Friend?
Reyla's eyes widened in surprise.
"Olric… the son of big brother Oliver?" she asked.
Her gaze shifted back to Amber.
"And you're Lady Amber…"
Her expression softened immediately.
"You probably don't remember me," Reyla said gently. "But I was there when you were born. I stayed with Lady Losaile."
Aleck stared at Reyla.
Confused.
Big brother Oliver…? Lady Losaile…?
He didn't know Reyla had connections like this.
To nobles.
To people like them.
His world suddenly felt much smaller.
And much larger at the same time.
"Is something happening out here?"
Father Lucen's calm voice broke the moment.
Aleck looked up.
Lucen stood at the church entrance.
And beside him—
Ethan.
And Oliver.
Amber's face lit up instantly.
"Papa!"
She ran forward without hesitation and leapt into Ethan's arms.
Ethan caught her easily, his stern expression softening for just a moment.
"And Uncle Oliver!" she added happily.
Oliver smiled faintly.
Lucen chuckled quietly.
"She's grown into quite the charming young lady," he said, glancing at Ethan. "She takes after her mother."
Ethan shook his head faintly, though a small smile betrayed him.
Lucen clapped his hands together lightly.
"Come," he said calmly.
"It's time for prayer."
After the prayer was over, Ethan and Oliver excused themselves, saying they had matters to attend to.
Reyla and Aleck stood in silence as the figures disappeared beyond the church gates.
Aleck's mind was still struggling to process everything.
Amber Greywhite.
Daughter of Ethan Greywhite.
A noble.
And she had called him her friend.
He didn't know how to feel.
Some distance away, Oliver's expression was grim.
"So you're telling me," he said quietly, his voice heavy with guilt, "my son beat him until a stranger had to intervene?"
He lowered his head slightly.
"I never told him those stories," Oliver murmured. "I didn't want him growing up with prejudice. I thought I was protecting him…"
His jaw tightened.
"But instead, he learned it from others."
He exhaled slowly.
"I have failed him as a father."
Ethan, still carrying Amber, spoke calmly.
"Oliver."
His voice was steady, grounding.
"You shouldn't confront him while you're angry."
Oliver remained silent.
"You know how your words can cut deeper than any blade," Ethan continued. "Let me speak to him first."
Oliver hesitated.
Then nodded faintly.
"…Very well."
He turned his gaze toward the distant military encampment.
"Let's go to the camp," Oliver said. "The scouts reported unusual activity."
Ethan nodded.
"Alright."
After escorting Amber safely back to the mansion, Ethan and Oliver departed once more in their carriage.
The military camp came into view soon after.
The atmosphere was tense.
Soldiers stood alert, their faces grim and restless.
There had been no casualties.
No direct confrontation.
And yet…
Everyone felt it.
Something was wrong.
These weren't normal animal movements.
These were coordinated.
Deliberate.
Intelligent.
Then—
The soldiers noticed them.
Oliver.
And beside him—
The Grand Duke himself.
Ethan Greywhite.
His crimson hair burned like a banner beneath the grey sky.
His mere presence shifted the air.
Morale surged instantly.
Where fear once lingered, confidence returned.
The scout leader rushed forward, bowing respectfully as he presented a map.
"My Lords," he said urgently, pointing to marked locations. "Our scouts identified monkey encampments in these two regions."
He hesitated.
"…There may be more."
He swallowed.
"But that is not the worst part."
He looked up.
"They are using fire."
Oliver's expression hardened.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
That was impossible.
No ordinary creature could wield fire.
That was the domain of divine influence.
Ethan took the map and examined it carefully, calculating distance and direction.
"So," the scout leader asked nervously, "when shall we dispatch forces?"
Oliver didn't answer.
He simply glanced at Ethan.
"Can you handle it?" Oliver asked calmly.
Ethan didn't hesitate.
"If the report is accurate," he said, "yes."
The scout leader froze.
Ethan stepped forward.
He raised his arm slowly, aligning it with the distant forest.
He inhaled.
Focused.
Resonance flowed silently through his body.
Then—
He closed his fist.
The world answered.
In the far distance—
The air grew hot.
The soldiers felt it before they saw it
Flames erupted.
Two massive pillars of fire tore through the forest, spiraling upward like divine judgment.
The inferno consumed everything in its path.
Screams echoed briefly.
Then—
Silence.
The entire event lasted only seconds.
Most soldiers didn't even understand what they had witnessed.
Only that the forest had burned.
Ethan lowered his hand.
"It's done," he said calmly.
Oliver smirked faintly.
"Still as terrifying as ever."
He turned to the scout leader.
"Continue surveillance. Locate any remaining camps."
The scout leader nodded frantically and rushed off.
Oliver's expression grew serious again.
Deep within the burning forest—
Charred corpses lay scattered across the blackened ground.
The air reeked of ash and scorched flesh.
Then—
One of the corpses twitched.
"…Ahhh…"
The voice was weak. Broken.
Burnt skin cracked as the figure struggled to move.
Slowly—
Painfully—
The flesh began to regenerate.
Blackened layers peeled away, revealing raw skin beneath.
"…Damn it…" the man rasped, his voice trembling.
He forced himself onto one knee, clutching his chest as his breathing grew steadier.
"…That Fire Knight…"
His eyes burned with hatred.
"…He's far stronger than expected…"
He looked toward the distant horizon.
Toward Embrek.
Fear crept into his expression.
"…Leader was right…"
His fingers tightened into the dirt.
"…We can't complete the mission while he's here."
Silence fell around him.
The forest smoldered.
And far away—
Unaware—
Embrek remained standing.