Surrounded by what's used to be the prosperous nation, a remnant engulfed in raging orange flame.

The screeching sound, the wind blow, carries the smell of blood and burnt wood.

I stood there, surrounded by the rubble.

"There's no way for you to run, Edlic."

A voice calls my name coming from behind.

"Valerie."

I call that person by his name.

His blonde hair glitter from the flame, reflecting the light.

His eyes shine deep blue. In it was my reflection.

"Your army, your nation, and your dignity are stains the ground."

He smirks.

"Better than living without it!"

I draw my sword out from the sheath and lung at him.

*clank!*

Valerie uses his magic, formed a purple barrier between us.

I jump back.

"Where is your divine power? Using it and fight me!"

He disperses the barrier, and then a black-purple mist gathers in his right palm.

The mist then takes the shape of a sword.

My eyes widen.

The sword In his hand was the sword my father used.

Not only that's he killed him, but he also corrupted his divine sword.

I tighten the grip on my sword.

"You've not deserved it!"

Upon hearing that, he smiles sadistically and points the sword at me.

"His sword was magnificent."

"But your will make a fine addition to my collection, brother."

He walks closer.

"Accept your fate, Edlic."

"You couldn't save this nation, your family, and her."

I grit my teeth.

"W-What are you doing to her!"

I shout.

Valerie takes amusement in my anger as he smiles even broader.

"I'm not sure she told you this or not, so I'll tell you the little secret."

"Edelinde was imbued with the power of the thousand wind, a power that only known in legend."

"I wanted that power so badly that I couldn't help but to kill her and took her power."

H-He killed her? I give him everything in exchange for her life.

But this bastard killed her!

"You bastard! I'll end you."

"Aventus divino gladio!"

A small window of light appeared from thin air. I reach my hand inside it, pulling the Aventus out of the divine realm.

"So that is the Aventus, the purest of the pure!"

Valerie laugh.

I grip the Aventus tightly and slowly, It's pure white color dyed purple.

I can't control my anger, It's slowly consuming me.

"Die!"

I swing the sword, powerful energy erupt from its edge.

Valerie draws his hand in the air, writing the magic formulas, creating shield-shaped energy.

*Boom!*

The shield takes the blast directly, creating a powerful shock wave that distinguishes the flame around and sends the rubble flying into the air.

Valerie's shield remained unscratched.

"That's quite destructive power! I wanted it!'

Within the smoke, purple flashes.

*Boom!*

I see a purple beam blazing at me at incredible speed and jump up high into the sky with the help of the agility of wind.

The attack missed me, leaving a trail of molten rock along its path.

His attacks prove that he's far more powerful than I am.

Able to deflect the Aventus's power is something.

The smoke clear, revealing Valerie, now engulfed in the storm of purple energy.

Pebble and small debris were caught in the pull of the storm and orbiting around him.

"Luckily for me, I've prepared some artifact to counter the Aventus's power. If not, I'll be dead by now."

Then five-item start to materialize behind him, spear, shield, bow, hammer, and a crown.

They're the previous emperors' divine artifact. How dare he going that far, corrupting them with foul power of him!

I grab the Aventus and trust forward.

*Clank!*

At the speed of light, our sword met.

Every each swing generates a shock.

Every attack aimed at his neck, hoping to kill him as fast as possible.

"Grrr!'

With all of my strength, I arch my hands over my head.

*Boom!*

The ground shakes from the powerful strike, cracking the hard surface.

Valerie was sent flying away but manage to land on his feet.

Valerie coughs up blood and struggles to stand upright for a moment.

I don't hesitate and go in for a second time.

This time, he must die!

"ventum aeterna."

Valerie extends his palm toward me. A purple wind gathering at his palm before blasting.

I was caught in the powerful wind. Pain course throughout my whole body as I flew and hit something hard.

"Cough! Cough!"

The taste of iron filled my mouth as blood spatters on my white coat.

My eyes sight was blurry, but I could see that Valerie is slowly walking toward me with his hand cover one of his eyes.

"Playtime end here, brother."

Using the wind, he takes the Aventus away.

Is this it, the end?

I use all my strength to stand on my feet and take the other sword on my waist out.

"Cough!"

I cough up my blood for the second time before wipe it with my sleeve.

Valerie is now holding the Aventus, slowly transforming it into a darker purple than it was.

"T-This it, ab-Absolute power..."

I rush at him with the sword in my hand, so he does.

At that final moment, I felt no pain.

Everything slowly went dark...

Floating in oblivion, I was lost.

Father, mother, I'm sorry.

I couldn't protect your legacy. Our people died, and our nation ruined.

Memories slowly appeared one by one both contained joy and sadness.

Then there's a single memory which I couldn't see, it's so bright.

I get closer to it.

"Nice to m-meet you..."

Said a girl with turquoise hair.

Her turquoise eyes look at the boy sitting beside the pond.

"Edlic."

The boy replies.

The girl looks surprised and does a curtsy.

"E-Edelinde, P-Please to meet you."

She sounds nervous.

Then the image fade.

I felt excited...

Another appeared.

"What are you doing here all by yourself, Edeline?"

Then a blonde man hurriedly runs to the female, she looks just like the girl from previously...

Why do I felt so anxious?

"S-Sorry, your highness, I was wandering around this beautiful garden..."

She said, smile with half-closed eyes.

Hearing her voice somehow making me feel better.

The man sigh, taking off his black cloak and drapes over her bare shoulder.

"It's cold outside, so please get back inside, Edeline."

He asks.

The girl looks at his face with a bit of guilt in her turquoise eyes.

She then looks into the deep black space with many blue, green, and yellow dots shining.

The man walks beside her.

"How's the star above our nation, Is it beautiful?"

He asks her, his voice is calm.

She nods.

"The star this night is so beautiful, your highness."

"Especially that one, shining so radiant among the other."

She talks about one particular star, one with bright yellow.

The man smile.

"Then I'll protect them, only for you."

Then, everything fades into darkness.

I'm sorry, Edelinde, I couldn't protect those stars and you.

I was overwhelmed by emotion.

I-If ever has the second chance, I'll make sure to save you...

IF there is, that's it...

I'll rebuild the world, only for you...

I'll cherish you more than I ever was...

And make sure he suffered.

I-

Wish.

"Y-Your Highness, It's time for you to wake up..."

A voice calling for me belongs to a woman.

I could no longer hear the deafening silence, I could no longer be blinded by eternal darkness, I could feel myself.

Something doesn't right. I open my eyes.

"It's time for breakfast, your highness."

A girl with brown hair and matching brown eyes is sliding the curtain apart, letting in the light.

I touched my abdomen.

Not feeling any pain?

Not even a scar?

Valerie doesn't finish me off?

Many questions were filled my head, unanswered.

And also, this maid looks like my personal maid back then...

"W-Who are you?"

I ask her, keeping my guard up.

My voice a bit high for a man, but that may be the side effect from a long sleep, right?

She looks at me with a confused look then sighs.

"What trick will you use again, your highness?"

She replies while dusting the room.

I do not reply to her, so she stops her doing and looks at me.

She places all the tools away and places one of her hands on my forehead.

She then backs away and thinking something to herself.

I look around the room. It's so big and beautifully decorated, a big red carpet on the floor that covers most of the surface, a widow on the left, and the large bed I'm currently on.

"Your highness, what day is this?"

She asks me.

What day is it, you ask? I don't know. I don't even know how long I've been unconscious.

I didn't answer her.

"It seems that there something wrong with your highness today."

She looks at me with worries filled with those brown eyes.

Now that I've looked at her cleary, she looks just like Mediva, my personal maid.

"Mediva?"

I ask her.

Her ear twitches slightly.

"Yes, I am Mediva, your highness."

She answered.

No, that can't be. Mediva died two years ago, by the hand of that bastard!

There is a thing that Mediva knows.

"Your pet dog, his name was Charcoal, is it?"

I ask her.

"Huh? How'd you know that, your highness?"

This doesn't help. I should try asking something.

"What's the ingredients of Steward's orange pudding."

This is the thing Mediva has kept secret from anyone and will only tell me.

There was a time when I learned that Edelinde loves orange pudding, and Mediva used to work at Steward's, so I ask for her help.

She even taught me how to make it, some brown sugar, some flour, an egg, some milk, some butter, and orange.

"Why are you asking that, your highness?"

She tilts her head slightly, sweat flowing down from her forehead.

"Just answer it."

"Ummm... Okay.."

"W-Well, you'll need orange, brown sugar, flour, an egg, milk, and some butter, your highness."

I guess still stuck in the dream. There's no way such coincidence like this I'll happen.

I about get off the bed, but my feet don't reach the ground.

"W-What?"

I accidentally say it out loud, scaring the maid.

I place my feet on the ground and look at the maid. She is a lot taller than I am.

I look around the room again. Everything seems to be bigger than it was.

I started to panic.

Okay, let's calm down.

This isn't happening.

I pinch myself, and that was really hurt, like hell.

"Y-Your Highness, what are you doing!"

She rushes in and grabs my hurt arm.

"You're acting strangely today, your highness."

I felt pain. That's mean this all is real, right?

Then, what about Aventus. Valerie took it, didn't, he?

"Aventus divino gladio!"

I call for the divine sword, but nothing responded to me.

Even If it's taken, there should be a pulse to tell me that it's answering me, but there is none.

"Y-Your highness?"

She looks at me with confusion...

Somehow, having someone looking at me with a face like that making me embarrassed.