Death

The Crown Prince of the Sevalos Empire, Evren Van Sevalos, was an imposing figure—his hair as dark as the night and eyes gleaming like rubies. A skilled swordsman and impossibly handsome, many women adored him despite his cold, distant demeanor. He was a prince who commanded respect and fear. But for me, the "Dark Killer," there was no escaping his gaze.

"No, Your Imperial Highness! He saved the children from harm!" A voice rose from the crowd.

"Yes, Your Imperial Highness! The noble Count Tedross was trying to sell the children abroad!" someone else shouted.

The words hit me, and for a moment, my heart skipped. I wasn't used to hearing my actions defended—especially not after everything I had done.

"Funny, a killer saving people," Evren remarked coldly, his voice cutting through the air.

I stood frozen, facing the Crown Prince. Despite the words against me, there was something unsettling about Evren's expression. I wasn't sure whether it was indifference or something more—something colder.

"How dare you speak to His Highness like that!" Count Tedross sneered, trying to regain some semblance of control. He was visibly sweating, his facade crumbling under the weight of the situation.

Evren's gaze locked onto Tedross with icy precision. "Count Tedross, so you're the one behind this vile trade?"

"N-no, Your Highness..." Tedross stammered, his voice shaking under the pressure of Evren's stare.

Evren's voice dropped to a dangerous calm. "Remove him. Count Tedross will no longer hold his title. He will be expelled from this society, just as he has expelled so many others." He paused, a faint but lethal edge to his words. "And once my father hears of this, he will ensure the same for him. His only son will inherit the title."

As the royal guards moved to seize Tedross, he continued to plead, desperately trying to shift blame and save himself. "Your Imperial Highness, you've misunderstood! Please forgive me! I—"

Evren's cold eyes never wavered from Tedross. His words had already sealed the count's fate.

And then, his attention turned back to me.

"YOU," Evren snapped, his voice cutting through the tense air. His sword, gleaming and deadly, pointed directly at my throat.

"Dark Killer, it's been four years. You've evaded justice for too long. Today, you will atone for your crimes."

"CAPTURE HIM!"

I could feel the eyes of the crowd burning into me, their judgment hanging heavy. But there was something more—an aching weight within me, an emotion that I couldn't quite name.

Four years, I thought, my breath coming heavier now. Has it really been that long?

I was seized by the knights, their armor pressing uncomfortably against my arms, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, trying to collect myself. Why does this feel like the end?

Despite the restraints, I managed to draw my sword, the familiar weight of it grounding me. But this time, I wasn't sure if I was fighting for justice or for something more selfish—something I didn't fully understand.

The streets descended into chaos. The ground cracked as magic surged from me, an uncontrollable force that I barely understood. The pressure in my chest was overwhelming, but I couldn't stop it. Not yet.

More royal guards arrived, and soon Evren himself joined the fray.

"I thought you wouldn't join, Prince Evren Van Sevalos," I called out, trying to keep my composure.

He didn't respond immediately, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward. "Hmm, I wanted to watch, but I can't leave my knights to fend for themselves."

The clash of our swords rang out, each strike a reminder of the years that had passed, of the unresolved tension between us.

Clang!

"What if I defeat you again?" I taunted, trying to distract myself from the storm raging within me. "You're a lucky prince."

Evren's lips curled into a smile, but it was a smile of someone who had seen too much, someone who had long stopped being surprised by the horrors of the world.

"I thought you were dead that day. You slept for a month. I wondered if a ghost had returned seeking vengeance," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a history we both shared.

I remembered the day I had stabbed him in the shoulder. I was 14, and he was 16. I hadn't meant to hurt him that badly, but I did. And now, all these years later, we were fighting once more.

His blade gleamed in the light, a white aura glowing around it. Is this...? I thought, my heart pounding. Aura?

"You know, if you escape again, I will always find you. Do you know why? Because your body always emits a black aura," Evren said, his gaze unwavering.

Evren pov:

his body always radiates a black aura... The words echoed in my mind. you must capture people who have this aura evren."The last time I had heard anything about my aura, someone had warned me that those with dark auras were dangerous."

"You're the only one like that in this empire," Evren continued. "Even if you disguise yourself, I will find you."

His words struck deep—deeper than I expected.

"You've killed so many innocent people, haven't you?" His voice was cold, unyielding.

Innocent people... I felt a sharp pang in my chest. Had I? Was I truly the monster that they all believed I was? My grip tightened on my sword.

"I would never do such a thing," I replied, but there was a tremor in my voice. I wanted to believe it, but something inside me began to crack.

Clash!

The battle continued, but my mind was elsewhere—lost in the memories that began to resurface.

The rain poured relentlessly, a reminder of how little control I had over the events that shaped my life. My first mission—the first time I was sent to protect a village—still haunted me.

I must protect them. I have to protect them. I had repeated it to myself over and over again. If I do well, I will rise in rank.

But by the time I arrived, it was too late. The village was already lost, the scent of blood thick in the air.

"Is everything alright?!" I had cried, rushing from house to house, only to find lifeless bodies. My hands shook as I tried to hold back the grief, but the images were too much.

Why do people keep disappearing from my life? I thought, my throat tight. Even Gali...

Gali, my little puppy, who had been trembling in the rain the day I found him. He was gone now, and I couldn't even protect him.

"I'm sorry. I should have been here sooner," I whispered to no one, the words breaking something deep inside me.

I heard a noise from another house and ran to it, hoping—praying—that there was still someone alive. But the sight that greeted me was even worse than the others. A family, barely holding on to life, their house soaked in blood.

"Are you alright?" I asked, but my voice was hollow, weak.

The man, looking at me with tears streaming down his face, grasped my hand. "Please, end it. I can't take this anymore. My family... they were attacked by bandits. They hurt us so badly."

His voice cracked, and the weight of his pain crushed me.

How could I do this? How could I end his suffering? I thought, my own hands trembling.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, guilt gnawing at my soul. I had failed him. I had failed them all.

When he died, a round crest rolled out of his hand—just like the one from the mask that had killed my family.

These crests... I gritted my teeth. "You're still here. I'll find you, no matter what."

Back in the present, dark magic surged through me, uncontrollable, threatening to destroy everything around me.

This magic... I thought, my heart racing. Is this really happening again?

Evren's voice broke through my haze. "Protect the people! It's dangerous! We need to stop this!"

But it was too late. The magic had already taken hold, and I couldn't stop it.

What am I doing?

The capital trembled as the earth cracked beneath the weight of my power.

When I regained my senses, the destruction was unimaginable. I felt dizzy, disoriented.

What happened? I thought, but before I could process anything, a figure in a black cloak appeared, steadying me.

Who...? My mind was too foggy to recognize him, but I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

"It's okay, Master. You're safe now," the voice of Zike spoke gently.

They teleported us away, to safety. My mask almost fell off, but it stayed in place as they whisked us away.

What is this cost? I wondered as I allowed myself to finally fall into sleep, exhausted by everything that had happened.