We love you, and we always will.

That night was cold. The chill seeped into my bones as it opened the door to my memories again. I lay in my bunk, eyes closed as my thoughts twisted in a relentless spiral, circling back to the pain I tried so hard to bury.

In my dreams, I was home.

Warmth enveloped me, and a familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee can be smelled. The gentle sound of laughter echoed in the air.

I looked around, my heart aching with a longing so profound it nearly stole my breath. There they were, Amus, her face glowing with happiness, holding our twins in her arms.

My children giggled, reaching out with their tiny hands, grasping at the air as I drew closer.

"Thalamik," Amus called softly, her voice like a soothing balm. "Come here, love."

I stepped toward them, feeling lighter than I had in ages. I can feel as though the weight of the world has dropped from my shoulders.

At that moment, everything was perfect. I held my family close, their warmth flowing into me, filling the hollow spaces inside my chest.

But the scene began to shift.

The comforting warmth ebbed, replaced by a creeping dread.

I looked down to see the light fading from Amus's eyes, her radiant smile faltering.

The twins, once so full of life, turned pale and distant.

"No," I whispered, desperation clawing at my throat. "Not again... please, not again."

My dream refused to heed my plea. The image of my wife and children blurred, dissolving into darkness, and in their place stood Zuatha Il Zikmel, the elf who had torn my life apart. Her eyes gleamed with malice, and a twisted smile curled her lips.

"You couldn't save them," she taunted, her voice echoing in my mind. "You're weak. You couldn't protect them then, and you can't protect anyone now."

I recoiled, my heart thudding painfully in my chest. Guilt and rage surged within me. I reached out, trying to clutch the fading images of my family, but they slipped through my fingers like sand.

"Amus... I'm sorry," I choked out, but the dream offered no mercy. Zuatha's laughter rang in my ears, a chilling reminder of my failure.

I jolted awake, drenched in sweat, my breath ragged.

The room was dark, yet the echoes of the dream pressed down on me, heavy and unrelenting.

Sitting up, I ran a trembling hand through my hair, trying to banish the lingering terror.

But the guilt remained, burrowing deeper and deeper into my soul.

***

The next day, I was barely present. My performance during morning drills was pathetic; lingering echoes of Zuatha's words scattered my focus.

Ray and Carmilla cast worried glances in my direction, but I ignored them.

How could I explain the nightmare that continued to haunt me? Even if they already know what I am facing. It has been two weeks ever since we talked about it. Honestly, I am such a burden to everyone else...

It didn't take long for Instructor Hale to notice. She called me aside after training, her stern gaze filled with a mixture of disappointment and concern.

"Thalamik," she began, her voice softer than usual, "you're slipping again."

"I know," I muttered. "I'm sorry. I just need some rest."

She shook her head slowly, a painful understanding flashing across her face. "It's more than that. You're still fighting battles inside yourself. Until you confront that, you'll remain a liability not only to your team but to yourself."

I remained silent, unable to argue. She was right.

Hale sighed deeply, coming to a decision that pained her. "You will only cause danger to your team. Therefore, I'm disqualifying you from academy activities. Pack your things and go home, Thalamik. You're not cut out for this!"

Her words struck me deeply, a painful blow to my pride. Yet I knew she was right.

If I remained much longer and the battles grew more serious... then Ray and Carmilla might be hurt because of me.

"Instructor, you can't be serious. There must be," Ray said.

"SILENCE!" Hale shouted. "Those who don't abide by my rules don't belong here..."

Carmilla, on the other hand, stayed silent as if she knew my decision already.

"Understood," I replied softly, my voice barely audible. I turned my back and patted Ray's shoulders. "I'll be back; don't worry about it." 

"I can't do this without you... Thal... but if it's time that you need, I'll wait for you."

"Thanks," I said with a soft smile.

***

The journey to my in-laws' home was long. Well, not really, but because it is filled with memories I had tried to bury. When I finally stood at their doorstep, the sight of the house hit me like a physical blow.

Should I just go home?

Wait. I have no home...

Gulp.

My hand trembled as I raised it to knock.

Before I could, the door opened to reveal Amus's mother and father.

Surprise lit their features, quickly replaced by concern.

"Thalamik!" Amus's mother said, voice shaking with emotion. She pulled me into a tight embrace. "My dear boy, it's been too long."

I couldn't stop the tears that spilled down my cheeks and couldn't restrain the grief and guilt that had been tightening around me for so long.

"I am... home..."

I buried my face against her shoulder, letting the pain flow out.

Amus's father joined us, folding me into his arms as well. "We've missed you, son," he said, voice thick with emotion. "We've missed you so much."

They guided me inside, where the warmth of their home surrounded me.

Everywhere I looked, the memories of Amus and our children flew into my psyche. Photographs, toys, and small trinkets that had once belonged to my twins.

"They're buried nearby," Amus's father said gently, as though reading my mind. "Amus, the twins… they're resting in the cemetery just down the road."

My heart clenched.

I had intentionally avoided their graves, terrified of what it would do to me.

"I'm so sorry," I managed, voice cracking under the weight of my guilt.

"I couldn't protect them. I failed them… failed you."

On the day I lost everything. I have failed everyone.

Amus's father placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "It wasn't your fault," he said, with a quiet conviction in his words. "When I visited them when you were not there... Amus was happy. That shows how much she loved you. Despite everything that has happened, you have treated her well, and I thank you for that."

I looked at him through tear-blurred eyes.

"But I went too far," I whispered.

The memory of killing an innocent elf in a furious rage still haunted me.

"I lost control. I became a monster."

Amus's mother shook her head, her gaze filled with compassion.

"You were grieving, Thalamik. We don't blame you for what happened. We love you, and we always will. Even though that was wrong, we know it was because your love for Amus was so great...Next time, just remember that Amus wouldn't want you to do something like that, okay?"

At that moment, the three of us hugged, united in our shared pain. Screams of sadness escaped my mouth as I let out everything.

Though the sorrow remained, so did the love that had always held us together.

That night, I slept in the room I had once shared with Amus. Every memory was sharper here, but I welcomed them, letting each recollection wash over me as I drifted into a restless sleep.

***

Amus appeared in my dreams once more that night. Unlike before, the shadows of guilt that had choked my every thought were gone. She stood before me, smiling gently—just as she had in life.

"Thalamik," she murmured, voice warm and soothing. "You've carried this burden for too long. Let it go." She was holding hands with the twin.

"Yeah, Dad... thanks for loving us. But it's time to let go. You have to be happy," Rion said.

"I love you, dad. Let's have fun together again when you cross to this side... But make the most of your life!!!" Lira said.

My heart twisted with love and longing. "I'm sorry, Amus," I whispered. "I couldn't protect you, and I couldn't protect you... Rion and Lira."

She shook her head, eyes filled with understanding and a grace beyond any earthly measure. "It wasn't your fault. You did everything you could and more. You loved us—that's what matters."

I felt a spark of relief as the crushing weight of guilt began to lift. Tears accompanied that feeling. My hand moved as I reached her again. But before I could reach out to her, the image of Amus dissolved, replaced by Zuatha's sneering face.

"Your guilt isn't enough," she spat, her voice steeped in. "You will never atone for what you've done."

I woke with a jolt, and Zuatha's hateful gaze burned into my mind.

My chest heaved as I tried to steady my breathing.

Yet, even though her words stung, the softness of Amus's voice lingered.

She had forgiven me… even if I still struggled to forgive myself.

But there was one more thing I needed to do.

***

Morning light streamed through the curtains as I dressed, my resolve crystallizing with every breath. I had buried myself in sorrow for too long. Now, I had a purpose again.

I found Amus's parents in the kitchen, already awake, their expressions soft with understanding.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" Amus's mother said, her eyes sad but resigned.

I nodded. "I have to. There's a debt I owe—to myself, to Amus. I need to bring Zuatha to justice."

Amus's father stepped forward, setting a steady hand on my shoulder. "We won't stop you. But know this: you've done enough for us. You don't owe us anything. If this is what you need to do, then go. Just promise us one thing."

"Anything," I said, my voice trembling with emotion.

"Come back to us," he replied. "Write to us now and then, and return when you can. You'll always have a home here."

A genuine smile crossed my face for the first time in ages. "I promise."

With that, I left, my heart heavy but my spirit fortified. The academy loomed large in my thoughts—I had departed in disgrace, but I would go back with determination.

***

When I arrived at the academy, the sound of clashing weapons and shouted commands filled the air. Cadets were immersed in their drills and fully committed to their training. Yet the moment I stepped into the main hall, a hush fell over the room.

Dozens of eyes followed me as I strode forward, a new resolve in every step. Instructor Hale stood at the front, arms folded, watching me with an unreadable expression.

I stopped before him, meeting his gaze squarely. My voice rang clear despite the tremor in my chest. "Instructor Hale, I'm here to challenge you to a duel."

A ripple of surprise coursed through the cadets. Hale's eyes narrowed. "You're serious?"

I nodded once. "If I win, I want back into the academy, and besides, I'm ready," I stated firmly. "I've faced my past. So allow me back."

She studied me for a long moment, then gave a curt nod. "Very well. But know I won't go easy on you. You'll earn your place here—nothing less. Better do well to prove it."

Our duel drew an enormous crowd, anticipation thickening the air.

Ray and Carmilla watched anxiously.

Without hesitation, we began. The clash of our swords reverberated through the hall as we traded blows. For the first time since my nightmare began, my mind was calm, my focus absolute. No guilt. No fear. Just the clarity of the fight and the sense that I was exactly where I needed to be.

Instructor Hale was every bit as skilled as I remembered—sharp, decisive, unyielding. But I wasn't the same broken man who had left.

My mind was now more focused. My mana control is at its prime. I can't lose to anyone.

Memories of Amus, of the twins, and the promise I made to them ignited my spirit. I fought for them, for what was taken from me, and for what I still had left to do.

As our duel reached its climax, I caught a fleeting vision of Amus's gentle smile. Strength surged through me one final time.

With a swift move, I disarmed Hale, sending his sword skittering across the floor.

The room held its breath as he straightened, surprise and a measure of respect flickering in his eyes.

"You've earned it," he said at last, voice tinged with reluctant admiration. "Welcome back."

I stood there, chest heaving, relief coursing through me. I had won more than just a duel; I had reclaimed a piece of myself. A roar of cheers erupted from the cadets, their support washing over me like a cleansing tide.

At that moment...my family's memory is close to my heart...I felt the first stirrings of genuine hope. I had found a way forward, a way to honor Amus and the twins and to keep fighting for what was right.

I was finally on the path to healing.

***

"Summon us, Thalamik," countless voices beckoned from shadows.

"Give us vengeance."

I woke abruptly, heart hammering.

Those whispers, like echoes of souls tormented unfairly, still lingered in my ears.

The voices guide me to go to a specific place.

And I wished to follow their voice.

In the pre-dawn silence, I found myself drawn to a cemetery, where footsteps echoed softly against the damp earth.

The cool breeze brushed gently past me, rustling the leaves overhead and whispering as if urging me onward.

I didn't know exactly what compelled me to visit this solemn place, but an inexplicable force drew me to it, guiding my path.

I moved deeper into the grounds, shadows flickering beneath a pale, indifferent moon.

The gravestones stood in solemn rows, weathered by time yet proudly holding their names. A deep sorrow clung to this place, palpable even in the silence.

But strangely, tonight, it felt different. It wasn't just sadness — it was anger, determination, and an unspoken call for vengeance.

I stopped abruptly near a cluster of graves.

Hesitantly, my fingers brushed the cold stone, tracing faded letters etched long ago:

"Here lies those who stood bravely against injustice. Fallen, yet never forgotten."

A sharp pain suddenly coursed through my chest, mana surging violently within me.

My vision blurred, the ground beneath me trembling slightly.

The air thickened, charged with energy I couldn't explain.

From beneath my fingertips, dark tendrils of mana coiled outward, seeping into the earth like veins of shadow.

The whispers came first, countless murmurs echoing softly around me, growing louder with each heartbeat.

"We fought… we resisted…"

"She took everything…"

"Let us fight again…"

The whispers grew more evident, more insistent. Slowly, ghastly forms began to rise from the earth. Their ethereal yet defined figures in battle-worn armor and wielding spectral weapons. Each bore scars that spoke silently of battles fought and lost, eyes hardened by unfulfilled vengeance.

I stood frozen in awe and disbelief as one stepped forward, a tall soldier, his translucent armor bearing the emblem of a forgotten battalion. His gaze met mine, filled with determination and solemn respect.

"You have called to us, Thalamik," he spoke gravely, voice resonating deeply through the air. "We are warriors who stood against Zuatha Il Zikmel and fell unjustly. Grant us a purpose once more."

A chill ran through me as realization dawned. My mana was attuned to those fallen warriors whose desire for justice and vengeance lingered beyond death.

I couldn't summon those I loved, those innocent souls lost, but warriors bound by unresolved battles and that shared hatred for Zuatha answered my call.

A smile formed on my face.

"Swear allegiance your allegiance to me," I commanded, my voice stern.

The soldier knelt, spectral blade pressed against the earth.

Behind him, the other fallen warriors mirrored the gesture, their ethereal forms radiating unwavering resolve.

"Our blades are yours, our vengeance yours to command," the soldier intoned solemnly.

"Through your power, we shall fight once more and exact justice from the one who wronged us."

My heart surged with fierce determination.

"I accept," I whispered firmly. "Together, we will end Zuatha's cruelty and honor your sacrifice." My mana spreads uncontrollably in my eyes.

Their collective voices echoed powerfully, sealing our pact:

"As you command... our lord."

The ethereal beings suddenly became like mana as they all entered my body. 

I can feel a brand new kind of power surging within me.

Zuatha Il Zikmel, your reckoning is coming.

For Amus, for our children, for all souls wronged—justice will finally come.

Because now I am truly no longer alone.

DING!

A dark purple panel appeared in front of me.

[You have acquired the authority upon the undead]

[Your soldiers have worked together in creating a codex system]

[This system will help guide you through raising and evolving your soldiers]

[However. Starting from this moment. Your soldiers will lose all sentience, and their levels will be reset to level 1, as their forms will resemble that of a skeleton. Will you accept?]

If that's how it is.

Even if I have to start from the beginning to learn this power, I will still succeed.

"I accept."

[You have become the Fiend Kaiser]