UNDERSTANDING

Night settled quietly over Lumisgrave, casting a sapphire haze over the grand Royal Capital. From the golden spires to the inner marble courts, lanterns glowed softly, painting gentle ripples of light across stone corridors. Outside the citadel, faint winds moved through the garden maze, rustling the roses and lilies. A cold breeze carried the tension of an approaching storm—not of weather, but of uncertain decisions to come.

---

Royal Capital – King's Hall

Inside the King's chamber, soft footsteps echoed along the polished floor. A tall man stood near the window, dressed in royal velvet robes marked by the sigil of Lumisgrave—a phoenix rising through shadows. The King's eyes were calm but distant, his fingers interlocked behind his back.

Knock… knock…

"Come in," the King's voice was low, collected.

Julius entered, his silver-hemmed robe catching the firelight as he bowed slightly. "Your Majesty," he said with respect.

The King turned. "Julius. I asked you to come at this hour because the Grand Meeting stands only a sunrise away."

Julius nodded. "Yes, and all preparations have been completed. Security posts along the city wall doubled for Kings of ThornVale, Kaivelle, and Eshalorn to arrive safely."

The King exhaled. "Good. I don't want our unity broken by unspoken fears."

There was a brief silence, filled only by the soft ticking of the antique bronze clock on the mantle.

"Have we heard anything from ThornVale since their last message?" the King asked, turning back to the window.

"Not yet, but Herald Nomad confirmed their King will speak first at the assembly. They've also found three new Demon Sites on their outer border."

The King's face hardened slightly.

" I worries about Eshalorn and Kaevelle 's Kings .... May be they not come due to our conflict..... "

Julius replied " I think the same... Still there no message from them"

Then the room become silent ..

Julius bowed again and left.

Scene Shift: Mythic Base – Midnight, Arslan's Room

The room was dimly lit, illuminated by two floating crystals mounted on the stone walls. The faint hum of magical energy pulsed within them, providing just enough light to cast long shadows across the curved ceiling. The wind outside the small window rustled through the open curtain.

Arslan sat up in bed, half dressed in a loose dark tunic, the lines under his eyes still fresh from his recovery. His skin no longer carried the deathly spots, but fatigue clung to his every motion. Beside his bed, the faint glowing orbs left by the healers pulsed gently.

He stared at his palm quietly, flexing his fingers. His muscles still ached—but something else tugged inside him.

"Kar'Thæl…" Arslan whispered softly.

A flare of smoke shimmered in the dimness, and Kar'Thæl emerged from within the corner shadow—his demonic figure curled into silhouette, red eyes glowing like coals in darkness.

"I'm here," Kar'Thael replied, his voice smooth but cautious.

Arslan looked at him seriously. "Tell me... Have you noticed anything… strange within me since the last Demon Site?"

Kar'Thael stepped forward, arms crossed, eyes scanning Arslan. "I've watched closely. But no… I haven't sensed any foreign entity or transformation since that night. Only exhaustion."

Arslan looked down. "Then why do I feel different?"

"Explain," Kar'Thæl said, brow slightly furrowed.

Arslan whispered, "I feel as if there's something more inside me—buried—but waking. Something… not you."

Kar'Thael didn't speak immediately.

Arslan leaned back on the pillows, his voice more introspective. "That vision. That voice… That figure. I still see him in flashes. Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I feel both pulled and pushed. Like something is guiding me… but also testing me."

Kar'Thæl replied calmly, "Then it's time we seek answers beyond ourselves."

Arslan looked at him.

Kar'Thael continued, "We've focused too long on external threats. But you—yourself—carry something unique. If there's a deeper force at play, maybe it's tied to your origin. Maybe your father left behind more than we knew."

Arslan blinked. "My father…"

Kar'Thael walked across the room, his steps soundless. "Yes. If we need to trace this change, we need to look where it began. His work. His history."

Arslan nodded slowly. "But… I don't know where he used to work. He never told me. Just said he worked with some research council long ago. Then he left it all behind when he moved to the lower district."

Kar'Thael's eyes narrowed. "Your mother would know. She saw his life long before your powers awakened. She may remember locations, names, relics—something."

"Then we'll go to her."

Kar'Thæl nodded. "Tomorrow."

Arslan paused. "Do you think she'll understand?"

Kar'Thæl crossed his arms, then smiled faintly. "She raised you. She endured your pain, watched you rise again and again. If there's one person who deserves to know the truth—it's her."

Arslan smiled quietly, staring at the window. "I'll ask her tomorrow."

The night wore deeper into silence. As Kar'Thæl vanished back into his latent state, Arslan lay in his bed, staring at the slowly pulsing crystal light above him. A faint hum echoed like a heartbeat—but not his own. He couldn't tell if it was from the crystal or something still lurking inside his soul.

> "That voice… 'You are the last hope'…"

"And the other—called me Master…"

He clutched his sheets slightly.

> "Who are they? And why me…"