The freezing wind on the grand marble terrace of the Valoria Royal Palace bit straight through Kael’s thin, tattered robe, but the heavy iron weight-collar around his neck burned much worse . This heavy artifact hummed with a cold, oppressive energy that constantly suppressed his physical movements. Every single breath felt like lifting a massive mountain .He dragged his feet across the polished white stone, his hands raw and bleeding as he scrubbed the imperial steps. Thirteen years had passed since his father, General Raith, the nation's ultimate savior, died mysteriously in cold blood . The crown quickly chose to forget the hero's legacy.Instead of honoring the savior, the royal family forced a seven-year-old Kael into a political marriage with Princess Seraphina under the guise of a false prophecy . Over the years, the royals grew intensely unwelcoming, cold, and inconsiderate . They stripped Kael of his family wealth and treated him like a parasitic burden.His mother, Elara, h

The echo of Kael’s sad scream still hung heavily in the damp air when the wooden doors of the room broke apart. Splinters of wood flew everywhere, cutting his face and robes as the heavy storm rushed inside the dark space .Queen Eleanor stepped inside the messy room, her long silk clothes shining with a strange, suffocating purple light that made the air freeze instantly . Behind her, a dozen heavy executioners marched into the small space, holding their long, sharp spears tightly .The Queen looked around the room, and her eyes stopped when she saw her daughter bleeding on the cold floor. Princess Seraphina lay there, completely knocked out from the heavy blow Kael had delivered in his rage.Queen Eleanor rushed to her side, lifting the princess up while looking at her broken nose and the purple bruises covering her face. She looked at Kael, then turned her angry eyes to the guards standing outside, her face twisting into pure madness."Look at this monster!" the Queen screamed, poi

"I understand," Kael whispered, his teeth grinding together so hard they bled as he swallowed his pride for the sake of survival. "I will hide in the shadows until the time is exactly right. They will never see the blade coming until it is too late."He turned away from the main opening of the rift, carrying the weakened Kira through the pitch-black, lower mountain drainage shafts in total silence. He moved like a ghost through the wet mud, his mind rapidly forging a cold, calculative plan to infiltrate the palace's core.The cold, rushing winds of the Abyssal Rift hit Kael's body as he fell into the deep, dark void. The heavy energy of the chasm pushed against him from every single side, feeling like a thousand sharp needles cutting into his skin.But as his body reached the absolute edge of death, he did not feel fear or panic at all. Instead, he felt a sudden, familiar warmth bursting out from the deepest parts of his bones, welcoming him back like an old friend.The near-fatal dro

The massive midnight thunderstorm rolled heavily across the imperial palace grounds, covering the sky in pitch-black shadows. Old Jared moved quickly through the dark, narrow stone corridors, his legs shaking with a mixture of absolute terror and sudden adrenaline. Kael followed right behind him like a quiet ghost, his eyes glowing with a very sharp, hidden golden light through the darkness."The main vault path is just ahead," Jared whispered, his voice cracking as he stopped near a massive stone corner. "But two elite guards are standing right outside the heavy archway. If they see us, they will kill us.""Keep walking smoothly, Jared," Kael replied softly. "Do not stop, and do not look back. Remember my promise to you."The old servant swallowed hard and stepped out into the open hallway, his heart beating violently against his ribs. The two heavy guards immediately noticed his presence, their metal armor clinking as they lifted their sharp, gleaming spears.Before the guards could