A week had passed since the terrible battle at Craezent Sanctum Academy. Broken buildings, cracked floors, and burned walls still showed the pain of that day. Some students and teachers were gone forever. Others walked slowly, lost in thought, their eyes filled with fear.
Solarex Caelum, the Sun Emperor, had been punished by the Guild for his actions. He had left the Academy quietly. For seven days, he stayed alone in the tall snow-covered mountains. He didn't speak to anyone. He didn't use magic. He just sat in silence, thinking.
Now, his punishment was over.
The Guildmaster had called him.
Solarex stood inside the large Guild Hall. The room was quiet and cold. Walls were made of white stone. A glowing orb floated above the Guildmaster's desk. The old man behind the desk looked tired. His eyes had dark circles. His voice was calm but serious.
"Solarex," the Guildmaster said. "I have a very important mission for you. I was going to send Kael, but he is already busy with another task."
Solarex raised an eyebrow. He crossed his arms.
"Where is this mission?"
The Guildmaster looked down.
"It is in the Kingdom of Aurengard."
Solarex turned away. His face darkened.
"Then send someone else," he said. "I'm not going back there."
The Guildmaster stood up.
"Wait. Your best friend Thalvion is there. He is investigating a trace of Umbra Manus. He asked for help. I need you to go."
Solarex turned sharply.
"Thalvion? What is he doing there?"
"He found signs," the Guildmaster said. "Real signs. Not like the fake bases before. He thinks this time it's different."
Solarex stayed quiet for a moment.
"Which part of the country?"
"The capital."
Solarex sighed.
"I hate that place," he whispered. He looked back. "Fine. I'm going now."
He left the Guild Hall, walked to the landing field, and called his griffin. The black and gold beast flapped its wings and lifted into the sky.
As Solarex flew, his mind drifted back to a painful memory.
---
**Flashback: The Truth of the Past**
Long ago, in the Kingdom of Aurengard, the Caelum royal family ruled.
The king was proud and strong. But he made a mistake. He had a child with a concubine, a woman he truly loved. But this woman was not one of his official wives.
The other wives were jealous.
The third wife was the most dangerous. One day, she gave the woman poison. She died slowly.
But her guard, a brave woman, took the child and escaped. That child was Solarex.
When the king found out the truth, it was too late. The third wife was executed. But Solarex was already gone.
He grew up far from the palace. He grew strong. He became the Sun Emperor. But the pain never left him.
He never forgot.
He never forgave.
---
**Back to the Present: Arrival in Aurengard**
Four days passed.
Solarex arrived in the capital.
The city looked beautiful. Tall towers, white streets, and golden roofs. But he didn't feel anything. He only remembered the lies.
Royal guards waited at the gate. They tried to speak.
"Welcome, Lord Solarex—"
But he walked past them without a word.
He entered the royal palace. The guards followed, confused.
Inside, the old king stood in the hall.
Solarex bowed slightly.
"Your Majesty," he said.
The king looked at him with sad eyes.
"You've grown," he whispered. "You look just like her."
Solarex said nothing.
Before anything else could be said, a young man entered.
He wore noble clothes. He walked with pride. His face showed anger.
He was a prince. The son of the third wife.
He smirked.
"What's up, peasant?" he said. "Came back to cry about your dead mother? She was just a toy for the king."
Solarex didn't wait.
He grabbed the prince by the face.
Flames wrapped around his hand. The air burned.
"You will not speak of her," Solarex growled.
The prince screamed. His skin turned red.
Solarex pressed harder.
But then—
"STOP!"
A voice rang out.
**Thalvion**, the Sea Emperor, stepped forward.
He pulled Solarex back.
"No time for this," he said. "Come with me. There is something you need to see."
Solarex let go. The prince fell, gasping.
"Tsk. Be lucky I'm in a hurry," he said.
---
**Dark Secrets Under the City**
Thalvion led him through a secret door.
They walked down deep stone stairs. The air grew cold. Torches lit their path.
At the bottom, they found a broken ritual site.
Symbols were drawn in red. Bones and ashes were scattered.
Solarex looked around.
"What happened here?"
Thalvion pointed to the center.
"A ritual. They tried to summon something. But they failed."
"Why?"
"Not enough sacrifices."
Solarex paused.
"How many did they use?"
Thalvion looked down.
"Two hundred humans."
Solarex froze.
"Two hundred?" he whispered.
"Yes. And they still didn't finish the ritual. That tells us something."
Solarex walked closer.
"Umbra Manus is planning something huge
."
Thalvion nodded.
"Bigger than anything before."
To be continued...