Fifteen years ago, on the day Imperial was born, his father Cyrus Alden left for a near-suicidal S-rank mission, vowing to return and name his son. Though he survived and completed the mission, he came back deeply changed—haunted by the death of his father and the horrors he'd witnessed. When offered the throne as a reward, Cyrus shocked the empire by refusing, declaring that strength alone no longer made a worthy ruler. In a quiet moment at home, Lyra confronted him, revealing that his missing arm wasn't lost on the mission as he claimed, but years earlier during a mysterious event near the mountain border
He exhaled through his nose. "You remember."
"Of course I do," she said, stepping closer. "I was the one who helped you hide it. We built the story together. The mechanical replica, the modified robes, the illusion charms when needed... You didn't just fool the court. You fooled the world."
Cyrus looked down at his empty sleeve. "Back then, I believed I had to be whole to lead. That no one would follow a man they saw as damaged. So I trained harder than anyone. Fought with one arm and never lost. No opponent ever made me feel like I was lacking—until that mission."
He glanced toward the book again, voice hollow but honest. "I couldn't protect my father. I wasn't enough. And that moment… it shattered the lie I had spent years building."
Lyra stepped beside him, her hand brushing his. "You weren't broken, Cyrus. You were just carrying more weight than anyone could see."
He looked at her then—truly looked—and in that silence, so much passed between them: the years of quiet cooperation, of hidden pain and unspoken strength, of building not just an illusion but a future.
He walked to the old table and placed the ancient book upon it. Its cover was worn, script carved in an ancient tongue long lost to the empire.
"I found this in the ruins," he said. "Buried beneath the floor of a forgotten temple. I don't know why I picked it up. I just… knew it mattered."
Lyra stepped forward, her eyes on the cracked leather. "That book… it's why you turned down the throne?"
He nodded. "When I opened it, the words made sense to me. I shouldn't have understood them—but I did. As if they were waiting for me."
"What does it say?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's called The Truth Behind This World," he said. "It speaks of the origin of magic… the true nature … and of something coming. A shift. A war older than the empire. It's not just a book, Lyra. It's a key."
He closed it and rested his hand on the cover.
"I thought surviving that mission was the price for the throne. But I was wrong. I survived for this."
Lyra stared at him—at the man who had once sworn to conquer a nation and now sought to uncover the secrets of the world.
After hours of deep conversation, Lyra sat silently, absorbing every word Cyrus had spoken. His determination, the fire in his eyes—she had never seen him like this before. Finally, she exhaled and looked at him with unwavering resolve. "If this is truly what you want, then I will stand by your side," she said, her voice soft but firm.
A relieved smile crossed Cyrus's face. He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "Thank you, Lyra. This means everything to me."
That day, with a renewed sense of purpose, Cyrus headed to the royal library. He was on a mission—not only to find books that could support his research but also to improve his ability to read and understand more complex texts. He spent hours poring over ancient scriptures, deciphering forgotten words, and rewriting passages in simpler language so he could better comprehend them.
Among the countless texts, he stumbled upon something extraordinary records of a legendary weapon, the **Thunder Blood Sword, Raiketsu**. His fingers trembled as he traced the ancient script. A weapon that had been lost to time… yet it's very name sent a thrill through his veins. But that wasn't all. The more he read; the more pieces of a greater puzzle began to fit together.
Days passed, and the night before Imperial's birth arrived. Cyrus was still deeply engrossed in his research when he found something hidden within the pages of an ancient book. A passage caught his eye—one that spoke of the world in a peculiar way.
**"This world is equal."**
At first glance, it seemed like a simple phrase, easy to overlook. But Cyrus was no ordinary scholar. His curiosity refused to let him ignore it.
"What does it mean by 'equal'?" he murmured to himself, flipping through maps and cross-referencing texts. Then, inspiration struck. He recalled that 'equal' could also mean 'symmetric'. With this realization, he carefully analyzed the world map, drawing imaginary lines, dividing empires into two perfect halves. But something felt… off.
His mind raced with possibilities. He scribbled notes furiously, charting new connections, forming hypotheses, and pushing himself deeper into the enigma. Then, after six relentless hours of research, his breath hitched as a thrilling revelation surfaced in his mind.
**"What if... I do this?"**
The moment he stepped inside, he saw Lyra resting, but his excitement couldn't be contained. He rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
Lyra blinked in surprise. "Cyrus? What happened? I've never seen you this exhilarated."
He pulled back, a bright, almost childlike excitement glowing in his eyes. "Lyra, I've found something incredible. But before that… I have something I must do."
That night passed quickly, and soon, dawn arrived—the day that would change their lives forever. Today, the birth of their heir was nothing short of a festival. The air was thick with anticipation, and excitement buzzed through the palace as everyone prepared for the arrival of the newest member of the Alden family.
It was still early morning, the sun yet to rise. The skies remained in a deep shade of indigo, the first light of dawn lingering on the horizon.