The moon ruled supreme in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the vast Welfer estate. In the heart of the manor, in a spacious room decorated simply yet nobly, Dorn slept deeply. His body, marked by training, remained tense even in his sleep, like a warrior always ready for battle.
Next to him, on a finely carved wooden stand, rested his divine sword. It emitted a soft golden glow, a remnant of the sacred energy within it. Its radiance, though discreet, was enough to disturb the surrounding darkness, casting shifting reflections on the stone walls.
Everything seemed peaceful. But beyond the manor's walls, a fluid silhouette moved through the night.
Gemini, Kael Draven's faithful servant, was no ordinary thief. He was an entity born of darkness, a being capable of adopting a thousand shapes, infiltrating places where no one could see him. In his current form, that of a master thief dressed in black, he moved with supernatural ease, barely touching the ground without a sound.
The guards of the Welfer estate patrolled methodically, but to Gemini, they were nothing but insignificant obstacles. Hiding in the shadows, his figure seemed to blend into the darkness itself. He scaled the outer walls with disconcerting ease, gripping each stone with the precision of a nocturnal feline. Once on the second-floor balcony, he froze, scanning the surroundings.
The window to Dorn's room was slightly ajar. A sly smile appeared beneath his dark mask. Too easy.
With the grace of a specter, he silently slipped inside.
The sacred aura of the divine sword was the first thing he sensed. Even without touching it, he could feel the power emanating from it. A force hostile to creatures like him, a strength forged to eradicate beings of darkness.
But Gemini was no ordinary creature. He did not fear this light. He saw it as a challenge.
Dorn, deeply asleep, did not move as Gemini approached. Even his breathing was calm, rhythmic. Yet, Gemini remained cautious. Warriors like him often had sharp reflexes.
With calculated slowness, he reached out toward the sword. As soon as his fingers brushed the hilt, a slight shiver ran down his arm. The sacred energy reacted to his presence. He withdrew slightly, analyzing the situation. If he tried to seize it too quickly, he risked waking Dorn.
He had to be cunning.
His body began to subtly ripple, becoming translucent, almost spectral. For a few seconds, he dematerialized, his hand passing through the sword's hilt without causing any friction. He then solidified his grip on the other side and, with a fluid motion, gently pulled it from its stand.
The weight of the weapon was considerable, but Gemini adapted instantly. With the dexterity of an illusionist, he conjured a perfect replica, a shadow sword that perfectly mimicked the appearance of the original. However, this copy would dissipate in a few hours, once he was far away.
He glanced at Dorn one last time. This man was too confident, too convinced of his sacred mission.
With a mocking smile, Gemini whispered in barely audible tones:
"Sleep well, knight. The next time you wield your sword… it will no longer answer your prayers."
Then, like a specter vanishing into the night, he disappeared through the window, the divine sword in hand.
Gemini slipped away as silently as he had entered. Every movement he made was a model of discretion, an invisible dance in the darkness. Far from the guards' eyes, he glided out of Dorn's room, traversing the Welfer manor's hallways with the skill of a ghost. No sound, no trace.
Once outside, he quickened his pace. His steps grew faster, lighter, as he made his way toward the dark woods that surrounded the Welfer estate. The moon, high in the sky, barely lit his path. But for him, the darkness was an ally. He sank into the shadows, vanishing like mist.
His journey was brief, almost too brief. In the blink of an eye, he arrived at Kael Draven's residence, a place far more familiar. Once inside, he made his way directly to his master's room. There, Kael was already waiting, lying on his bed, a satisfied smile playing on his thin lips.
Gemini approached silently, presenting the divine sword with evident respect, though his relaxed demeanor betrayed how easily he had accomplished his mission.
"Here is the sword, master," he said, his voice soft but tinged with pride.
Kael raised a hand to take it. He examined the sword with an expression of absolute satisfaction. The golden light, though faint, still emanated from the weapon, but he could feel the sacred power bubbling within it. A precious energy that only a man like Dorn Welfer could wield with any effectiveness. But to Kael, it was a tool, and he knew exactly how to use it to his advantage.
"Perfect," he murmured with a smile. "This weapon could prove far more useful than I thought."
He raised the sword to the light, gazing at it for a moment, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He knew Dorn would react violently. That was the main appeal of this weapon: not its raw power, but how it could push Dorn to his limits.
The Morning, at the Welfer Estate
The sun slowly broke the horizon, casting a golden glow over the manor. Dorn awoke slowly, his mind still filled with the echoes of a restful night's sleep. His muscles, tense from incessant training, relaxed as he sat up in bed.
His eyes immediately fixed on the spot where his divine sword usually rested. He reached out, a sense of calm flooding over him. But as soon as his fingers brushed the metal, something strange happened. The sword, entirely, dissipated into black mist, vanishing before his eyes.
A deathly silence settled in the room. Dorn froze for a moment, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed. Darkness spread around him, a rising wave of panic. Then, a shockwave exploded in the room, a roar of rage that reverberated throughout the manor.
Dorn leapt from the bed, knocking everything in his path. Furniture flew in all directions under his unleashed fury. The windows trembled from the violence of his movements. He screamed, his voice filled with both fury and despair.
"NO! This is IMPOSSIBLE!"
His knights, awakened by the commotion, rushed into the room, alarmed by the sounds of destruction. They froze for a moment, taking in the state of the room, Dorn's lost gaze, and the absence of the divine sword.
"Dorn, what's happening?" one of them dared to ask, his voice full of fear.
Dorn's gaze slowly turned toward him, his eyes burning with rage. He immediately understood what had occurred. There was only one person who could have inflicted such an affront on him. One person who would have had the audacity to steal his sword and replace it with nothing but an illusion.
"Kael…" Dorn whispered, his jaw clenched. "It's him!"
Blood rushed to his head, and uncontrollable rage rose within him. He knew what he had to do. Kael Draven had crossed a red line, a line that could not be ignored.
"Prepare yourselves," he commanded his knights, his voice cold and sharp. "We're heading to the Draven estate immediately."
Dorn was on the brink of madness. His eyes gleamed with fierce determination, but also with burning hatred. He silently swore to recover his sword, no matter the consequences. He would not let Kael humiliate him like this, especially not risk Elyna's life.
Vengeance was going to be so sweet.
In Kael's Room
Kael, looking relaxed, observed the divine sword still in his hand. He could feel its warmth, the sacred energy that resided within it. But in his eyes, it wasn't the weapon that mattered. It was what it represented: the challenge it posed to Dorn Welfer.
He slowly got out of bed, his gaze still fixed on the weapon. He knew Dorn would react violently. A man like that couldn't afford to lose his pride without reacting.
Kael smirked, amused. He was eager to see how Dorn would respond. The war between their families had been inevitable. Perhaps it would come sooner than expected.
He twirled the sword between his fingers, savoring the sensation of the sacred light in his hands. He didn't yet know how he would use this energy to his advantage, but he had no doubt: it would come with time. Dorn would provide him with an excellent playing field.
"This will be fun," he murmured to himself, a carnivorous smile on his lips.
The system materialized suddenly before Kael.
[ Congratulations, you have acquired the Protagonist's Sacred Sword. ]
[ Your sacred energy level has increased. ]
Kael smiled, satisfied. The sword would not just be a simple trophy, but a source of power. The sacred energy emanating from it enhanced his abilities. He knew Dorn would react violently, and it amused him.
"This war is going to be interesting," he murmured, his carnivorous smile widening.
He turned on his heels, ready to harness all this power. The confrontation had only just begun.