Previously~
Somewhere Else…
Laughter echoed.
Not the warm kind. Not the kind that ended.
A carnival stretched in all directions—abandoned, yet alive. The sky above spun in colors that didn't exist. Balloons hung from invisible strings, floating upside down. Mirrors whispered truths you didn't ask to hear.
And on a crooked throne of playing cards and bones…
Tivvaz grinned.
One eye wide. The other, missing.
He chuckled, tilting his head.
"Finally… the Mad God has entered the game."
—--------------------------------------------------------------------
5 years later-
Location- Duskrane Castle, Duskrane County
Date- 23rd, Month of Thawen, 2012 A.G.
The room was quiet—too quiet. From Thomas to Leonatus and even Raphaeldor, everyone sat with heads drooped, lost in thought.
Olivia broke the silence.
"This year's Hunt has been advanced due to Vincent's admission to Eldren Academy."
Everyone nodded.
Thomas could barely contain himself, glancing at Olivia every few seconds like a kid waiting for cake. Even Henry's knee bounced restlessly, his excitement leaking out.
Suddenly, Olivia stood.
"Let the auction begin."
Moments Later
Thomas and Olivia sat on an armchair. A wooden ramp stood before them, glowing faintly under the warm torchlight.
STEP. STEP.
Edward approached the ramp, beads of sweat clinging to his brow. He paused at the platform's edge.
BAM!
In a blur, Thomas slammed the circular disk hovering before him.
"Haha!" He smirked at Olivia.
"Early bird gets the worm."
Olivia furrowed her brow.
Next came Alexander—awkward, uneasy, clearly out of place in this bizarre ritual.
"A cockroach!" Thomas shouted, pointing at a blank wall.
Olivia flinched, instinctively glancing that way.
BAM!
Too late. Thomas struck again, laughing with smug delight. Olivia frowned… then slowly smiled.
"Dear," she murmured, running a hand through his beard, "you look better shaved." She winked.
Thomas cleared his throat, adjusting his tie.
"If you wish it... it shall be done." He beamed like a child given free candy.
But the damage was done—on the ramp's end, a faint circle flickered into existence.
Sophie stepped forward, strutting like a model. Brown pants, white shirt, boots, and a green robe threaded with leaves and flowers.
The moment her boot touched the circle—
HUMMMM.
Olivia's disk lit up and slammed down before Thomas could react.
He froze, hand mid-air.
"Early bird gets the worm!" Olivia teased.
Thomas clenched his fist, then sighed, regaining composure.
Amelia followed—black pants, white shirt, and a blue robe lined in black. A snowflake shimmered on her back.
Again, Olivia's disk vibrated just before Thomas could act.
He stared at her.
'Not wind magic… but what is it?'
Orianne walked up next, dressed in black military trousers, a purple shirt, and a wide-sleeved coat.
"She's wearing the robes I gave her!" Henry shrieked backstage like a lovestruck teen.
"Orianne, you look like a goddess!"
Orianne's cheeks flushed pink. She masked her grin and walked to the ramp's edge.
BUZZ.
Olivia's disk won again.
Thomas glanced at the glowing circle beneath Orianne's feet, then chuckled.
With a knowing grin, he dissipated the magic circle.
Henry's turn.
Unlike the others, he wore a green tracksuit.
Both Thomas and Olivia sighed simultaneously.
Olivia's face twisted in dread. Thomas buried his face in his palm.
Henry strutted to the edge.
Silence. Nothing happened. Both disks stayed still.
Olivia sighed in relief.
"Umm… hello?" Henry waved. "It's me. Your son. Henry."
The room went dead silent.
"Thomas, I believe you're one member short." Olivia said sweetly. "You should take Henry."
Thomas flinched.
'Is she really my wife?'
"Don't do this to me!" Henry whined.
Minutes passed. Nothing.
"You know what?" Henry huffed. "I'm making my own team!"
Relief washed over Thomas and Olivia.
"Yes, son. Go ahead," Thomas nodded.
"You can do it," Olivia chimed in.
SNAP!
RUMBLE!
A stone throne erupted between them. Henry climbed atop it, smug as ever.
Until realization dawned.
'Wait. Only the kids are left!'
He glanced at Olivia and Thomas—both grinning wide.
'They tricked me!'
STEP. STEP.
Vincent, Leonatus, and Raphaeldor walked up together.
BOOM!
Henry's disc shattered against the ground, crumbling to pieces.
"I want my son," he muttered, eyes wild.
Everyone stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
Vincent wore a purple tracksuit identical to Henry's. Leonatus and Raphaeldor wore shorts and shirts.
Olivia turned to Orianne.
'Why is he becoming like Henry?'
Orianne shook her head, smiling faintly.
'I don't know.'
Vincent smiled. Henry smiled.
Everyone else sighed.
Leonatus and Raphaeldor looked at each other.
Their fate was sealed.
Vincent motioned to them with a grin.
"Let's go."
The boys nodded in unison.
"Raphael!" Edward shouted from the sidelines, waving with both hands.
"Best of luck, son!"
"Leon!" Alexander called out with a half-smile.
"Try to beat me."
"Yes, Father!" they both replied, their eyes flashing with determination.
Location – Warp Station 02
Three groups stood before three warp altars, each glowing faintly with magical light. Runes hummed in the air like silent echoes of the ancients.
Thomas raised his voice, commanding attention.
"We regroup at the training grounds. 5:00 PM sharp!"
Everyone nodded in response.
Olivia's group stepped forward first.
The warp attendant bowed.
"Where would you like to go, Countess?"
"Duskmirror Lake," Olivia replied coolly.
The warp gate began to tremble.
Green glyphs lit up around the altar, spiraling in graceful arcs like leaves in a storm.
SWOOSH!
In a flash of emerald light, her group vanished.
Thomas stepped forward next.
"Grimhowl Ridge."
The attendant adjusted the runes on the control pillar. The stone beneath Thomas's feet pulsed with deep orange light, and the scent of burning pine briefly filled the air.
WHOOSH!
His group disappeared in a flicker of firelight.
STEP.
Henry marched up the altar with exaggerated swagger, Vincent, Leonatus, and Raphaeldor trailing behind him.
"Evergloam Thicket!" he declared.
The attendant froze.
"Evergloam Thicket? But… that's—"
"HUSH!" Henry cut him off, pressing a finger dramatically to his lips.
The attendant blinked. Then bowed low.
"Please forgive my foolishness."
"That's more like it." Henry patted his shoulder as if knighting him.
"Carry on."
The attendant, flustered but compliant, activated the circle. The runes turned a strange mix of dark green and purple—ominous, wild, untamed.
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
"Evergloam Thicket, huh?"
Henry turned, eyes shining.
"Best spot for an underdog team, trust me."
Leonatus leaned in to Raphaeldor.
"...We're gonna die, aren't we?"
Raphaeldor just shrugged.
The altar flared.
FLASH!
They vanished.
Location- Evergloam Thicket, Duskrane County.
Henry and the party materialized in the midst of a blinding gray fog. Whispers echoed from every direction, like voices trapped between worlds.
A ghostly shade with hollow eyes glided past Raphael.
"Hiek!" Raphael yelped, stumbling backwards in fright.
"Hush," Vincent warned, pointing calmly at the shade.
"They're Whisperwights. They feed on sound. The only way to defeat them is with aura and mana."
"But we can't use aura blades yet," Leon said, frowning.
Henry shrugged.
"Nephews of mine! It's simple—release your aura, and it will coat your body naturally."
He paused, noting their confused looks.
Vincent sighed and slapped his forehead.
"What he means is, once you release your aura, it'll automatically spread over your body. Also, you can channel mana into your weapon. That'll allow it to conduct spells."
Raphael raised a hand, thoughtful.
"So… will the weapon merge with the spell? Like, a fireball becoming a fireblade?"
"Yes, my student!" Vincent smirked, pushing up a pair of glasses that had suddenly appeared on his nose like magic.
"Now," Henry turned to Vincent.
Vincent returned his smile.
BAM! BAM!
They stomped the ground in unison, sending a pulse through the earth. For a brief moment, the fog cleared.
Raphael instantly understood. He unsheathed his spear with a sharp metallic hiss.
A horde of Whisperwights surged from the mists.
Realizing what was happening a second too late, Leon groaned and yanked his hair.
"Why?!" he shrieked, eyes wide with betrayal—only to see Vincent and Henry already perched on a tree branch, munching salted popcorn.
Leon exchanged a glance with Raphael and steadied his breath. Then, without hesitation, he drew his gladius.
VRAAAHSH!
WHRRR-BLAAZE!
"Haah!"
The boys charged forward—blades wreathed in flame—cutting through the fog.