Chapter 2: The Royal Guard's Last Promise

Darkness...

Then—

A sharp pain exploded inside Kael's head.

Thousands of memories merged together.

He wasn't Kael alone anymore.

He was also...

Aiden Ravenhart.

The only son of the Empire's strongest Royal Guard.

"...So this child... already had a life."

Kael slowly clenched his tiny fists.

The memories became clearer.

The Aurelius Empire...

The greatest empire on the continent.

An empire that ruled hundreds of cities and countless noble families.

At its center stood one man—

Emperor Alexander Aurelius.

Beside him was the Empire's hope—

Crown Prince Arthur Aurelius.

And protecting both of them...

The strongest warrior in the entire Empire.

Royal Guard Damian Ravenhart.

A man feared by enemies...

And respected by every soldier.

He wasn't a noble.

He wasn't born into royalty.

Everything he possessed...

He earned with his sword.

Damian loved only two things.

The Empire...

And his five-year-old son.

Every time he returned from the battlefield...

He would lift little Aiden onto his shoulders.

"Hahaha!"

"Father! Higher!"

"You'll become stronger than me one day."

"I'll become the strongest!"

Damian smiled.

"No."

"You'll become a better man than me."

Years passed peacefully.

Until...

One terrible night.

The Imperial Capital...

The annual Victory Festival.

Thousands gathered outside the palace.

Music echoed through every street.

No one noticed...

Hundreds of assassins had already entered the capital.

Inside the palace—

The Emperor was attending the royal banquet.

The Crown Prince sat beside him.

Everything seemed peaceful.

Then—

BOOM!!

The palace gates exploded.

Masked warriors flooded inside.

"Kill the Emperor!"

"Kill the Crown Prince!"

Blood instantly covered the royal hall.

Royal Knights rushed forward.

One after another...

They fell.

The assassins were far stronger than expected.

Within moments—

They reached the throne.

The Emperor drew his sword.

The Crown Prince stood in front of him despite being only ten years old.

At that exact second—

A silver figure crashed through the ceiling.

BOOM!!

One sword strike...

Five assassins died instantly.

The hall became silent.

Every soldier smiled.

"The Royal Guard..."

"Sir Damian is here!"

Damian slowly stood between the Emperor and hundreds of enemies.

Without looking back—

He spoke calmly.

"Your Majesty."

"I'll hold them."

"Please escape."

The Emperor frowned.

"There are too many."

Damian smiled.

"I know."

"But as long as I breathe..."

"No one will touch the Imperial Family."

The battle began.

Steel clashed against steel.

One enemy...

Ten enemies...

Twenty enemies...

Damian continued fighting.

His armor shattered.

His body was covered in blood.

Still—

He never stepped back.

The assassins realized something.

"As long as he lives..."

"We can't reach the Emperor!"

So...

Every single assassin attacked Damian at once.

One sword pierced his shoulder.

Another cut his back.

A spear pierced his stomach.

Even then—

He kept fighting.

The Crown Prince's eyes turned red.

"Father Damian!!"

Damian smiled at the young prince.

"Protect..."

"...your little brother..."

The Prince froze.

Little brother...?

Damian wasn't talking about himself.

He was talking about...

His son.

Aiden.

With his final strength—

Damian unleashed one last sword strike.

BOOOOOOM!!

The palace hall split apart.

Dozens of assassins died instantly.

The remaining enemies finally retreated.

Silence filled the palace.

Damian slowly fell onto one knee.

The Emperor rushed toward him.

"Damian!"

The Royal Guard smiled weakly.

"I... fulfilled... my duty..."

The Emperor held him tightly.

"You saved us again..."

Damian looked toward the ceiling.

"My son..."

"...please..."

Before he could finish—

His eyes slowly closed forever.

The strongest Royal Guard...

Had fallen.

Three days later...

The entire Empire was dressed in black.

Millions stood along the streets.

Not a single person spoke.

Even the soldiers who had never cried...

Couldn't stop their tears.

The Emperor personally carried Damian's coffin.

The Crown Prince followed behind him with red eyes.

Little Aiden stood silently beside his mother's grave-like expression, too young to fully understand why his father would never come home again.

At that moment...

Kael finally understood everything.

His previous life had ended.

A new one had begun.

And somewhere deep inside his heart...

He made a silent promise.

"Damian Ravenhart... you protected this Empire with your life."

"From today onward..."

"I will protect your son..."

"And one day..."

"I will build an Empire greater than anyone has ever imagined."

To Be Continued...

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