Deep within the unicorn land's castle was a chamber, dimly lit by flickering candles and crystal lamps. The air felt heavy, saturated with magic, and the walls were lined with runes that glowed in response to the spell being realized.
The room was tense, straining under the spell being realized at the center by four magic knights.
The mages stood in a ring around a pedestal, which held a vase filled with red, glowing liquid. From the vase rose a firm, glowing thread. All four knights pressed their palms against the pedestal, veins of light linking them to the vase. Their faces were pale from sustaining the spell for days; their hands trembled, sweat dripping onto the stone. It was a spell few could endure. Even though they were unicorns, the toll was mental, not physical—fatigue gnawed at them, whispers clawed at their minds.
Suddenly, the cloaked mages noticed something—the thread was growing longer, stretching upward.
"Do... you see... that?!" one gasped, eyes wide on his pale face.
"It's... huff... growing... The localization thread is heading somewhere—there’s been a breach in a concealment spell...!"
The thread accelerated, shooting toward the entrance and slipping under the door at light speed. Unlike Jisa’s thread, this one only moved when it detected blood kinship—the vase contained Tanken’s blood.
One mage rushed to Jisa, their commander.
"The thread is moving?! Now’s the time; we have to be quick! They might reactivate the concealment spell!"
Jisa shot up from her chair.
"Call Ino and Riki, now!"
"Y-yessir," stammered the mage, still drained, and hurried out.
Jisa tapped her fingers on the desk, nerves taut, when the door burst open. Two figures entered.
One was tall and robust, red eyes gleaming under green hair, a cocky smile plastered on his face. The other was his opposite—shy, tranquil, face hidden beneath his cape.
"Hey! Jisa, you called us for what? Such a mood wrecker; I was having fun, you know," the tall one drawled.
Jisa straightened at the far edge of her desk.
"We have a mission for you two. Urgent. And don’t call me by my name—it’s sir."
Ino smirked.
"Care to explain what the fuck you’re talking about, Jisa sir?" His tone dripped with mockery.
"If y-you’d excuse me... h-he’s right, s-sir," Riki added softly, his high-pitched voice trembling with innocence.
"We’ve found the cause of the castle’s awakening. I order you to kill it," Jisa declared.
Ino’s smile faltered into a frown.
"Kill it? Why the hell should we meddle in this shit?"
Jisa snapped. She lunged forward, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him close. Riki gasped.
"Ino! Don’t fucking play with me right now. I’m stressed enough—I don’t need your stupid jokes. I’m your superior. Learn your place!"
Caught off guard, Ino blinked, then chuckled.
"Feeling aggressive, huh? You’re usually goofier—especially when we’re messing with the slaves. Fine, boss. Where’s the target?"
"Ino, y-you shouldn’t talk to sir like t-this," Riki whispered.
Jisa released him and sat back down, sighing.
"Follow the thread. I called you because you’re strong, and you, Ino, are fast. We don’t know how long the thread will last—he could reactivate the concealment spell. Don’t fail me."
Riki bowed his head slightly.
"T-thank you for trusting us, s-sir. W-we won’t disappo-oint you..."
"I expect not, Riki—for your own wellness," Jisa replied coldly.
Ino groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, drop the fucking innocent act, Riki! It’s getting old."
"W-what a-are you talking about, Ino?" Riki asked, voice trembling.
Ino sighed, annoyed.
The two exited, leaving Jisa alone. She covered her face with both hands, then leaned back, a sinister smile curling across her lips.
"This is... such a fun... game."
•••
On one of the castle’s terraces, Ino and Riki burst out at light speed. Riki clung tightly to Ino’s thick hand—Ino’s speed magic carried them both. The glowing thread stretched ahead, leading them toward the forbidden island where the target resided.
~•~
"W-who are you?!" Kai’s voice trembled in fear as the two magic knights approached.
"Kai..." Sera’s voice broke; she was distressed, but deep down she knew they had a chance. She meant it when she said Kai was far stronger than he believed.
Ino revealed his face, smirking.
"So you’re the new heir? You look so damn weak! Not fun at all... but hey, at least we’ll finish you quick and report back. HA!"
Kai froze. He knew this moment would come, but he wasn’t ready. Still, his mother was weakened from maintaining the concealment spell—he couldn’t let anyone touch her. He forced himself to stand, shielding her.
"I take it that’s your mother? Heh! Makes sense you’re a half-breed! You wanna know a secret...?" Ino vanished, reappearing by Kai’s ear, whispering mockingly: "I’m a half-breed too." Then he slammed a fist into Kai’s stomach, sending him flying into the wall, crashing through into the living room.
"Kai!" Sera screamed, terror-stricken, her body paralyzed from exhaustion.
"You really are weak! Haha! Put up a good fight, prince!" Ino taunted.
Kai lay on the broken table, coughing blood. He clenched his teeth.
"No... Mom... If I don’t fight back, they’ll kill me—and then her... No! I need to defeat them!" He rose, dust and splinters falling from his body.
"Now that’s more like it! Show me what you got, boy!" Ino mocked. "Let’s see if you can keep up with this speed!"
Kai summoned a spiraling water lance, thrusting it toward Ino. But Ino vanished again, reappearing at Kai’s ear.
"Is that all you go—"
"Stop whispering in my ear; you smell like shit!" Kai snapped, summoning a blazing light rope. This time it burned hotter than ever, fueled by fear. He lashed it across Ino’s waist.
"Augh!" Ino staggered back, cloak disintegrating where the rope struck, skin scorched.
"I-I landed a hit," Kai thought. "I can do this!"
He advanced cautiously, rope ready.
"Getting cocky, huh? That hurt, I’ll give you that. But you’re still weak!" Ino’s tone sharpened. "Let’s see if you can land another hit with that slow body of yours!"
He sprinted in circles around Kai, striking relentlessly. Kai’s rope faded—he couldn’t concentrate under the barrage.
"Augh!" Kai buckled, coughing blood. "He’s too fast... fuck... how do I get out of this?!"
"Hah! Get up, prince!" Ino sneered.
"Kai! You can do it! You can get out of the—!" Sera tried to encourage him, but her voice cut off.
Kai’s eyes widened. He’d almost forgotten—there was another knight. Riki. Silent, watching.
"No! Mom!" Kai screamed.
He rose again, summoning a whirlwind that repelled Ino, slamming him into a tree.
"Augh!" Ino groaned, then laughed maniacally. "HAHAHA! Seems like Riki did one of his tricks again!"
Kai turned to his mother—unconscious, runes glowing dark purple on her hand. His face twisted.
"Heehee... sorry," Riki giggled, his face shadowed by the cloak, a creepy smile spreading. " I cursed her."
Kai’s voice broke. "What... did you do to her?!"
"Heehee, I cursed her, young man. But I can reverse it... only if you follow us to Ucelland." Riki said, his innocent tone dripping with malice.
Ino frowned.
"What the fuck are you playing at, Riki? Jisa ordered us to kill him!"
Riki’s voice shifted, serious.
"We can’t. Haven’t you noticed? He has light magic, water magic, wind magic... I sense earth and sword magic too. And faint healing magic."
Ino’s eyes widened.
"Y-you mean...?"
"Yes. The trinity of nature and light magic. The best we can do is alert the king. We don’t know what he’s capable of."
Ino looked at Kai—now standing, face shadowed with rage.
"Why... did you touch her?!" Kai’s tears streamed, his voice trembling with fury.
Riki and Ino felt uneasy, sweat dripping.
"I can help you, if you just follow us to Ucella—"
shing.
Kai summoned a glowing sword, barehanded, unburned. From his other hand, this time not a rope, but a massive whip of light blazed, scorching hot, radiating danger. He stepped forward slowly, darkness etched into his face.
"Why did you touch her?!"
To be continued
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments