"Mother… urm, you sure we can trust the kid's creations? I know the kid is very talented but—"
The second brother's brow furrowed slightly, his oval pupils shifting with concern.
"Calm down, young man. As far as we know, the tools have been deemed safe to use," she replied, her tone steady.
"By who? As far as I know, due to the restrictions, we have none—no real researchers—from our own people?"
....
"It's predicted to be deemed safe."
The second brother looks with deadpan expression, "....Mom, what do you mean predicted?"
"Anyway, look here. Based on this tool, we can see his current location."
They all turned to the device. At first, the movement on the screen appeared normal.
"Urm, Mom… why does the movement look weirdly worrying?" the third brother asked, his voice trailing, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Ehhh… maybe he just got a bit quirky with it," she said, brushing it off with a small wave of her hand.
Suddenly, the tool emitted a short beep, a red light flashing before it abruptly shut down.
"Ups… looks like it ran out of energy?" said the mother with a casual tone, a faint, amused smile on her lips.
All three brothers stared at the inactive device, their expressions blank, shoulders sagging in collective disappointment. A quiet moment of deadpan silence passed between them.
"Well… if anything happens, he can contact us using the things I packed for him in the bag anyway," the mother added calmly, smiling with her eyes now closed.
They exchanged brief glances, then decided to give their eldest brother his space and turned their focus back to today's meeting.
"Mom, I just noticed… isn't today the day marking a hundred years since our great-grandfather's death?" the third brother asked, his tone curious.
The Dark Queen, who had been watching the outside world through the window, turned her gaze toward her son. Her expression softened, her oval pupils relaxed.
"Yes. Today marks exactly a hundred years. Why?"
"Oh, nothing, Mom. Just checking," he replied, casually.
(The Third brother's thought)
"Why did they arrange a rushed meeting on this day? Judging by the situation… it looks like it's a holiday for most people today too… That's probably why so many were relaxing earlier on the beach."
"But… some of them were still working though..."
—————————
After some time, miles and miles from the beach, they arrived at the center of the country—where the castle stood tall.
"We've arrived," came the voice of an old gentleman as he opened the door from the conductor's room, visible mild tiredness softening his expression.
The Dark siblings and the Dark Queen began putting down all unnecessary tools—including the radar—as required by protocol. Only the presence of themselves was permitted within the Royal Castle grounds. Each of them wore a hooded robe to conceal their identities from any peasants or citizens.
At the platform, the Dark King—the siblings' father and the loving husband of the Dark Queen—stood waiting and opened the next door for them.
They stepped out onto a special platform, constructed specifically for meetings between the Dark Human Royalty and the Other Human Royalty.
The father led the group in front, tall and composed, followed by the Dark Queen, who stood about half a head shorter. Trailing her was the oldest brother, a full head taller than the King, then the second brother, who was slightly shorter than the oldest, and lastly the third brother, about the same height as the oldest.
Their figures remained shrouded beneath their robes as they passed through a private glass passageway. Though transparent in construction, the glass was covered for this occasion to preserve their anonymity. Guards and knights, clad in fierce and imposing armor, lined both the inside and outside of the corridor.
From within the castle, a young man began walking toward them.
At his arrival, all the knights inside the passage raised their staffs, then stomped them to the ground in unison.
The staffs, known as Solvine Halberds, stood tall and regal. Each shaft was crafted from dark, polished wood streaked with golden veins, as if sunlight had become trapped in twisting roots. Intricate carvings of vines and roots spiraled upward along their lengths. Faintly glowing lines near the center pulsed like veins or energy circuits. The head of the staff bore a crescent-shaped blade on one side, balanced by a curved leaf-shaped hook on the other. At the very tip, a spear point gleamed, engraved with a radiant, simple sun emblem.
The five members of the Dark Royalty stopped, forming a line side-by-side, and bowed in unison toward the approaching man—a gesture of deep respect.
The young man wore the formal attire of a high-ranking noble. His eyes were narrowed, expression calm and unreadable, eyebrows slightly furrowed with a downward tilt that somehow still projected warmth. He did not return the bow.
Instead, he offered a small smile, extending one hand outward in a polite beckon.
"Follow my lead," he said.
With the young nobleman leading them, the family walked through the long passageway, passing by rows and rows of heavily armed guards. Step by step, they moved silently, cloaked and orderly.
After a few minutes, they arrived in front of an unfamiliar door.
The young man gave it a polite knock—three times.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in," answered a deep, muffled voice from within.
Unusually, low ambient noise leaked from behind the door—faint but unmistakable, unlike anything they had expected.
The door opened.
The entire Dark family instinctively lowered their posture, keeping their heads down and presence discreet. But something strange pulled their attention upward.
There was a light—an unnatural one. Brighter than any normal magical illumination or indoor lighting.
They slowly lifted their gaze.
(Each member of the Dark Royalty, in silent thought)
"What?!"
Before them stood a large round meeting table—but it wasn't private. Surrounding it on all sides were transparent glass walls and tall windows.
Outside—countless people. Citizens. Peasants. All watching.
The crowd was murmuring, restless and confused. Then, from the outer perimeter, a tall guard raised his staff and shouted:
"Silence!"
Instantly, the entire crowd went quiet.
Beyond the glass, they saw people of many races—humans, elves, dwarves, beastkin, and other humanoid subspecies. A diverse and massive audience.
At the table, several figures were already seated, clearly representing the Royalty of this vast and unified region. Some were visibly non-human—leaders of the Elves, the Dwarves, the Beastkin—and, of course, the Human royalty.
The father, standing on the far left, subtly raised his arm horizontally across the others to signal caution. In sync, the family members lowered their heads further and adjusted their hoods to better conceal their identities.
"Pardon me," the father said firmly, still bowing his head. "What is the meaning of this?"
Suddenly, the Human King stood up.
His eyes, closed just moments ago, opened—now burning with intensity. His deep voice echoed with deliberate weight:
"Today is a day to be remembered. The day we begin a new era."
The father's brows tensed beneath his hood.
"A new era?"
At that moment, the other royalties at the table stood and began to clap—slowly but ceremoniously.
"A new world," one of them declared, "where we will finally achieve true and lasting peace."
Another continued:
"The world is overrun with monsters. Together, with the power of soulnergy, magic, and new technological innovations, we can wipe them out—yes, even the strongest among them!"
The crowd erupted with cheers from outside. The Human King's voice had been amplified to reach every ear.
"And now, to the Bloodline of the Dark. After nearly two centuries, we will at last advance our connection. No more misery. No more sadness. No more despair. No more divisions, caused by the sins of ancient souls. We seek unity. The unity of Humanity."
The Dark King turned his head toward the Queen and the brothers. They exchanged glances—visibly confused, though touched. A mix of hesitation and hope danced in their expressions.
But the oldest brother stood still, expression unreadable—skepticism clear in his narrowed eyes.
Suddenly, from the crowd, angry shouts erupted:
"Don't joke with us! Why forgive monsters?!" a human man yelled.
"Our ancestors suffered hell at their hands! Just finish them off already!" cried an elf woman.
"They influenced the monsters—colluded with them! Why join forces with them?!" shouted an elderly elf.
"Are you trying to insult the sacrifices of our lost veterans?!" bellowed an old dwarf.
"They will never be like us!" barked another man.
As the hateful cries rang out, the small smiles faded from the Dark family's faces. Their previously relaxed expressions hardened—tension returning.
The Human King stepped forward toward the glass barrier, facing the hostile crowd.
"My people," he said in a calm, resonant voice, "do not worry. We know the actions needed. We've lived in peace for a century. We are stronger than ever. And if the Dark Bloodline should ever rise in rebellion again—we are more than capable of wiping them out."
The Dark Royalty did not respond. Their expressions remained veiled. But the oldest brother's skeptical stare lingered—clear, calm, unmoved.
The Human King noticed.
Smiling softly, he turned and walked toward the tall young man. Despite the height difference—standing a full foot shorter—the King stood directly before him, chin slightly raised.
"What is that expression… and that slits eyes of you, young man?" he asked gently. "Are you... perhaps rejecting this vision?"
The oldest brother remained silent for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head—a clear 'no'.
The Human King smiled again, his eyes closing as if satisfied.
He turned back to the glass and addressed the audience with a booming voice:
"My beloved people! Unfortunately, that concludes today's public reveal!"
The crowd erupted again—this time with mixed reactions. Some shouted angrily. Others muttered with distrust. A few cheered with quiet hope.
The short event had stirred powerful emotions across the spectrum—unity, suspicion, and unresolved pain.
The Human King turned back and walked toward the same table again, just as the curtain descended to cover their meeting area, and a guard turned off the speaker inside.
"May all of you take a seat," said the Human King to the Dark Royalty.
The atmosphere grew heavy. The once smiling royals were now serious. The Human King and the other humanoid royalties stared intensely at the Dark Royalty.
The five members of the Dark Royal Family lowered their hoods, revealing their distinct appearances: pale white skin, defined facial structures, wide jaws, and unique black eyes with whitish rings.
"We've discussed this, and will now launch a few new tasks."
"Scribe, bring them."
The scribe, upon being called, walked toward the table and presented the list scroll.
The Dark Royal Family began reading—until they stopped at one particular line, visibly shocked as their pupils and eyes slithered and tense,
"Giving access to our kind's body——soulnergies—The Men and our land?!" said the Father, flabbergasted.
Hearing that, the Elven King replied firmly,
"Your island is one of the main keys to understanding and bringing peace to our world."
"BUT—" the Father tried to protest.
"Don't you all know? The new threat is coming—and will come—from the monsters out there!"
"E—erg…" the Father fell silent, struggling to speak.
The Elven King narrowed his eyes.
"Even if your kind is already near useless now, your ancestor's history as the main leaders of the worldwide threats remains concrete!"
"The new threat is coming from the monsters… and the emergence of their new Archon. Or rather—Archons."
"By experimenting on and studying your people—since one of them might be the chosen one with ancient, sealed power—we'll be able to utilize the sealed Soulnergy power."
The Elf King placed both hands together on the table, his eyes closing slightly.
"Or rather, I'd say—using all of you as… living weapons," he finished, slow and firm.
The oldest brother immediately stood and slammed his palm onto the table.
BANG!
"THAT'S INSANE!"
In an instant, dozens of guards drew their weapons. Their swords stopped just at the oldest brother's neck—many of them. So close, holding position as a clear show of threat and intimidation.
The oldest brother gasped, lifting his head slowly.
"I knew something was fishy especially with that 'Unity'!"
"That request ignores our treaty—and violates both human rights and the Dark Lord's regulations!" He added firmly.
Then suddenly, A sharp, loud voice erupted from the Dwarf King,
"INSANE?! HUMAN RIGHTS?! YOU DARE SAY THAT AFTER THE DAMAGE YOUR KIND HAS DONE TO THE WORLD?!"
"Tch—ngh…" the oldest brother narrowed his eyes in frustration, his pupils narrowed slits and constricting.
With piercing eyes, the Dwarf King added,
"Who cares about outdated treaties? And even more, who cares about the regulations set by him who died a hundred years ago?"
The Dwarf King turned his gaze away.
"He was the only one among you with real power. His influence, and his power, faded after a century. There's nothing you can do now—except obey us. If you want the best for your kind."
The Human King raised his hand, gesturing for the guards to pull back their blades.
Obediently, the soldiers stepped away and returned to their positions.
The oldest brother sat back down—silent, frustrated.
(Oldest Brother's Thought)
"Invading our land…? Using our, us, men… as experiments and potentially living weapons? This is ridiculous! But what can we do….?"
He stared downward, fingers pressing against his forehead, massaging gently. His stress was obvious—and so do the other family members——especially so in the expression of the Dark Queen. Her iris, shaking, her pupils— slithering and constricting unstably.
Perhaps the idea of using her beloved sons, and possibly even her husband, as tools for war… weighed heavily on her heart.
—————————
Meanwhile, on the Mainland…
The same Dark Acolyte was on his way back, walking calmly through the dense jungle path as faint rays of sunlight shone through the leaves. The sounds of birdsong and jungle ambience surrounded him.
In his hands, he studied the same scroll—still analyzing the Dark Prince's spell.
While walking, something new caught his attention as his pupils dilated and oval-ing.
(Acolyte's Thought)
"Oh! Nice… I've figured out something here…"
"What's this...? The length of time since this spell was cast?"
He stopped for a moment, squinting.
"Let me see…"
Then his eyes widened slightly.
"Huh…"
"From… 100 years ago…?"