Mira quickly arrived at the front of the Azerin manor, supporting the wounded maid on her back. She immediately kicked the door open and rushed the maid straight to the infirmary.

  Nervous and frustration washed over Mira. The maid was losing too much blood. Desperate, Mira quickly retrieved the healing artifact she had received from Zarikh for this mission. Thanks to her quick action, the bleeding immediately stopped, though the arm could not be restored. Mira gently tucked the maid under a blanket, leaving her to rest, and rushed off to find Lily and Carol's group.

  Mira spotted the group. Lily, Carol, and the others are entering Luke's private office. She considered giving on immediate warning, but an instinct told her to wait. Sensing the danger hadn't reached them, she decided to eavesdrop.

  This is an excellent, information-dense dialogue scene. It successfully transitions the focus from Rein's trauma to the immediate danger posed by his friends, and it delivers a massive double twist right at the start of the chapter: Luke's true fear and Mira's true allegiance.

  "You must be Rein's friends, right?" Luke said, surveying them. "Where is the other one?"

  "Oh, he'll arrive later," Carol replied smoothly. "Anyway, why did you invite us over?"

  "I simply want to know how Rein is faring at Verlyn campus. Is he well?"

  "I suppose so. He doesn't talk much, but his power and action are quite impressive," Carol said.

  Luke chuckled. "Of course he is. He's my successor, after all. When he achieves the proper evolution to wield the Azure element, I may give him the position. But for now, I want him to experience the real world."

  "Quite a good goal you have there, Mr. Luke," Carol responded, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

  Luke simply smiled, recognizing Carol's attempt to provoke the fury that had exploded during the dinner meeting.

  "But that's not the exact reason you called us, right?" Carol pressed, noticing a subtle disturbance. It might be an abnormal Ender leak near the door, where Mira was hiding.

  "Straight to the point, aren't you?" Luke's tone hardened. "You're right. The real reason I called you guys here because I want you all to stop prying into my little brother's life. In other words, leave him alone, forever."

  Carol shrugged. "So you think we're a nuisance? Is it because there's another Holder successor like Noire and Aria among us?"

  "That's one thing. But most importantly, it's you."

  "Me?" Carol snorted in disbelief. "Because I'm just a normal Margias? I didn't realize you cared about status."

  The comment made the rest of the group squirm. Saria was shocked, while Noire and Aria looked away. Lily watched, astonished by Carol's careless defiance toward a high ranking Holder.

  "Well, not entirely. It's your Ender."

  "My Ender?"

  "There's something wrong with it. When I shot a spike against Orin, I couldn't control my power. Instead of a small deterrent, it was a deadly spike. It felt like I was trying to kill him." Luke's gaze was piercing. "Ever since you inside this manor, I've constantly heard the whispers of the deceased, even our parents."

  "That's..!" Lily began, shocked by the admission.

  "I know, Lily, but that's not the point. Your Ender is dangerously trying to influence me. Just like what a Leviathan would do."

  Carol clenched her fist in anger. To be compared to a Leviathan as a Margias was the greatest insult, a hunter being likened to the beast. "Are you afraid I might influence Rein soon?" she asked, her voice tight with suppressed rage. "Even I doesn't know it can already do that."

  "Although your reason might be valid, especially with how Rein acts, there's still a little possibilities of your Ender to influence him. When the time has come, I'm afraid you won't be able to continue your journey together."

  Carol looked down, reflecting on the potential consequences. She closed her eyes, the whispers of her other side came back, echoing relentlessly in her ears. She ignored them and Luke's warning, knowing she mustn't drag her colleagues down the dark path she was walking. It was her personal journey, nothing more.

  Mira, listening intently, also fell into a deep thought. (That Carol... Luke said her Ender influenced his mind, forcing him to use a dangerous spell on his own brother. Is she the one I'm supposed to watch over? The rumored Priestess the chief maid always mentioned?)

  She pulled out a necklace bearing a picture of her father and herself as a child. (For now, Duty as Lousilks first. Afterward, as Zarikh.) Her thought complete, she tucked the necklace back into her pocket.

  At that moment, everyone in the room heard the echoing, thunderous war cry of the dragon. Luke slammed his hand on the table, standing up in utter devastation.

  "Why... Why did that thing have to awaken right now?!" Luke roared, panic washing over his face.

  "Do you know what's that sound really were, Brother Luke?" Lily asked, confused at her brother's behavior.

  Luke ignored his sister's confusion and clenched his fists, driven by worry. He immediately stormed out of the room, his steps frantic and panicked.

  Mira, leaning just outside the door, didn't dare look back at him.

  "That cry... It's one of the calamities, wasn't it?" Aria asked, turning to Lily for confirmation.

  "The Calamities? But... I thought our parents defeated it?" Lily whispered, her voice laced with fear.

  "Who exactly told you that? One Holder alone cannot easily defeat a Calamity. Let alone someone with a strength of a country." Aria pressed.

  "I suspect Sir Luke told miss Lily that to cover up something," Mira said, finally stepping into the room. "But there’s no time to discuss that now."

  "Did you just eavesdrop on us? You've been hiding there all along?" Lily gasped, shocked by Mira's presence.

  Carol merely glanced at Mira before closing her eyes. She already knew Mira was the source of the abnormal Ender leak, but she chose to ignore it.

  "Sorry, but we don't have time for pointless arguments," Mira insisted, her urgency palpable. "We have to go. Now!"

  Just as the word left her mouth, the window of the room exploded, showering the air with jagged glass and a frigid ice mist. The danger had officially arrived.

  "W-what is that?" Lily stammered, covering her face with her arms.

  Though unable to see clearly through the thick mist, Mira acted purely on instinct, throwing a flurry of knives. The immediate action paid off as the approaching ice minions were instantly shattered.

  "Everyone, here!" Mira yelled, urgently guiding the group and Lily out of the room.

  As they fled down the corridor, the speed of the chaos overwhelmed Lily. Suddenly, sharp ice spikes erupted from the stone around them, narrowly missing the group as they dodged the surprise attack.

  Bursting through the open door and into the night, they were met with a sight of absolute horror. The environment was completely frozen, a deadly presence lingered, and a sickening sight of blood splattered everywhere as spikes pierced the bodies of maids and butlers attempting to evacuate. The group felt trapped, but before Mira could rally them, a loud scream echoed from nearby village.

  They turned toward the sound, but they were too late. Villagers who had tried to fight back were cut down right in front of them, their heads split by the ice minions weapons. Blood flowed like a river, and many hidden villagers watched, jaws dropped in paralyzing fear. Children screamed, tears falling as they called out to their parents.

  Mira started to move, but Lily responded faster. Overcoming her panic, she charged forward. Her Vergus spell erupted, transforming into an incomplete but potent ice sword. She thrust the blade, destroying one minion, then swung her sword upward, shattering a second. Her action instantly drew the attention of every minion in the vicinity.

  Mira sighed, but a wave of relief also washed over her. Lily had stepped up to the injustice. The rest of the group which is Carol, Aria, and the others morphed their wands into their respective weapons. Mira covered her hands with the knives she kept hidden in her pockets. The fight was unavoidable.

  Luke, looking desperately around the manor grounds, spotted Rein leaning against the base of the tree. Tears still clung to his face, and blood stained his chin. Luke felt a surge of pity, quickly replaced by frustration at how pathetic Rein seemed. Although he didn't know about the duel with Revir, he knew his younger brother should never lose a fight, having been trained by the best Margias in the Azerin household.

  He rushed toward Rein to try and snap him out of it. "Rein! Hey, wake up!" Luke urged, desperately trying to shake him.

  But Rein didn't respond, only mumbling something about his past and the moment everything began to turn against him. Luke clenched his fists in frustration. He wanted to drag Rein to safety, to protect him like the true brother he should be, not as someone who's been burdened by the duty and pressure forced upon him since their parents vanished.

  Before he could act, Orin slipped into view. He noticed Luke's frantic actions.

  "There you are, Brother Luke," Orin said, his voice dangerously calm and menacing.

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  "What have you done, Orin?" Luke demanded, turning to face his brother in fury.

  "Oh, nothing. I just came to deliver a surprise to Rein. A gift after everything he has done."

  "Are you out of your mind?! It was just a little mistake Rein made, nothing more!" Luke exclaimed, trying desperately to reach him.

  "Just a 'little' mistake?" Orin snorted. "He made my life worse than before, Brother Luke! Everything I was supposed to have is gone because of his filthy hand!"

  "What exactly he has stole from your life, Orin?! To make you take this drastic measure!"

  "Rein stole everything! My future, my life, even my happiness... my only parent who always supported me after my mother left us. He was the only one encouraging my ambition... But now?"

  The Azure Dragon landed, shaking the earth and shocking Luke with its immense size.

  "Is the pain really hurt you so much that you decided to made a deal with the devil?" Luke said, utterly flabbergasted.

  "I don't know what you're trying to say, Brother Luke," Orin replied, his eyes hollowed with sorrow and conviction. "But if it required me to make a pact even with the Zarikh, I will sacrifice anything. Including my own humanity to pay back for what Rein has done."

  The dragon soared skyward, readying its breath of ice. Orin prepared himself, morphing his wand into a red ice spear. The spear symbolize his uncontrollable, fiery obsession.

  "If you still choose to stand in my way, I'm going to make you regret that decision," Orin pointed his spear at both Luke and the unconscious Rein. "Goodbye."

  In that split second, the Calamity shot its devastating breath. Luke acted without a thought, grabbing Rein and diving sideways to dodge the attack. Though their lives were saved, Luke was aghast at the sheer firepower. The forest along the line of attack instantly froze solid, and the mountain behind it fractured and broke, creating a terrifying scene of a destructive ice canyon.

  Hours into their fight against the minions, the endless tide was overwhelming them. Though they destroyed each of the minion easily, their exhaustion was setting in.

  "Just how much more do we have to destroy? There are too many of them!" Mira exclaimed, punching a minion in the head, shattering it, and kicking the body so hard it took out another.

  "Yeah, it feels like a never ending cycle," Carol agreed, slashing a minion's head clean off. A few charged her blindly, giving Carol the perfect opportunity to use her Windiria Horizon spell, instantly destroying the group. "If only Aria could use that spell."

  "Sorry to interrupt, but that would be too dangerous," Aria replied, pushing back a minion with her broadsword. She swung the sword, enhanced in fiery flame, and the resulting explosive fire melted several minions in vast burst of heat. "If I used that spell, the villagers would get caught in the blast."

  Saria was doing her best, rapidly firing precise arrows. Thankfully, Noire stepped in to protect her when a minion slipped through her guard. He pushed the creature away, creating the opening Saria needed.

  Lily, tired but determined, swung her sword against the minions. She knew she hadn't mastered her Vergus spell, but she had to move fast to keep her people safe.

  However, it wasn't enough. More and more minions appeared, surrounding them completely. Mira felt a wave of nervousness as she looked around. There was no opening whatsoever to counter back. Everyone, including Lily, felt devastated by their hopeless situation.

  But in a surprise turn, several stone spikes erupted beneath the minions, crushing them instantly. Lily and Mira stared in confusion as the rest of the group sighed in relief at the arrival of their savior.

  "Huh, I thought you guys could handle this without me." Revir quipped, showing his usual, infuriating smile.

  "You really want to make your entrance as dramatic as possible, don't you?" Aria said, visibly annoyed.

  "Well, it was far more effective than just bumping into you without a plan." Revir shrugged. "Anyway, what's the plan?"

  "We're going to hold them off until there's nothing left," Carol replied, explaining the dire situation.

  "Is that it? Here I thought a leader would have a better idea."

  "Please don't provoke me, Revir." Carol warned.

  "Alright, alright."

  The remaining minions charged again, and the group, Lily, and Mira once again ready for another fight.

  Luke slammed his foot down, morphing his wand into a spear of pure Azure ice, and charged Orin. Orin instantly used the base of his red ice spear to block the attack. Struggling against Luke's superior power, Orin commanded the dragon to intervene. It instantly swung its massive tail, catching Luke off-guard. The force was so immense that Luke's internal bones felt close to snapping. He was sent flying back toward the manor, which already looked like a skeletal ice ruin.

  Coughing up copious amounts of blood, with a crimson trace running from his head, Luke stood up, showing his defiant within the wreckage of his office. The resolve he had remained unbroken. He clenched his fist, and hundreds of his summoned ice spears, crackling with freezing power, shot through the sky toward Orin.

  The dragon roared and stepped forward, shielding its master. It began charging its breath, and simultaneously, numerous magical circles appeared behind it, mirroring the devastating attack. Luke gripped his spear tighter, frustrated by the coordinated assault. He stomped the ground with it, summoning a vast magic circle that instantly erected a massive, resilient shield of pure ice. Though similar to Rein's, this shield was far stronger, a defense solely for the current Holder.

  The Calamity's attack was overwhelming, and the shield began to fracture. Yet, Luke felt a confusion amidst the chaos. (This attack... it doesn't feel like what a true Calamity should release. It ought to shatter my shield instantly. Is this creature holding back its Ender?)

  The shield disintegrated the moment the destructive breath faded. Without hesitation, Luke hurled his spear, sending it exploding just behind Orin. The shockwave injured Orin, drawing blood from his head, but also fueling his rage. Orin immediately leaped forward, enhancing his spear with the glowing red ice. Luke retreated quickly, the impact of Orin's weapon striking the ground created a small, jagged red ice terrain. Luke gave a nervous smile, recognizing how fearsomely strong Orin had become.

  Orin then threw his spear as a decoy. Luke looked at its trajectory, and Orin instantly vanished, having used an advanced Azure spell. Noticing the trick, Luke turned to looked behind him. Orin was there, spear ready to strike his back. Orin thrust, but it was just Luke's decoy. They had successfully tricked each other.

  Flabbergasted, Orin looked up. Luke was now high in the sky, summoning a gigantic ice spear. The massive weapon soared even higher, and Luke commanded it with his hand, driving it toward Orin. Orin instinctively created a broken red wing on his back and used it to fly frantically, dodging the colossal spear as it pursued him.

  Luke, one step ahead, shattered his gigantic spear into a multitude of smaller, faster-traveling ice shards. The shards pierced Orin deep into his body before he could react. He hung suspended, unable to comprehend his defeat. Luke held his hand out, pushing his spear forward and pinning Orin against the mountain wall. Their gazes locked. Luke's eyes held neither mercy nor sympathy. Orin's eyes were filled with shocked disappointment, realizing everything he had sacrificed had failed.

  The dragon, now free from Orin's control, let out a final, haunting cry before soaring back toward its nest. In the village, the remaining ice minions shattered into pieces, leaving the group below confused.

  "What an ironic turn of events," Orin remarked, accepting his defeat as he hung pinned to the mountain. "I should have expected this, knowing I was fighting the Holder."

  "Sorry, Orin. But it seems I have to kill you," Luke said, his voice flat. "You are too dangerous to keep alive."

  "Ah yes, the words of duty and responsibility," Orin sneered, a sinister smile creeping onto his face. "What a good pile of lies covering the truth."

  Luke backed away and summoned his signature spear, holding it ready beside Orin's shoulder.

  Orin only chuckled. "A classic move. Did your parents teach you how to execute someone with this technique? What a good Holder you are."

  "This is for the crimes you committed, Orin. For endangering the lives of the innocent," Luke gripped his weapon tightly. "And for endangering my little brother's life."

  Orin sighed. "Tell me the truth, then. Does Rein never kill my father?"

  Luke's grip loosened instantly, disturbed by the question.

  "My maid told me your little brother almost spilled the whole truth," Orin continued, pressing his advantage. "He ran away from the dragon because he was helpless against it."

  Luke's eyes widened in horror.

  "Heh. I wonder why he would lie about that to me. If so, was this obsession not worth of my time? Does everything I've been doing...worthless in the end?" Orin asked, the hollow sorrow back in his voice.

  "What are you..?"

  "But regardless, I would love to see how you, blinded by duty, react when you are the one who kill your own brother."

  Disgusted by Orin's final attempt at psychological manipulation, Luke immediately swung his spear, severing Orin's head from his body.

  But in a devastating twist, a cluster of grimoire pages dissolved, tasting Luke's Ender. A terrifying Dark Ender erupted behind Orin and manifested as a deadly spike that plunged deep into Luke's body.

  The whispers Luke heard immediately became a deafening chorus. A devastating flashback overwhelmed him.

  “Mom, Dad. Where are you?” Young Luke worriedly looked around the empty manor.

  (You’re weak. Because of you, everyone died.) The whispers merged with his own frantic young thoughts.

  The head butler, Lousilks, approached. "Why are you here, Mr. Luke? You need to sleep."

  "But... my Mom and Dad? They're supposed to read me and Rein a bedtime story."

  "Who?"

  (You’re the reason everyone is forgotten. You let them got eaten by the Calamity.)

  "What do you mean 'who,' Mr. Lousilks? They're the current Holders of this house!" Young Luke cried, his small reality shattering.

  "I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Luke. Isn't it you the Current Holder?"

  "Huh..?" Young Luke replied, horror lingering in his heart.

  (It was your fault. Everything is your fault for not helping your parents. You knew the Calamity's unique abilities, yet you chose to close it up. What a shy, useless little one.)

  The flashback ended, but the whispers lingered, now roaring.

  "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Luke screamed, devastated.

  The Dark Ender piercing him slowly dissolved and began integrating into his body.

  (Why bother? There's no way you can deny that fact. Your action led not only to this disaster but also destroyed your own ambition.)

  Luke remained flabbergasted, unable to respond to the voices.

  (But we can help you. We can give you the ambition you have been seeking for.)

  "That's..."

  (Accept us, Luke. We shall give you an opportunity to start anew.)

  Luke closed his eyes, reopening them to reveal his irises were almost entirely consumed by the encroaching Dark Ender. He tried to fight back, but his body would not obey, rejecting every order.

  (No need to fight back. It was inevitable. The only thing you can do is Embrace us.)

  "Somebody...please...help me." Luke looked helplessly toward the distant manor, trying to call out for Rein, but the effort was useless.

  (Now, You shall accept your fate!)

  The Dark Ender enveloped him completely in a huge explosion of black magic. His scream was loud and anguished, pleading for help no one could provide.

  Carol, sensing the massive spike of Dark Ender from the manor, rushed immediately toward the epicenter. The group and Lily looked on in confusion, while Mira watched with an intensely focused gaze.