Year 1014
The barriers appeared as lucid, vivid emerald from afar.
Kisatsu stood on the precipice of a small hill, beholding the landscape he saw every day. Everywhere he looked, it felt as though the entire world were enclosed by an infinitely huge barrier. To him, this seemed nothing out of the ordinary and considered it normal. Whatever lay beyond these barriers, or why they had formed, was something he had never questioned.
"Admiring the view as usual, Kisatsu?"
Ryurei, his older brother by two years, caught him daydreaming before the scenery again.
"You know, you could stare at it all day as long as you know the way back home. I'm leaving," he teased, feigning impatience.
"Wait!" Kisatsu exclaimed, clumsily darting toward him.
The two walked along the forest trail, sunlight flickering through the leaves and casting fleeting glows on Kisatsu's bluish-white hair as they sauntered.
He turned toward it and squinted, his amethyst eyes accentuating before he flinched.
"Ryurei, do you think the sun exists outside these massive barriers?" Kisatsu asked, his tone tinged with curiosity.
"Well, who knows?" Ryurei replied perfunctorily without glancing at Kisatsu. "Pretty sure Father knows everything there is. Why don't you go ask them?"
"Why do you think that? Dad didn't come from outside the walls, did he?"
"Does it look like he shared a secret like that with me?"
Ryurei turned toward him, a soft, cheeky smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Seems to me that he did," Kisatsu muttered, a hint of indignation in his tone.
At his words, Ryurei's smile turned reassuring before he gently patted Kisatsu's head. He wanted to talk more about it, but the fleeting moment forbade him.
"Let's talk about that next time."
"Hmph. You're always like that because you can't hide your lies," Kisatsu grunted, furrowing his brows in playful exasperation.
After a rather long stroll, their mansion emerged in the distance. Their home was situated in a meadow, remote from the town. Their mother could be seen watering the garden with a certain elegance.
She turned toward them, a flicker of surprise crossing her expression at their arrival.
"Oh, you two! Could you stop wandering around so early in the morning? Seriously, you're starting to worry me," Shione chided gently. She had lost sight of them earlier when she woke up and checked their room.
For one, Kisatsu and Ryurei almost always woke up very early each morning to relax and unwind near the escarpment. This wasn't their first time—they had simply lingered longer, immersing themselves in the scenery stretching across the landscape.
"We're actually here to ask if we could go to the cliff next since we want to enjoy the breeze for a while," Ryurei said before turning to Kisatsu. "I'll go alone if you're tired. Are you?"
"No! I'm coming too!" Kisatsu interjected, shaking his head immediately. His voice was firm, but there was a hint of mischief in it.
"Now, now, that's not a place I would simply allow you to go to," Shione replied softly, refusing but not obstinate.
"Why?" Kisatsu asked, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Don't worry, Mother. I've been there before and know how things go. As for Kisatsu, nothing will happen," Ryurei explained, his voice reassuring. Ever since he was a child, he had roamed places like those. This wasn't due to juvenile ignorance—rather, it was almost instinctive.
Shione heaved a sigh in resignation before allowing them to leave.
"Fine, but let your father know where you're going first. Be careful out there," she murmured, hesitation in her voice.
Kisatsu's face instantly lit up with impish glee at her response, and he immediately turned to Ryurei with a wide grin.
"Let's go now then!" he exclaimed, a surge of excitement flashing through him.
"Hey, not so quickly! You two look hungry. Did you even eat anything for breakfast yet? I've baked some cupcakes in the kitchen. Why don't you have a little snack before you leave?"
"We don't have time for tha—" Ryurei said, but she interrupted.
"Shush! Just come inside." She gently pulled them both by their ears.
Everything seemed to flow well. Then, a minacious presence that had been lingering in the atmosphere bore down on Ryurei—and only him—contrasting with the liveliness of the fleeting moment. It didn't seem heavy, nor was it palpable to those oblivious to it—yet, he felt that the best option was to keep it to himself.
The air feels off, he mused, his remaining unchanged. Come to think of it, ever since I woke up this morning, I've been sensing this odd presence. And no—it wasn't just here—it wasn't even stronger back in the forest. Should I let Father know about this?
"Already leaving?" Shione asked, glancing at her husband, who was dressed in a regal outfit as he prepared for departure. His neatly styled purple hair resembled that of a monarch.
"I will only be out for a little while. You can expect me back in about an hour," Xavior said reassuringly, adjusting his already perfectly tailored, pristine attire.
"It looks to me as if you'll be out the whole day with that outfit," she teased, a demure chuckle escaping her lips. "Oh—by the way, the kids are heading to the cliff later."
That's within my vicinity, he thought, his eyes narrowing subtly.
"Tell them not to go too far."
"I'm about to. Be safe out there as well," Shione said tenderly before leaning in to give him a soft kiss on the lips.
At the Escarpment
Thirty minutes had passed.
Kisatsu followed Ryurei, who led him toward the cliff—their destination. The cool, humming breeze gently skimmed their skin as the vast sea emerged into view, along with the faint, distant emerald barrier.
Strangely, a few unprecedented ships were seen approaching in the distance.
"Never knew ships could come from the barriers as well," Kisatsu blurted absentmindedly, glancing over the ultramarine sea stretching before them.
"What are you talking about?" Ryurei asked, confused. He turned around to look—and to his shock, vague ships emerged in the distance.
Those are... but how? His expression tightened, laced with anxiety, as he halted his stride.
Oblivious, Kisatsu kept padding along the path, eventually walking past Ryurei. Noticing his fretful countenance, Kisatsu finally asked:
"Is something the matter, Ryurei?"
No... Will it be alright? I guess it will. Ryurei brushed the ominous thought aside.
"N-Nothing. Let's just keep going," he said, his voice faltering slightly.
As they reached the cliff, their vantage point towered over the landscape. The distant mountains gave way to a tranquil sea, radiating a lustrous blue.
"If I were to die, I'd like it to be here," Kisatsu uttered, raising his hands into the air as he felt the wind, free from dust, gliding over his skin.
"Tell me when to push you," Ryurei teased, attempting to whisk his attention away from the incoming ships—but failing.
Ignore it, ignore it—it's not like it's the first time the barriers have been breached—but what the hell is this? Are those what are causing all that peculiar presence?
The barriers being breached was neither usual nor expected. The last breach had occurred twenty-seven years ago, caused by an obscure event. Over the years, incursions had become more frequent within the barriers, though the magnitude of danger remained unchanged.
And now, the most recent invasion had taken place.
"Those ships are sure taking their time getting closer. They still look huge from this far away, though," Kisatsu remarked flatly, raising his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding sun as he squinted, trying to catch a glimpse of the distant ships. For some reason, he didn't suspect anything about them, oblivious to any potential danger.
Meanwhile, Ryurei struggled to maintain his composure. He didn't want to worry Kisatsu, but panic was consuming his thoughts—something he couldn't easily dismiss.
Shit! If I worry too much, he'll notice. He's still a kid—he can't sense any presence yet. This one's just too ominous—it's ridiculous!
In terms of Rage sorcery, Ryurei wasn't a prodigy—but rather a precocious learner. His sense of Rage was honed through practice and training, making him the more talented brother between him and Kisatsu. Although he could accurately perceive presences, it took a toll on his stress capacity—he felt sensitive and anxious when heavy ones bore down too much pressure on both his mind and body.
Right now, he could barely maintain a calm demeanor with the ludicrously strong presence surrounding him.
"You're surprisingly quiet. Did the cupcakes earlier taste horrible? Did they burn your tongue or something?" Kisatsu asked, a hint of concern in his voice—yet he still didn't suspect anything.
"I'm just... enjoying the view like you are. Why?" Ryurei stammered slightly this time, his voice faltering again as he tried to forcefully subdue his anxiety—which he couldn't.
"Nothing, really. You just looked dead serious a while ago."
"Really? Well... I might just be contemplating deeply." A pause. "Anyway, have you had enough with the view?"
"Hmmm." Kisatsu turned toward the trail leading to a nearby glade. "How about we go further?"
"Are you sure? You haven't been there before. Mother will scold me once she finds out about this," Ryurei said hesitantly, his gaze softening with worry.
"Who cares? You're coming with me, and she won't find out as long as we don't tell her." Kisatsu insisted, a flicker of mischief crossing his countenance.
Ryurei let out a breath but went along, casting one last glance at the incoming ships before leaving the area.
After a while, the glistening grass in the glade came into view.
Kisatsu lay down on the ground, foliage framing his face. A wide grin spread across his visage, a strange feeling of elation permeating through him.
Ryurei simply sat on a small outcrop, staring into the azure sky stretching endlessly above them.
The moment was filled with ataraxy as they remained silent for some time, leisurely basking in the warm sun above them.
This seems strangely peaceful—nothing can go wrong, and the worst thing that might happen is a dragon suddenly spawning out of nowhere, Ryurei mused, though anxiety still clung to his mind.
Before long, the silence was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps.
It seemed odd, because Ryurei usually would've noticed and sensed their presence—but he didn't. He turned around, slightly baffled by the sudden noise, to see who it was.
"Oh, did I ruin a moment of ataraxy?" a stranger, clad in a cassock and appearing middle-aged, asked, his voice deep and throaty.
Kisatsu heard the voice and immediately rose from the ground to face its source.
"Who are you, sir?" he asked not rudely but with curiosity.
His Rage—I don't sense anything within him. Ryurei frowned faintly, filled with doubt. His guard went up without hesitation, showing no trust in the stranger as he assessed him carefully. It's still not from him—this presence I've been sensing since morning. Is he a knight disguised as a priest who came here because he sensed it too?
"I am merely a priest who rambles in his leisure," the stranger said, his voice cloyingly gentle, an unctuous smile on his face. "Why, young one?"
"Are you here to preach?" A facetious chuckle escaped Kisatsu's lips.
"Shush, you asshole," Ryurei chided.
Shut up. Not right now. I've got something to deal with, and it's definitely not your antics.
He stood up and approached the priest with covert caution.
This geezer looks suspicious. We should really head back home right now.
"My, my, you two seem amusing. Why don't you come with me for a walk?" the priest offered ingratiatingly, glancing between them.
Kisatsu turned to Ryurei, awaiting for a response—though no excitement showed on his face. Even he intuitively sensed something was askew about the priest. Deep inside, he wanted Ryurei to refuse, his stomach beginning to churn in the stranger's presence.
Ryurei glanced back at Kisatsu and—almost as if reading him like a book—immediately understood before turning back to the priest.
"I think we have to head back home." A brief pause—out of hesitation. "Thanks for the offer, though."
You sensed it too, right, Kisatsu?
Ryurei grabbed Kisatsu's hand—careful not to seem forceful—and walked away at a noticeably brisker pace. Outwardly, he appeared steady, but inside, he was trembling.
"Well, that's unfortunate then..." The priest exhaled briefly, a sinister smirk twisting his lips. "...since you two would make phenomenal specimens."
Suddenly, malevolent Rage emanated from him, and in an instant, he materialized before them—striking Ryurei unconscious before he could react and hurling his body to the ground.
Kisatsu practically froze at the sight unfolding before him, as if a bullet had just whizzed past his eyes. Before his thoughts could even manifest, chains suddenly shot up from the ground, wrapping around him and constricting him tightly.
After what felt like several minutes, Ryurei regained consciousness, grogginess weighing down his entire body. As he slowly opened his eyes, he became aware of the priest's hands clasping him, holding him firmly.
"Ryurei!" Kisatsu exclaimed, terror palpable on his countenance. His body was covered in severe contusions, and chains from nowhere bound him tightly.
Ryurei's mind didn't need to process it—Kisatsu was in grave danger, and he had to act fast. He panted heavily, a severe panic attack gripping him, further delaying his decisions.
Amidst the chaos, the priest took his time, his hands gliding over Ryurei with a sickening leisure. His fingers trailed along Ryurei's left wrist, stroking it with an unsettling deliberation, as if savoring the moment. Slowly and repulsively, he tore Ryurei's hand apart, revealing strands of flesh and blood stretching, an odious smirk spreading across his lips.
"A-Aaahhh! St-stop! Aaaahh!"
In excruciating agony, Ryurei wailed and writhed, forcibly attempting to break free from the priest's grasp, pain surging from his severed wrist. His body grew frail from rapid blood loss.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
His body convulsed under the searing pain as he screamed relentlessly, his cries slicing through the vast forest.
Kisatsu stood aghast—unable to think, speak, or do anything, racked with harrowing trauma from the sight before him.
"Aaahhh!" Ryurei flinched from the unrelenting ordeal. His plan to question the priest about a possible connection to the incoming ships earlier was shattered by the hemorrhage.
"Does it hurt?" the maniacal priest asked, his visage contorted with twisted delight. "Oh, those screams—when you make them, they remind me of paradisiacal music composed by a virtuoso like you."
His voice was grisly as he spoke—so revolting, in fact, that even Ryurei momentarily lost track of the surge of pain. Ryurei's expression contorted in acute revulsion, the priest's words repeating inexorably in his head.
Humans...
Just then, the priest felt a slight burning and tingling sensation on his skin, as if radiation were being discharged into the air.
Hm? What is this? His brows furrowed in surprise and confusion. This burning sensation—Xavior?
Only the priest was affected by this strange phenomenon.
Ryurei teetered on the verge of collapse, his consciousness slipping away.
Kisatsu remained motionless and passive, his expression pale and unreadable.
There was no fire nearby—yet, the priest felt as though his skin were being peeled away.
Radiation?
The priest's attention drifted elsewhere, and for a moment, he let his guard down.
A sudden surge of strength coursed through Ryurei, and he seized the moment to break free from the priest's grasp, dashing toward Kisatsu to unshackle him. With a swift motion, he swung his right arm, casting an ability that partially disintegrated the chains—just enough to free Kisatsu. However, the effort took a toll on his body, causing him to stagger and fall.
"Run, Kisatsu!"
Ryurei's voice—unrestrained and desperate—jolted Kisatsu back to reality. Feeling his limbs free from the chain's constriction, he did everything except run.
He hesitated.
"I... Ryurei—"
"Go!"
Out of nowhere, a colossal ivory-white dragon burst forth, materializing within what seemed to be their home.
In the distance, the sounds of ships echoed—a clear sign that the land had already been invaded.
At this point, Kisatsu was completely overwhelmed, his gaze locking onto the vast dragon looming over them as it seemingly made its way toward the nearby town. His mind was blank.
Then, without heeding his hesitations, his body moved on its own—sprinting as fast as it could.
Just when they thought things couldn't get any worse, another priest arrived to rendezvous with the first.
"Reverend Dontemore, Xavior Ashira has been captured," he announced, his gaze shifting to Ryurei's unconscious body on the ground. "What is this?"
"A mere trinket I stumbled upon while indulging myself, all while keeping a lookout." Dontemore cast a glance at the body and gave it a perfunctory kick before turning back to him. "We can keep him if you wish—he would certainly make a fine specimen."
"And what of the other one?" the second priest asked, his gaze shifting to Kisatsu, who was fleeing into the distance.
"Hmmm, he seems utterly traumatized—I almost pity him. But nothing of worth will ever come from that boy. I would not even consider him a threat, not in the slightest," Dontemore muttered, casting an ability that sealed Ryurei's unconscious body within a robust box before banishing it to another realm. "Now, shall we subjugate this land first before executing that excommunicated filth?"
"Execute Xavior?" the second priest interjected, a hint of protest in his voice. "What of the interrogation?"
"Are you naive? You will never extract anything from that patriotic bastard," Dontemore huffed, his brows knitting together as his gaze shifted toward the dragon. "We came here to execute him on sight. That man is impossible—if spared, he could shatter our plan to subjugate at any moment. Now that you have captured him, killing him while he is sill debilitated would serve us the best."
Away from Home
In the opposite direction of their home, Kisatsu hid near the edge of a crag, the trees conveniently concealing his frame.
"Ryurei..." he muttered under his breath, wishing—no, convincing himself—that this was only a dream, something he would eventually awaken from.
He resumed fleeing, putting more distance between himself and their home, his mind blank—devoid of thoughts of what he would, should, or could do next. His body, battered with contusions, withered in strength and energy, yet he forced himself forward—anything to could keep himself in one piece.
Then, crushing all hope of escape, a strange cloaked man appeared, seemingly searching for Kisatsu. He moved eerily through the air before leaping toward him, landing at his side.
"N-No! Please—"
Despite Kisatsu's pleas, the man swiftly struck him unconscious. A strange mask concealed his face, obscuring his identity.
Without hesitation, he seized Kisatsu by the waist and hoisted him up, casting a brief glance at the colossal dragon in the distance before leaping swiftly in a direction parallel to the nearby town.