Raven Hart Cole's body stiffened suddenly, his eyes widened with surprise and fear. He was a soldier, used to facing death... but this what was happening now was not something one could fight.
His voice trembled as he spoke:
"W… who are you? And how did you get in?"
The mysterious figure did not move, remaining seated on the chair, unaffected by Cole's agitation, and spoke in a calm, noble tone:
"You may call me the Kaiser."
Silence fell for a moment, before the Kaiser broke the stillness again, his voice like a distant bell ringing in Cole's mind:
"Don't bother with how I got in… think instead about why I'm here."
Cole's heart was pounding, trying to hold himself together. He asked in a hoarse voice:
"Are you… from the temple? Or one of the hunter factions?"
A short laugh, more like a scoff, came from the shadows:
"The temple? No. The factions? They're just children fighting over scraps. I come from a place beyond their sight… a place not ruled by their laws."
The Kaiser paused briefly, then continued in a softer voice, one that seemed to flow straight into Cole's chest:
"I heard your scream, Raven… the anger you swallowed. The regret, the helplessness, the fear. All of that… made me see you."
Cole clenched his fists tightly, but said nothing. The Kaiser continued:
"I came because you've reached a crossroads. If you choose the path I offer… you will not be the same. But for the first time, you won't be just a pawn."
Cole remained silent for a moment, his breathing tense, eyes fixed on the figure shrouded in shadow before him. A part of him screamed that this was an illusion… a trick… but something deeper whispered to listen.
Finally, he spoke in a low, rough voice:
"And what is this path?"
The Kaiser nodded slightly, as if he had expected the question all along. He said in a low voice, with a hint of temptation:
"Your path, Raven… yours alone. I do not bind. All I offer… is the chance."
He tilted his head slightly and placed a hand on his head, his voice now warmer:
"You are angry. You know well who your enemies are. But you have no foundation. No real power. What I offer… is the means. And you will remain free to choose how to use it."
Cole took a deep breath, then asked:
"So… what do you want from me?"
Silence returned once more before the Kaiser raised his hand toward him and said calmly:
"Join me."
Cole blinked slowly, the expression in his eyes shifting from fear to caution, and from caution to heavy curiosity.
…The shadows around him seemed to respond to the words, retreating and revealing behind him a strange emblem forming gradually in the air… A dark sword standing upright, piercing a black crown with sharp fangs, as if the crown was born from darkness itself. Below it, black roots stretched like threads of smoke, and around the symbol, a faint circle pulsed.
The Kaiser continued, his voice flowing like cold water through Cole's chest:
"I am the leader of the Council of the Seven Crowns. A secret organization. We are a force that moves under a simple balance: mission for reward."
Then he added in a lower voice:
"We give nothing for free, Raven. Everything you want… you can have, but at a price. The mission is completed, the reward is delivered. Simple, clear, fair."
Cole held his breath, then asked quietly:
"And what if I refuse?"
The Kaiser smiled a smile not seen, but its weight was heard:
"Nothing will happen. No threats, no punishments. Your night will return to what it was, drowning in daydreams of impossible revenge… and your days will pass slowly toward nothing. We do not force. We only offer… to those who have the courage to seek power and the audacity to pay the price."
He paused for a moment, then extended his hand again, as if the shadows themselves stretched toward him:
"Choose, Raven. Stay in your worn-out cage of honor… or wear the crown, and become something you never dreamed of."
For what felt like an eternity, Raven Hart Cole said nothing. Then slowly, he stepped forward… and again.
He reached out, and touched the shadows.
In an instant, his body jolted as if a cold wave pierced through him, and suddenly a black mark appeared on his left shoulder, shaped like a pitch-black crown beneath a tilted sword.
Then a black crown appeared among the basement's shadows. Not a real crown, but a symbol glowing in the air behind him. The world acknowledged his transformation.
The Kaiser spoke in a soft voice, holding a note of respect:
"From this moment on… your code name is The Black Crown. And your title shall be: Sword's Companion."
After a moment of silence, he added:
"Welcome to the Council of the Seven Crowns… Raven Hart Cole."
Cole slowly bowed, placing his fist over his chest in salute to an unknown majesty, and said softly but firmly with respect:
"Thank you… for granting me the name, Kaiser."
The Kaiser didn't respond immediately. A brief silence followed, then he spoke in a low voice:
"I hope you will not disappoint me, Black Crown."
Then the Kaiser rose from his chair without a sound, as if the ground itself absorbed his steps. He said in a gentle tone:
"I will send you your first mission soon. Be ready, Black Crown."
Before Cole could respond, the darkness began to consume the figure piece by piece, as if the basement itself refused to hold him any longer. As the Kaiser disappeared, the emblem in the air faded, and natural light slowly returned to the basement… as if nothing had happened.
Cole remained standing in place, breathing slowly, his gaze fixed on where the Kaiser had been.
And after a moment, he whispered to himself:
"Sword's Companion… Black Crown…"
He raised his hand to touch the mark on his shoulder.
A short, dry laugh escaped his lips. There was no joy in it, only a mix of awe, dread… and something else he couldn't quite define.
He slowly sat on the ground, leaning his back against the cold wall, staring silently at the ceiling.
Raven Hart Cole sat still, his breathing gradually slowing. But his heart… did not calm. Everything felt too real and yet… doubt was all he had.
"The Kaiser…"
He whispered the name, as if repeating it might give him answers. His pale eyes followed the remaining shadows on the walls, trying to read beyond the scene.
Who is he?
Is he just a man? No impossible. There was something strange… his gaze, his presence, even his voice. It was as if the basement itself bowed to his existence. He wasn't like the hunters… nor like those saints Cole had seen in battle. He was… something greater.
Cole raised his hand to his shoulder, touching the mark again. Despite its warmth, it felt like a scar carved into his soul.
"Is he one of the beings from before the Great Catastrophe?"
Or perhaps… one of those who shaped the world in secret, while the small ones fought over crumbs?
The questions began to rain on him mercilessly.
Is he a demon? A forgotten god? Or simply… a man who broke the boundaries of understanding?
He slowly raised his head, looking at the closed basement door as if the answer might descend from it, then gave a small, sad smile:
"Even if I never know who he is… it changes nothing."
He stood slowly, his body still a bit stiff, but he appeared taller, more resolute.
"I agreed. I chose. And I won't go back."
He whispered softly, but this time, it sounded like a vow:
"Whoever you are, Kaiser… I will find out the truth. One day."
Then he turned and left the basement.
---
At the top of the "Forest of the Great Ones" plateau, Christopher was sitting cross-legged inside the tent, his eyes closed.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes slowly… then burst out laughing.
A short laugh, quiet at first, then gradually rising until it echoed across the plateau.
"Hah… Hahaha! I did it… I actually did it!"
But at the same moment, a massive headache hit him, making him clutch his head and groan.
"Damn… this… is more than I expected."
Blood began to trickle from his nose just a drop… then another, until it covered his hand and soaked his mouth as he struggled to breathe.
He knew the consequences of overusing the technique were severe… but for Sir Cole to react that way? To accept the cursed invitation and become one of the Council of the Seven Crowns?
It was unexpected… but satisfying.
"If I can plant a seed inside someone like Raven Hart Cole… the possibilities are endless."
As he finished his words, the headache grew sharper, as if a blade of fire pierced the depth of his skull. He bit his lips, trying to resist, but darkness quickly crept into his consciousness… and he passed out.
His body slackened all at once, collapsing sideways inside the tent, his breath shallow, sweat soaking his forehead.
Then… they appeared.
From his right shoulder, a faint light emerged like breathing. At first, it was just a flicker, but soon it formed a shape: a finely detailed emblem, dark as coal, pulsing with a black aura. A black crown pierced by a tilted sword, with smoky roots below.