《THE AETHERBLADE CHRONICLES》 The Turning Point (This is Dialogue Driven style of writing. The story will change between Dialogue Driven and Narrative Writing as per the viewers) Chapter 1 Scene: A quiet evening in a medieval town, the sky painted with shades of purple as the sun sets behind distant mountains. Lanterns begin to flicker to life along the cobbled streets, casting long shadows. Mother¡¯s Voice: ¡°Son! We¡¯re sorry! Please forgive us!¡± Shinjiro: ¡°Mom! Dad! Rachel! Sister¡¯s Voice: ¡°Brother! Shinjiro: ¡°No!!!¡± (Shinjiro jolts awake, gasping for breath. He realizes it was just a dream, another echo of his memories. He finds himself sitting beneath an old oak tree, the rough bark pressing against his back.) Shinjiro: (whispering to himself) Another dream... will they ever stop? (The 16-year-old stares out at the fields stretching before him, lost in thought.) (After a few moments, footsteps approach through the tall grass. Shinjiro glances up to see Shun, his friend, smiling down at him.) Shun: (grinning) Found you! What are you doing all the way out here? Shinjiro: (shrugging) Nothing. (Shun sits down beside him, looking at him with a curious expression.) Shun: Come on, tell me. Shinjiro: (after a pause) I was... just thinking about my purpose in life. Shun lets out a laugh, and Shinjiro frowns. Shinjiro: Stop laughing. I really gave it a thought. Shun: Alright, alright. So, what did you come up with? Shinjiro: Nothing. Nothing at all. (Shun¡¯s face softens as he looks at his friend.) Shun: You¡¯re probably just missing your family. It¡¯s easy to start overthinking things when you¡¯re feeling lonely. Shinjiro: (looking down) Maybe. Everything seemed fine... then, one day, it all just disappeared. Shun: You mean your family disappeared. Shinjiro: (nodding) It¡¯s empty without them. I miss them... more than anything. (Shun places a reassuring hand on Shinjiro¡¯s shoulder.) Shun: I understand. Shinjiro: (bitterly) Do you really? You still have your parents with you.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Shun: Don¡¯t sink into sadness, my friend. Why don¡¯t you go grab something from the Oizo Shop? Eating always makes you feel better. (scene change) Scene: A cozy, bustling medieval restaurant with wooden tables and a large stone fireplace. The aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread fills the air as Shinjiro steps inside and takes a seat at one of the tables. Oizo: (calling from behind the counter) Let me know if you want more, kid. Shinjiro: (nodding) Okay. (As he sits down, he overhears a conversation nearby.) Man 1: (whispering to Oizo) Is he... the abandoned kid? Oizo: (frowning) Don¡¯t say it like that. Man 1: But you know what happened, right Oizo: (sighing) Yes, I remember. It was three years ago. A fire swept through the town... and then they came. Man 1: Who came? Oizo: (lowering his voice) The Arcanors. Man 1: (laughing) You¡¯re joking! Everyone knows the Arcanors are just creatures from stories. Oizo: (staring him down) I saw them with my own eyes. Man 1: You must have been drunk! Oizo: (grumbling) Maybe, but I know what I saw. Just then, Shinjiro looks up and calls out. Shinjiro: Can I get some more? Oizo: (smiling kindly) Sure, kid. Here you go. (scene change) Scene: Shun¡¯s house, a simple yet cozy room dimly lit by a single candle. Shun¡¯s father storms into the room, anger in his eyes. Father: (yelling) Shun, what were you thinking?! (He slaps Shun hard, and Shun stumbles back, clutching his cheek.) Mother: (coldly) He doesn¡¯t know his place, this boy. Fiol, Shun¡¯s younger brother, tries to step in. Fiol: (crying out) Brother! (But the father grabs Fiol by the neck, pulling him away.) Father: You¡¯re nothing but a disappointment! Shun: (fiercely) Let him go! (Shun attempts to push his father away, but the man¡¯s grip only tightens as he slams Shun¡¯s head down.) Father: How dare you stand up to me? Mother: (calmly) I¡¯ve arranged something. He¡¯ll be taken away tonight. Shun: (alarmed) Taken where? Who are you talking about? Mother: Say your goodbyes. Fiol is leaving. (Scene change) Scene: The same house, but now it¡¯s the dead of night. Shun is tied to a chair, struggling against the ropes. Fiol sneaks in, whispering urgently. Fiol: (whispering) Brother! Wake up! Shun slowly opens his eyes, confused. Shun: Fiol? What¡¯s going on? Fiol: (panicked) I knocked him out¡ªthe man who was here to take me. (Suddenly, loud banging comes from the door.) Voice from Outside: Open up! Or I¡¯ll break it down! Shun looks around, panic filling his eyes. Shun: (thinking quickly) Fiol, get out through the window! Now! (Fiol rushes to the window, but as he starts climbing out, his father storms in, grabbing him.) Father: Where do you think you¡¯re going? (Shun grabs a nearby stick and swings it at his father¡¯s hand, freeing Fiol.) Fiol: (climbing out the window) Brother! Come with me! Shun: (firmly) Go find Shinjiro! Now! (Fiol hesitates, then jumps out and vanishes into the night. Shun turns to face his furious father, fear and defiance mixing in his gaze.) Father: (mockingly) You think you¡¯re an adult now? (The father picks up a sharp piece of broken glass, stepping closer to Shun.) Father: Shun! (Suddenly, everything freezes, and a mysterious man appears in the corner of the room.) Man: (calmly) You... you would make a fine fit. Shun: (looking around, confused) What... what¡¯s happening? Man: (handing him a knife) Kill him. Shun: (shocked) No! He¡¯s my father. Man: (shrugging) Then do as you wish. (Time resumes. Shun¡¯s father brings the glass down, cutting into Shun¡¯s shoulder. Just then, Shinjiro and Fiol burst into the room.) Shinjiro: Shun! Fiol: Brother! Father: (spitting) Fiol, come here. I¡¯ll deal with you myself! Shinjiro: Stop! What are you doing to your own children? (The father lunges toward Shinjiro, shoving him against the wall.) Fiol: No! No! Shun: (screaming) Stop!!! (Once again, time halts. The man from before steps forward, speaking to Shun.) Man: Your brother and friend are both in danger. Accept my offer, and you can save them. Kill him. Shun: (trembling) I... I¡¯m afraid. He¡¯ll kill me. Man: Time is frozen. Go. Do what you must. (Overcome by fear and anger, Shun grabs the knife and, with a desperate cry, plunges it into his father¡¯s back. His father gasps, then collapses.) (The townspeople rush into the room, followed by Shun¡¯s mother, who takes in the scene with horror.) Mother: He... he killed my husband! Shun: (breathless) No! He was trying to kill Fiol. (Fiol, in shock, faints. The townspeople restrain Shun, ignoring his pleas.) Shinjiro: No! He¡¯s not a criminal! Oizo: (pulling Shinjiro back) Stay away, Shinjiro. Shun: (to Shinjiro) I¡¯m sorry, Shinjiro. I have to go. (Time freezes again. The mysterious man steps forward.) Man: You made the right choice. Shun: Take me wherever you want. (The man places a hand on Shun¡¯s shoulder, and in a flash of light, the three of them vanish.) (scene change) Scene: A dimly lit, cold stone prison. Water drips from the ceiling, and rats scurry across the floor. Shinjiro wakes up, his hands and feet tied, feeling the sting of pain in his leg. Guard: (throwing water in his face) Wake up! Shinjiro: (blinking) Where am I? Hiroko: (leaning down to meet his gaze) I am Hiroko of the Royal Capital. Are you a spy? Shinjiro: (desperately) No! Where is Shun? Hiroko: (coldly) Break his bones. (A guard strikes strike his leg with an iron bar) Daimyojin and Criminal Chapter 2 : Daimyojin and Criminal Scene: An old dark cave with candles brimming with golden light as the dark intensifies. (A man standing) ¡°Welcome!¡± ¡°I shall tell you the truth about this world. It¡¯s history has been hid by the royals. You have been lied to. The towns you have been living in are just an illusion. It¡¯s an another dimension created by the king to fool you. The truth is the world is not peaceful at all. This world is cursed. The Arcanors are hiding in the darkness waiting to prey.¡± (A voice) ¡°So it was true. The Arcanors are real!¡± (Another voice) ¡°The king was protecting us by having us live in another dimension¡± ¡°No! The king ***** cowardly ***** ***** ***** ***** ****** ***** * **** * ***¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry. We are the protectors of this world.¡± ¡°We are Daimyojins!¡± (scene change) Scene: Inside the Cave Shun: Rakk, Why did you bring me here? Rakk: You heard it. Right? This world is cursed with these royals and Arcanors. The people have been used all their lifes in suffering. I saved you because You are going to change it as prophesised. Shun: A prophecy? Rakk: ¡°He shall come, He who lived a thousand years ago, S shall come back¡± Shun: How can you be sure it¡¯s me? Rakk: You are just a candidate. There are 13 candidates in total. 8 of them have been already identified. The Aetherblades posses 4 of them and We possess 4 of them. Shun: What are the Aetherblades? Rakk: They are a group of slayers who are independent of the royals. But there are some royals in the Aetherblades so they have influence in it. Rakk: Now, It¡¯s time to start your training. Shun: Are you sure? I killed my own father. I am a bad person. Rakk: There are somethings evil you do for greater good. You saved your brother and your friends life. Rakk: Thinking about your friend. I dropped him somewhere. Shun: What do you mean? Rakk: I was sure I had stopped everything when I teleported. Your friend moved towards us and got teleported somewhere. Shun: He must be near then? Rakk: Yes. But you can¡¯t meet him. (scene change) Scene: Inside the underground prison Man1: Hirako-sir! (Hirako is aound 50 years old) Hirako: Wake him up! (throws water on Shinjiro tied with his hand and feet) Shinjiro: (wakes up) Hahh! ..Where..am..I? Hirako: I am Hirako of the Royal Capital. Shinjiro: Where is Shun? Hirako: Are you a spy? Shinjiro: No. Why am I here? Hirako: Break his bones. Man1: No hard feelings. (smacks a heavy rod on Shinjiro¡¯s leg) Shinjiro: Arghhhh!! Arghhh!! Hirako: Talk! Shinjiro: It hurts. (cries) Hirako: I said to talk. Shinjiro: Why are you doing this? Why am I here? (his voice crackling with pain) Hirako: We found you outside the capital. You don¡¯t have a identitiy. You are either a spy of the Daimyojin or a slave who ran away. Shinjiro: I am not a spy. I promise! I am not a slave either! Hirako: I hope you are not lying. Man1: You have gone too soft sir. Hirako: He¡¯s just a kid. He screamed with pain, He has never broken a bone before. He can¡¯t be a spy. (Another person arrives)Stolen novel; please report. Man2: An order from the royal capital. Hirako: What is it? Man2: The spy we captured few months ago will be identifying him. Hirako: Very well then. Bring him with me! (scene change) Scene: A prison cell Man1: Open it! (The guard opens the cell) Man1: Wake up! Hirako-sir is here! Prisoner: Hirako officer! Why are you here? Hirako: Do you know this kid? Prisoner: Yes. I know, Jin! How are you here? Shinjiro: (to himself) What is going on here? Hirako: He is a spy with you? Prisoner: Yes. Shinjiro: No! He is lying. My name is Shinjiro. Why are you lying old man? Prisoner: We have trained to act very well, Come up with new names. Act like we are innocent, They are trained to not give up information even if it costs their life. Shinjiro: Shut up! You are lying! Prisoner: They train these kids so that it¡¯s easy to manipulate people. As I remember he was also involved with the fire breakout 6 months ago. Prisoner: Sorry to bring that up, you lost your family, didn¡¯t you Hirako officer? Shinjiro: Shuttt upp!!! You liarr!!! Hirako: (pins Shinjiro to the ground) You evil! Just because you are a kid, I was easy on you. You know what you did a month ago. Shinjiro: I did not do anything.(crying) Shinjiro: How do you know he¡¯s not lying? Prisoner: The royal priest Patrick put a spell on me. I can not lie. Shinjiro: Put it on me too. And you will know I am not lying. Hirako: Where is priest? Man1: He¡¯s out of the capital. Man2: Sir! Sir Damian is here to take the prisoner. Hirako: Lock both of them for now. (scene change) (Hirako and gaurds left) Shinjiro: Why did you lie? Old man? (crying) Prisoner: I have to get out of here. You just got caught up in all this. Shinjiro: Why? I want to go home! (crying) Prisoner: You are just a sacrifice for a greater cause. Shinjiro: I will tell them the truth. Prisoner: You can not do anything. Just give up kid. You will see yourself wanting to die. Shinjiro: But why me? (crying) Prisoner: You were just there. It¡¯s not your fault. If someone is wrong here. It¡¯s fate. Shinjiro: Noo! I don¡¯t wanna die! Man1: Let¡¯s go prisoner! Prisoner: The sooner you die, it will be much better. (scene change) Shinjiro: I am not a spy. I have done nothing wrong! Hirako: ¡°Enough crying. Get him up.¡± (The guards storm in, grabbing Shinjiro by his arms and hauling him to his feet. He struggles, his voice breaking.) Shinjiro: ¡°Let me go! Please! I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Hirako: (Ignoring him) ¡°Bring him to the post.¡± (They drag Shinjiro out of the cell into the central chamber of the prison block, where a wooden post stands, its surface scarred from past punishments. The guards force Shinjiro¡¯s arms above his head, tying his wrists tightly to the post.) Shinjiro: (Panic rising) ¡°No! Stop! Please! I¡¯m innocent!¡± (Hirako picks up a leather whip from the table nearby, its edges worn but still sharp. He flicks it in the air, the sound cracking like thunder. Shinjiro flinches, tears streaming down his face.) Hirako: ¡°Who sent you? Speak, or this will only get worse.¡± Shinjiro: (Screaming) ¡°No one sent me! I swear! I¡¯m not a spy!¡± (Hirako¡¯s expression remains cold as he swings the whip. The first lash strikes Shinjiro¡¯s back, tearing through his thin shirt. He screams, his body jerking against the ropes.) Shinjiro: ¡°ARGHHH! STOP! PLEASE!¡± Hirako: (Calmly) ¡°Tell me the truth. Who are you working for?¡± Shinjiro: (Crying) ¡°No one! I don¡¯t know anything! Please stop!¡± (The whip cracks again, leaving another red welt on his back. Shinjiro¡¯s screams echo through the chamber, mingling with the chuckles of the prisoner watching from his cell.) (One of the guards slams a baton against the prisoner¡¯s cell bars, silencing him. Hirako focuses back on Shinjiro, his voice colder now.) Hirako: ¡°Last chance. Speak, or you¡¯ll wish you had.¡± Shinjiro: (Pleading through his sobs) ¡°I¡¯m innocent! Please, you have to believe me!¡± (The door creaks open, and Officer Kaede enters. Her sharp gaze takes in the scene¡ªShinjiro¡¯s trembling form, the whip in Hirako¡¯s hand, and the blood staining the floor.) Kaede: ¡°Enough.¡± (Hirako lowers the whip, stepping back as Kaede approaches Shinjiro. She grabs his chin roughly, forcing him to meet her icy stare.) Kaede: ¡°You¡¯re a mess, boy. If you¡¯re innocent, you¡¯d better start proving it.¡± (She releases him with a shove, turning to Hirako.) Kaede: ¡°What¡¯s the status?¡± Hirako: ¡°He claims he¡¯s innocent. The prisoner says otherwise.¡± Kaede: (Nods) ¡°Bring the priest. Let the spell decide.¡± Hirako: ¡°That could take weeks. Until then?¡± Kaede: (Coldly) ¡°Keep him alive. Barely. We¡¯ll see how much truth a broken spirit can reveal.¡± (Kaede leaves, and the guards untie Shinjiro from the post. He collapses to the ground, trembling and barely conscious. Hirako kneels beside him, his voice low.) Hirako: ¡°This is only the beginning. You¡¯d better hope you¡¯re not lying.¡± (He stands and walks away, the sound of his footsteps fading as Shinjiro lies motionless, his quiet sobs the only sound in the empty chamber.) Scene: Prison yard, a week later (Shinjiro is forced to work alongside other prisoners, hauling heavy stones under the watchful eyes of the guards. His back is covered in healing welts, and his movements are slow and strained. Hirako observes from a distance, his arms crossed.) Guard: (Yelling) ¡°Move faster, boy, or you¡¯ll end up back at the post!¡± (Shinjiro stumbles and falls, the stone slipping from his grasp. The guard raises his baton, but Hirako intervenes, his voice calm but firm.) Hirako: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± (The guard steps back reluctantly. Hirako approaches Shinjiro, who struggles to sit up, his breaths ragged.) Hirako: (Quietly) ¡°Still alive?¡± Shinjiro: (Weakly) ¡°Why... why are you doing this to me?¡± (Hirako doesn¡¯t answer immediately. He crouches down, meeting Shinjiro¡¯s gaze.) Hirako: ¡°If you¡¯re innocent, prove it. Until then, survive.¡± (Shinjiro¡¯s eyes fill with tears, but he nods faintly. Hirako stands and walks away, his steps heavy with doubt. The boy¡¯s screams from the whipping still linger in his mind, challenging everything he thought he knew about justice.) Scene: Hirako sitting in his office (A guard enters) Hirako: What happened? Guard: We have news from the capital. Priest Patrick has gone missing. Hirako: What?? (Hirako rushes towards Shinjiro¡¯s cell) Hirako: Boy! The priest has gone missing. Shinjiro: You mean? I can¡¯t prove my innocence? Hirako: Yes. Shinjiro: (silence) (Shinjiro remembers the prisoner¡¯s word ¡°the sooner you die, it will be much better¡±) Shinjiro: Kill me ! Hirako: Guards! Leave! (Both guards leave the cell) Hirako: Why do you want to die? Shinjiro: Then what the hell do you want me to do????(angry) Shinjiro: Survive until then..Bullshit. I did! Now what??? Why am I going through this?? I did nothing wrong. Hirako: I believe you. Shinjiro: You believe me?? Don¡¯t make me laugh!!! You!! You tortured me! Hirako: I did my job. My family died 8 months ago in the fire. I had a son your age. Shinjiro: The fire? My father said I am sorry and he disappeared with everyone else. He left me!! He abandoned me!! I did not do anything about that fire! I did not kill your family! My own family left me!! My friend! I don¡¯t know where he is! (crying) Hirako: (silence) Shinjiro: Tell me what was my fault? Hirako: I don¡¯t know. Shinjiro: (grabs Hirako¡¯s knife) Yahhhhhh!!! Hirako: No. (He was about to stab himself) Shinjiro: I don¡¯t wanna die!! Old man! I don¡¯t wanna kill myself!! Hirako: I will find a way. (Damian enters the cell with Kaede) Damian: Hirako! We have confirmed his identity. He is a spy and he needs to die. Hirako: How? How did you confirm it? Damian: The prisoner told me. Hirako: He must be lying. Kaede: Hirako! There is no need. It¡¯s an order from the royal capital. Damian: Throw him in the valley. He will die by the little beasts we captured. (end) A grieving past and a new beginning (6 months ago) Scene: Inside a house Father! Look. Hirako: Oh, you look beautiful daughter. Are you going? She replies, Yes! I am going with mother and my friends are also going to be there (A festival was celebrated every year in the outskirts of the royal capital which was a great piece of attraction for the people living there. Hirako¡¯s daughter was 11 years old . Being his only child, Hirako loved her more than anything) Will you not come with me? , says the child. Hirako: I am sorry Alicia, but I have to go to the royal capital. (Alicia was the daughter¡¯s name. It means noble natured. She had black hair and her face looked as her mothers) It¡¯s time to go or we will be late , the mother arrives to the scene. Alicia: I will not go without father. My all friends are coming with their parents. Hirako: Don¡¯t be like that. I will try my best and arrive at the festival before it ends. Okay? Alicia: Okay. Take care, Husband , kissing Hirako on the cheeks. (scene change) (A few hours passed by. The festival was at it¡¯s climax. Hirako had managed to finish his work and was on the way to reach the festival) Scene: Hirako was riding a carriage to the festival. Mr Noble Sir, Is it true about that cult? , asks the coachman. (The carriage driver is called the coachman or whip) Hirako: It¡¯s not something you people have to worry about. We will be dealing with them soon enough. The Arcanors are a lot of trouble on their own and these cults have been stressing the people. Hirako: Yeah, you are right. The Arcanors are a real issue but the last time we faced any was 10 years ago. How can I forget that? I thought It was all going to end but they showed up. Hirako: Those bastards, though they are helpful. They always cause a mess and they don¡¯t come under the royal jurisdiction. (The horses stumble) What was that? (It was a blast. A sound was heard following the shockwaves) Hirako: Where did it come from? It¡¯s the festival (Hirako grabs his knife and cuts the rope joining the horse to the carriage) Hirako: Lend me your horse. Hurry up sir, It¡¯s all yours (Hirako rushes with the horse to the site) (The tall structures made for circus, rides, the festival lights all collapsed. A fire emerging devouring everything. It was chaos people running away. The people ran for their life and if someone fell, they were stomped. The children in particular. It¡¯s a reality of the world) (Hirako arrives at the entrance and sees the chaos) Hirako: Don¡¯t panic! Run towards the wells and bring whatever you can. (Hirako gets off the horse and runs toward the festival pushing others against one by one) (Hirako was stunned at the sight seeing nothing but destruction. He searched for his wife and his daughter. He kept searching but ..) Alicia! Jona! Where are you? (running in the fire) Alicia!! (scene change) (Present) Scene: Hirako riding the carriage. We have arrived , Sir Hirako: Thank you for your help. It¡¯s my pleasure to help you Sir. That¡¯s all I can do (The coachman left with the carriage) (Hirako was standing at the gate of a house) Who are you? , asks the guard.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. I want to meet him. Tell him my name is Hirako. (The guard comes back after a while and opens the gate) Follow me (The guard leads him to the guest room in the house) Sit down (Hirako sits down on the sofa) (A man enters. He looked young, probably 26 years old) You can leave now , says the man to the guard. (And he proceeds to sit down in front of Hirako) It¡¯s been a while. Why are you here? Old-man. Hirako: Iris ! Help him. Iris: Who are you talking about? Hirako: You already know. Iris: The spy? Why should I help him? Hirako: It¡¯s because I believe him. Iris: Are you sane? It must be easy for him to fool you. Hirako: He is just an innocent boy. When I look at him, I feel pity for him. Iris: Is that all? Hirako: He resembles you from the time I first met you. The reason for me to become an royal officer was you. Iris: I am glad to hear you praise me. But I don¡¯t help criminals. Hirako: Iris Hawke! I believe in that boy. Save him! Iris: After that? Where is he going? Leave the capital and join the Daimyojins. Hirako: I will hide him from all. Iris: Why go that far? Hirako: You asked me the same question years ago and my reply is the same. Iris: You can go home. I will bring him to you. (Scene change) Scene: Shinjiro with handcuffs ready to be thrown in the valley. (It was a small cliff leading to a forest but one could not know the depth as it was covered with dense fog . Even if someone fell down they would not die from the fall but from the beasts ) Damian: Throw him! (The guards pick Shinjiro) Shinjiro: No! Please ! No! (The guards were struggling with Shinjiro) Damian: Do it! (After a lot of struggle they managed to throw him down) (Shinjiro landed on back and fainted) Shinjiro: (opens his eyes) I am alive. How? (He tries to stand up on his feet and runs towards the forest away from the cliff) Shinjiro: I was lucky. Thank you God. I can escape this hell finally. (Shinjiro hears a sound, a wolf grumbling his teeth. It looked like a wolf but it was bigger and more furious.) (Damian was standing on the cliff with the gaurds and Kaede) Damian: He must be dead by now. Kaede: Possibly. (Iris arrives) Iris: What are you people doing here? Damian: Why are you here? Iris: It¡¯s my hunting ground. Kaede: It¡¯s him. Iris Hawke, He is an Aetherblade. Iris: Do we have a problem here? Damian: It¡¯s an execution ground. Come back later. Iris: I am going down. Damian: Didn¡¯t you hear me? Iris: (stares at him) I did. You should shut up before you piss me off. Kaede: Mr. Damian. Let him do what he wants. Damian: (nervous) You are right. (scene change) Shinjiro: What was that? (The wolf jumps at him) Shinjiro: (falls down dodging it) A wolf? No it is a beast. I am going to die! (Wolf grumbles again and attacks him) (Iris arrived at the scene and cuts him down) Shinjiro: I am saved! (to himself) Iris: Are you the spy? Shinjiro: No. Iris: Who are you then? What are you doing here? Shinjiro: They wanted to kill me and threw me here. Iris: So you are the spy. Shinjiro: I am not a spy. Believe me. Iris: Oh! (walks towards him) Shinjiro: I mean it. I am not a spy!! (he raises his hand for defense) Iris: (cuts the chain binding his hands) Shinjiro: (opens his eyes) I am alive. Thank you for believing me. Who are you? Iris: Stand up. Shinjiro: Thank you. Iris: Go ran away. Shinjiro: Thank you again. Shinjiro: Where should I go? (realises) (Shinjiro stops all of a sudden) Shinjiro: Mister! Where am I supposed to go? Iris: Your home. If you are not a spy. And to the Daimyojin¡¯s hideout If you are spy. I will track you down. Shinjiro: I don¡¯t have a home. I can¡¯t go back to the village. I have no one there. Iris: What about your parents? Shinjiro: They disappeared. I don¡¯t know why. It was my fault I guess. I wasn¡¯t able to do anything. I lost my friend too, if only I understood him and could help him. I am sorry if I talk too much it¡¯s been a while since I talked like this. (cries) Iris: (to himself) It was probably not his fault. Shinjiro: Where am I supposed to go? (cries) Iris: Listen kid! Become an aetherblade! (knocks Shinjiro out) (Iris brought Shinjiro safely to Hirako) Shinjiro woke up but his memory was vivid about what happened. He did remember Iris and Hirako told Shinjiro about how Iris saved his life. Shinjiro¡¯s body healed after some months. He did not leave the house as Hirako was being careful about protecting and hiding him. (Hirako writing his journal) Shinjiro¡¯s physical wounds have healed now. But even though he smiles, I feel a sense of sadness from him. He asks me about his friend. I am trying to investigate about him but I know nothing at the moment. He is getting frustrated about not able to go outside. It has been 6 months since I met him. I let him go outside today, Today has been one year since I lost my family. The same day of the festival. I miss you Alice and Joan! (In the festival, A show was going on) Historian: ( Standing atop a stone platform, addressing a gathering of young recruits in the glow of a setting sun. ) In the Age of Ruin, the world was unrecognizable. The skies wept ash, the earth cracked under endless wars, and from the void came the Arcanors¡ªmonstrosities born of hatred and despair. Armies crumbled, cities fell, and hope seemed to vanish like breath on a cold morning. ( The Historian gestures to an ancient emblem etched into the stone¡ªa symbol of crossed blades wreathed in energy. ) But in that darkness, one man stood against the tide. S. The Aetherblade. A name spoken not with reverence, but with awe, as if it could burn the tongue. Young Listener: ( Leaning forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. ) They say he was a god. Is that true? Historian: ( Chuckles dryly, their voice lowering to a solemn murmur. ) A god? No. S was mortal¡ªflesh and bone like you and me. But he carried within him a power no god could match. He didn¡¯t wield aether as others did¡ªhe became it. His strength was unrelenting, his strikes like the wrath of the heavens. Alone, he held back the Arcanors when armies could not. ( The Historian¡¯s voice grows heavier, filled with awe and sorrow. ) But even S knew he couldn¡¯t fight forever. And so, he forged a brotherhood. A handful of warriors who had witnessed his strength and followed him into the fire. These were the first Aetherblades¡ªnot soldiers, not generals, but warriors driven by sheer will and unbreakable resolve. Skeptical Listener: ( Frowning. ) How could he trust anyone with power like his? Wouldn¡¯t they falter? Historian: ( Turning sharply, their gaze piercing. ) S didn¡¯t choose them for their strength or skill. He chose them for their hearts¡ªtheir refusal to bow to fear, their resolve to stand even when death loomed. Under his guidance, they learned to harness the energy within themselves, though none ever matched his brilliance. ( The Historian pauses, drawing the audience into the weight of their words. ) When S vanished after the final battle, his group remained. They were no longer just a handful of warriors. They had become a symbol of resistance¡ªa shield against the darkness. The Aetherblades rose as an order, not to conquer, but to defend. To carry forward S¡¯s legacy: that strength is a duty, not a privilege. Elder Listener: ( Speaking softly, with a tinge of melancholy. ) But even now, they say the Aetherblades still seek him, don¡¯t they? Historian:( Nods slowly. ) They do. Because while they stand as protectors of this fractured world, they know the truth. Should the Arcanors rise again, should the world teeter once more on the brink of ruin, it is not they who will save us. Young Listener:( Eyes widening. ) It will be him. Historian:( Smiling faintly, looking toward the distant horizon. ) Yes. S. The Aetherblade. The one who led us into the light, and who, perhaps, will return when the shadows threaten to consume us once more. The Place where it starts Chapter 4: The place where it starts Scene: Inside the room, Hirako writing his diary. ¡°It has been a year since Shinjiro escaped from that hell. It took his body six months to recover. I saw an unusual thing, his body¡¯s mobility had increased and it was probably due to torture. His muscles have been built quite well doing all the work in prison. I was thinking these were unimportant things until he showed up after the festival and said he wants to be an Aetherblade like Iris. It was a real shock to me. I tried to change his mind but he said , ¡° I could not feel happiness even though you made my life easier and I had no problems. I miss Shun and my family, I can¡¯t forget about them. I was really asking myself whatever happened to me was it my fault? Iris told me it was not my fault. I can live my whole life like this but I will never be happy. I want to move forward. I need to understand my purpose in life. I want to be strong.¡± I replied to him, ¡°For some people there is no purpose in life. They just live their life.¡± What he said was really astonishing to me , ¡°I am not one of them¡± _ For six months, Hirako trained his body and mind to the best he could. He taught him basics of fighting. Hirako was consciously supporting him but unconsciously he knew Shinjiro did not stand a chance or maybe if he did , it would be one percent. Hirako is not wrong. Shinjiro has no skills or rather he had no time to learn them. Even if he wanted, he was a wanted person who could not leave his house. _ The morning was cold and silent, with a faint mist clinging to the cobblestone streets as the carriage rattled through the outskirts of the royal capital. Lennox loomed in the distance, a sprawling fortress that seemed carved from the bones of the earth itself. Its towering spires pierced the skies, and its gates, etched with ancient glyphs, radiated an almost divine aura. Inside the carriage, Hirako glanced at Shinjiro. His face was calm, but his clenched fists and the way his shoulders slightly tensed betrayed the storm raging within him. "Shinjiro," Hirako began hesitantly, breaking the silence, "even if you''ve prepared, the trial isn''t just about skill or strength. It''s also about resilience. They will break you." Shinjiro turned his gaze to him, his expression unwavering. "They can''t break what''s already shattered." Hirako sighed, leaning back into the creaking seat. "You¡¯re stubborn, just like Iris. Do you even know what you''re walking into? You¡¯re not just facing physical trials. The stigma of your past, of being falsely branded a criminal, will follow you. The other initiates won¡¯t be kind." "I don¡¯t need their kindness," Shinjiro replied firmly. "I need to prove to myself that I¡¯m more than what they think I am. If I fail, it will be because I wasn¡¯t strong enough¡ªnot because I gave up before trying." Hirako said nothing more, but his mind churned. Despite his doubts, there was a spark in Shinjiro¡¯s eyes that even years of torment hadn¡¯t extinguished. Perhaps that spark was what truly made him different. Scene: Arrival at Lennox The carriage came to a halt before the gates of Lennox. Guards clad in gleaming silver armor stood rigid, their expressions stoic as they inspected the arriving initiates. Each initiate was given a mark upon entry, an enchanted sigil that would monitor their performance throughout the trial. As Shinjiro stepped out, the weight of the place hit him. The sheer scale of the fortress, the hum of ancient magic that lingered in the air¡ªit was overwhelming. Yet, he walked forward, his head held high. The other initiates, clad in fine clothes and bearing the confident air of nobility, turned to look at him. Their whispers weren¡¯t subtle. "Isn¡¯t that the criminal?" "What¡¯s he doing here? This has to be a joke." "They¡¯re letting anyone take the trial now." Shinjiro ignored them, his gaze fixed on the grand archway ahead. Hirako, walking beside him, leaned in and whispered, "Don¡¯t let them get to you. They¡¯ll try to rattle you before it even begins." "I know," Shinjiro said softly. His voice was calm, but his fists clenched as he resisted the urge to respond to the murmurs. He couldn¡¯t afford distractions. Not here. Inside the arena, the atmosphere was even more intense. Rows of seats circled a central platform where the trials would take place. Above it all, the Arcanors observed from their thrones, their presence oppressive and commanding. Each of the Seven represented a pillar of the Aetherblades¡ªstrength, strategy, magic, endurance, and willpower ,etc. The Trial Master, a tall figure with piercing amber eyes and a voice that resonated like thunder, rose to address the initiates. "Welcome to Lennox, where the weak are culled and the worthy rise. This is not just a trial¡ªit is a forging. Those who survive will earn the right to call themselves Aetherblades. Those who fail... will not leave the same as they came, if they leave at all." Shinjiro¡¯s breath caught for a moment, but he steadied himself. This was what he had prepared for. This was his chance to move forward. All the participants were gathered in the arena. The Arena was filled with crowd on two-thirds, one third of them were Aetherblades. There were 7 thrones for the ones who had earned the title of Strongest. Iris was one of them rather , the 7th strongest. The Trial Master begins speaking, ¡°The first trial will begin now but before that a criminal needs to be punished. The Royal Damian has appeared before me and told me the participant Shinjiro is a member of the group Daimyojins.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. A ripple of murmurs swept through the audience like wildfire. "Is this a joke?" one man spat, his voice laced with outrage. "How can someone like that even be allowed here?" "He¡¯s probably guilty. People like him always are," another chimed in, her tone dripping with disdain. From the upper tiers, a nobleman sneered, "The Aetherblades are meant to represent honor. Allowing a criminal into the trial is a disgrace to everything we stand for." But not all voices were hostile. "What if he¡¯s innocent?" a young woman whispered to her companion. "The trials are about strength and character. Shouldn¡¯t he be given a chance?" Her companion shrugged, doubtful. "Maybe, but people don¡¯t just get branded criminals without reason." A group of commoners near the lower seats had a different reaction. "If he¡¯s survived whatever horrors he¡¯s faced, maybe he¡¯s tougher than all those pampered nobles combined," one man said with a hint of admiration. An older spectator scoffed, "Toughness doesn¡¯t erase guilt. Mark my words, he¡¯ll crumble under the pressure." The crowd¡¯s voices grew louder, a chaotic mix of jeers, whispers, and debates. The tension was palpable, and all eyes were drawn to Shinjiro as he stood amidst the other initiates. He didn¡¯t flinch. His back was straight, his gaze steady. If the crowd¡¯s judgment bothered him, he didn¡¯t show it. But Hirako, watching from the sidelines, clenched his fists, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and worry. Above it all, the Trial Master raised a hand, silencing the crowd with a single, commanding gesture. " The 7 Masters have decided to let him participate as Mr Damian has not proved that the participant is associated with the group. The trial will decide his fate if he fails he will arrested right here and executed . Until then, remember this¡ªjudgment without proof is the mark of a coward. Let the trials begin." The crowd fell silent, but the weight of their gazes remained. Shinjiro could feel their eyes on him, heavy with scorn and doubt. Yet, as he stepped forward into the labyrinth, he felt a fire igniting in his chest. One of the participants says, ¡° What was that supposed to be? That guy doesn¡¯t looks like a criminal to me.¡± All participants wore a badge which had their names on it. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±, one participant recognized the voice. ¡°Ryuma!¡± ¡°Saber! It must be fate we met here.¡± The first one was Ryuma, he was from the country of Ojin . The second one was Saber, he was from the country of Sword . he country of sword has a name but very few people knew about it. The Trial Master speaks, ¡° It¡¯s a battle royal. If your skill is recognized by the seven masters, you will pass on. Or if you survive till the end, you will pass on. Now begin !¡± The crowd shouted and cheered with excitement . Ryuma wasted no time. The moment the horn sounded, he shot forward like a coiled spring, weaving through the throng of combatants with the fluidity of water. His first target, a burly man wielding twin axes, barely had time to react. With a swift low kick, Ryuma swept the man¡¯s legs out from under him. Before his opponent could recover, Ryuma spun and delivered a powerful elbow to his temple, knocking him unconscious. ¡°Too slow,¡± Ryuma muttered as he scanned the field. Another fighter lunged at him, this one armed with a spear. Ryuma sidestepped, catching the shaft of the spear with both hands. With a twist, he wrenched it free and jabbed the blunt end into the attacker¡¯s stomach. The man crumpled, gasping for air. The crowd roared in approval, chanting Ryuma¡¯s name. On the other side of the arena, Saber was carving a path of destruction. His claymore swung in wide arcs, its blade whistling through the air. A single swing sent three fighters sprawling, their weapons shattered and armor dented. ¡°You¡¯re all weak,¡± Saber growled, his deep voice cutting through the din. A group of four combatants attempted to flank him. Saber smirked. With a single spin, he deflected their combined assault, his claymore creating a whirlwind of force. One by one, they fell, their bodies hitting the sand with heavy thuds. Despite his raw power, Saber¡¯s movements were precise, almost surgical. He was no mere brute¡ªhe was a tactician. Amid the chaos, Shinjiro found himself struggling to keep up. He narrowly dodged a sword strike, the blade slicing the air inches from his face. His breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles screaming with effort. ¡°Focus,¡± he muttered to himself, clenching his fists. He remembered Hirako¡¯s training, the countless hours spent drilling basic techniques. But the battlefield was nothing like practice. Every opponent was faster, stronger, and more skilled than he had anticipated. A hammer-wielding fighter charged at him, swinging the weapon in a deadly arc. Shinjiro managed to sidestep, but the sheer force of the swing threw him off balance. Before he could recover, another attacker closed in, a dagger aimed at his chest. Panic surged through him as he raised his arms in a desperate attempt to block. The dagger never reached him. Ryuma appeared out of nowhere, his movements a blur. He caught the attacker¡¯s wrist mid-strike, twisting it until the dagger fell to the ground. With a swift kick, he sent the man sprawling. ¡°You¡¯re sloppy,¡± Ryuma said, glancing at Shinjiro. ¡°Stay close if you want to survive.¡± Shinjiro nodded, his heart pounding. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet,¡± Ryuma replied, turning his attention back to the fight. With Ryuma leading the way, Shinjiro found himself able to stay in the fight. He watched in awe as Ryuma dismantled opponent after opponent, each move efficient and deliberate. ¡°Use your head,¡± Ryuma said over his shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t have to win every fight¡ªjust survive.¡± Shinjiro took the advice to heart. Instead of engaging every enemy, he focused on avoiding conflict, staying in Ryuma¡¯s shadow as the chaos unfolded around them. Meanwhile, Saber continued his rampage, his claymore now stained with sand and sweat. The crowd¡¯s cheers grew louder with every swing of his blade. Ryuma stood poised as his opponent¡ªa towering fighter clad in leather armor¡ªcharged at him with a fierce roar. The man¡¯s fists were like hammers, each swing carrying enough force to crush bones. Shinjiro watched from a distance, still catching his breath, as the larger man threw a wild punch aimed directly at Ryuma¡¯s head. The crowd gasped, anticipating the strike to land, but Ryuma was already in motion. With a dancer''s grace, he sidestepped the initial swing, his movements smooth and calculated. The opponent, now frustrated, followed up with a straight punch aimed at Ryuma¡¯s chest. This time, Ryuma didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, he leaned into the attack, grabbing the man¡¯s extended arm with both hands. In a move that defied expectation, Ryuma used the man¡¯s own momentum to leap into the air. His body twisted mid-flight as he ascended, the crowd falling silent in awe. Suspended for a brief moment, Ryuma positioned his knee, aiming for the man¡¯s exposed face. The descent was as fast as it was precise. With a sickening crack, Ryuma¡¯s knee connected squarely with the bridge of the man¡¯s nose. Blood spattered across the sand as the fighter crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he even hit the arena floor. Ryuma landed lightly, his feet barely making a sound on the blood-streaked sand. He released the opponent¡¯s arm as if discarding a broken toy. The crowd roared in approval, chanting his name. Ryuma turned, his eyes scanning the field for the next challenge Amidst the chaos of the trial, Saber stood like an unmoving statue in the middle of the arena. His long, black coat fluttered lightly in the breeze, and his hand rested on the hilt of his sheathed sword. Unlike the frenzied fighters around him, Saber¡¯s calm presence was almost unnerving. Across from him, his opponent¡ªa burly, axe-wielding warrior covered in scars¡ªadvanced with a sneer. The man towered over Saber, his steps heavy enough to leave small imprints in the sand. ¡°You think you can just stand there and scare me?¡± the warrior growled. He twirled his axe, the weapon glinting in the sunlight, before charging forward. Saber didn¡¯t respond. His eyes remained half-closed, his posture completely relaxed, as if he were bored. The axe-wielder roared, lifting his weapon high and bringing it down with a thunderous swing aimed directly at Saber¡¯s head. But in that split second, the air seemed to crackle with tension. Saber¡¯s hand moved. There was no grand gesture, no wasted motion. In one fluid, lightning-fast movement, his sword was drawn. A single, shimmering arc of steel cut through the air, its path almost imperceptible to the human eye. Shing. The sound of the blade sliding back into its sheath resonated as Saber stood upright again. The axe-wielder froze mid-swing. For a moment, it seemed as though nothing had happened. Then, the man¡¯s axe split cleanly in half, clattering uselessly to the ground. A thin red line appeared across the warrior¡¯s chest. The crowd collectively gasped as blood sprayed from the wound, and the towering fighter collapsed in a heap, utterly defeated. Saber adjusted his coat, his expression unchanging. He didn¡¯t spare his opponent a second glance as he turned and walked away, already scanning for his next challenge. From the sidelines, Shinjiro¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°That... that wasn¡¯t human,¡± he muttered, eyes wide. Ryuma, who had taken a position nearby after his own victory, smirked. ¡°That¡¯s Saber for you. His country isn¡¯t known for its warriors for nothing.¡± Shinjiro watched as Saber¡¯s gaze landed on another approaching fighter. The man¡¯s calm, calculating demeanor never wavered, and Shinjiro couldn¡¯t help but feel the gulf between them. Even among elites, Saber stood apart¡ªa force of nature with a blade that struck faster than the eye could follow. The Trial Master announces, ¡°Ryuma and Saber pass the first trial. They may pass on to the rest area,¡± It was no shock to the participants, Ryuma and Saber were just too skilled for the trial.