Eamon's POV

Once we managed to sneak out of the room without any trouble, a strange feeling washed over me as I surveyed the scene outside. The entire area surrounding the castle was eerily deserted, not a soul in sight.

Sheira glanced around, her confusion evident. "Where did everyone go? And what happened to the guards?"

"We're late. Go to the king's room, now!" I urged as I rushed, Sheira followed closely behind as we hurried down the hallway towards the king's quarters, anxious to uncover the truth.

"The room is at the end of this hall. We should pick up the pace," I remarked, my tone firm and resolute.

Upon reaching the room, my suspicions were confirmed. It was in complete disarray, shattered glass scattered across the floor as if a violent tremor had shaken the very foundations.

Sheira's voice trembled as she whispered, "The... King."

She sank to her knees, overwhelmed by regret, tears streaming down her cheeks. With a touch of unexpected empathy, I watched as she wiped them away with a trembling arm.

Kneeling beside her, I reached into my pocket and offered a handkerchief. "Here," I said, my voice softer than usual.

Sheira accepted the handkerchief, her sobs still echoing in the room, as she gently wiped her tear-stained face.

Something's odd. There is no blood here, this should prove the fact that the King is not murdered here. But there is still a possibility that he was killed elsewhere.

I combed through the room, searching for any clues, but my efforts proved fruitless. No lifeless bodies, just broken remnants scattered about. What in the world had taken place within these walls?

"Sheira, we need to get out of here," I stated firmly, a sense of urgency in my voice.

Sheira looked up, her confusion giving way to a glimmer of understanding. "Where should we go?"

"To the place where it all began," I replied, my determination unwavering.

Together, we swiftly departed from the castle, carrying with us the weight of our discoveries and the map, ready to inform the troops and unravel the enigma that lay ahead.

"Hey, hold up," I called out to Sheira, signaling her to stop. My eyes narrowed as I noticed a figure lurking behind a nearby building. It was that scumbag, what a timing.

"Sheira!" I exclaimed. We halted our steps, fully aware of the potential danger that loomed before us. The figure, positioned menacingly behind the building, seemed poised to strike at any moment.

I instinctively moved closer to Sheira, my protective instincts kicking in. If this guy decided to make a move, I knew Sheira would be in harm's way. Judging by his posture and gestures, it was clear he was ready to launch an attack without warning.

Sheira's POV

As Sheira, I couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. We were in a hurry, yet he found the time to pause and engage in idle chatter. I caught his gaze, only to realize he was staring at the building behind me, a nondescript old house.

"What caught your eye?" I asked.

To my surprise, he turned to me, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that took me aback.

"Find Yuri," he said, his voice urgent, "Lead the army with him to the lair. I'll stay here."

His words tumbled out in a rush, as if he was running out of time. But why would he stay behind? He was one of our strongest soldiers, we needed him.

"But what about you? We should go together!" I protested.

"No," he insisted, "You need to go without me. Take this map." his face was etched with worry as he urged me to leave.

"But why? What's going on?" I asked, confused.

He was insistent that I leave without him, but I couldn't understand why. What was he planning to do here while the rest of us were heading towards the lair? We were on the brink of a major battle between humanity and Heian.

Suddenly, he gripped my shoulders, his face a mask of frustration.

"Because I can't stand you!" he snapped, "Go, I don't want you around. You're a burden."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I was stunned, reeling from his sudden outburst.

With a heavy heart, I turned and ran, leaving him behind. I had to find Yuri and tell him about the situation. As I ran, I could feel my heart breaking with every step.

Eamon's POV

She's gone. I sighed. Now then...

"Come out!" I shouted.

The figure exposed himself, "Long time no see, brother."

Sheira's POV

"Yuri!!" I called out, breathless from my run. I quickly relayed everything that happened while I and Eamon were away. Yuri's showing a gesture of disbelief about the fact behind everything. He informed the rest of the group and we convened for an impromptu meeting

"Where's Eamon?" Yuri asked.

"He's not joining us," I replied, my voice flat, "Let's just leave him be."

"Then it's easier," Yuri said.

"Easier?" I echoed, puzzled.

"It will be easier for the Heians to defeat us," he explained, "But I trust in our team. We just need to give it our all, and we'll be fine."

***

The commander addressed us, his voice ringing out in the silence, "We are about to embark on a crucial mission. The fate of our kingdom rests in our hands. I need your courage to help me eliminate the source of humanity's greatest fear. This might be our last expedition. But remember, never lose faith in your comrades and in yourselves. Now, let's get this done."

With that, we prepared to head out, ready to sacrifice everything for ZiYou and its people.

"Open the gates!" the commander ordered.

We charged towards the lair, guided by the map in my hands.

***

We had been traveling for about an hour, yet the lair was still out of sight. This was the furthest humanity had ever ventured.

"Enemy spotted, twelve o'clock!" a woman shouted.

"Soldiers! Ready your weapons!" the commander ordered.

The soldiers, their spirits high and hearts aflame, prepared for battle.

"Sacrifice! For the King, the kingdom, the people!" the commander roared.

***

"Eamon mentioned a Heian that's much larger than the others," I told Yuri, "We think it might be their leader."

"I see, so that's what this is about," Yuri said, understanding dawning on his face.

***

I drew my sword, cutting down Heians left and right, until my blade was stained red with their blood. The battle raged on, our soldiers growing weary from the relentless fighting. The Heians, on the other hand, seemed to never tire. Did they even need to breathe?

In the midst of the chaos, I spotted the giant Heian Eamon had mentioned. It was indeed larger than the others we had encountered. Yuri saw it too, and immediately launched an attack.

"I'll end this," he declared.

Yuri charged at the massive Heian, his determination clear. He was a formidable soldier, clever and strong. But he lacked Eamon's speed.

Yuri's POV

Haha, Sheira is watching me fighting a Heian.

"Take this! Fluffy beast!"

Sheira's POV

Yuri is strong, but I should help him, no matter what the cause, he should be safe. I started to run towards the huge Heian, but something about its movements seemed off.

"Look out!"

The sound of the Heian's jaw echoed ominously through the battlefield. My heart dropped. Y-Yu.. ri?

To be continued...

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