Corrupted Throne

After a long, grueling journey that began at Sunrise and stretched till dusk, the convoy finally came to a halt.

From 12 p.m. to nearly 8 p.m., the horses had pushed forward through rough terrain—ice-bitten paths, steep climbs, and the haunting quiet of the upper valleys. Now, only halfway to their destination, the mission squads set up camp in the heart of Duskwind Hollowan ancient forest known for its twisted roots and bone-white trees that groaned with every breeze.

The sky above was ink-black, stars veiled behind layers of cloud.

Each squad had their own fires flickering beneath makeshift shelters. Soft crackles of burning wood filled the cold air. Recruits huddled close to the warmth, hands outstretched, breaths rising in pale wisps. Even the killers sat quietly tonight.

Duke sat near the flames with Jack and Samaira, his eyes reflecting orange sparks.

Touka, several paces away with the Bloodhawks, stared into her own fire, unreadable as ever.

Some whispered. Some sharpened blades. Some stared into the shadows between trees, wondering what waited beyond.

The flames crackled gently, casting dancing shadows across the mossy clearing. The forest—Duskwind Hollow—was quiet, save for the occasional hoot of an owl or the rustle of leaves in the cool evening breeze.

Around one of the campfires, Squad One sat huddled in their cloaks, soaking in the heat. Jack leaned back, chewing on a roasted corn cob, when he glanced at Samaira.

"Hey, Samaira… you've been awfully quiet today," he said. "That's not like you."

Samaira stared into the fire, its light flickering in her eyes. She didn't answer immediately.

"Am I?" she finally murmured.

Duke looked up. "I talked to Touka earlier. She said she'll be alright."

"You told me that," Samaira said softly, still not meeting his gaze. "But that's not it."

Jack blinked. "Then what is it?"

Across from them, Drex sat cross-legged, his broad hands rotating another cob over the flames.

"She's acting different," Samaira continued, voice low.

Drex raised an eyebrow. "What kind of different?"

Duke studied Samaira closely now. Even her body language was guarded—tighter, quieter than usual.

"It feels like… she's hiding something," Samaira said. Her voice trembled slightly. "Like there's a part of her she doesn't want us to see. And that scares me."

Drex chuckled, mouth half-full. "Maybe she's just shy or something."

"Shut up, Drex," Jack snapped. "Can't you see she's upset?"

"It's okay," Samaira said gently. "I know Touka's always been distant. Doesn't like to talk much. But… even I feel it now. Like she's avoiding us on purpose."

Duke's jaw tightened.

Should I tell them what I suspect?

What if I'm wrong…?

But what if I'm right? For our safety… I should.

He glanced around the fire, then spoke.

"Hey, guys… there's something I've been meaning to say."

Duke looked down, his expression serious. The fire reflected in his eyes like sparks trapped in a storm.

Jack leaned in. "What is it?"

All eyes were on Duke now. The silence around them deepened.

"I think Touka—"

"Samaira!"

A familiar voice cut through the tension like a blade.

Duke's breath caught.

Touka?!

Samaira looked up. "Toukaaa!"

Touka stood just behind the firelight, her expression calm but slightly hesitant.

"I asked my squad leader if I could talk to my friends," she said. "I was… feeling a little alone."

Without warning, Samaira sprang up and wrapped her in a tight hug.

"Ack—too tight!" Touka grimaced.

How does she have such manly strength? she wondered,

almost choking.

"You missed me!" Samaira laughed, squeezing harder.

"Y-yes! I did! Now let me go!" Touka said, half-gasping.

"It's better staying with them than with Regan—he's too annoying. And that bully Vairan makes it worse," Touka thought.

Duke glanced over and froze for a moment, his eyes widening.

What are you doing, idiot? Everything's fine here… I'm such an idiot, he scolded himself silently.

Then he saw them—Samaira and Touka, sitting close by the campfire, chatting like old best friends. Laughing. Warmth in their voices.

Duke exhaled and smiled faintly.

"That's a relief," he whispered to himself.

"Hey Duke, how's your control over your Kendra energy now?" asked Drex casually.

"Still not good," Duke muttered, glancing down at his palms. The green wind energy shimmered in uneven waves—unstable and wild.

"I'm already getting it under control," Jack said, holding up his fist. Dark blue energy flickered over his palm, wavering but focused.

"Heheh… what kind of powers do you have if you can't even use them properly?" Jack laughed.

"Bastard," Duke growled.

Drex smirked, raising his hand as energy began to swirl around it. In a smooth motion, he clenched it into a tight fist.

The air shifted.

Duke and Jack instinctively flinched—remembering the last time Drex landed that punch. They'd both been sent flying from just one hit.

"I'm getting better," Drex said confidently, energy still humming around his knuckles.

"Hey guys, I've already mastered it," Samaira said confidently.

"Whattt?!" Jack shouted.

Even Duke and Drex stared at her in shock.

Touka's eyes narrowed. How can that be possible? she thought.

Samaira stood proudly, hands on her hips. "Wanna see?"

"S-Show us!" Duke said.

"Yesss, yesss!" Jack added eagerly.

Drex muttered, "F-For real?"

"Yep, yep!" Samaira beamed. "Wanna see it?"

"Yesss!" Duke nodded quickly.

"Yesss, ma'am!" Jack said with mock salute.

Samaira grinned and looked at Touka. "And you? Wanna see too?"

"S-Sure," Touka said hesitantly. "But… it's dangerous. You burned your hand last time."

"Aww, Touka~ you care so much about me," Samaira

teased with a wink. "Now I definitely have to do it."

As Miss Violet taught me… Samaira thought, To summon real fire, I must form it in the air—not on my palm.

She stepped forward, raising both hands ahead of her. Her eyes narrowed in focus. The group watched in silence.

In the space between her palms, a faint red glow began to form. Energy swirled in the center, gathering with heat.

Duke's eyes widened. Jack leaned forward. Drex stopped chewing. Even Touka stared, tense.

The red energy sparked—and then, a small fireball hovered between Samaira's hands. Her palms didn't touch it; it floated, stable, a glowing orb of crimson flame.

"T-That's… real fire," Duke whispered.

"And it's stable," Drex added in awe.

Jack's eyes lit up. "Whoa…"

But Touka frowned, eyes narrowing. That fire energy… it's unstable. It could explode any second, she thought.

Suddenly, the fireball flickered—then WOOOSH!

A burst of smoke exploded outward, clouds rolling across the camp.

"Cough—gugh!" Duke doubled over.

"Ack—my eyes!" Jack stumbled back, coughing hard.

"Pffft!" Drex waved the smoke away, eyes watering.

In the middle of the chaos, Samaira stood there, grinning sheepishly with both hands slightly singed.

"Ufff… burned my hands again. Hehehe…" she chuckled.

Touka was internally screaming.

That idiot… I was better off with Regan than this madness! HERRRR!!

"That's dangerous! Don't ever try that again!" Jack scolded, still coughing.

"Hey—what's going on here?" came a sharp voice.

Miss Violet stepped into the smoky clearing, her boots crunching against the frost-covered ground. Her sharp gaze scanned the squad, narrowing as it landed on the smoldering fireball remains and the thick smoke still hanging in the air.

Samaira stood up straight, hands slightly behind her back.

"N-No ma'am, I was just… practicing my Kendra energy," she said quickly.

Violet's eyes darkened.

"I told you not to use your energy without my supervision," she said sternly. "Your Kendra isn't like the others. It's different."

She glanced at Samaira's reddened palms, then silently thought, In fact… she's the only one in the entire country who has it. At least, that I know of.

"Sorry, ma'am," Samaira said with a sheepish smile. "I won't use it again."

Not in front of you, anyway, she thought secretly, smirking to herself.

Miss Violet's voice turned brisk again.

"We have to move out. The snow's worsening, and the next village is closer than the ridge. We'll spend the night there."

The recruits around the fire quickly began cleaning up and preparing to leave.

"Get ready to move!" Violet ordered, her tone final. Then she turned her eyes to Touka. "And you—return to your squad. Now."

"Yes, ma'am," Touka replied calmly.

She glanced back one last time at Samaira and Duke, then quietly turned and walked toward her assigned squad cart.

After a quiet night in the village outskirts, the squads moved out early, the cold air biting at their faces as they rode through the dense forest.

Carts rumbled across uneven paths. The forest thickened as they advanced, shrouded in creeping mist. Low-hanging vines brushed the wheels. Twisted roots rose like claws from the ground. Strange animal cries echoed from the distance—low, drawn-out, unnatural.

The further they moved, the darker it felt.

"We're getting close now…" Samaira thought as she rode her horse behind their cart. Her eyes scanned the eerie mist curling around them. This place feels… different. Off.

Suddenly—

"Hey, Duke," Jack grinned, breaking the tension, "remember when you were scared of ghosts back then?"

"W-What?!" Duke blinked. "Why are you bringing that up now? That was when I was a kid!" He gave an awkward laugh, trying to brush it off.

"Hehhah, I know you're still scared," Jack teased.

"I'm not, bastard!" Duke snapped, his voice cracking slightly.

Drex, sitting in the back, burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Man, this is the best."

Even Aren and Yue couldn't help chuckling softly.

At the front of the cart, Miss Violet sat on the driver's seat, her eyes focused but sharp. The reins were firm in her gloved hands, guiding the horse steadily through the fog.

From what I've heard… it's likely just bandits, she thought. But ten trained soldiers disappearing in less than a day?

Her eyes narrowed.

That's not common. Even here.

The carts pressed forward—toward Hollowveil Village.

The mist grew thicker.

And the silence deeper.

Meanwhile — Behind the Cart of Killer Squad 1

The cart rolled slowly through the narrow forest trail, its wheels creaking over frostbitten earth. Mist hung like a ghostly veil between the trees. The cold wind whispered strange things—low, unplaceable.

Regan rode alone, just behind the cart. As the student captain.

He glanced left… then right. The trees leaned in like silent watchers. Shadows twisted behind every branch.

"From what I've heard," he mumbled, trying to calm himself, "there are ghosts. Demons, even. People say Hollowveil is cursed…"

His breath puffed out, visible in the freezing air. The fog got thicker.

"It's just like the stories," he whispered to himself. "The mist… the cold… the silence—"

His eyes caught movement.

Up on the ridge.

Through the bushes… something stood by a tree.

Wrapped in bandages. Still. Watching.

Regan froze.

His eyes widened.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" he screamed, gripping the reins in terror.

His horse reared slightly, panicking at his outburst. The cart ahead jolted as the driver glanced back in alarm.

"What the hell happened?!" someone shouted.