[ The next day ]
Inside a grand chamber draped in velvet banners and relics of old conquests, seven of the most powerful figures on the continent stood around a circular obsidian table.
The heavy silence that settled over them was more than respect, it was the weight of the decisions only they could make.
Cassius stepped forward first, bowing his head slightly before speaking.
"Atlas will soon be appointed as Ceresey and join my family," he began, his voice deep, unwavering.
"As for the other two, Dune and Ned, I will not adopt them by name, but I'll keep them close. I'll personally oversee their training, prepare them for their first Neba Trial, and shape their development within the academy."
King Aramir, seated beneath an enormous mural of celestial beasts clashing over a scorched battlefield, raised a brow.
"I assumed you would head south," he said.
"To deal with the one responsible for destroying Fein."
Before Cassius could respond, Soul's Mirror stepped forward, head bowed.
"I will take that burden," she said, her tone icy as ever. "I will begin my search for Asyl."
Aramir's gaze sharpened. "Asyl?"
Cassius didn't flinch. "According to the intelligence Atlas gave us, Asyl was the one behind Fein's destruction. And if he's returned, it's only a matter of time before others begin to stir. We may be standing at the edge of war."
The King sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. His eyes rose to the massive wall ahead of him, etched with scenes of ancient wars, gods and devils locked in endless carnage. He stared into them, as if seeing something no one else could.
"So he's back…"
Richard furrowed his brows, folding his arms. "You know him?"
"I should," Aramir said quietly. "After all… I was the one who killed him."
The silence that followed was immediate and absolute. No one dared to speak.
Moments later, the King straightened in his seat. "Double the guards at the Wall. Keep every barrier monitored. Our top priority is getting the newcomers into Bloodrose and beginning their first trial immediately."
His gaze shifted to Soul's Mirror. "Serena, do not engage. If Asyl is truly alive, then devils might follow him. Watch and gather information. But do not fight unless you must."
Soul's Mirror nodded once. In the next breath, she vanished from the room.
Aramir turned his head toward Cassius. "Keep Dune and Atlas safe."
Cassius raised a brow. "And what of Ned?"
Aramir's voice dropped. "Ned belongs to the Rodeny family now."
Cassius's eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing more. He simply nodded and departed in silence.
Only Richard, Ramires, Cel, and the King remained.
"You all may leave," the King said at last.
"Dune will not be disqualified. Neither will Raves. His wounds are in the process of healing. Now prepare the students. They must survive the first trial, no matter what it takes."
Ramires and Richard bowed and disappeared through the portal-lined walls, leaving only Aramir and Cel behind.
The King turned his head slowly, narrowing his eyes.
"Cel… why does Damion want Ned in the Rodeny family?"
Cel laughed softly, amused more than surprised. "So, you noticed after all. Of course, it was Damion's plan from the beginning. He's already gotten what he wanted."
Aramir's eyes narrowed further. "And yet…?"
Cel smirked. "Did you know, Aramir, that Magma, the Monarch of Sarodenly, has not one, but two Blessing Ceremony survivors under his name?"
The King's silence told Cel everything he needed.
"Their names," Cel said, "are Omen and Enren."
Aramir leaned back slowly, the corners of his mouth twitching. "So that's why Magma paid us a visit…"
Cel chuckled again, stepping back into the shadows. "You don't need to worry. Your son Damion will handle the situation. You just keep playing the part of king, like you always do."
With that, he vanished.
The room was quiet once again, filled only with the soft hum of ancient magic.
King Aramir remained seated, staring into the mural. His voice was barely above a whisper.
"How interesting…"
.
.
.
.
.
.
"What?"
Dune's voice broke the silence, confusion etched across his face. He stared at Cassius, who sat calmly across from him and Atlas.
"I don't understand," Dune said again, slower this time, his gaze narrowing.
Cassius leaned back slightly, fingers intertwined before him as he repeated with quiet certainty, "Ned has joined the Rodeny family. I don't know the exact reason, or why Rodeny would extend a hand to him after what Raves did… but it's true. Your brother will soon be Ned Rodeny."
The words settled like lead in the air.
Dune's lips parted, but no words came. A thousand thoughts stormed his mind, but none made sense. Not yet.
Atlas sat frozen beside him, the disbelief plain on his face. "Why the hell would he do that?" he muttered. "Is he stupid?"
Cassius shook his head slowly. "I wish I could tell you. But the decision was made behind closed doors."
Silence again. Dune rose from his seat, his movement sudden.
"Where are you going?" Atlas asked, standing up halfway.
Dune didn't look back. "To talk to him."
His voice held a weight that ended the conversation.
As Dune walked away, Cassius stood as well and turned toward Atlas. "Come. I'll take you to the Ceresey residence. There's much you need to learn before your first trial."
Atlas hesitated, then nodded, casting one last look at the door Dune had exited through.
Outside, wind pressed softly through the branches above as Dune walked alone beneath the academy's towering walls. He said nothing, eyes fixed forward.
Students passed by him, whispering, but he didn't hear them. All he could see was Ned's broken face, bloodied and shaking, screaming not to be protected.
And now… Ned Rodeny?
The name stung like betrayal, though Dune couldn't yet tell if it was his brother he was angry at… or himself.
At last, he reached them.
The great gates of the Rodeny family estate loomed ahead, carved from black stone and lined with silver etchings of twin serpents swallowing their own tails. A symbol of strength through sacrifice.
Dune stopped before the gates.
He stood there in silence, fists clenched at his sides, the weight of the day pressing down on his shoulders as the gatekeepers slowly turned to face him.
He had questions. And Ned would answer them.
The gates of the Rodeny estate creaked open as the guards stepped aside, their crimson capes rustling in the wind. They said nothing to Dune, merely nodded and motioned for him to enter.
He stepped through the massive archway, and what he saw beyond it made him pause.
This wasn't just a clan residence, it was a self-contained world. Redstone paths split in every direction, threading between black and red buildings that loomed like silent watchers.
Smoke curled gently from chimneys, and the smell of metal, sweat, and fire filled the air.
Training fields buzzed with activity, swords clashing, commands shouted, bodies moving in rhythm like clockwork.
Most of the people had vivid red hair, the unmistakable mark of Rodeny blood, though others, brown haired, black haired, moved among them with equal pride, all dressed in shades of dark red. It was clear this clan accepted strength more than birthright.
Dune kept walking, ignoring the curious stares that followed him.
A familiar voice called out behind him.
"Well, well… look who came crawling in. Looking for your little brother again, hero?"
Raves Rodeny stood beside one of the training pits, arms crossed, his face still partially bandaged from the blast Dune had left him with. His smirk was venomous, yet Dune didn't even glance his way.
He walked past like Raves wasn't even there.
"Tch. Thought so."
Dune moved deeper into the estate until, at last, he met guards and was brought before the heart of the Rodeny family, the great hall.
Inside, at the far end of the chamber, stood a man like a pillar carved from fire and iron, tall, broad-shouldered, his long dark red hair tied behind him, his beard thick and streaked with black. He wore a sleeveless cloak draped over a black tunic etched in red markings. His presence alone pressed down like gravity.
But what struck Dune most were the man's eyes.
They were glowing blue.
Blue Neba, Dune realized.
A powerful one like Cadogan.
"So. You're Dune," the man said, voice deep and rough like grinding stone. "I'm Sarazel Rodeny. Head of the family."
Dune bowed slightly, cautious.
"I came to speak with my brother."
Sarazel's lips curled just enough to betray amusement. "Your brother is part of Rodeny now. He's made his choice."
"He's not a Rodeny," Dune shot back. "You all just used him."
"Did we?" Sarazel said without shame. "But more importantly, tell me boy, was it you who stood by him when he was broken in the dirt? Or did you stand above him, like a savior looking down?"
Dune's jaw tensed, hands curling into fists. "Where is he?"
Sarazel didn't answer. Instead, footsteps echoed through the hall.
Dune turned, and froze.
Ned stepped forward, dressed in the same crimson Rodeny uniform, its trim glinting gold at the seams. His body was straight, his shoulders squared, and his face… sharper.
The bruises and wounds from before were gone. His eyes, once hesitant, now held a hardened gleam.
"Ned…?" Dune asked, uncertain.
Ned nodded. "Brother."
For a moment, Dune felt relief. But the warmth cracked when Ned stopped a few paces short and didn't come closer.
"You healed fast."
"I had help," Ned replied flatly.
A silence stretched. Then Ned looked straight into Dune's eyes. "I'm staying."
"What?" Dune asked, frowning. "You don't belong here. You—"
"I do now," Ned interrupted. "I need to grow stronger. On my own. And I can't do that if I'm always under your shadow, Dune."
Dune stepped forward, his voice rising. "That's not what this is about. You think I saved you to keep you weak or to stand above you? I've always had your back because we're brothers, and—"
"And that's the problem," Ned said quietly.
"You never let me fall. I always had to be saved. By you."
Dune's heart sank. "You think I wanted that?"
"I don't blame you," Ned said, his tone softer now. "But I need to be someone more than your little brother. If I keep following you… I'll never be."
"Ned," Dune's voice was tight, barely keeping steady. "Come on… We can still fix this. You're my brother, I can't just leave you here."
Dune's jaw tightened. "What about Mom and our sister Lovy. Did you forget about them? Did you forget what they mean to us? You're abandoning your own family to join someone else's… how could you do that?"
Ned's face darkened. He pushed off the pillar and stepped forward, his voice low but firm.
"They're dead, Dune. If they were alive… we would've known by now. You keep hanging onto ghosts while the world moves on. They died trying to escape Fein, and you need to…" he swallowed hard, as if the words tasted like poison, "accept that."
Something inside Dune snapped at those words. His eyes burned with anger as he took a step forward, his voice rising, sharp and raw.
"Don't say that."
Ned didn't flinch. "It's the truth. And the sooner you face it, the better."
Dune's hands curled tighter, his steps heavier as he closed the distance between them.
"Stop talking," Dune growled, his chest rising and falling fast as he moved closer, the air between them thick with old pain and fresh anger.
"No." Dune reached out to grab his arm.
"You're coming with me. We'll find another way—"
Ned's fist shot forward, fast and sharp.
Dune caught it, but the blow was full of intent. Not hatred. Just resolve.
They stood locked for a heartbeat. Dune's hand trembled slightly as he looked at his brother.
"…Ned."
Ned pulled his arm back, expression unreadable. "This is where we part."
Dune looked at him for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he turned and walked away.
As he left the Rodeny estate, the doors closed behind him like the walls of a grave.
A part of him remained inside.
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The heavy doors to Sarazel Rodeny's private chamber shut with a deep thud, muting the murmurs of the clan beyond.
A low fire crackled in the hearth, its glow dancing across obsidian walls and weapon racks that lined the room like trophies. Sarazel stood behind a blackened oak desk, arms crossed, the weight of command resting easily on his broad shoulders.
The tall figure across from him, draped in midnight robes lined with silver, said nothing as he unfurled a scroll of parchment and laid it on the desk.
Damion.
Sarazel's sharp blue eyes scanned the document, his expression unreadable, but his voice betrayed satisfaction.
"So… it worked. You got what you wanted."
Damion smiled faintly, not looking up. "And so did you. A Red Zeten under your banner. A boy brimming with potential, yet desperate enough to break. Perfectly moldable."
Sarazel grunted in agreement, then leaned down and pressed the tip of his quill into the parchment.
The words were clear: A pact of mutual allegiance. The Rodeny family shall offer Damion their full support, military, political, or otherwise, when called upon.
Without hesitation, Sarazel signed.
The seal of the Rodeny clan burned crimson at the bottom of the page as ink dried over flame-treated parchment. Damion rolled it up with care and slid it into the folds of his robe.
"You've gained a soldier," Damion said quietly as he turned to leave. "I've secured an ally."
He walked to the door, pausing for just a second before stepping through.
"I hope you won't disappoint me, Sarazel."
Sarazel watched him go, the firelight flickering in his blue eyes.
Neither man said another word.
But the silence left behind was heavy, with victory, with consequence… and with something far colder.