In the grand hall of the Solan clan, twelve seats were arranged in a semicircle, each belonging to an elder. At the center, a raised platform held a more ornate seat for the clan leader, with another seat beside it reserved for the great elder. But today, the great elder was not in his usual place. Instead, an unexpected guest occupied his seat—an advisor from the Astria Clan, the ruling power of the Zenithra continent.
In this world, there were six continents. Five of them were governed by great clans, under which the subordinate clans were ranked as minor, medium, or major. But no matter how powerful these subordinate clans became, they remained under the absolute rule of the great clans. As for the sixth continent… it was something else entirely. The Dark Continent. A land of terror, an abyss that swallowed all who dared to approach. The creatures that dwelled there did not belong to this world—their mere existence defied logic. It was said that a single one of them escaping could erase an entire continent as if it had never existed. No one who entered ever returned to tell the tale—not even those considered "invincible." It was larger than all five continents combined, but its size was not what terrified people… it was what lay within. Even the Ten Greats, the rulers of this world, never dared to explore it.
The presence of an Astria advisor in Solan was not a casual visit. For a subordinate clan, his presence carried a clear message—one word from him could erase them from existence. Even the major clans were nothing more than tools in Astria's hands. So what did that make Solan, a mere medium-ranked clan?
Soldiers from the Solan clan stood beside each elder's seat, a display that balanced both strength and submission. On one hand, it served as a reminder that the clan was not defenseless. On the other, it was an unspoken acknowledgment that they would not dare act without careful consideration. But not today. Today, no guards stood near the clan leader's seat or the advisor's seat. The message was no longer directed at the guest—it was directed at the elders themselves. A silent warning, more chilling than any spoken threat.
Behind the elders, three meters away, two servants stood silently, dressed in simple robes, ready to obey any command. One of them was Louskas. He wore a brown robe, his long black hair tied back, its ends swaying slightly as he moved.
His gaze wandered over the assembly before settling on the young elder. The man had been forced to give up his seat for the great elder and the advisor, now sitting on a noticeably smaller chair, as if his presence was shrinking under the weight of true authority.
Then, Louskas turned his attention to the advisor, a man radiating confidence. He studied the scene carefully.
"Become stronger, and the rules will change to serve you. The world will reshape itself to accommodate your will, turning your desires into law and your anger into fate. Only the strong live as they please. As for the weak… even their destinies are not their own. How can someone in chains break free? And how can a society in chains change its reality?"
His eyes shifted to the clan leader—a man in his forties with a stern face, black hair, and dark eyes, as if he were a reflection of an older, more weathered version of Louskas' past. Valrik Solan. His father… or rather, the man who had once been his father.
"Louskas Solan… but not anymore."
How ironic. How easily a name could lose its meaning. Was family merely a bond of blood, or was it something built upon that bond? And what if family was the source of suffering? Would love endure despite that? Or would it transform, like metal reshaped by time and fire?
The clan leader stood up, his voice carrying the authority of someone accustomed to commanding others.
"Welcome, everyone. This is a blessed day for our clan. The presence of our esteemed guest brings us honor and joy."
After a few more words, he concluded his speech, and finally, the advisor rose from his seat. There was no politeness in his tone.
"Thank you for the… excessive welcome."
His gaze shifted to the great elder, his lips curving into a confident smile, though his eyes held a hint of cold amusement.
"And I must apologize to the great elder for taking his seat. At the same time, I also appreciate his generosity."
The great elder hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to object, but the advisor didn't give him the chance.
"My visit today is for a simple matter—to formally invite the Solan Clan to participate in the Clan Tournament. I came personally because your clan has shown growth in recent years. Perhaps, one day, you will rise to become one of the major clans under the Astria Clan's rule."
But the truth was different. The advisor hadn't come for that reason. He had come to deliver a message—one simple reminder: Never forget who rules over you.
After some formal discussions, the gathering transitioned to a banquet. The hall filled with laughter, conversations, fine food, and expensive drinks. That night, the entire clan was alight with celebration. The chance to participate in the tournament was a rare honor. But in reality, honor was not what people sought. What they truly desired was power, influence, wealth—the one opportunity to change their fate.
Amidst it all, Louskas stood in a corner with a few other servants, silently observing the scene, as if seeing it for the first time.
"In this world, no one cares about honor or dignity. These are just masks people wear until it's time to take them off. The only real rule in this world is strength. Strength alone is the unchanging law."
The voices around him faded, and his eyes fell on the glass of wine in his hand. The golden light of the hall reflected off its surface, but all he saw was darkness within.
"I don't care about the tournament. It's not part of my plans. But… maybe, just maybe, I'll find something there worth my attention. A new piece on the chessboard… or perhaps, the right Shard."
When Louskas awakens, he will be able to store three shards. That meant he had to choose wisely—a balance between defense, mobility, and power. According to Eldron, who seemed to have orchestrated everything from the start, he already possessed a shard related to movement. The mere thought of that man having planned so far ahead unsettled Louskas, planting a seed of doubt in his mind.
As for power shards, they were rare—because those who wielded them were rare. Defense shards, however, were far more common.
In the Solan Clan, there was only one man known to have a power shard.
His father.
But of course, he wouldn't take it from him… without a reason.
Louskas cast one last glance at the banquet hall, at the faces filled with greed, ambition, and silent calculations. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away.
"It's time to leave."