(Chapter Start)
Kairo clenched his fists, his body shaking with anger and hatred. His breathing was heavy, and his heart pounded like a war drum. He turned to Sirius, frustration boiling in his voice.
"How can you be so calm?!" Kairo snapped. "Do you even care about the people?"
Sirius, completely unfazed, pulled out a cigarette and lit it with steady hands. He took a slow drag and exhaled the smoke before speaking.
"I do care," he said, his voice cold and distant. "But caring alone doesn't change anything."
Kairo glared at him, eyes burning with fury.
"So what? You're just going to sit back and do nothing?"
Sirius met his gaze, expression unreadable. "My hands are tied, Kairo. But yours aren't. If you want to fight, then fight."
Kairo didn't need to hear anything else. Without another word, he stormed back into the meeting room.
---
Inside the meeting hall, government officials were still deep in discussion. At the head of the table sat Darius Vallen—the one person Kairo hated most.
Kairo didn't hesitate. He pulled a small knife from his pocket and threw it straight at Darius.
The blade sliced across Darius's cheek, leaving a thin line of blood trailing down his face.
The room erupted into chaos.
Without missing a beat, Darius pulled out a pistol. Kairo didn't have his sword—it was in another room. He was unarmed and at a disadvantage.
Darius smirked. "You shouldn't have done that, boy."
He pulled the trigger.
Kairo braced for the worst—
BANG!
The gunshot echoed through the hall.
But the bullet didn't hit him.
Darius's hand jerked as a bullet struck his wrist. His pistol dropped to the floor.
Everyone turned in shock.
Sirius stood at the entrance, holding a gun, smoke still rising from the barrel. His face showed no emotion.
Darius, seething with rage, gritted his teeth. "You bastard—!"
Before he could say more, he lunged at Kairo, this time grabbing the knife Kairo had thrown.
Another gunshot rang out.
But it was too late.
The knife slashed across Kairo's right eye.
A sharp, unbearable pain exploded through his skull. He screamed, clutching his face as blood ran down his cheek.
Sirius stayed calm and fired again.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Darius collapsed to the floor, groaning in pain. His arms and legs were riddled with bullets.
The room went silent.
Sirius lowered his gun and spoke in a firm voice. "Everyone, leave. Now."
The officials obeyed without question, hurrying out of the hall and taking Darius with them.
Sirius sighed and turned to a nearby maid. "Get a healer. Now."
She nodded and ran off.
Kairo's vision blurred as he was lifted off the ground. His body felt heavy, and his mind drifted into darkness. The last thing he saw was Sirius standing over him, his face unreadable.
---
Nightfall – Kairo Wakes Up
When Kairo opened his eyes, he was lying in a bed. His whole body ached, but the worst was the sharp pain in his eye.
He reached up and felt an eyepatch covering it.
Sirius sat nearby, watching him.
"You're awake," Sirius said.
Kairo groaned and tried to sit up. "My eye…"
"You'll live," Sirius replied bluntly.
Kairo took a deep breath and asked, "Why didn't they do anything to you? You shot a high-ranking official multiple times."
Sirius leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk on his face. "They can't."
"Why not?" Kairo pressed.
The smirk faded. "That's something I can't tell you."
Kairo narrowed his eyes. "You always do this. Keeping secrets."
Sirius didn't answer. He just took another drag from his cigarette.
After a long silence, he finally spoke again.
"Be careful, Kairo. Something big is coming. You won't be able to stop it."
Kairo ignored the warning. "I need to go. My friends are waiting for me."
Sirius waved a hand. "Then go. But remember this..."
Kairo paused at the door.
Sirius looked at him seriously. "From here on, your journey won't be easy. The world will turn against you."
Kairo clenched his fists and left without a word.
---
Kairo Returns to His Team
Kairo arrived at their hideout, tucked away in the backstreets of Solmaria.
As soon as he walked in, his teammates rushed to him.
"Kairo!" Alya gasped. "What happened to your eye?!"
"Damn, that looks bad," Eldric muttered.
Kairo sighed. "It's a long story."
He told them everything—about the meeting, Darius, and how he lost his eye.
His friends listened in stunned silence.
Eldric crossed his arms. "This is bad. They're going to come after you now."
Veiren frowned. "And if they're after Kairo, we're in danger too."
Raiven ran a hand through his hair. "We're all targets now."
Kairo looked down. "I'm… sorry."
Luca stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't apologize. We're with you. No matter what."
Kairo looked around at his team. Despite everything, they were still here. Still standing with him.
For the first time that night, he felt a small sense of relief.
---
A Shocking Revelation
Later that evening, Alya asked Kairo to pick up some vegetables and meat from the market for dinner.
Kairo agreed and stepped outside into the streets of Solmaria.
The night was alive with bright lights and bustling crowds. Cars rolled by, and street vendors shouted their offers.
Suddenly—
Every screen on the surrounding buildings flickered on.
News anchors filled the screens, their expressions tense.
"Breaking news," the reporter said. "Sources inside Eldoria have confirmed that the second prince of Solmaria, Kairo Solmaria, is not of royal blood."
Kairo froze.
"Reports claim that Prince Kairo was adopted into the royal family by King Reinhart Solmaria. This shocking news has led many to question his loyalty. Some officials now believe he could be an Eldorian spy."
Kairo's heart pounded in his chest.
His face appeared on every screen.
"What the—" he muttered.
And in that moment—
Everything changed.
(Chapter Ends)