Silence.
Even the storm seemed afraid to move.
Mirror still held Myreiya against him.
Neither realized how close they were until the soldiers began staring.
Myreiya slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
His hand remained around her waist.
Warm.
Steady.
Protective.
For the first time...
She didn't push him away.
Instead...
She noticed something strange.
Mirror's heartbeat was racing.
Not from fear.
From her.
"...You can let go now," she whispered.
Mirror immediately stepped back.
"My apologies, My Queen."
His voice had returned to its usual calm.
But something inside him had changed.
He could feel it.
The mark no longer burned with hatred.
It burned...
With sorrow.
The crowned figure watched them from across the shattered battlefield.
Then...
It smiled.
"A thousand years..."
Its voice echoed through every soul present.
"And fate still repeats itself."
The soldiers raised their weapons.
"My Queen, give the order!"
One command.
One word.
They would charge.
Instead—
Myreiya asked a question.
"Who are you?"
The figure remained silent.
Wind carried ash between them.
Finally...
"I have had many names."
The broken crown glowed crimson.
"Most have been forgotten."
The shadows surrounding it slowly dissolved into darkness.
Only the crowned figure remained.
"My true name no longer belongs to this world."
Mirror's chest tightened.
Every instinct screamed.
Run.
Run now.
But his feet refused to move.
The crowned figure slowly raised one hand.
The Black Tower responded.
Its massive gates trembled.
Stone groaned.
Ancient chains snapped.
A deep horn echoed from somewhere inside.
The sound was ancient.
Older than kingdoms.
Older than history itself.
The soldiers covered their ears.
Several collapsed to their knees.
Blood flowed from their noses.
Even the royal mages staggered backward.
"What... is that sound?"
One whispered.
The crowned figure smiled.
"Hope."
"No..."
An old royal priest stumbled forward.
His face had turned white.
"It cannot be."
Everyone turned toward him.
The old man pointed toward the tower.
His hands trembled violently.
"Seal it."
His voice cracked.
"Seal it before the First King awakens."
Silence.
Mirror's heart skipped.
First King?
The crowned figure looked amused.
"Too late."
The tower doors opened.
Only a little.
Barely enough to reveal darkness beyond.
Yet something looked back.
Not eyes.
Not a face.
Just...
Presence.
Every living creature felt it.
Birds fell from the sky.
The horses screamed.
Even the earth trembled.
Myreiya couldn't breathe.
Her knees weakened.
Mirror immediately caught her arm before she fell.
She looked at him.
Confused.
Embarrassed.
"...Again?"
Mirror released her instantly.
"My apologies."
She almost smiled.
Almost.
Then...
A child laughed.
Everyone froze.
The laughter came from inside the tower.
Small.
Happy.
Completely innocent.
Another laugh followed.
Then another.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Thousands of children laughing together.
The sound echoed across the wastelands.
Several soldiers began crying.
One knight dropped his sword.
Another whispered prayers.
The priest covered his face.
"They're still alive..."
Myreiya stepped forward.
"What children?"
The priest looked at her with horror.
"No, Your Majesty."
"They died."
"A thousand years ago."
The laughter suddenly stopped.
Complete silence.
Then...
A tiny voice escaped from inside the darkness.
Soft.
Lonely.
"Mother..."
Every person felt their blood freeze.
The voice had called...
Not to Myreiya.
Not to anyone else.
It was calling someone who had once stood there long ago.
Mirror's mark erupted in unbearable pain.
He screamed.
For the first time.
The sound echoed across the wasteland.
He fell to his knees.
Black veins spread beneath his skin.
The soldiers backed away.
"My Queen!"
"He's cursed!"
"Kill him!"
Several guards drew their swords.
Myreiya stepped in front of Mirror.
"Stand down."
"My Queen, he's dangerous!"
"I said..."
Her silver eyes became ice.
"Stand."
"Down."
The guards immediately obeyed.
Mirror looked up at her.
She was protecting him.
Again.
He didn't understand why.
Neither did she.
She simply knew...
She couldn't let them touch him.
The crowned figure laughed quietly.
"So it begins."
Myreiya glared at it.
"What begins?"
"The story."
"The one both of you have already lived."
Lightning struck behind the tower.
The entire wasteland shook.
The crowned figure slowly began fading into darkness.
Before disappearing completely...
It looked directly at Mirror.
And whispered only one sentence.
"Remember your promise."
Then...
It vanished.
Gone.
As though it had never existed.
Only silence remained.
Mirror stared at the empty place where it had stood.
A single tear rolled down his face.
He didn't know why.
He had no memory of making any promise.
Yet...
His heart was breaking.
As though someone he loved had just said goodbye.
Far inside the Black Tower...
A pair of crimson eyes slowly opened.
Watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.
Because the game had finally begun.
End of Chapter 20