Chapter 16: The left guardian (2)
Since the founding of House Noctvain, twelve centuries ago. there has always been a shadow that walked beside its light.
A young warrior, once saved by the founding patriarch himself, pledged his sword not to glory, but to loyalty. In return, he was granted a name, Ryn and a duty that would transcend generations.
From father to son, the Ryn bloodline served the Noctvain family as its silent shield. They became more than guardians. they became watchers of fate, bound by a single oath passed down in whispers:
"Wait in silence for the hand destined to wield the Evil Commandment Sword, for to that master alone shall all loyalty be sworn"
The Evil Commandment Sword, a relic of fear and awe.
A cursed blade gifted to the founding patriarch of House Noctvain by a being of immeasurable power. Its origins remain a mystery, buried beneath myth and time. Some say it was forged in the void between worlds. Others whisper it holds the will of something ancient and divine.
But all agree on one truth:
"No one touches the sword and lives."
Its blackened edge radiates death. Those foolish enough to lay a hand on its hilt have found their mana drained to the last drop, turned to husks within seconds. Dozens of would-be wielders over the centuries, from ambitious nobles to master sorcerers, collapsed at its feet.
And so, for over a millennium, the sword was locked away. Sealed within a vault of enchanted stone, buried beneath layers of runes and ancestral fear. No bearer, no heir, no outsider could claim it.
Until now.
Until Aether von Noctvain.
He did not just survive its touch.
He wielded it.
And the sword answered.
Not with death but with recognition.
"My ancestors grew so frustrated with waiting that they opened the chance, not just to the Noctvain bloodline, but to the entire world. Perhaps the prophecy was never bound to our name alone. Anyone might claim the sword. Yet, no one ever could wield it."
The left guardian, Ser Caldus Ryn walked down the grand hallway, lost in thought as he made his way to meet Naoki.
"I always believed the one who could wield it must come from Noctvain blood, he murmured to himself."
A faint smile appeared on his lips. For twelve centuries, the Ryn family had faithfully served House Noctvain, patiently awaiting the arrival of the destined One.
For generations, the Ryn family had waited for the Destined One. In the meantime, they served the head of the Noctvain family with unwavering loyality.
Caldus Ryn, the current Left Guardian, had long served under the present Patriarch with absolute devotion.
But three years ago, the Patriarch vanished.
Without a word.
Without a trace.
As his sworn protector, Caldus took it upon himself to search for his missing lord. For three long years, he scoured the empire, chasing whispers and following dead trails.
The Patriarch was not dead, that much they knew. It seemed he was tracking something… or someone.
An organization.
A hidden threat that left no signs. No symbols. Only silence.
Then, finally, they reached a place where the lord was believed to have been. He was gone but in his place, they found a single piece of paper, weathered and tucked beneath a stone.
"Stop following me. The one you've been waiting for is about to appear."
The message made no sense. It sounded like prophecy, like resignation. Yet despite the words, Caldus and the knights pressed on, refusing to give up.
Until the rumors began.
"Did you hear? The young lord saved everyone using that cursed sword."
"They say he slew the demon… with a single slash."
"Impossible. That's something only the Patriarchs of the Seven Great Families are capable of. And that boy...he's what, thirteen?"
"Exactly. And that sword? Isn't it the one even their own Patriarch couldn't wield? Sounds like they're trying to fake strength now that their leader's abandoned them."
"No... it's real. The Imperial Publisher confirmed it. It's official."
The moment Caldus heard those words, the world seemed to still.
The Evil Commandment Sword, the cursed blade sealed for over a millennium. The blade that devoured mana and reduced men to husks… had been wielded.
Not just touched, but used.
By the young lord Aether von Noctvain.
The entire knight squad fell silent. The implications were too great to ignore.
Caldus ordered an immediate investigation.
They gathered every report, interviewed every witness, and examined every trace of the event. The testimonies aligned, too consistent to be rumor.
Too impossible to ignore.
Aether von Noctvain had wielded the cursed blade.
And that could only mean one thing:
The prophecy had stirred.
And so, they turned homeward.
Back to House Noctvain.
Back to the one who now held the blade.
Back to the one they may finally call… Master.
Now, back in the heart of the Noctvain estate, Caldus walked the quiet hallway, every step bringing him closer to the one destiny had chosen.
A servant approached and bowed deeply.
"Left Guardian, this is the room. Young Master Aether is waiting for you."
Caldus stopped before the tall oak door. His expression was calm, but his eyes held the weight of generations.
The boy who awakened the cursed blade was just beyond.
And now, the Left Guardian would face him.
Caldus raised his hand and knocked once, firmly.
Without waiting for a response, he opened the door.
Inside, the room was calm. Sunlight spilled through the tall windows, glinting off polished furniture.
Naoki, seated in the body of Aether, was sipping tea quietly at the center table, his expression unreadable
Caldus stepped in, his gaze calm and assessing. Nothing seemed out of place.
Until Naoki looked at him.
Their eyes met.
And in that instant
Caldus froze.
Something surged.
A dark aura erupted around the boy. subtle at first, but then it deepened, thickened, twisting like smoke from a funeral pyre.
It wasn't magic.
It wasn't killing intent
A primordial force blasted from the boy's gaze. not seen or heard, but felt deep in Caldus's bones, like invisible chains tightening around his chest, crushing his lungs, suffocating him.
The air grew heavy and thick, twisting like a storm.
Caldus's heart pounded wildly. Sweat broke out across his forehead. His breath hitched.
His legs trembled violently, barely holding him upright.
The polished floor beneath his boots seemed to fracture beneath the unbearable pressure.
His instincts screamed...'submit'
Behind Aether's eyes, a black tempest roared. boundless, formless, filled with wrath and unyielding will.
It wasn't human.
It wasn't even alive.
It was the abyss itself. an ancient void wearing the guise of a boy.
Blood thundered in Caldus's ears. His sword arm shook uncontrollably.
His vision blurred. Darkness clawed at the edges of his mind.
He dropped to his knees, gasping for breath as if death itself had brushed past.
Then he heard a voice. calm, steady, and filled with concern.
"Left Guardian."
Caldus jolted, snapping out of the haze, his body tense as if struck by lightning. The crushing weight was gone.
He felt a hand gently patting his back.
Slowly, he looked up.
It was Aether, standing beside him, worry etched into his face.
To be continued....