That morning, Zeo woke up earlier than usual. A thin dew still clung to the rare desert grass, and the soft bleating of distant sheep was the only music in the air. Kaira was still asleep, her face peaceful beneath a thin blanket.
Zeo kissed his wife's forehead gently and stepped out of the house. There was no training today; he had to herd farther west across the valley. The northern grazing fields had been filled with beast noises lately. He promised to return before dusk.
But far behind him, danger crept—danger not from outside the village, but from within the circle he trusted the most.
Kaira was hanging laundry when Grent arrived.
"Zeo's not home?" Grent asked casually, standing at the doorway.
Kaira turned, a bit surprised. "Didn't you know? He's out herding today. Why?"
The large man stepped in uninvited. His gaze was different—tense, threatening.
"You know, I've lived alone for a long time. Ever since I stopped being an adventurer, I haven't had a woman in my life. But I've missed... warmth. Especially from a woman like you."
Kaira straightened. "If you're drunk, go home."
"I'm completely sober," Grent said, his voice deep. "You're too precious for someone like Zeo. He's just a weak valley man. Look at the mess lately, how people talk about you, and yet Zeo does nothing. I can protect you. I'm stronger."
Kaira stepped back. Her hand readied wind magic. But Grent was faster. He struck the air with his fist, sending a shockwave that slammed Kaira against the wall.
"YOU'RE INSANE!" she shouted.
She quickly stood, wind swirling violently around her. But Grent, a former elite fighter, knew how to counter magic. He closed the gap, twisted her arm, and broke her spell.
Kaira tried kicking, biting—anything. But Grent's body was like stone. He pinned her to the floor and tore her upper garment.
"Stop! Don't touch me!"
"Why not? You think Zeo can satisfy you? I deserve you more!"
Tears streamed from Kaira's eyes—not from fear, but rage. Disgust. Helplessness.
She reached toward a small shelf behind her. Her trembling fingers grabbed a small knife.
And as Grent moved to commit the unthinkable, Kaira took a deep breath.
"Forgive me, Zeo... I can't return to you tainted. But I can protect this one thing for you. Myself... this body... will remain yours. Until the end."
With one swift motion, she stabbed the blade into the side of her neck.
Blood sprayed.
Grent stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief. Kaira's body convulsed, then fell still, her face turned toward the window—toward where Zeo always came home each evening.
Zeo returned as the sun began to set.
The house was too quiet.
"Kaira?" he called.
No response.
As he stepped inside, the scent of blood pierced his nose. And in the corner of the room... Kaira.
Her body lay with a deep wound at the neck. A small knife lay not far from her hand.
"Kaira...?" Zeo's voice cracked into a whisper.
His world collapsed. He dropped to his knees, cradling her cold body, screaming in silence. His tears didn't come right away. But his chest felt crushed from within.
"Why...? What happened...? Kaira... why did you leave me...?"
No letter. No message.
Only a wound. And silence.
Zeo wept bitterly, shaking the lifeless body.
For three days, Zeo didn't leave the house. Neighbors only whispered, afraid to approach. Rumors spread: Kaira killed herself due to village pressure. A curse. Shame.
But no one knew the truth.
Zeo sat in the corner, holding a strand of Kaira's hair he'd cut and placed in a small wooden box.
"Since becoming an adventurer... everything fell apart... I couldn't even protect you... You said we'd face this together... I'm sorry, Kaira. It's all my fault..."
Days later, light poured from the ceiling. The glowing being appeared before Zeo's shattered self. But Zeo rose, full of fury.
"Leave! Don't ever show yourself to me again! Because of you... because of your stupid mission... I lost everything!"
The agent's form appeared, less majestic than before. He sighed, visibly tired.
"Come with me."
A winged horse-like creature descended. The agent pulled Zeo onto its back.
"LET GO! I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!"
"You will—once you see."
Unwillingly, Zeo was flown high into the skies, across worlds, into a realm so vast and beautiful his imagination failed to describe it. The Divine Realm—a land of light beyond mortal comprehension. There, a palace floated in eternal brilliance.
Zeo was brought to a grand hall, facing a giant curtain that veiled something beyond. Dozens of winged beings knelt before it.
"***** I have brought him, my Lord," the agent said.
"Zeo Arasil. Your life changed because your path is great—but not without hope," came a majestic voice.
Zeo, still angry and tear-streaked, stared at the curtain.
"Are you the True Divine that **** spoke of?"
"You may call me that."
"You... you took everything from me. Kaira is dead. I don't care about your mission. Don't summon me again. BRING HER BACK!" Zeo shouted.
The True Divine emitted a soothing aura. "Kaira... is not truly gone. Complete your mission, and you may see her again."
A light screen opened. Zeo saw Kaira's soul in a peaceful heavenly garden—but her eyes were sad, searching, waiting.
"She is a good woman. That place befits her. But she longs to reunite with you. She waits for you, Zeo."
Zeo trembled. "Ka... Kaira..."
"Then... give me strength."
"If I grant you power, how is it different from doing it myself? That world is yours. You must fix it. You already have enough power—you just haven't realized it yet."
"Enough power?" Zeo asked, confused.
"Technically, yes. But you still need many things to ensure your mission's success. They already exist in your world. You can do it—I never choose the wrong messenger. I'll give you this, to ease your path."
A stream of energy entered Zeo's eyes.
"ARGHHH... My eyes! What is this?!"
A strange transformation occurred. Zeo could now see clearly—he could see the true forms of the glowing beings, not just their winged silhouettes.
"These are Dimensional Eyes. With them, you can see reality, identify all things, sense the essence of beings, and measure energy. They will aid your journey."
"And one more thing. Call it a bonus. I don't want my messenger starting with deep regret. Your wife's death was a suicide... but it was to protect her dignity from the attack of a large man. You might know him—his name is Grent."
"Grent?" Zeo gasped.
A massive wave of energy erupted—shaking the divine hall. Zeo raged upon learning the truth.
An aura burst from the agent to calm him.
That night, Zeo returned from the Divine Realm with one purpose:
To kill Grent.