Where Is the Hero?
Inside the glowing palace hall, the air buzzes with energy and cheers. But Eldrin's eyes narrow—one presence is missing.
Eldrin (firmly):
"Where is the Zius Hero… Lord… I mean, Sang?"
Zoick:
"He… he rushed out."
Eldrin:
"Why? What happened?"
Zoick :
Nothing.
Then eldrin walk away.
Zoick (muttering to himself):
"He said 'Lord'… but who was he referring to?"
The excitement in the palace doesn't dim, but unease grows beneath the surface.
A Sudden Absence
Sylin arrives, looking confused and searching.
Sylin:
"Hey, have you seen Sang?"
Mohiran:
"He's not with you?"
Sylin (shaken):
"No!"
Nero (frowning):
"This is strange. First Master asks, now you too?"
Azira (teasing, but curious):
"We thought you two ran off together…"
Sylin (ignoring the tease):
"This isn't right."
Rakhad:
"I saw him rush out… probably outside. You should check."
Without hesitation, Sylin bolts from the palace.
Visions and Voices
Sang sits alone on a stone bench under the moonlit palace courtyard. His hands tremble slightly. Beads of sweat roll down his temple.
Sang (murmuring to himself):
"Shammroy… a face... Why am I seeing these visions? Who is he?"
Nearby, a group of children sit around a grandmother, listening to her tale. One child hears Sang whisper and tugs the elder's sleeve.
Child:
"Grandma, who is Shammroy?"
Grandma (chuckling):
"Shhh, I'll tell you the rest tomorrow. Time for bed."
The children run off. The grandmother slowly walks toward Sang and sits beside him.
Grandma:
"You look lost. What's wrong, boy?"
Sang (confused and vulnerable):
"I… I don't know. Since I arrived here, I feel like something's awakening. A force… something I don't understand."
Grandma (soft smile):
"There's something stirring inside you. Something ancient. You must find out what it is."
She stands to leave, her voice echoing like a whisper carried by fate.
Grandma (walking away):
"You'll soon discover the purpose of your life, Sha—mm… Roy…"
Sang's eyes widen in shock.
Sang (breathless):
"Did she just…?"
Voice in the distance:
"SANG!"
He spins. It's Sylin, running toward him. When he looks back— the grandmother is gone, vanished into the night.
A Word from the Past
Sylin (panting):
"Sang! What happened? You scared me!"
Sang (rushed):
"Tell me… Have I said anything strange lately? A name, a word—something odd?"
Sylin (nervously):
"Don't stress. You just mutter this… weird word sometimes."
Sang:
"What word?"
Sylin:
"Baaka. That's what you always say. And… just before we… hugged."
Sang (confused):
"Hugged? What are you talking about?"
Sylin (shaken):
"Don't play with me… you held me, spoke gently… don't you remember?"
Sang (genuinely lost):
"I remember talking… then suddenly I saw a girl's face—it wasn't you. Then… I was outside. That's all. I… I black out sometimes. I'm not lying."
Sylin stares at him, eyes welling with disappointment. She turns and walks away, crying.
Sang (softly):
"Sylin…?"
On the Road to Answers
Elsewhere, Ziron, Kaizer, and the others travel through misty roads toward the palace.
Kaein:
"Gramps… how did he become king? What made him worthy?"
Ziron:
"Ask Kaizer. He knows better than I do."
Kaein moves up next to Kaizer, eager.
Kaein:
"Kaizer, how did King Shammroy become the Dominion King?"
Kaizer (smirking at the memory):
"It all began in my academy days… There was an incident I could never forget. It changed me—and showed me what kind of man he really was."
Bane:
"What happened?"
Kaizer (voice tightening):
"There was a professor. A pervert. He abused girls in the academy. No one dared oppose him—he was too powerful. But one day, I did."
Kaein:
"You? What happened?"
Kaizer:
"He challenged me to a duel. Said if I won, he'd leave forever. But if I lost… he could do what he wanted to the girls."
He pauses. His voice shakes slightly.
Kaizer:
"I lost. I didn't know how to use my power back then. I was just a beginner…"
The air grows tense as the memory sharpens in his eyes.
Kaizer (serious):
"Then… a flash. A spark behind me. In a second, the professor was dead—destroyed. A shadow emerged and stood above me."
Kaizer smiles faintly.
Kaizer (mimicking the voice):
'BAAKA. You're still a beginner, and yet you fight for others. I like your spirit.'
Then… he vanished into the night. My mind couldn't believe it—he was my age. And yet, that power… that control…"
Kaein (eyes wide):
"That was the king?!"
Kaizer (grinning):
"Yes. But that's not what made him king."
Group (in unison, stunned):
"What…?!"
Kaizer (serious again):
"There's a deeper reason. One the world still doesn't fully understand… I will tell you remaining, when we reach the palace ".