Requeim of Reverence

"Emporio! This is the end for you. Hand over the artifact now, while you still have the chance!"

"Why isn't he making a move? What is he planning?

"You're cornered, Audel," they sneered. "Hand over the treasure, and we might grant you a swift death."

I stood on the cliff's brink, grasping my sword as if it were the final connection to life. Blood flowed from the incision on my back, trailing down the rocky cliffside and disappearing into the dark chasm underneath. I peered back, catching a last glimpse of the edge—one step away from the fall that would reclaim me and return me to Tritine. Once, it was famed for its fertile lands, and fields of radiant flowers. Below, I could almost see it—an ancient field of roses, crimson as fresh blood.

If I die here, I will return to my homeland—to a bed of roses, nourished by my own blood. I pictured the scarlet petals drinking it in and in the next life, I will bloom with them, bright and full.

"Not… not today." I threw my arms wide, a hollow laugh spilling from my lips. The enemy halted, taken aback. Good. Let them watch.

"The path of time favors me," I murmured, and I leapt, plunging into the abyss, my sword clenched tight. As I fell, I uttered the words with fierce intent:

"Void Table! My final requiem."

As I plummeted through the sky, certain of my impending death, the strange artifact in my hand suddenly sprang to life. It glowed intensely, unfurling like a daisy blooming in midair, with a central eye bleeding radiant light that turned the entire sky a fiery crimson.

With a smirk, I threw my challenge up to the heavens. "The path of time, take me back... ten years!"

The world spun, colors and shapes blurring into oblivion. And then, as if waking from a vivid dream, I was back.

MARY EMPORIO - BOLTAIRE MANSION

What was taking him so long?

I had been knocking on his door for two minutes now, yet there was no response. And why was it locked? Pushing my irritation aside, I knocked again, louder this time.

"It's 7:30. Get up, brother! We're going to be late—"

The door creaked open.

I hadn't expected to see him like this.

His posture was slouched, his usually neat short hair disheveled. The dark circles under his eyes suggested he hadn't slept more than two hours. Did he train all night again? I wondered.

Letting out a sigh, I crossed my arms. "Get ready. We're heading to the academy."

"I'm coming," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, without another word, he shut the door in my face. I stared at the wooden frame, my irritation fading into unease. That wasn't like him. He wasn't the type to get emotional over anything.

But his cheeks...They told a different story. He had been crying. Just a moment ago.

What could've caused my mentally strong brother to cry at such an age? And he didn't even bother hiding those marks as if he himself had no idea about it.

I drifted down the corridor, lost in thought, and before I knew it, I bumped into a tall figure.

"Sorry, Miss Emporio."

I looked up to find myself face-to-face with Mr. Utah, Lady Uriel's older brother.

I bowed slightly, intending to continue on my way without another word. His presence was commanding—long black hair, sharp features, and those crimson eyes that mirrored his sister's. A man far beyond my league.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, his gaze scrutinizing me.

I blinked, realizing I had been staring. Flushed, and without answering, I turned to leave.

Then his next words stopped me in my tracks.

"I heard he got disqualified from the tournament. Is that right?"

I spun around, my breath catching. "Wh-What?" I stammered before managing, "What do you mean?"

"Mr. Williams told me Audel was forced to back out."

The weight of those words sank in.

Audel had been training day and night for that tournament. If he had been disqualified just a week before the event, it must have hit him hard. If it were me, I probably would've cried too.

But this was Audel Emporio.

My brother wouldn't break over something like that.

No, there was something else.

And as his sister, I needed to find out what it was.

I gave Mr. Utah a small nod of acknowledgment before turning away. He had already started walking in the opposite direction.

But my mind was elsewhere.

Something was wrong. And I was going to get to the bottom of it.

MARKOV - IMEMR

"Psssst. Oi. Oi. Markov. Wake up. The teacher is calling you."

BAAM!

I woke up, shot my seat so fast that my glasses slipped from my face and climbed the desk. I scrambled to catch them, my surroundings came to focus in the blink of an eye.

Laughter.

I looked over at Tom, who had his face buried in his palm. My classmates, meanwhile, were snickering at my expense.

Shit.

I should've just stayed home today. Running on zero sleep was proving to be a terrible idea.

"Markov!" The teacher's voice boomed. "Stand outside the class!"

And just like that, I was banished to the hallway for the next hour.

Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, I sighed as students passed by, whispering and chuckling. Some threw glances my way, others openly mocked me.

But what stung the most?

The girls gossiping right in front of me—laughing at my misery.

Sigh.

Then, something caught my eye.

Or rather, someone.

Widening my eyes, I barely managed to stutter, "L-L-Lord Harold?"

The Lord Harold. The king's son. The prince of Tritine himself.

He rarely visited the academy, yet here he was, walking past me like I didn't even exist.

And right behind him—

A figure even more striking.

"P-Prince Hera," I muttered under my breath.

The princess.

Her presence was almost surreal. Her curly white hair floated as if infused with mana itself. And her eyes—sharper than Audel's, clearer than the sky—held an ethereal brilliance.

She offered me a soft smile before continuing on, her scent lingering in the air.

I almost lost myself in it.

But then it clicked.

Lord Harold's sudden appearance wasn't just a casual visit. It meant something.

I turned my gaze back to the open classroom door. The prince was speaking in hushed tones with the professor.

Curiosity got the better of me.

Channeling mana, I sharpened my hearing and focused on their conversation.

"-Tournament- Rush- 1 week- Because of- the rebellion- Announce it—now."

The fragmented words pieced themselves together in my mind.

A rebellion?

My fingers twitched.

As Harold and Hera walked past me again, I barely registered the prince's cold indifference. But the princess—she glanced my way once more, offering another smile before disappearing down the corridor.

My heart pounded.

Rebellion? What could this possibly mean?

The grin creeping onto my face was instinctual.

Finally.

Something worth investigating.

Adrenaline surged through me. I turned on my heel and bolted, sprinting away from my punishment, chasing after the two political figures.

I couldn't hold back a laugh.

"I haven't felt this alive... since coming here!" I shouted into the empty hallway, my voice echoing as I ran.