Away from the somber atmosphere of the Dusk Academy, in the heart of the continent where sunlight reflects off eternal snow-capped peaks, lies the "CLAN OF LIGHT." It was not merely a city, but a majestic white fortress built from pure quartz stone that glowed with its own luminescence at night. Here, everything suggested purity and order—but beneath this pristine white exterior, something terrifying was being prepared.
In the royal training grounds of the LIGHTEN family (the lineage of the legendary hero KLAUS), the echo of physical strikes resonated powerfully.
"Well done, girl! Good strike... right, left!" the instructor shouted, retreating with difficulty.
Suddenly, with a swift motion, JENNIFER LIGHTEN, daughter of the hero KLAUS, lunged forward like a ray of light refracting in the center of the arena. She delivered a sudden strike, a high concentration of Light Mana gathering in her palm.
CRACK!
The training shield, forged from magical steel, shattered into fragments in the air.
"Focus well, like your brother, Jennifer. Do not let anger disrupt the precision of your strike," the master said, wiping sweat from his brow, visibly impressed by the power that grew within her day by day.
"Understood, Master," Jennifer replied, taking a deep breath as the golden aura faded from around her fists.
Jennifer sat on a cold marble bench, her chest heaving from the intense physical exertion. Her maid approached with dignity, head bowed, offering a white silk towel embroidered with gold thread. Jennifer took it and wiped the sweat from her face and neck, but her features did not reflect the victory she had just achieved in the arena.
The instructor's words continued to echo in her mind like a persistent hum: "Focus well, like your brother, KAY."
She clenched the towel tightly. KAY... the eldest brother, the peerless "Genius," and the destined hero whom everyone saw as the living embodiment of their father, Klaus. Jennifer had always lived in this colossal shadow; no matter how strong she became, she remained the "second version" or the "younger sister of the coming hero."
She felt a tightening in her heart—a mixture of depression and a desperate urge to scream—but the strict Lighten family protocol forbade even emotions from spiraling out of control.
She stood up abruptly and signaled her maid to follow: "I am returning to my room. I do not wish to receive anyone right now."
Jennifer walked through the long corridors of the palace, where crystal statues of her father watched every step she took. She entered her private suite and went straight to the royal bath. Immersing herself in warm water scented with rare oils, she tried to wash away the day's fatigue and the lingering sense of inadequacy.
She looked at her reflection in the clear water—a beautiful face with sharp features and golden eyes—but her gaze burned with an ambition that threatened to consume anyone who drew near.
After finishing, she dressed in a sky-blue silk gown befitting her rank and combed her long blonde hair until it draped over her shoulders like a waterfall of light. She stepped onto the large balcony where her mother, LADY MARIA LIGHTEN, sat with her usual dignity, sipping royal tea.
"I heard the sound of shattering shields from here, my daughter," her mother said in a calm, steady voice, setting down her cup. "It seems you were harsh on your instructor today."
Jennifer approached and kissed her mother's hand before sitting across from her. "Harshness is what we need, Mother. Weakness is not an option. The world will not show us mercy just because we carry the name 'Lighten,' even if we are heroes."
Lady Maria gave a faint smile. "You resemble your father in your persistence." She continued, "Kay left this morning with the field commanders to inspect the border breaches... did you say goodbye to him?"
Jennifer's body stiffened slightly at the mention of his name, but she maintained a calm tone: "No, time did not permit. Kay is always busy saving the world, and I am always busy being ready to help him."
Her mother observed her with a probing gaze, but simply concluded: "There will be a formal family gathering tonight... I want you to be present, and in your full elegance."
JENNIFER nodded slowly, a sign of both agreement and obedience. She then excused herself, saying: "I will be there on time, Mother. I need some rest now."
Returning to her room, JENNIFER threw her exhausted body onto her plush bed. As she watched the crystal lights dance across the ceiling, the stillness of the room pulled her into the corridors of memory... back to that fateful day seven years ago.
She remembered clearly the scent of gunpowder mingled with the biting cold of the snow. The palace had been teeming with movement; soldiers donned their gleaming armor in preparation for the Great War between the CLAN OF LIGHT and their arch-nemesis. In the center of the commotion stood her father, KLAUS LIGHTEN, like an unyielding mountain, his golden cape fluttering behind him.
Back then, JENNIFER was still a child. She had run toward him, clutching his strong hand, and cried: "Father, will you be late?"
KLAUS knelt, stroking her hair with a hand that smelled of metal and masculinity. He spoke in a deep voice that still echoed in her ears: "Little one of the LIGHTEN, heroes do not choose the timing of their return; they choose the timing of victory. Be strong for our family... be the light that never fades."
Since that moment, KLAUS had departed for the front lines, and his feet had not touched the floors of his home for more than seven years. Nothing returned but his reputation, military reports of his victories, and images transformed into silent statues in the hallways. The war had stolen him from being a "father," turning him into a mere "symbol" or a distant, unreachable "legend."
JENNIFER closed her eyes tightly and whispered to herself: "Seven years... and we still live on your legacy, Father, while KAY devours everything that remains of it."
....
The great palace clock chimed, announcing the start of the ceremonies. The atmosphere in the white fortress shifted; the massive doors of the grand dining hall swung open, and chandeliers made of "Light-Star" stone ignited, flooding the space with a blinding radiance.
The table was exceptionally long, covered in a white silk cloth and centered with silver vessels encrusted with emeralds. Delegations and organizers from the CLAN OF LIGHT began to enter in their finest formal attire, whispering about the "Upcoming Campaign" and border developments.
At the hall's entrance, JENNIFER appeared. She looked like a fragment of the moon, wearing a fitted gown of dark blue velvet that accentuated her slender frame, with a necklace of raw diamonds encircling her throat. Her elegance was not mere decoration; it was a political shield that commanded respect from all who looked upon her.
She walked with confident strides, her gaze meeting the attendees with cold pride, until she reached her designated seat beside her mother. As she took her place, the clinking of glasses rang out to signal the start of the meeting, but her eyes searched the opposite seats... for that chair that had remained vacant for years: her father's chair.
The CHIEF ORGANIZER interrupted her thoughts by standing up, announcing in a booming voice: "In the name of the Eternal Light, we open this night's consultative banquet... for political and military news alike."
----------------------------
If you liked the chapter, add the novel to your library, leave an encouraging comment, and support me with energy stones; this helps me a lot!
----------------------------