Four Years passed— The Blossomdale's Guildhouse was restless...
Whispers spread like wildfire—
"…He hasn't returned…"
"…No contact…"
"…Four years…"
Then— The report was finalized.
Danir Granger — Missing in Action.
And it reached— Jared Granger.
Silence filled the room....
For a moment— Nothing moved.
Then— BAM!
A heavy fist slammed onto the table—Cracking the wood beneath it!
"…What did you just say?"
Jared's voice— Low.
But trembling with rage.
The messenger froze.
"S-Sir… Danir Granger has been reported—"
"I HEARD YOU!"
The room shook.
Not from magic— But from presence alone.
A suffocating pressure filled the air.
Jared stood up slowly— His eyes burning.
"…Four years…"
His jaw clenched.
"…And you're telling me now?"
No one answered.
No one dared.
His anger wasn't loud anymore— It was worse.
Controlled.
Sharp.
Deadly.
"…Get out."
The messenger didn't hesitate— He ran.
Then— Silence...
That was enough.
Another crack echoed— The wall this time!
His breath was heavy— Not from weakness— But from barely holding back.
Then— He closed his eyes.
Exhaled...
When he opened them again— The rage was still there.
But now— Focused.
"…Find him."
His voice—
Cold.
Absolute.
"…I don't care where he is."
"…I don't care what he's become."
A pause...
"…Bring. Him. Back."
Yuri stepped forward— Serious. "I'll go."
Jared looked at him—
Long.
Heavy.
"…If he's dead…"
The air froze.
"…You bring me his body."
"…If he's alive…"
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
"…You drag him back here."
No hesitation.
"No excuses."
Yuri nodded.
"…Understood."
And just like that— The search began.
Not out of duty— But because a father— Was furious.
And afraid.
At the same time.
Yuri stood still for a moment—
"…Four years…"
His grip tightened.
"…What the hell have you been doing, Danir…"
He exhaled sharply.
"…No time to think."
He turned.
"Maybe I should go find them now… stop wasting time here."
Decision made.
No hesitation.
He packed his things—
Fast.
Efficient.
No unnecessary movement.
Then— Mounted his horse.
And rode out.
Immediately.
Blossomdale Guildhouse— Morning light poured through its windows.
Busy.
Alive.
Normal.
Too normal...
Yuri stepped in— Eyes sharp.
Focused.
Straight to the front desk...
"Good morning."
His voice calm— But firm.
"May I know what quest the Grangers took?"
The loremaster looked up— Recognizing him.
"…Wait a moment."
She turned— Searching through records.
Papers shuffled.
Time stretched.
Yuri's fingers tapped lightly—
Impatience creeping in.
"…Found it."
She looked back at him.
"They accepted a special quest."
Yuri's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What kind?"
"A special quest— rampaging-potion raid."
She paused— "…Down south of the continent."
Silence...
Yuri processed it.
Fast.
"…I see."
He turned immediately.
No wasted words.
"Thanks."
And walked out.
Outside— He mounted his horse in one smooth motion.
"…South…"
His eyes hardened.
Then— He kicked forward.
And rode.
Fast.
Toward the south...
Ten Hours Earlier — Before the Raid...
The sun stood high— But the air already felt wrong.
Heavy.
Like the land itself was waiting— For something to die.
Zeke and his brothers moved south.
Fast.
Silent.
The climate shifted around them— Cold winds fading— Replaced by warmth…
Then heat.
A tropical breeze wrapped around their bodies— Dense forest.
Life everywhere.
Watching.
But nothing dared approach.
Not them.
At the front— Zeke.
Twenty-one.
Standing at five foot nine— Lean.
Refined.
His long dark hair tied loosely behind— A faint beard lining his jaw.
His eyes— Sharp.
Commanding.
A leader.
Zebion followed.
Twenty.
Massive.
A towering centaur— Muscles built for destruction.
His wild hair framed a fierce face— Eyes burning with battle instinct.
Alec.
Nineteen.
Five foot eleven.
Well-built.
Quiff hair— majestic blonde like what good looking royals has...
Clean.
Eyes— Focused.
Efficient.
Nezcar.
Eighteen.
Slim.
Five foot five.
Hair buzzcut— always.
Calm.
Silent.
A sniper in human form.
Caspi.
Seventeen.
As tall as Zeke— Five foot nine.
Youthful face— Too clean— For someone who kills in silence.
Duskborn eyes— Faintly glowing in shadow.
Ulfzar.
Sixteen.
Five foot six.
Still a bit chubby— But steadier.
Cheerfull as always.
Still— Dangerous in his own way.
After an hour of traveling— They saw it.
A ruined kingdom.
Collapsed.
Forgotten.
"…This is it."
Zeke stepped forward.
"…Scalebound's work."
Silence followed.
Then—
"Caspi. Scout."
Caspi vanished.
Shadow-Conceal.
Gone.
Shadow Blink-Step.
A flicker.
Into darkness.
Time passed.
Then— He returned.
"…Found them."
"Old castle."
"One entrance."
"Three guards."
"…More than twenty inside."
"And the leader—"
"A brawler."
"Iron thorn gauntlets."
Zeke nodded.
"…We wait."
He looked at the sun.
"…We strike at midnight."
Ten Hours Later — Midnight..
Darkness swallowed the ruins.
The raid began....
Caspi moved first.
A shadow among shadows.
The first guard— Didn't even see him.
SLICE!
The second— Gone before he could react.
THUD!
The third turned— THUNK!
Zeke's bolt pierced his skull.
They entered...
Inside—
Laughter.
Carelessness.
Then—
Ulfzar raised his hand.
"…Mirage."
Reality bent.
Twisted.
Suddenly— The smugglers were surrounded.
Women.
Beautiful.
Tempting.
Touch.
Warmth.
Desire.
All fake.
But real to them.
They fell into it.
Completely.
Outside— Nezcar aimed.
BANG!
Bullets flew— Penetrating into their heads from out of the windows.
Bodies dropped—
Still smiling.
Still dreaming.
Inside— Alec and Zebion charged.
Steel met flesh.
BOOM!
Zebion crushed a man into the floor.
SLASH!
Alec cut through another—
Clean.
Precise.
Zeke fired from behind— Every shot— A kill.
Blood painted the ground.
One by one— They fell.
All of them— Except one.
Flavio.
The leader.
"…Illusion…"
He broke free.
Too late.
Bodies surrounded him.
Dead.
All dead.
Zeke stepped forward.
Crossbow aimed.
"…Surrender."
"You'll face judgment."
Flavio laughed.
"…No."
He charged.
CLANG!
His gauntlets collided with Zebion's warhammer.
Shockwave burst.
They exchanged blows—
Fast.
Violent.
But— Something was off.
"…He's reading us!" Caspi shouted.
Zeke narrowed his eyes.
"Eye of the Monk…"
Future sight.
Ten seconds ahead.
Even together— They struggled.
Then— Zeke stepped forward.
"…Fall back."
"I'll finish this."
His body transformed—
Bones cracking.
Fur bursting out.
A massive wolf stood— Where Zeke once was.
Flavio drank the potion—
His body twisted—
Mutated— Monstrous.
They clashed.
Claws.
Fangs.
Blood.
Roars shaking the ruins.
Minutes passed...
Violent.
Brutal.
Equal— Until— Instinct took over Flavio.
And he lost control.
Zeke didn't.
He waited.
Calculated.
Watched.
Then— STRIKE.
An arm— Torn off.
CRACK!
A leg— Broken.
RIPPED!
Another limb— Gone!
Flavio fell.
Defeated.
Broken.
Both returned— To human form.
Zeke stood— Breathing heavy.
Victorious.
"…It's over."
The ruined kingdom fell silent once more.
But somewhere far away— Another story was unfolding.
One they didn't know yet— Would change everything.
Both beasts returned— To human form.
One stood.
One fell.
Blood pooled beneath him— Dark.
Spreading.
Zeke stepped back— Breathing heavy.
Silent...
"Misha…"
A weak voice broke the stillness.
Flavio.
His body trembled— Life slipping away.
"Misha…"
Again.
Softer.
Fading.
"Mishaa…"
His voice cracked— As if calling someone far away— Someone he could no longer reach.
The brothers stood still.
Watching.
Not understanding.
Flavio's eyes— Clouding.
But within that final moment— Memories surfaced.
Not of battle.
Not of crime.
But of— A child.
A small girl— Fragile.
Crying.
Chains around her wrists.
Dragged away.
A voice echoed in his mind—
Cold.
Cruel.
"Pay your debt… or she stays."
That was the beginning.
That was why.
Why he fought.
Why he smuggled.
Why he became— A criminal.
Not for power.
Not for greed.
But for her.
His daughter.
Misha.
His blood continued to flow—
Faster.
Colder.
Until— Nothing...
Flavio died— With her name— Still on his lips.
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
The Grangers said nothing.
Because they knew nothing.
To them— He was just another smuggler.
Another criminal.
Another target.
By the King's order— They eliminated a threat.
But in truth— This was never that simple.
Flavio— A desperate father.
The King— A ruler chasing peace.
The Grangers— Warriors following duty.
All of them— Right.
All of them— Wrong.
Victims— Of a world that demanded sacrifice.
And somewhere— Far away— A little girl named Misha— Was still waiting...
The ruins fell silent behind them.
No screams.
No movement.
Only the echoes of what had just happened.
The Grangers left the ruined kingdom— And settled deep within the woods.
Far enough.
Safe enough.
A fire was lit.
Crackling.
Alive.
Its warm glow painted their faces— Softening the sharp edges carved by battle.
For the first time that night— They relaxed.
Zebion dropped heavily onto the ground—
Stretching his massive frame.
"Haah… now that's a fight."
Alec leaned against a tree—
Arms crossed.
Still composed.
Nezcar silently counting his bullets— One by one.
Caspi sat near the shadows— Half-hidden.
As always.
And Ulfzar— Was already grinning.
Wide.
Proud.
"Did you all see that?"
He puffed his chest.
"My magic—"
"I fooled everyone!"
He laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha!"
Alec didn't even look at him.
"But one broke out."
A pause.
"You still need to improve it."
His tone— Blunt.
But not cruel.
Just honest.
Ulfzar clicked his tongue.
"Yeah, yeah—whatever!"
He waved him off— Trying to hide the sting.
Zebion raised his cup— Grinning.
"Still—cheers to big bro Zeke."
"That was epic."
All eyes turned— To Zeke.
Sitting calmly by the fire.
Quiet.
He shook his head slightly.
"No."
A small smile formed.
"I didn't do much."
He looked at them— One by one.
"Caspi. Ulfzar."
"Without you two, that wouldn't have been easy."
Caspi smirked faintly— Saying nothing.
But clearly pleased.
Ulfzar blinked— Then grinned even wider.
"See?! Even big bro knows!"
Laughter broke out.
Loud.
Genuine.
Echoing through the quiet forest.
For a moment— They weren't warriors.
Not hunters.
Not killers.
Just brothers.
The fire crackled— Sparks rising into the dark sky.
And behind that warmth—
Unseen.
Unspoken.
Blood still lingered— On their hands.
But tonight— They chose not to think about it.
The laughter slowly faded— Leaving behind the quiet crackle of the fire.
Then— A sound!
Scratch…
Bushes shifting.
Subtle.
But not enough to fool them.
Alec's eyes narrowed slightly— Without even turning.
"…Come on."
A pause...
"You can come out now."
His tone calm— Certain.
"You know some of us here can smell you."
Silence...
Then— A figure stepped out from the shadows.
Yuri.
Calm.
Serious.
His eyes scanned them— One by one.
"…Boys."
Zeke immediately stood.
"…Yuri."
Something in his voice changed.
Respect.
But also— Concern.
Yuri walked closer— Stopping just at the edge of the firelight.
His expression— Heavy.
"…We need to talk."
The atmosphere shifted.
No more teasing.
No more laughter.
Only tension.
"…Your brother."
A pause...
"…Danir."
Zebion straightened.
Caspi's eyes sharpened.
Ulfzar froze.
"…He's been missing."
Yuri's voice lowered.
"…For four years."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unreal.
"The Guildhouse only noticed it now."
"…They've declared him missing in action."
Alec clicked his tongue—
"…Four years?"
Disbelief.
Frustration.
Yuri nodded slowly.
"…Your father knows."
A pause...
"…And he's furious."
Zeke's jaw tightened.
Silence returned— But heavier this time...
Then Yuri stepped forward— Voice firm.
Commanding.
"I think we don't waste time."
"We need to search now as soon as possible."
His eyes moved across them.
"You go back to your kingdom."
"Start from there."
"Gather information."
"Track anything unusual."
Then— He looked toward the distant horizon.
"…I'll head to the Demon Continent."
A pause.
"…I'm more experienced there."
Zebion frowned.
"…You think he went that far?"
Yuri didn't answer immediately.
"…I think…"
A slight breath.
"…Danir isn't dead."
That— Changed everything.
Zeke stepped forward— Eyes steady.
"…Then we find him."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Brothers— Once again— With a mission.
And far away— Unknown to them— Danir was no longer the same boy they lost.
They scattered— Across Aetheria.
No hesitation.
No second thoughts.
The Granger brothers returned— To their home kingdom.
Following Yuri's command.
Searching.
Asking.
Tracing every possible lead.
But Yuri— Chose the hardest path.
The Demon Continent.
The most dangerous land in all of Aetheria.
A place where even veterans disappear— Without a trace.
"…If he went too far…"
Yuri murmured to himself.
"…I need to be there first."
Deep inside— He blamed himself.
"That diary… Did he read it?"
Thinking that if Danir followed those notes—
Then this— Was partly his fault.
Yuri moved alone.
Silent.
Careful.
Every step calculated.
He hid his presence— Avoided unnecessary fights.
Slipped through death— Like a ghost.
Days turned— Into weeks.
Weeks— into months.
Still searching.
Still hoping.
Until— He reached the edge.
The abyss.
A place where even the air felt wrong.
He stopped.
Looked ahead.
Then shook his head.
"…That kid…"
A breath.
"…He wouldn't survive here."
So Yuri turned back.
He returned to the Capital.
No answers.
No trace.
Then— To the Middle Continent.
There— He reunited with them.
Zeke.
Zebion.
Ulfzar.
"…Anything?"
Zeke asked.
Yuri shook his head.
"…Nothing."
Silence.
Heavy.
"…We'll report back to the Guildhouse."
Zeke said.
But Yuri— Didn't stop.
"…I'll keep searching."
He moved again.
Relentless.
To Valoria.
Questions.
Nothing.
Then to the black market....
Whispers.
Rumors.
Then— Something.
"That kid…?"
"…Yeah."
"…He was here."
Yuri's eyes widened slightly.
"…All this time…"
His jaw tightened.
"...That stubborn kid!"
Now— He had a trail.
He followed it.
Step by step.
Carefully.
Then— He found it.
Bones.
Scattered.
Broken.
Devoured.
Human remains.
And— Kobold bones.
Yuri crouched.
Examining.
"…So this is where you've been…"
Fresh footprints.
Leading away.
He stood— Without hesitation.
Followed...
Through the forest— Across the river— into the barren land.
Then— He saw it.
A structure rising from the earth.
Ancient.
Massive.
A pyramid.
"…This labyrinth…"
The footprints— Led inside.
Yuri didn't hesitate.
"…You idiot…"
"…Don't die on me."
He rushed in.
First floor— Cleared.
Monsters dead.
Signs of battle everywhere.
"…He's here."
Yuri moved faster.
Down— To the second floor.
And there— Just in time— He found him.
Danir.
Standing— On the edge of death.
"…You really are a stubborn kid."
Yuri stepped forward...
And for the first time— Since this search began— He was not too late...