A single ray of light pierced through the darkness of the dungeon.
It fell upon a broken girl suspended by iron chains. Cold shackles restrained both of Seris' wrists high above her head, forcing her body to remain standing despite exhaustion threatening to drag her down. Blood dripped slowly from her fingertips onto the stone floor beneath her.
…Drip.
…Drip.
Her breathing was uneven. Heavy. Cuts and bruises covered nearly every part of her body. Torn cloth clung to skin stained crimson while dried blood traced down the side of her face from a wound near her forehead.
The dungeon smelled of rust. Of iron. Of old death. Silence surrounded her except for the faint crackling of a torch somewhere beyond the bars.
Seris slowly lifted her head. One silver eye reflected faintly beneath the dim light. Empty. Tired. Yet still alive.
A memory echoed faintly inside her mind.
"It's okay,"
Someone whispered softly. A familiar voice. A hand reaching toward her gently. A small smile.
Warmth— the only warmth she had ever known.
Memories surged...
The Black Castle stood where sunlight never reached. Hidden deep within the forgotten mountains beyond Shadowhaven, the fortress existed like a wound carved into the world itself. Endless black walls. Iron corridors. Silence broken only by screams, steel, and commands.
More than fifty children were brought there with no names. No families. No memories. Only numbers.
Among them— two girls survived together.
Seris and Serene.
"Seris."
That was the name she remembered after waking inside the cold empty chamber years ago. A soft voice calling her through the darkness.
Her twin sister.
Serene was everything Seris wasn't.
Strong. Fearless. Independent. While Seris hid behind her sister's shadow, Serene stood in front of it. Whenever punishment came, Serene endured it first. Whenever training became unbearable, Serene protected her.
And in that cruel place, that was enough to keep Seris alive.
The Black Petals trained children through brutality. Assassination arts. Poison resistance. Torture endurance. Silent movement. Blade mastery. Emotional suppression.
Every month, weaker children disappeared. No funerals. No explanations. Only silence.
As years passed, Serene became the strongest among them all. The instructors feared her talent. Even the older assassins avoided provoking her.
Second only to Serene— was Seris.
But Seris knew the truth.
She was only alive because Serene never allowed her to fall.
And Noir hated them for it.
Noir was powerful. Ruthless. Gifted. Yet no matter how strong he became, the twins always stood above him. Especially Serene. Jealousy slowly poisoned him.
Then came the Selection Duels.
The method the Black Petals used to refine assassins further. Win by killing. Lose by dying. That day, Serene overwhelmed her opponent effortlessly.
Meanwhile—
Seris faced Noir.
The duel became one-sided almost immediately. Noir's attacks crushed through her defenses violently, driving her across the arena while the other assassins watched in silence.
"You're weak," Noir spat coldly. "The only reason you survived this long…"
SHHK—!
His blade cut across Seris' shoulder.
"…is because your sister protects you."
Seris struggled back to her feet trembling. But she refused to surrender. That angered Noir even more.
"You should've died long ago."
He rushed forward for the killing strike. Then suddenly—
CLANG.
Serene intercepted the attack.
Silence consumed the arena. Everyone froze.
Breaking a duel's rules meant death. Even Noir stepped back slightly in shock. Serene stood in front of Seris protectively, blade lowered calmly. And above the arena—
Veyr watched.
The Supreme Leader of the Black Petals sat upon his throne silently beneath the shadows, observing everything through emotionless eyes.
That night—
Serene sat beside Seris atop the castle walls.
Cold wind moved quietly around them.
"…Seris," Serene said softly, "let's leave this place." Seris blinked slightly. "We can escape after the next duel." Serene looked toward the distant mountains beyond the castle. "There's a world outside these walls."
"A normal life."
"A happy life."
Seris stared at her silently. "…Do you think people like us deserve that?"
Serene smiled gently. "I do."
For the first time, Seris felt hope.
The next month arrived.
Seris prepared endlessly for her rematch against Noir. She trained harder than ever before. She wanted to win. Not for pride. But so they could finally escape together.
Then the duel announcement came.
"Seris."
"Versus."
A pause followed.
"…Serene."
The world stopped. Seris couldn't move. Across the arena, even Serene froze. For the first time, fear appeared in her eyes.
Veyr's voice echoed calmly from above.
"One survives. Or both of you die."
Silence consumed the arena completely. Seris' hands trembled around her rapier.
"…S-Serene…"
Then— Serene raised her blade. Her expression changed. Cold. Calm. Resolved. She rushed forward instantly.
CLANG—!
Seris barely blocked in time. "Fight me, Seris!"
Confusion overwhelmed her. "W-What are you doing?!"
Serene attacked again violently, forcing Seris backward. "If you want to become stronger…" Her voice shook slightly despite her composure. "Then fight me!"
"Don't hold back!"
Tears formed in Seris' eyes. "No—!"
Serene's killing intent exploded outward. For a moment— Seris froze completely. Then Serene lunged directly toward her.
Instinct took over.
Seris raised her rapier desperately and shut her eyes tightly.
SHHK.
Silence.
The attacks stopped. The arena became quiet.
Slowly— Seris opened her eyes. And saw her sister smiling weakly before her.
The rapier had pierced through Serene's chest. Blood slowly dripped down the silver blade. Seris' entire body trembled.
"…N-no…"
Serene gently grabbed the blade to stop herself from collapsing. Her smile remained soft.
"…You finally did it."
Tears streamed down Seris' face uncontrollably.
"Why…?"
Serene slowly reached toward her cheek.
"Because…" she whispered weakly, "…you deserve to live." Blood stained her lips.
"Promise me something, Seris…"
Seris shook violently. "…Please stop talking…"
"Live freely."
Serene's voice weakened further. "See the world for me." Her hand slowly slipped away.
"And…"
A faint smile.
"…Take care of yourself."
Then, her body collapsed. And something inside Seris died with her.
From that day onward, Seris became empty. She trained without emotion. Killed without hesitation. Improved endlessly. But beneath that silence— Hatred grew.
Hatred for the Black Petals.
Hatred for Veyr.
Hatred for the castle that stole everything from her.
Months later Seris and Noir fought once more. Only this time— the duel ended in seconds. Noir attacked first. Seris disappeared.
SHHK—!
Blood splattered across the arena as Noir collapsed to one knee instantly, overwhelmed completely. Fear filled his face. Impossible fear.
Veyr watched from above calmly.
"Execute him."
Seris slowly approached Noir. Then stopped. She raised her blade towards Noir's neck, but then she lowers it and walks away...
The arena fell silent. Even Noir looked shocked.
Seris slowly raised her eyes toward Veyr instead. Cold. Terrifying. For the first time— Veyr saw hatred staring directly at him.
Seris spoke quietly. "One day…" Her grip tightened around her rapier. "…I will claim your head."
After that— she was assigned a mission.
Assassinate the King of Aurelian.King Darius Viremont.
That night, Seris infiltrated the royal castle flawlessly. Silent steps. Hidden breath.
A perfect assassin.
She entered the king's chamber beneath the darkness and lunged toward his throat instantly—
CLANG.
Her blade stopped completely.
A powerful Aether barrier surrounded the king's bed. King Darius slowly opened one eye. Then laughed quietly.
"…That was rude."
Seris immediately attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Every strike was effortlessly deflected. The king didn't even leave his seat. Eventually, Seris stopped. Breathing heavily.
"…Why aren't you killing me?"
King Darius looked at her calmly. Seris lowered her blade weakly. "You're afraid to die because you have everything." Her voice trembled slightly.
"For someone like me…" Her eyes darkened.
"…who has nothing left…"
"I won't beg for my life."
She raised her blade again "…Kill me."
King Darius sighed softly. "No."
Seris attacked furiously after that. Like someone desperate to be put down.
But the king parried every strike effortlessly. Then finally, he stepped forward. One movement. One strike. Seris' blade flew from her hand instantly.
She froze.
King Darius looked at her silently for several moments. Then he spoke.
"You have spent your entire life surviving."
Seris lowered her head quietly.
"But surviving is not the same as living. There is still a world beyond your suffering."
"You will meet people who teach you laughter."
"People who give you reasons to wake up."
"People who accept you…"
"…not for your strength."
"…not for your past."
"But simply because you are you."
Seris stood frozen silently. Then the king smiled faintly.
"And when that day comes…" He looked directly into her eyes.
"…You will finally have a reason to keep living."
CREAK.
The dungeon door slowly opened. Footsteps echoed through the darkness beyond the bars. Seris slowly lifted her head.