Night had fallen across the capital, cloaking its grand towers in quiet shadow. Kazuki stood atop the tallest spire of the Duke’s estate, the wind tugging at his cloak. In his hand, he held a shard of enchanted glass—an artifact from the archives, humming softly with residual time magic.

  He closed his eyes.

  Within his mind, a faint red glow pulsed—slow, rhythmic, alive. The Crimson Sigil, etched deep into his very soul. Not visible to others. Not something he could remove. It was more than a mark. It was a bond.

  And tonight… it was stirring.

  His breath caught for a moment as his vision fractured. Crimson rings circled his irises. The world around him warped, shifting in color and rhythm. For an instant, Kazuki saw every movement, every pulse of life, every glimmer of mana as if the world were a painting… and he was the brush.

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  > You are awakening, child of paradox.

  A voice—not spoken, but resonating inside him. Not the Seer’s. Not even his own inner monologue. This voice felt ancient. Calm. Knowing.

  > The Crimson Sigil is not a curse. It is a fragment of divine contradiction. You were never meant to exist… and yet, you are the fulcrum.

  Kazuki fell to his knees, clutching his head. Images burst into his thoughts—visions of alternate versions of himself: some radiant with light, others cloaked in darkness, one standing atop a throne of bones, another cradling a fallen comrade with bloodied hands. Countless futures. None certain.

  > The world will reject what it fears. But you are the balance. The worldbreaker… or the rebuilder.

  Suddenly, a new status screen emerged before him, glowing blood-red.

  [New Title Gained: Child of the Crimson Sigil]

  Effect:

  +500 INT when fighting unknown forces

  Immune to all illusion and mental interference

  Gain "Crimson Overdrive": Temporarily transcend physical limitations

  Unlock Hidden Potential Paths (Pending Choices)

  Another screen followed:

  [Warning: Path Divergence Detected]

  Your next choices will shape the alignment of the Crimson Sigil. Neutrality will not last.

  Kazuki breathed deeply, steadying his pulse. He deactivated the crimson glow in his eyes. It faded—but didn’t vanish.

  His control was slipping.

  “...So, even now, I walk the edge,” he muttered, staring at his reflection in the shard. “One step too far… and I fall.”

  But he didn’t look afraid.

  He looked ready.