In a tavern in a poor city, the Spoofius Tavern,
The old tavern owner sits reading the newspaper. One of the patrons approaches him and says:
"Old man, it's that time of the year, isn't it?"
The old man replies indifferently, "Yes."
The man speaks again, "Do you think the Kings’ Assembly will happen this year?"
The old man answers, "I don’t know. It doesn’t matter anyway."
The man asks, "Your tavern is called Spoofius, yet you say nothing matters. What if the assembly is held and war breaks out?"
The old man replies, "If war breaks out, it will be foolishness. Those five fight among themselves, and the people are the victims. A woman waiting for her husband, a mother waiting for her son, children waiting for their fathers—all of them are dead."
The drunken man, unaware of what he is saying, responds, "Isn’t that what makes us stronger?"
The old man turns with a weary look and whispers, "If this is strength, then the world is doomed."
---
In the Throne Room of Anastasia Kingdom
The king’s advisor enters with important news.
Advisor: "Your Majesty, it is time to vote on the Kings’ Assembly. Please make your decision."
The king thinks for a moment before responding, "I approve."
---
Ogrolia Kingdom – Throne Room
King: "I approve."
---
Great Nest Kingdom – Throne Room
Queen: "I approve."
---
Ashansia Kingdom – Throne Room
King: "I reject."
---
Varsian Kingdom – Throne Room
King: "I reject."
---
Back at Spoofius Tavern
The patron speaks again to the old man, "Do you know how the assembly is held?"
The old man replies, "By majority vote."
The old man turns the newspaper page and sees that the assembly has been approved. He says, "Strange… The assembly hasn’t been held for decades."
The drunken man, on the verge of passing out, mutters, "Are you going to die now, Ibra?"
---
Leo’s Family Home
Leo and Sai sit with their parents, Sena and Barden.
Leo: "The assembly has been approved?"
Sai: "Since we were born, not a single assembly has been held."
Barden: "Nor in our time."
Sena: "It’s strange."
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---
City of Heiji
Kani: "I wonder what happens in these meetings."
Kano: "Old men’s discussions aren’t interesting."
---
Green Road Kingdom
Kyotai: "So, the assembly is happening."
---
East of Anastasia Kingdom
Zalen: "It will begin next week."
---
Yarasou’s sits silent in his house while reading the news.
---
Lavalik family Mansion
Karez and Garin talk to their grandfather.
Karez: "Do you really think what you're doing is right?! A child not having a certain ability is not something they can control. Can't you understand how cruel your actions are, Akin?!"
Akin: "Calling your grandfather by his name? You haven’t changed at all, Karez."
Karez: "What are you going to do? Kick us out, Garin and me?"
Garin: "It’s not like kicking us out would affect us anyway."
Akin: "Karez."
Karez: "Generation after generation, you do the same thing. I’m surprised your bloodline still exists, given how random Shinta abilities are. I can’t believe the Lava ability has kept appearing in your lineage for so many generations."
Akin: "Karez, Garin, you don’t understand."
Karez: "And I don’t want to know anything about your dark history."
Akin: "You don’t understand how Shinta works."
Karez: "Huh?"
Garin: "We already know."
Akin: "There is a 25% chance that a child will have the same ability as their father or a similar one, and a 25% chance they will inherit their mother’s ability. The remaining 50% is the chance of them developing a completely different ability."
Karez: "W-what?"
Garin: "...."
Akin: "Sometimes, Shinta behaves strangely. One percentage dominates another. Perhaps that’s what people call an anomaly."
Garin: "But that doesn’t explain why you only want the Lava ability."
Akin: "I only let you stay in this mansion because you helped saving us. Don’t think you can change anything."
A heavy silence fills the room. Karez starts feeling hopeless.
Garin: "Let’s go."
Both leave the room, their spirits crushed.
---
In an Alleyway
Silva: "Kento?"
Kento: "What are you doing here...?"
Silva: "They said there was a thief in this district, so they sent me."
Kento: "So you’ve graduated?"
Silva: "That’s right. I’m officially part of the kingdom’s forces now."
Kento: "What about Kon and Marin?"
Silva: "They returned to their home kingdoms."
Kento: "I see… I’m leaving."
Silva: "Where to?"
Kento: "Home."
Silva: "Be careful on your way."
---
Two and a Half Hours Later – 10:00 PM
(Knocking on the door)
Sena: "Who would come at this late hour?"
Sai opens the door and is shocked.
Sai: "Kento?!"
Kento: "It’s raining. Let me in."
---
Silent Prison
One of the workers, Horus, contacts the head of security.
Horus: "Sir, we’ve tried almost everything, but they won’t talk."
Head of Security: "What kind of loyalty do they have?"
Horus: "Since we’ve reached this point, should we request Lady Maria’s assistance?"
Head of Security: "That’s our last resort. She will arrive in the morning."
Leo's home
Kento: "I got kicked out."
Leo: "Huh? Why?"
Kento: "You don’t need to know."
Leo: "Oh, come on..."
Sai: "But coming to us means we're close to you."
Kento: "Absolutely not. I just needed a place to stay for these four months!"
Sai and Leo respond sarcastically.
"Just admit it."
"Are you shy?"
Kento: "I'm going to kill you both..."
8:00 AM
Horus: "Welcome, lady Maria."
Maria: "Stop calling me "lady."
Horus: "Please, follow me."
Maria (thinking): "He’s completely ignoring me, this arrogant man..."
As Maria enters the prison, two guards, Ethan and his friend Kevin, talk.
Ethan: "Why is Lady Maria so important?"
Kevin: "You seriously don’t know? She possesses the strongest sealing ability in the kingdom. She can seal and unseal anything."
Ethan: "Well, that explains her importance. Doesn't that mean they suspect one of the prisoners to have a seal?"
Kevin: "I think so."
Inside the Prison
Horus: "These two—Alvis and Grace."
Maria: "There are some kind of seals. Give me some time. These seals aren’t as simple as I thought.
Ron, Ren, Ran, Rom, Rem, Ram, Hon, Hin, Han..."
Normal seals only require 'Ron,' but for this one to need all of these..."
Horus: "I haven’t seen something like this in a long time."
Maria: "Whoever placed these seals is no ordinary person."
Horus: "That makes things even more complicated."
Alvis speaks with difficulty.
"Lavalik..."
Horus: "You finally spoke."
Alvis: "They threw me away, left me in the trash... I won’t forgive them... I will kill them..."
Not horus nor maria uttered a word.
Maria: "Anyway, what was placed on them was a speech seal. There were certain words or phrases they couldn’t say. But now, after breaking the seal, they can speak freely."
Horus: "Thank you."
(Thinking): "So that’s why he kidnapped the clan..."
Alvis and Grace: "your m-"
The moment they attempt to say the word, their bodies suddenly explode. Horus quickly uses his defensive Shingen to shield himself and Maria.
Maria (shocked): "W-What just happened"
Horus: "your m? Your m what?? They didn’t even finish the word!"
Maria: "That wasn’t a seal."
Horus: "What?"
Maria: "There was no other seal that would cause them to explode upon speaking certain words. The only thing placed on them was a speech restriction."
Horus: "Then it must be an ability."
Two staff members rush in to check on Horace and Maria.
Staff Member: "Sir! What happened??"
Horus: "Take Maria outside."
8:10 AM
Head of Security: "What?? They exploded??"
Horace: "Yes, sir."
Head of Security: "your m?..."
Horace: "Maybe the same thing would’ve happened to their companion, Alex, if he were still alive."
Head of Security: "That’s right. We have no choice but to wait for the Kings' Summit."
Lavalik Family mansion
Karez: "I’m really starting to lose hope."
As the two continue walking, they encounter—
Kaiser: "Karez?"
Karez: "Kaiser?"
Garin: "Were you outside the palace?"
Kaiser: "Yeah, I went somewhere with a friend."
Garin: "And here I was wondering why we hadn’t seen you all day."
Kaiser: "So, what’s the result?"
Karez: "We failed..."
Kaiser:"As expected. But look at the bright side—you get to enjoy the palace."
Garin: "That’s probably bright for you."
Karez: "At least you’re not like them, Kaiser."
Kaiser: "I only accept compliments from women."
Kingdom of Withrian
Beatrix: "Nothing new..."
Leo's home
Sina: "A glass of water and one apple."
Barden: "Then he starts training."
Sai: "Does he want to die?"
Leo: "Probably."
Outside the house, Kento trains in the cold. He starts remembering what happened in his family’s palace.
Two Days Ago
Kento enters the palace to see his father, Flame, standing before him.
Flame: "Do you think you can just walk in here after disobeying your mother and me?"
Kento: "What are you going to do? Expel me? That’s expected from you, after all."
Flame: "You disobeyed us, defied our traditions, ran away from the palace, and joined an academy. You are not welcome here."
Kento: "Your traditions... Sitting comfortably in your palaces, banning anyone from becoming a warrior. You've been useless since ancient times."
Flame: "Watch your tongue!"
Kento: "I used to despise the weak. I saw them as nothing. But unexpectedly, I grew attached to them. They made me understand things more clearly. The real nobodies aren’t the weak, but the royals like you."
Flame: "Guards, take him out."
Kento: "Damn on the royals."
The Present
Kento (thinking): "I’ll rest for a bit..."
Five Days Later
In a house, a young girl speaks with her father.
"Daddy, daddy! What’s this meeting everyone is talking about?"
The father replies
"It’s a summit between the kings of the five great kingdoms."
The girl repeats in surprise,
"Between the kings?"
The mother asks
"Do you know when the law requiring this meeting was established?"
The father answers
"Yes, it was enacted 500 years after the Blood War—1,500 years ago."
Mother: "I see."
