Chapter 1

Flashbacks…

Third P.O.V

The world is a dark wasteland for them who live in fear... from creatures of unknown god.

Their meager light shines through the birth of the child they call "Predestined" who will save them from darkness.

The child was bestowed with a sacred blessing from heaven. The child born with the brightest star in the sky.

He is the son of the general imperial guard of their land and was born in 1023.

His name is Cyrus Donatello.

Cyrus means hollow and empty while Donatello means gift.

His father molded him into a brave and feared warrior.

Cyrus P.O.V

I am a warrior that others look up to.

A warrior who gives light and hope.

Everyone admires me because of my strength and courage in fighting the creatures that disturb the land of mortals.

But despite that popularity comes my freedom.

They say that I was chosen by God to save mankind just because of the dazzling light of the star that shone in the sky when I was born... I know that it was only because of the desperation of the people to overcome their fear.

But that fantasized story is what gave me a railing in my life.

My father forced me to be a warrior who is risking his life... I was trapped by an obligation placed on my shoulders... I couldn't escape anymore.

My hand was completely stained with blood that left a mark... A mark that no matter how much I wash, it can't be erased, it is already stamped on my heart and mind... which gives me the feeling that I am worse than the monsters I killed with my blade.

My actions are good in people's eyes, but I still can't help but feel heavy... should I feel guilty? or was I right to kill them because of their cruelty?

But... the girl in front of me now. Her gentle face stops me from what I intend to do. 

Her glances... I could feel the sadness in her eyes.

I can't move... What is this? Her look seemed to tame my wild heart.

I held my chest which now felt pain. She has a strange effect on me... it's like squeezing my heart.

"Who are you? What are you doing to me" I stammered.

She slowly approached me…

"What are you doing Cyrus!? kill her!!" I heard my father scream.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't move from where I was standing.

When she finally got close to me, she gently touched my cheek.

"Our hearts are connected... because we are destined for each other" her voice was so soft and gentle that it was like music to my ears.

I woke up from my mania when I heard my father shout "Don't listen to her, son!!. Don't be fooled by her gentle face!. She's a monster, so kill her!!."

Her soft hand... red lips and angelic face. She looks very far from a monster.

The woman carefully shook her head and slowly brought her face closer to mine until her breath hit my skin. "You are my twin flame... and we are destined to meet—"

"What else are you doing, Cyrus?!... if you don't kill her, she will kill us" my father added so I woke up to my senses.

"I won't hurt you," the woman said sweetly.

"Son!!" my father exclaimed.

I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly and without saying a word I stabbed the woman as my father wanted me to do "I am only being tricked" I said firmly.

The woman grabbed my shoulder tightly and completely lost my balance. But I was very surprised when she vomited blood!... I was stuck in my place and couldn't move at all.

"W-what… How did this happen?" I turned to my father now and was too stunned by what I saw.

Her blood... not like that of a monster that was black like a pen ink!.

Her blood is red like human blood.

My hand trembled when it was stained with her blood. 

My mind is full of chaos. Is she a human?... but she showed an inexplicable power. My own eyes saw her burning like a fire and dazzling like the sun.

The woman's body fell on the grass while I was still stuck in my position. My mind is a mess. And I don't know what to do.

My father was behind me and grabbed me by the shoulder "Let's go, son."

"I-did I kill a p-person? F-father?" I stammered as I let go of my sword.

"No... you made the right decision. She's still a monster! You know that," my father replied but I could see that he was worried. 

"But she didn't hurt us?!"

"Wake up! Cyrus!... We wouldn't be here if she wasn't messing around!. So you did the right thing!" Father added, then he himself picked up my weapon and pulled me away from the woman's lying body.

..

            As soon as I came out of my room, I heard people's screams. I knew what those shouts meant... That's why I immediately took out my weapon.

It seemed that someone was watching me, so I tightened my grip on my sword even more.

"I know you're in there so get out!" I shouted threateningly to anyone who would block my path.

I heard a shrill laugh that echoed throughout the area along with screams that I only now realized were not human.

I looked around to find where that voice was coming from.

"Come out!, I know you are a monster— I can feel the force of your power."

"And I feel your fear too— bravely determined" was the answer that I still don't know where it's coming from.

"Am I the one who's afraid? or you who can't show yourself?!" I added.

He didn't answer— I felt his presence behind me so I planned to attack but when I plowed my blade behind my back he wasn't there.

"Get out, you coward!!. You're just wasting my time!."

"I'm only in your dreams— the dream monster... The moment you see me you'll never wake up again!" His response worries me.

"If you wanted to kill me you would have shown up earlier... Then what do you want from me— a fool who despises someone like me" I yelled but he only laughed and suddenly created a loud noise that was deafening.

I immediately covered my ears but I could still hear that voice that could destroy my hearing "Ahhh!!— that's it!."

He stopped and a shadow appeared in front of me. "I want to kill you but I'd rather let you live while suffering for killing my comrades. The prophecy has been made."

"When the next red moon appears in the sky, you will be judged by your punishment— a punishment that will make you want to beg for your own death." When he uttered those words, the atmosphere grew darker and darker as if I was inside a small box and my breath was slowly running out.

I woke up while catching my breath. I grabbed my collar and opened the first button of my shirt to breathe more freely.

I felt goosebumps and I was cold.

"Is that a nightmare or a threat?" I said weakly.

"Threat? where?" Suddenly, my father, who had just entered my room, snapped.

"Nothing, don't worry. It's just a bad dream that visited me" I replied then I stood up to pour a drink into the glass.

"Why are you here?" I asked my father.

"On the second day we will travel to the west... A royal decree has come from the empire of Agnarr about the creature that is disturbing there— the king demands that you have to kill and put to end the fear of the citizens."

"Is this really a request or an order that I have no choice but to agree to?" I said coldly.

"This is a royal request, son," he added.

"And punishment—"

"Son?!"

"I won't be able to sleep well because of what you are demanding me to do— aren't you worried that—that will be the cause of my death?."

"Is that what you feel?... You can stop and leave behind the people of your own country alone. Reject what heaven has given you."

"My father, you are the only ones who believe that I am a messenger of heaven just because of the light of heaven given in vain when I was born by Mother. I live forced to be like what you want me to be."

"You became a brave warrior and a hero—"

“Warrior… And your son who is engaged in an unusual battle may be the reason for my not coming back home… These hands are already stained with the black blood of the monsters I have slain— but with my violence they are stained with red blood." I can't stop feeling bad for my father, because I'm too tired to live with his expectations. 

"He's not a human—" my father insisted but that wasn't enough reason to wash away his guilt.

Not only did I keep silent because I didn't win over my father, I would only make my heart worse if I insisted on myself.

The day came when we left for the land of Agnarr.

It's getting dark and I'm preparing with my father's soldiers for searching the mountains of Agnarr.

"We are ready," one of the soldiers reported.

"Then let's go" I replied, just as my father entered my tent.

"Be careful son and make sure you get back to us" he said. 

"You can hope" I replied blankly because I was worried about what would happen tonight. Especially when the moon is red.

We were just at the foot of the mountain when I had goosebumps... that was the most terrifying presence I have ever felt among all the monsters I have faced in my entire life.

Everyone was careful while walking the road into the forest, it was getting darker and darker as we paved the way.

I don't know what kind of monster we are going to fight, may the God who chose me guide me.

We saw a light coming from a distance so we hurried towards it.

We were stunned when a woman appeared in front of us.

She has orange hair that matches the color of her eyes. Her face was gentle and her skin was as white as snow. Her beauty is deceiving which I know carries danger. "You are the woman with red blood" I exclaimed. "But you're dead?, because I killed you myself."

"Leave this place... this is your last chance" the woman said and suddenly disappeared.

"She's not really human" I said weakly and had the courage to continue to replace the hut.

My fellow soldiers surrounded the whole area when we saw the old man with dark eyes as if he was waiting for our arrival.

The woman with orange eyes was behind the old man.

"It seems that my father is referring to you," I said firmly.

"You are daring sir" said the old man. "For you to go to my territory.

"You are not a monster" I said because I felt it... I have the ability to know if a creature is a monster based on their energy. It only failed with that girl because I couldn't feel any energy coming from her.

"That's true because I'm a Mage— a sorcerer," the old man replied, who was pulled back by my soldiers. 

Because people are more afraid of witches. The mage has the power like a god... but has the heart of a demon.

I immediately pointed the blade of my weapon at the old mage "Then it's not our god you worship..." I shouted then quickly attacked but someone blocked my sword... the girl with orange eyes, like a lightning flaming weapon suddenly appeared in her palm.

"Chief!!" My soldiers shouted and immediately attacked to help me.

In just an instant, the sorcerer knocked out all the soldiers because of his unique black power.

"I warned you, that's the last chance I can give..." the woman said.

I don't understand what she's playing at... from the tone of her voice it seems like she's not an opponent... but she might just be deceiving me.

I attacked again and she immediately fought back while the old Mage just kept staring and watching us.

"Stop this, please" the woman added.

"Phoebe!!" the old mage shouted. "He's not on our side!!, he killed all the monsters in this land... He deserves to die!."

The woman did not listen to what the mage said... in my next attack she caught my hand and quickly grabbed my sword and thrust it into my back with the sword on fire.

"Well done Phoebe, I never doubted you" the mage had a smirk on his lips as he uttered those words.

The stabbing in my back got worse and it penetrated my heart "Ahhh" I screamed in pain and fell to my knees as I slowly vomited my own blood.

The woman was looking into my eyes sadly— seems like she's in pain too.

 "I didn't expect that an angelic face of yours would end my life" I said weakly.

"You were meant for me... you have the twin of my flame and now I'm taking it back for now" when the woman let go of those words she hugged me without hesitation. 

The sword that pierced my heart went into her heart when she hugged me.

"No way!, Phoebe!!" the old mage shouted.

"This is the only w-way I know to save you from the m-murdered monsters that will haunt your s-soul when you are reborn" Phoebe stammered.

THIRD P.O.V

When both of them lost their lives, the previously yellow color of the moon became as red as blood.

Cyrus and Phoebe's stab wounds lit up. Red fire came out from Phoebe and blue from Cyrus.

For a moment the twin flames were in contact then the red flame moved to the young man's body at the same time Cyrus' soul moved to Phoebe's body along with the blue flame. The girl's orange colored hair has now turned into black.

"Phoebe!!" shouted the old magician and immediately separated Phoebe's body from Cyrus.

He mourns the loss of her only child, Phoebe. "Why did you do that!" he said while crying and hugging the girl's lifeless body.

In his fury, the red moon was suddenly covered with dark clouds and heavy rain poured down "I curse!!!, in the name of my child... I curse the new phoenix! that every passing of a hundred years your body will burn with fire as a sign of my wrath and be reborn from your own ashes!!. And I swear that your eternal life will be one of pain until you beg for your death."

The sorcerer's anger brought a terrible deluge across the land. His vengeful heart ended the lives of Cyrus' entire family and the citizens of Agnarr in just that night.