Prologue- The Balance is Born

  Rain hammered the stone walls of the estate as thunder crashed through the night sky.

  Inside the dimly lit chamber, nerves and anxiousness hung thick in the air. Servants moved quickly while the doctor worked carefully, his movements precise despite the storm raging outside.

  Suddenly, a newborn baby’s cry pierced the room.

  The tension in the air broke instantly.

  The doctor gently lifted the child and wrapped her in cloth.

  “She’s a beautiful girl,” he said.

  Everyone in the room let out a quiet sigh of relief.

  Everyone except one man.

  Standing in the distance with his eyes fixed on the child was Haruto—the strongest Guardian in the entire kingdom and protector of the royal bloodline.

  He whispered under his breath.

  “Something is off about this child… she is different.”

  Without warning, Haruto activated his core.

  The candles in the room blew out as an unfamiliar pressure filled the air.

  “...Haruto?” Victor stepped forward, noticing the pale look on his friend’s face.“What is it?”

  Haruto didn’t move.

  His gaze remained locked on the child.

  The baby cried again.

  Then, for just a moment… her eyes opened.

  Gold.

  Not a warm candlelight gold.

  Something deeper. Something ancient.

  Energy pulsed through the air once more.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  “No… that’s impossible.”

  The words caught in Haruto’s throat.

  Victor stepped closer.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Haruto ignored him and slowly approached the child.

  He could feel it.

  An overwhelming amount of energy radiating from the newborn.

  He had only ever read about power like this before.

  Stories passed down through generations—legends meant to be remembered should such energy ever appear again.

  But those were only stories.

  No one truly believed them.

  Except Haruto.

  Finally, he spoke.

  “…World Balancer.”

  Victor froze.

  He knew exactly what those words meant.

  If Haruto was right, this child possessed a power that had only appeared once in the entire history of the Guardians.

  The power that maintained the balance of the world itself.

  Victor looked down at the baby before quietly whispering to Haruto.

  “Does anyone else know?”

  Haruto slowly shook his head.

  “Impossible… but it’s only a matter of time.”

  Victor exhaled quietly.

  “That means…”

  Haruto finished the thought.

  “…He will feel it.”

  “War is coming.”

  Outside, the storm roared even louder.

  And far beyond the borders of the kingdom—

  something stirred.

  In a land where the earth itself had been twisted by corruption, a lone figure sat upon a throne carved from black stone.

  Then—

  his eyes opened.

  A wave of energy rippled through the air.

  The man tilted his head slightly, as if listening to something only he could hear.

  A smirk formed across his face.

  “So…”

  He slowly rose from his throne.

  “…that wretched bloodline still exists.”

  He walked toward the window.

  A nearby soldier hesitated.

  “My lord?”

  The man ignored him, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon.

  His smirk slowly turned into a smile.

  “After all this time… the world still tries to correct itself.”

  He turned toward the soldier.

  “Prepare the army.”

  The soldier stiffened.

  “At once, your highness.”

  The man stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the twisted land below.

  Lightning illuminated the corrupted landscape.

  “Before the child is able to bear the world’s balance…”

  His voice was quiet.

  “…she will become its end.”

  And somewhere far away—

  a newborn girl slept peacefully,

  unaware that her birth had already begun a war.

  Author's Note

  Thank you so much for reading! I would love your feedback.