The birthday gift

The grand hall of the imperial palace was electric with excitement as Prince Eyin's 18th name-day dawned, marking his transition from boyhood to manhood. Torches and candles cast a warm glow on the assembled nobles and courtiers, all gathered to witness the prince's coming of age.

At the head of the hall, the Emperor and Empress sat on their thrones, beaming with pride. Prince Eyin stood before them, his expression neutral, dressed in a simple yet elegant robe.

The high priestess stepped forward, her eyes shining with wisdom. "Today, we gather to witness Prince Eyin's passage into adulthood. May the gods guide him."

The emperor rose, a small, ornate box in hand. "My son, come forward and receive the symbols of your manhood." Prince Eyin stepped forward, his movements measured.

The emperor opened the box, revealing a golden circlet adorned with the royal emblem. "By the power vested in me, I dub thee a man, Prince Eyin. May you wear this circlet with honor and wisdom."

As the circlet was placed on his brow, the room erupted into cheers and applause. But Prince Eyin's face remained impassive. He turned and walked out of the hall, followed by his personal guard, Palov.

They rode through the quiet road, the celebrations fading into the distance.

At the First Prince's Residence, Prince Eyin dismounted and strode inside, his expression still neutral.

Palov followed, his eyes watchful. "Your Highness, is everything alright?" he asked as Prince Eyin stood on the balcony, gazing out into the night.

But Prince Eyin didn't respond, lost in his thoughts.

As he walked into his bed chamber, the soft glow of candles and lamps enveloped him, casting a warm ambiance. He sat on his bed, one leg propped up, elbow resting on his knee, and head in his palm, eyes closed. The silence was a welcome respite from the day's celebrations.

A knock on the door broke the stillness. "Enter," he said, without opening his eyes.

"Your Highness," Palov's voice announced, followed by the soft creak of the door.

Instead of Palov's solo footsteps, two sets of feet approached. Prince Eyin's eyes snapped open. "Your Highness, he has arrived," Palov said, bowing.

Prince Eyin's gaze shifted to the figure beside Palov. An assassin from the D.I.H. stood before him, holding a box. He was taken aback. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

The assassin, wounded, replied calmly, "Money has been paid, task completed."

Prince Eyin sprang to his feet, his sword unsheathing itself and flying into his hand. He aimed it at the assassin's neck. "But I already said—"

The assassin didn't flinch. Palov intervened, "Your Highness, the D.I.H. has a rule, one you're familiar with."

Prince Eyin's hand trembled as he held his sword against the assassin's neck, his eyes squinting in anguish. "That means you..." He glanced at the box, his voice trailing off.

As he trembled, his gaze dropped, the sword still pressed against the assassin's neck. "Is that...his head?" he whispered.

"No, it's not." The assassin said.

Prince Eyin's eyes snapped back to the assassin. "So, he's still alive?"

The assassin's response was flat. "No."

Prince Eyin withdrew his sword, his strength seemingly drained. He walked backward, collapsed onto his bed, and sat there, defeated.

The assassin approached him, holding out the box. Prince Eyin collected it and placed a trembling hand on it, unsure if he wanted to open it.

He took a deep, shaky breath, closed his eyes, and opened the box. Inside, he saw a bloody blue robe. His eyes widened in horror, and he dropped the box beside him, unable to bear the sight.

Covering his face with his palm, he tried to hold back his tears, his body shaking with sobs.

Prince Eyin's hands trembled, his veins bulging as he struggled to maintain composure. Tears streamed down his face as he begged, "Tell me what happened."

The assassin began, "We arrived at Bacain Cliff and found the man in the blue robe. Our team, led by the invisible ghost, thought it would be a swift kill. But we were wrong."

He paused, eyes widening in awe. "This person was young, appeared weak, but possessed unfathomable strength. 

I've never encountered anyone like him, old or young, not in all my years as an assassin.

His internal power was staggering, possibly Phase 8, Sovereign, or even...immortal."

The assassin's body shook as he recalled the events. "He wielded a sword that moved on its own, achieving the impossible."

Palov's curiosity got the better of him. "What impossible feat are you speaking of?"

The assassin's eyes locked onto Palov, his voice filled with awe. "He turned water into fire! I witnessed it myself!"

Prince Eyin removed his hand from his face, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Water...to fire? If he was that powerful, how did he die?"

The assassin took a deep breath before continuing. "The invisible ghost asked for his name, and he replied, 'Nameless.' With a swift strike, he killed the ghost, leaving only me alive. He brought me to him with his powers and questioned me about our employer."

The assassin paused, recalling the events. "I described the person we were hired to kill, based on your information. He looked disoriented, as if his spirit were crushed for a moment. I'm grateful to be alive, not just because he spared me, but also because I get to share the tale of this extraordinary swordsman."

The assassin's voice dropped to a whisper, as if the memory still haunted him. "Then I saw my chance. I seized the moment, striking him with a swift slash of my blade. He stumbled, his footing unsure, and I took advantage of the opening. With a swift kick, I sent him tumbling over the edge of the cliff."

He paused, his eyes glazing over as he relived the moment. "He fell, his body arcing through the air, towards the unforgiving sea below. But before he vanished from sight, I grasped onto his robe, holding on with a desperation that surprised even myself."

The assassin's gaze snapped back to Prince Eyin, his eyes locking onto his. "Yet, I cannot say I killed him. It was as if he willfully let go. Surrendered to his fate. His face, his eyes...they seemed like he had lost his spirit."

He took a deep breath, the memory still lingering in his mind like a ghost. "His face is forever etched in my memory. I can never forget the look in his eyes."