Chapter 2

"May the goddess of light, Celine, protect Aizen."

There are six scattered gemstones for each participant. Those gemstones will follow the participants and record all of their actions. In front of us is a large gemstone connected to the six scattered gemstones.

The gemstone in front of us is showing all six of them. My eyes are focused on Aizen and Aixer. Aizen is near a lake, while Aixer is fighting three rapist goblins. Those goblins really get on my nerves. They harass every girl they see.

The others are fighting assassins sent by the emperor. But even though they are assassins, they cannot kill a member of the royal family. The only thing they can do is threaten them to give up their seat as the successor.

Everyone may think that the Emperor is kind, but it's the opposite. He's a scheming old man. My mother's death is still unknown due to a curse placed on her by a dark magic user. If I ever find out who cursed my mother, I swear I'll gouge their eyes out and torture them. Hearing someone scream brings me satisfaction. Then I would slice them into pieces and leave their body near the death forest so that semi-demons and goblins can feast on it. And those relatives of 'that' person, I will erase their existence from this world.

"Cain?" The emperor interrupted my thoughts and I flinched. I glanced at him and noticed his follower staring at me. "Yes, your majesty?" I politely said. "Have you ever thought about your biological father?" My eyes went bigger and it shocked me. I never once thought about my biological father. I calmed myself and answered, "Never once did I think about my biological father, but now that Your Majesty mentions it, I'm having thoughts about him right now. I don't really care about him, maybe by now he's dead."

"Ohh... you really resemble your father and act the way he does, cold and prideful as always..." I flinched. "What?" I glanced and stared at him, waiting for his response. He just smirked and didn't reply. I bit my lower waiting for his response.

"Your Highness, Cain. It is impolite to stare at His Majesty," Ronny, one of his followers, reprimanded. I was angry, so I shifted my gaze to the large gemstone and immediately noticed Aizen crawling in the grass, sporting a bruise on his face. It had only been a few seconds, maybe minutes, since I turned to His Majesty, but I didn't expect Aizen to be injured so quickly.

I examined him closely, trying to determine who had harmed him. My primary suspect was Aixer, but he was preoccupied with battling a weak demon in the other gemstone.

I was so focused that I failed to notice a massive explosion in the Death Forest, even though the gemstone didn't detect it, and to make matters worse, the gemstone was shattered. The audience panicked, but the imperial knights reassured them, ensuring their safety.

"What is going on?" I whispered as I stood up, nervously biting my fingernail while observing Aizen, whose hands were bleeding profusely. Aizen might be in danger with those bruises and the continuous bleeding. I scanned the surroundings, determined to find something helpful.

I spotted a horse near the audience's seats, so I promptly mounted it and couldn't hear what His Majesty had said. I landed safely and then looked up, encountering the furious emperor. "Cain! Where do you think you're going?" The emperor bellowed. He was genuinely angry, but why?

"I'm heading to the Death Forest. I'm afraid Aizen might be seriously hurt," I explained. The people stared at me, shocked that I dared to talk back to their beloved emperor. But he seemed unconcerned, neglecting Aizen and favoring Aixer.

"So what? Come back here. Aizen is fine. Why do you always have to worry?" His remarks darkened my face as I bit my lip again and shouted back at him.

"Forget it! Aizen can't fully control his magic, while his opponents are all formidable, and that explosion just now! It must be the work of your despicable assassins!" All eyes were on me, and it was embarrassing. For a moment, I regretted my words. Even if I despised him, he was still the one who raised me. But still, "Tsk!"

"Cain! Return here immediately! That is an order!" He shouted. I looked away and obediently followed his command. "Yes, Your Grace."

"Your words are unforgivable!" He said, breathing heavily. "I might die from being a parent to all of you." The moment I heard those words, I suppressed the urge to laugh. Parent? What a joke!

Then I flinched, and my eyes widened when another explosion occurred, but this time it was larger than the first, and the forest was ablaze. Only Aixer, Thorin, and Lana had the ability to summon the spirit of fire, but it was more likely to be Aixer. However, Thorin, who recklessly summoned the spirit of fire, could also be responsible.

"Aizen," I whispered. Aizen and I grew up together and were both loved by my mother. Aizen yearned for a mother's love, but the empress couldn't fulfill it, which ultimately led to her death while giving birth to the twins. Aizen always longed for his father's love, while Aixer was always favored by the emperor. One day, when we became close, he visited the mother's palace, but his desperate attempts to be loved by his father never ceased.

It only grew stronger with each passing day. I wished for him to forget about his father, the Emperor, and focus on the life we had, but he persisted in seeking his father's affection. As for me, I never thought about my biological father. And if I did, the only image that came to mind was him lying in his grave.

Aizen is my best friend and also my cousin. Even if I coldly ignore him or say something rude, he is always there for me, always providing comfort.

"It seems that Princess Ashrin failed to retrieve the black gemstone. What a disappointing event," the host said. But on the bright side, Ashrin wasn't around. If she hears about it, she'll throw a tantrum like she always does. She's a spoiled brat, but she's also kind.

I noticed one of my uncle's followers came near him and then the emperor whispered, "Cain."

"Yes, Your Majesty?" I glanced at him, and he pointed at the back. I immediately looked to see who it was, and it was Ashrin crying. "Ashrin wants to talk to her older cousin," said the emperor. I stood up and walked towards Ashrin, who couldn't stop crying. She wiped her tears, slowly but surely.

"Ashrin..."

"Cain, I need to talk to you in private," she said, looking at the man behind me. The man noticed and bowed before leaving the two of us. "I need your help," she said desperately.

"The reason why I exploded in the Death Forest was because of Aixer. He threatened to kill me, so when he was busy fighting some goblins and semi-demons, I ran away. He also mentioned that he would kill the others. Even if I say this to Father, he would never believe me. The favorite is always him. I loathe him," she said and complained. I didn't say anything and just listened to her.

I was shocked when she kneeled in front of me. "Wha—"

"Save them..." she pleaded.

"Why would I?" I uttered. She looked above me, and both her eyes went big. "W-Why?"

"Yes, why would I bother to save someone useless? Isn't it better for them to die? It also benefits you, no one to compete anymore?!" I coldly said and waited for her response. I was expecting her to cry or beg more, but to my shock, she stood up and punched my face fast. She grabbed me by the collar and faced me desperately.