Path of the Extra

The sky was a relentless gray—a vast, unbroken sheet of cloud covering the entire void realm. No sun. No crack. No hint of blue. No rain or thunder. Just gray.

As Azriel stared up, a strange solemnity settled over him. He didn't understand why, but something about it felt... lonely.

He sighed, leaning against one of the broken walls, watching people rush around, building the void capital or preparing for their missions. It was chaotic, but he understood—there wasn't a second to waste in a place like this.

This void capital, unlike others, was surrounded by unconquered territory. It was far more dangerous; one wrong move could mean disaster. And everyone here knew the stakes, especially with the king trapped in the Sunken Islands.

'I wonder what he's really doing out there...'

Azriel didn't buy the rumors of why his father was supposedly stuck. The idea of him being trapped seemed laughable. Nor did he trust Amon's explanations or his mother's reassurances.

'He's there for his own reasons. Well, I'm here for mine.'

Like father, like son. Each had their own goals to pursue.

'Still, I didn't expect to come here so soon. Lucky that Lumine made this easier by coming willingly.'

The story of Azriel's two-year stay in the void realm was just a cover, and now he had to act like someone who knew how to survive here—someone with experience. It would be exhausting, but it had to be done, and he needed Lumine here for it.

"Hmm?"

Azriel's gaze shifted as he noticed someone approaching him, eyes fixed on him. He felt a smile curve his lips as he saw her in the crimson military uniform. Her obsidian-black hair was tied back, her face unreadable, green eyes sharp, and a black bow strapped to her back.

He furrowed his brow, noticing a few men glancing at her as they passed.

'I'll remember their faces.'

For now, he let it go. Yelena either hadn't noticed, or more likely, she ignored them. She stopped before him.

"It's rare to see you alone, without Lumine nearby."

Azriel was the first to break the silence, watching her furrow her brows as she sat beside him, leaning against the broken wall.

"I'm not his babysitter."

"I suppose that's true."

A chuckle escaped his lips as he sat down next to her.

Yelena took her bow, placing it on her lap, and Azriel's gaze settled on it.

"That's a fine soul weapon. You're lucky to have one, you and Lumine both."

Yelena looked down at her bow, a small smile softening her face. She ran her fingers over it with a rare tenderness.

"It was a gift from Lumine."

"...I see."

Azriel said nothing more, leaning back against the stone wall.

'He can't buy soul weapons, but that doesn't mean he can't earn them through quests. How ridiculous is that system of his?'

He knew that everything came at a price. Yelena probably didn't realize it yet, but whatever quest Lumine completed to earn this weapon was likely cruel.

'They care for each other.'

"Aren't you going to ask?"

"Hm?"

Azriel turned to her, caught off guard by her sudden question.

"Are you not curious how someone like Lumine—someone from a regular background—managed to acquire a soul weapon? Even if he's gifted, that doesn't explain how he has a soul weapon or another one to give away. Or how he knew of His Majesty when everyone doubted him. But you… you believed him."

"...."

"You even fought against the Queen to let us come here. Why?"

She didn't think a prince could be this generous without expecting something in return. To her, Azriel seemed suspicious. Perhaps, to some, he could be a fool with a kind heart—but no fool could orchestrate a plan that might bring down a saint.

But, maybe, in his own way, Azriel was a fool—a terrifying one unafraid of opposing the most powerful humans.

That fear showed in her gaze, the way she looked at him as if he were something… inhuman. It was confusing to Azriel. He hadn't done anything to warrant such a reaction.

'Is it my appearance? Here I thought I was good-looking... Maybe I was getting ahead of myself.'

Inwardly disappointed, he was saved from his spiral of self-critique as Yelena spoke, carefully.

"You don't ask questions like the others. Why does Lumine have a natural battle instinct, when he's never fought a void creature? Why does he have a soul weapon? And why did you risk so much to help us?"

She couldn't believe he would be this generous without some hidden motive.

Azriel's smile faded as he stared silently at Yelena, who was doing her best to meet his gaze without wavering. Finally, he spoke in a low voice.

"Tell me, Yelena, do you… not like me? As a person, I mean."

"Huh?"

Her eyes widened, momentarily thrown off by his unexpected question.

Azriel waited calmly, neither pushing nor retreating, giving her space to answer.

After a pause, Yelena bit her lip, her gaze shifting. She hesitated, but in the end, now that she'd come this far… she decided to tell the truth.

"No, I… I do not like you as a person, my prince."

Contrary to what she expected, Azriel smiled warmly at her, catching Yelena off guard. She found herself momentarily captivated by that unexpected warmth before, somewhat amusingly, she shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"And why is that?"

Azriel asked, his tone calm.

Blinking in confusion, Yelena looked up at him, realizing he was asking her to elaborate.

"Why is it that you don't like me?" he repeated.

"That…" she hesitated.

There were plenty of reasons, but if she had to name one...

"Is it because of your [Unique Skill]?"

"...!"

The color drained from Yelena's face. She stared at him in horror, her wide eyes betraying her shock.

"H-how…?"

Azriel simply laughed, as if her reaction amused him. She could only sit, frozen, her gaze fixed on his.

Those blood-red eyes—they were intimidating, somehow large enough to seem like they could see through every part of her, leaving no room for secrets. Fear turned to terror.

Azriel continued to look at her as if nothing were amiss, which only made her discomfort intensify.

"[Instinct]—that's the name of your [Unique Skill], right? You never told anyone besides Lumine about it," he said, his tone casual.

"A skill that's quite literally what it sounds like, and doesn't need mana to function. It's always active… quite an abnormal skill, if I do say so myself."

Yelena's mind blanked as he revealed this knowledge, a secret only she and Lumine shared. She knew Lumine would never tell anyone… so how did Azriel know?

"Yelena, let me offer you some advice…"

She swallowed audibly, unable to look away as he continued.

"Don't trust anyone—not the government, not the great clans, not the kings, not the queens, and definitely not us princes and princesses."

For some reason, his words sounded sincere, almost kind. He was still smiling, that gentle smile that hadn't left his face. There was no malice, just a quiet warning.

Before she realized it, the question was already out of her mouth.

"…Why?"

Azriel's smile widened, shifting into something more crooked.

"Do you know about the Ten Gods, Yelena?"

Again, he answered her question with a different question. Still, she nodded slowly.

"Of course you do. Everyone does," he went on.

"Though the Church's influence isn't very strong here in Asia yet; it's mostly in America. That will change soon… and when it does, everything will begin."

For the first time, his expression turned serious, almost intense, and she nearly squirmed under his gaze. She didn't understand why he was bringing up the gods, but something in his tone made it impossible to dismiss his words.

Then he spoke, and the weight of his next words hit her like a stone.

"What if I told you that the Ten Gods are all a lie…"

"...."

Before she could even process his words, Azriel continued.

"What if I told you the Ten Gods aren't really gods, but creations of the government and the great clans?"

"No… that… that can't be true…"

She didn't want to believe it; it didn't make sense.

The gods—a lie?

Azriel didn't wait for her to respond, instead pressing forward with a question.

"Do you know when it all began, Yelena? The first appearance of a Void Rift?"

Yelena met his gaze, answering almost instinctively,

"1999… the first Void Rift appeared in Europe."

Of course she would know; if there was anything she loved, aside from a certain blond-haired someone, it was history.

Azriel smiled.

"1999… the year it all started. The year the continents began to draw closer, the appearance of mana, the crack in the sky… and the Void Realm."

He looked at her, watching her listen intently.

"Anyone who survived those events would later be known as part of the First Void Generation…"

Yelena's expression turned wary, and she couldn't hold back anymore.

"What does this have to do with the gods? With not trusting anyone? Or with you knowing about my [Unique Skill]?"

Azriel chuckled, glancing at her with something like amusement.

"You don't see it? This entire world of ours survives on lies…"

Yelena's face darkened.

"You're the one who's lying…"

Azriel's smile shifted, turning almost sinister.

"Perhaps… or perhaps I'm not. But you'd do well to trust that [Instinct] of yours, Yelena… and to know that those very gods you believe in—they came with this Void Realm we humans now call hell."