Imperial faces off against a dangerous captain threatening Dawn's village. After an intense duel, Imperial effortlessly defeats him, revealing the captain's blackmail scheme. With the captain dead and the village saved, Imperial is granted access to the hidden library, securing both the village's secret and their safety.
Scene: Return to the Village
As they returned to the village, the night breeze gently rustled the leaves. Lanterns flickered to life as villagers stepped out of their homes, their faces etched with concern and hope.
Dawn's mother rushed forward, eyes wide.
"Dawn!" she cried, wrapping her daughter tightly in her arms. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Mom," Dawn said with a soft smile, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. "Really."
Her father stood nearby, his arms crossed, pride and relief in his gaze.
"Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Not just for protecting my daughter—but for saving the entire village."
Ari stepped forward, waving a hand modestly. "It's not a big deal, Uncle. We were just helping a friend and her family. That's all."
The stars were beginning to scatter across the sky as the village elder approached. "You've all earned our trust. Come with us—there's something you must see."
Scene: The Hidden Library
They were led through a narrow passage behind the village hall to a hidden room carved into stone. The air was thick with age, and the scent of parchment and dust filled the space.
Inside was a humble chamber lined with aged bookshelves. But on a small table in the center sat a single book—its cover worn, its presence commanding.
Imperial stepped forward, drawn to it. He picked it up slowly, and as his eyes scanned the title, his breath caught.
"The Truth Behind This World."
His hand trembled slightly.
"H-How is this possible?" he whispered.
Ari leaned in to see, her eyes widening. "This… this is the same title as the book your father found, isn't it?"
Imperial didn't answer. He just stared at the cover, silent and stunned.
"Why is this book placed alone, separate from the others?" he finally asked, his voice quieter now.
The village elder replied, "Because it holds the most sacred knowledge passed down through generations. Our elders used it to teach us the forgotten history of the world."
Imperial's thoughts raced. This is it… the very book that started it all. The book my father found… the reason he left us.
A flashback surged in his mind—
"I want to know what Father discovered in that book… what made him walk away from his own family," Imperial had once told his mother and brother.
The elder turned to Ari. "You said the title is the same. What do you mean?"
Imperial and Ari exchanged a glance. Then, they explained everything—the mysterious book Imperial's father had found, and how it carried this exact title. A silence settled over the room.
Imperial opened the book with reverence, only to find the pages filled with an ancient script.
Dawn's father shook his head. "This is why we haven't been able to learn from it. No one in the village can read these symbols."
Imperial turned to Ari. "Can you read any of it?"
The elder looked at her with curiosity. "Can this girl truly read ancient languages?"
Ari stepped forward, nodding. "I've studied them… I'll try."
She flipped through the pages carefully, her eyes scanning line after line. Then her brow furrowed, and she shook her head slowly.
"I can't read this either," she said quietly. "This script—it's far older than anything I've seen."
Imperial didn't stop. He kept turning the pages, remembering what his mother once said—that even his father couldn't read it, but still pursued it with determination.
And then—he paused.
A map. Hidden among the pages.
Tracey leaned in. "That… looks like our world map, right?"
Ari nodded. "But it's much larger. See how the coastlines stretch further? Almost as if... something was lost."
Dawn added, "Maybe the sea level rose and swallowed parts of the land."
The others continued speculating, but Imperial was silent, lost in his own thoughts. He carefully sketched the map into his notebook.
He then pulled out a drawing they had found in the cave and showed it to the elder. "Do you recognize this symbol? Or can you read what's written on this pillar?"
The elder examined it carefully, then shook his head. "No… I've never seen this before. And I can't read the script."
Imperial sighed. "Then this text in the book must be even older than the one on the pillar. Maybe it's from a lost civilization… or an entirely different group of people."
They searched through the rest of the books, but found nothing more. That night, they shared a quiet dinner, and the villagers offered rooms for them to sleep.
Ari stayed in Dawn's room. Imperial and Tracey slept in the open hall of the house. Exhausted minds gave way to restless dreams.
________________________________________
Scene: The Next Morning
Morning sunlight spilled across the village, and the laughter of children echoed through the air. Though they had planned to leave, Imperial chose to keep his promise to Dawn.
Ari, Tracey, and Imperial spent the morning playing with the village children, teaching them simple magic techniques. Some kids giggled while trying to conjure small flames, while others ran around with summoned beasts of light.
One child clung to Imperial's arm, laughing. For the first time in a while, he smiled without thinking.
After a few hours, Imperial approached Dawn. "Are you ready?"
Dawn turned, nodding. "Let's go somewhere open."
They gathered by the riverbank, the sound of running water adding to the energy in the air.
"I'll be the referee!" Tracey called out cheerfully.
Dawn stepped into position, her stance strong. "Don't hold back," she said with a smirk.
Imperial chuckled. "I wasn't planning to."
Tracey raised her hand.
"3…"
"2…"
"1…"
"Start!"
In a flash, both fighters vanished—moving at speeds only experienced warriors could follow. A crack echoed through the air as their weapons collided in a burst of energy. Sparks danced between them as they clashed again and again, eyes locked, neither willing to yield.