***

At the village of Allrose, a knock echoed through the quiet house. 'Knock, knock.'

"Brother Darian, it's me, Baren." The sound of a door creaking open.

"Baren, when did you arrive?" asked Darian.

"Earlier this afternoon, brother. I stopped by the bar for a bit," Baren replied.

"I see. Well, come in. We're about to have dinner," Darian said.

They sat at the dining table and ate their dinner.

"Fiuh, as always, your cooking is amazing, brother," Baren praised, sighing in delight.

"Ah, it's nothing. If you ever taste Tristan's cooking, you'll never think the same of mine," Darian responded modestly.

"Is it really that good?" Baren asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, even Cheryl and Dheryl are sad they can no longer enjoy his meals," Darian added with a nostalgic smile.

"Oh, by the way, where is Tristan?" Baren inquired.

"Tristan went back to the forest to train. He said he needed to get stronger," Darian answered.

"Even though he's already so strong?" Baren asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yeah, he's a diligent kid," Darian replied fondly.

Baren's gaze then shifted around the room. "Oh, right, I heard that Sister Alya is better now. Where is she? I haven't seen her."

Darian's expression faltered, a flicker of surprise and concern crossing his face. He quickly masked it and said, "Oh, where did you hear that?"

"From the bar, earlier," Baren replied, unaware of Darian's reaction.

Darian stood up quickly, his voice firm. "Wait here, I'll go call Alya."

"Oh Right, Dheryl, Cheryl, your mother asked you two to give her a back rub. Let's go to the room together."

"Alright, Father," Dheryl and Cheryl replied, nodding.

"Just wait a moment, uncle, we'll play afterward!" Cheryl called as she and Dheryl headed to the room.

"Alright, don't rush to play now," Baren teased with a smile.

"Okay, uncle," Cheryl responded sweetly.

Once inside the room, Alya immediately asked, "What is it, Darian? Why are you all here suddenly? Isn't Baren outside?"

"Alya, grab your weapon. Protect the children," Darian commanded urgently.

"What? Why?" Alya asked, her voice laced with confusion.

"Do you remember what Tristan said last night about the parasites and those who cultivate them?" Darian asked, his expression darkening.

"Yes, I remember... Could it be...?" Alya's face paled.

"Yes, you're right. We haven't told anyone in the village yet, but somehow he knows you're better." Darian's words were tinged with both anger and sadness.

Without hesitation, Alya stood up and grabbed her weapon, readying herself. Just then, the door opened abruptly.

"So, no one else knows that Sister Alya is better? How careless of me," Baren said with a smile, completely unaware of the tense atmosphere.

"Baren, why are you doing this to Alya?" Darian asked, moving into a defensive stance while shielding Cheryl and Dheryl behind him.

"Hm... maybe you forgot, brother," Baren sneered, his tone twisted, "but I once loved Alya. And when I realized she loved you instead... well, I thought if I couldn't have her, then no one else should either, not even you, my own brother."

"What? I had no idea," Darian replied, disbelief in his voice.

"Of course you didn't," Baren said, his smile turning sinister. "I never told you." He let out a dark, chilling laugh.

"So, you've joined the dark sorcerers now?" Darian asked, a bitter edge to his voice.

"A dark sorcerer? Oh no, no, I only work with them. Ah, almost forgot." Baren pulled a small crystal orb from his pocket, channeling mana into it as he spoke, "Begin the operation. I've been exposed, so there's no reason to delay our plans any further."

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"What plan are you talking about?" Darian demanded, just as the sounds of shattering wood and terrified screams echoed from the village. 'Crash!' "Aaaaah!"

"This plan," Baren answered, grinning and pointing over his shoulder with his thumb.

"What have you done, Baren?" Darian's voice shook with fury.

"They wanted to reduce this village to ashes. I only delayed them because you and Alya were here. Once Alya's curse lifted, there was no reason to hold back. Now... I'll finish this with my own hands." Baren's laughter turned frenzied, filled with an unhinged malice.

"You've lost your mind, Baren! All of this... just because Alya didn't return your love?" Darian spat, his eyes blazing with anger.

"That's part of it, sure," Baren sneered. "But mostly, it's because of you. You were always better at everything, everything! and I despised you for it. Enough talk. Now, it's time to end this."

Dark mana coiled around Baren's outstretched hand, pulsing with an ominous energy.

"RUN, ALYA! TAKE THE CHILDREN!" Darian shouted, desperate as he urged Alya to flee with Dheryl and Cheryl.

"Not so fast." Baren hurled a sphere of dark mana toward Alya, but Darian swiftly intercepted it, slicing through the attack with his sword. "Run, Alya. I'll catch up," Darian urged her.

"Go on, run," Baren sneered.

"You won't get far. The village is already surrounded by monsters." His laughter echoed, dripping with malice.

"Shut up, Baren!" Darian charged toward him, sword raised, intent on striking. But Baren quickly cast a defensive spell, blocking Darian's blow.

"Oh, so you're really going to cut down your own brother, huh, big brother?" Baren taunted.

"Silence!" Darian snapped. "I won't hear that from someone who's willing to destroy his own family." He channeled his mana into his sword, causing it to glow with fierce energy.

"Oh, looks like you've picked up some new tricks, haven't you?" Baren mocked.

"Yes," Darian replied coldly. "This is the very technique Tristan used to cut down a swarm of monsters." With a powerful swing, Darian unleashed a wave of mana toward Baren. The energy tore through Baren's defensive shield, striking him hard.

"Arrgh!" Baren cried out in pain, staggering from the blow. In that moment of weakness, he turned and sprinted after Alya and the children, intent on catching them.

Darian ran toward the village's main gate, but he froze as the scene before him took his breath away.

"No… no, this can't be happening," he muttered, his voice breaking. His sword fell from his hand as he sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "Please… let them go," he begged.

In front of him, an ogre held Alya by the throat, while Dheryl and Cheryl were restrained by orcs, helplessly struggling against their captors.

"Well, look who's here," a woman standing beside Dheryl and Cheryl taunted, her gaze fixed on Darian. "Look, children, your father is on his knees, begging for you," she laughed cruelly.

"Fa... Father." Dheryl and Cheryl sobbed, fear and confusion etched on their young faces.

"Please… please let my family go. I'll do anything. Just tell me what you want," Darian pleaded, his voice hollow and defeated.

The woman chuckled, a smirk playing on her lips. "What I want? It's simple, really, the death of the so-called hero."

"Hero?" Darian repeated, his desperation giving way to a grim acceptance. "Fine, whatever you want. Just please, spare my family."

Suddenly, a voice rang out, furious and distorted.

"Argh! You… traitorous witch! I will kill you myself. Give me those captives, Elza! You promised I'd be the one to kill them!" Baren snarled, his face twisted in rage and burned with hatred.

"Look who we have here, the little brother who so desperately wants his sibling dead," Elza sneered, her laugh cutting through the air.

"Shut up, Elza! I won't let you kill them," Baren snapped, fury darkening his face.

"Yes, yes, as per our agreement," Elza replied mockingly. "But your dear brother here has agreed to kill a hero in exchange for his family's safety. What should we do about that?" She gave Baren a dismissive smile.

"A hero?" Baren laughed, a sinister edge to his tone. "He doesn't even know who the hero is! If he did, he'd never agree."

"Is that so?" Elza taunted.

"I don't care who this hero is," Darian interrupted, determination hardening his voice. "If it's what it takes to protect my family, I'll do it."

"Well, then, you'll be pleased to know," Elza said, a menacing smile twisting her lips, "the hero's name is… Cheryl Rubeaux."

"Wha… what? No, that's impossible!" Darian stammered, disbelief flooding his face. "Cheryl occupation is a potion maker, nothing more. There must be a mistake!"

"Oh, indeed," Elza smirked, her voice dripping with derision. "Haven't you ever thought to check her status without your wife hovering over you?"

"What… what do you mean?" Darian asked, confusion and unease rippling through him.

"Did it never strike you as strange that The King of Swords, Gran Ciyane, and his wife would visit a small, insignificant village like this so often?" Elza's words were slow, deliberate.

"They… they were the lord that Alya's serve before" Darian protested, clinging to his reasoning.

"True enough," Elza sneered, "but there's a reason beyond that. Your wife was given a divine revelation that she would bear a hero, and she shared this with Gran and his wife. They relocated her here to keep her safe. So, tell me, what kind of husband doesn't know his own wife's fate?" Elza's laughter was sharp, victorious.

Darian froze, staring at Alya. Her sad smile trembled, her eyes apologizing for the hidden truth.

"Don't worry, though," Elza continued with a twisted grin. "We've altered our plans. We won't kill the hero, but as for the rest…" She paused, then coldly issued her command: "Annihilate them, and take the hero back to headquarters."

In an instant, a group of black-clad figures appeared from the shadows, their voices a sinister chorus. "Yes Boss!."

The black-clad men moved methodically through the village, slaughtering any survivors in their path. The air filled with the horrified screams of villagers.

"Oh, and those three, give them to Baren," Elza commanded, gesturing toward Dheryl, Alya, and Darian.

"Understood, boss" one of the men replied.

"I won't allow it!" Darian shouted, gripping his sword and preparing to fight. But before he could act, one of the black-clad figures struck him down with a brutal blow, rendering him unconscious.

Dheryl's cries grew hysterical as he watched his family fall. Alya lay unconscious, and Cheryl had already been taken away, disappearing into the night.