Interlude I: A Tragedy of Days Gone By
It was a tale from over a decade ago—
It was burning.
A remote farming village, encircled by a detachment of the imperial army, was burning.
The houses, the fields, the villagers. Their peaceful lives.
All sorrow, all fury, all wailing—everything in that place was being consumed by the flames.
The entire scene was dyed crimson, the heavens scorched by the scarlet lament.
Among the soldiers surrounding the burning village—there stood a man.
(Wonderful)
Lord Azel Le Ignite.
In his tightly clenched hand was the “Red Key.”
The fiercer the flames that devoured the village grew, the more brilliantly the “Red Key” gleamed.
That key, through a certain spell, was absorbing the lives of the villagers being burned.
(Power surges within me… I am being reborn as a higher existence, transcending humanity… Hmph, it’s galling, but as that man advised, the people of this village were indeed descendants of a special ancient bloodline… is that it?)
The name of this burning village was Gusta.
Though situated in a remote region, this peaceful village, which boasted a considerable size and population, vanished forever from the map today—name and all.
…As a sacrifice to a certain man’s vile ambitions and desires.
(But I will never bow to that man. I will use this power to surpass him, to exceed his schemes, and stand at the pinnacle of all. This is merely preparation for that goal.)
Yet the man who orchestrated this tragedy felt no guilt.
To him, everything and everyone around him was merely a pawn to be used, a disposable tool.
(The objective is complete. Now, to ensure no evidence remains—)
Just as Lord Ignite was about to issue orders to his subordinates, it happened.
“Father—!”
A single Hræsvelgr streaked through the sky like an arrow—
And from its back, someone leaped off, descending gracefully.
It was a girl. A teenage girl clad in a pristine mage’s ceremonial robe.
Landing lightly, her vivid crimson hair, clear as crystal, flowed behind her as she rushed toward Lord Ignite.
Her eyes, brimming with the pure hue of violet flames, glared up at Lord Ignite.
“What is it, Lydia? Did I not order you to stand by?”
“Father, are you in your right mind!? Did you truly carry out that strategy!?”
Undaunted by Lord Ignite’s displeased glare, the girl—Lydia—confronted him fiercely.
“What… what have you done!? Do you even understand what you’ve caused!? What crime did the people of Gusta commit!?”
“Hmph. Did I not tell you? An unknown ‘plague’ has spread in Gusta”, Lord Ignite replied coldly.
“If we don’t contain it here, it will eventually claim countless imperial citizens. It would be too late then. Understood? This is a necessary sacrifice, a just decision—”
“Does this ‘plague’ even exist!?”
Lydia pressed further in rebuttal.
“I investigated from multiple sources! There’s no evidence that such a ‘plague’—”
“Hmph. The impromptu findings of an immature girl like you are hardly worth considering”, Lord Ignite scoffed, dismissing Lydia’s words.
But then—
“Father…! The Ignite family is the pillar of the empire’s magical and martial traditions, bearers of the duty that comes with power! We are true nobles who protect the weak and powerless!” Lydia declared resolutely, her eyes and will blazing stronger than ever.
“With the sacred flame of magic, we dispel the darkness, protect the people, and illuminate their path forward—that is the pride of《Lord Scarlet》Ignite, is it not!?”
“…”
“And yet… and yet…! How could you do this to the very people you’re meant to protect—!?”
At that moment.
Suddenly, Lord Ignite reached out and seized Lydia’s slender neck.
Without mercy, he began to strangle her, lifting her off the ground.
“Ka—!? Ah—!”
“Watch your tongue, my daughter”, Lord Ignite’s cold, ruthless eyes pierced through Lydia as she writhed in agony at his grasp.
“If you were that fool Aries, I would’ve strangled you to death on the spot.”
Thud! Lord Ignite flung Lydia’s body to the ground.
“Gah! Cough…! How…!” Lydia, crawling on the ground and coughing, choked out her words.
“How could you say such a thing…!? My sister… Aries is your daughter too, Father! And yet…!?”
“Hmph. That incompetent is no daughter of mine. To think she carries my blood—what a disgrace.”
“Please, look at her more closely! True, she lacks talent in flame magic… but she has potential in illusion magic—”
“Silence.”
With a sharp snap, Lord Ignite cut her off.
In that moment, a deadly aura of rage emanated from his quiet demeanor.
Overwhelmed by his presence, Lydia fell silent.
“Lydia. You are exceptional, as I expected. That’s why I grant you a degree of freedom. But if you defy me too much—”
Whoosh! Lord Ignite ignited a flame at his fingertips and thrust it toward Lydia’s forehead as she crouched.
“…!”
Yet Lydia did not flinch. She glared back at the flame—and at her father.
However, even though she was among the most gifted Ignites in generations, Lydia was still inexperienced. The gap in power between her and her father was undeniable.
And Lord Ignite was a man who followed through on his threats.
Be it his own daughter, his kin, or anyone else—he showed no mercy.
Lydia knew this better than anyone.
“…Guh.”
Lydia thought to herself.
Her father was wrong.
Destroying this village for some unknown purpose and reason.
The unjust neglect and mistreatment of her sister Aries.
For Lydia, who always strove to be just, standing her ground here was not something she would shy away from. As his daughter, she had to stop her father’s rampage.
But… if she stood firm here and was killed—who would protect Aries?
Her sister, who, simply for lacking talent in the Ignite family’s secret flame magic, was despised and treated coldly by their father and household. Who would protect her if not Lydia?
“…I’m sorry, Father”, Lydia finally said, bowing her head in frustration.
“I was wrong. Please forgive my overstepping…”
“Hmph. Good that you understand. I am lenient with those who are wise”, Lord Ignite said dismissively, turning on his heel.
“Withdraw. Erase all traces. Let’s move—”
…And so.
A story now unknown to all quietly drew its curtain.
