Illegitimate Blood

Erika had been knocked unconscious by Roy's powerful kick, the impact of which left her crumpled on the ground. Roy, looking down at her briefly, turned his attention to the forest ahead. He drank some water from his flask, collecting his thoughts before addressing Ralf.

"Well then, farewell," Roy said coolly, his voice low but firm. "If you want them back, come to the Royal Capital of Narzan—Kranel."

Ralf's face darkened as he stepped closer, his voice thick with frustration. "Wait, Roy. Before you leave, I need to ask you something."

Roy glanced back at him, his expression unreadable. "And what is it?"

Ralf's gaze was intense, his words heavy with regret. "You were my lord's best friend. But you killed him. Was it truly necessary to kill him? How could you kill him so easily? You're a cruel man."

Roy's eyes narrowed as he sighed, his posture stiffening. "You already know why I killed him," he said coldly. "Miral, your lord, was a coward. He feared death more than anything. He murdered innocents without reason. His sins piled up, and no amount of atonement would save him. As his friend, I ended it for him—so that he wouldn't suffer, and so others wouldn't. I'm no saint, but I did what was necessary."

Ralf stared at Roy for a moment, before he shook his head. "You could have told Erika the truth… She deserves to know why."

Roy's expression darkened, and he spoke in a low, almost bitter tone. "If you couldn't bring yourself to tell her, then I will. I'll tell her the truth about her father. I'll tell her I killed him—because I was the one who ended his suffering."

Ralf let out a short laugh, but it was devoid of humor. "Yeah, maybe you should. You're the one who killed him, after all."

Roy's eyes flicked away, then back to Ralf. He seemed to consider something before speaking again. "One last thing. Can you pass a message to Erika for me?"

Ralf raised an eyebrow, his suspicion growing. "A message? What do you want me to tell her?"

Roy smirked, the corners of his mouth turning upward as he spoke with an almost casual demeanor. "Tell her that if she truly wants the truth about her father's death—and if she wants her siblings back—she needs to come to Kranel, the Royal Capital of Narzan. But that alone won't convince her. Tell her she might have a chance to avenge her father if she comes to me."

His voice lowered in intensity, turning more serious. "But one thing I must warn you: under no circumstances is she to reveal her true identity. If she does, she'll be killed instantly. And if she wants the key to unlocking the mystery of her father's death, she must come to me personally. Tell her everything I said."

Ralf, troubled but resolute, nodded. "I will."

Roy gave a final look over his shoulder. "Farewell, my friend. Don't die before we meet again."

Ralf gritted his teeth. "You really do love giving orders, don't you?"

Roy chuckled darkly before turning his horse toward the dense forest. He didn't look back, his figure soon swallowed by the shadows. Ralf stood there for a long moment, the weight of Roy's words settling on him, before Erika finally began to stir.

---

**Erika Awakens**

Erika groaned as she slowly came to, rubbing her head, confused and disoriented. "What… happened?" she muttered, her voice faint. Her eyes opened slowly, and she saw Ralf standing over her, his face grave.

"Oh, you're awake," Ralf said, his tone gentle but laced with a touch of sorrow. "Are you alright?"

Erika blinked, trying to sit up but wincing at the pain in her head. "I'm alright," she replied, though her voice trembled. She looked up at Ralf, her eyes filled with frustration and sorrow. "Did I really fail to avenge my father?"

Her words broke something inside Ralf, and he sighed deeply. "I'm sorry to say it, but yes, You failed."

Erika's fists clenched, and she punched the ground in frustration. "I had him! I had the perfect chance! And I missed it!" Her voice was raw with emotion, the weight of her failure crashing down on her.

Ralf lowered his head slightly, his voice quieter now. "I know it's hard. But I've got a message for you."

Erika looked up at him, her expression hardening. "What more bad news could there possibly be, Ralf? I'm tired of hearing it."

Ralf smiled faintly, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "It's not bad news, Actually, it's good news."

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Good news? Are you serious? If you're messing with me, I swear…"

Ralf raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm not messing with you, I promise. This message is from Roy."

At the mention of Roy's name, Erika's stomach twisted. "Roy?" Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with dread. "What could he possibly have to say to me?"

Ralf took a deep breath, preparing to reveal the words that had been weighing on him. "It's about your father. About Miral… your father's death. It's not something I could bring myself to tell you before, but now… now I think it's time."

Erika froze, her body going rigid at the mention of her father. Her heart raced. "Roy killed my father, didn't he?"

Ralf nodded slowly. "Yes, he did. But there's more. Roy wants you to know that if you want to understand the truth about your father's death—and if you want your siblings back—you must come to Kranel, the Royal Capital of Narzan."

The words hit Erika like a wave, but she remained still, contemplating. "Kranel?" she repeated, disbelief clouding her voice. "The Royal Capital… where Roy is?"

Ralf nodded again. "Yes. And he said something else: if you come, you might have a chance to avenge your father. But there's a warning. You cannot reveal your true identity. If you do, you'll be killed on the spot. If you want the key to unlocking the mystery of your father's death, you'll have to go to him directly."

Erika's mind was racing. She closed her eyes, her emotions swirling in a vortex of confusion, anger, and grief. "Can we trust him?" she asked quietly, her voice heavy with doubt.

Ralf's expression softened. "I've known Roy for years, Erika. He's a vicious man, yes, but he doesn't kill without reason. I know it's hard to trust someone like him, but for now, he's our best chance. We don't have many options."

Erika stood up, her resolve hardening. "Then we have no choice. We're going to Kranel."

Ralf nodded, his face serious. "I'll make the arrangements. We leave as soon as we can."

Erika took a deep breath, the fire of determination igniting in her heart. She would find the truth, and she would do whatever it took to reclaim her family and avenge her father.

---

**About Kranel:**

Kranel was the Royal Capital of Narzan—a city of immense power and intrigue. It was the heart of the empire, a place where politics, betrayal, and ambition ruled. In Kranel, the line between friend and foe was often blurred, and the price of power could be one's very life. For Erika, it was a city where answers awaited, but danger lurked in every shadow.