Urmm... My strange Imagination
“Sora, your service in this expedition has brought great honor to the Empire. Rest now, before the next campaign begins,” spoke His Majesty.
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
Sora returned to his residence alongside the Imperial Knights.
Truthfully, he was exhausted with life itself.
At such a young age, he had already begun preparing plans to disappear one day—to abandon everything the moment boredom consumed him completely. The only reason he remained until now was curiosity.
His fiancée.
The Emperor had promised him marriage to the Princess once the war against the Crimson Moon had ended.
Ah… he could hardly wait to see the princess become his newest amusement.
“Take your rest,” Sora said to the knights, repeating the same words he uttered after every expedition. “Another journey awaits in one week. Enjoy your leave with your families.”
“Yes, Captain!”
The knights cheered in unison.
Upon arriving home, he was greeted by the head servant who had raised him since childhood.
“Welcome back, my lord. Your bath has been prepared, along with your favorite meal.”
“Hm. Thank you.”
Flat.
Everything felt painfully flat.
Sora knew this routine too well. He had repeated it countless times until every action became hollow.
Bathing. Eating. Sleeping. Training. Working.
Again and again.
But that night, he could not sleep.
He drowned within the noise of his own thoughts.
“Is life truly this boring?”
The question lingered heavily in his chest.
He had achieved everything people dreamed of… yet satisfaction always faded far too quickly.
“Tch… I need something new.”
The words escaped unconsciously, loosened by the grip of alcohol before exhaustion finally dragged him into sleep.
One week later.
Sora stood before the Emperor once more, prepared for another expedition.
“Warm greetings to the Sun of the Empire. May the light forever shine upon Your Majesty and your bloodline.”
He knelt deeply.
“And may that same light guide you upon the righteous path,” replied the Emperor.
“This mission shall be yours alone.”
Sora froze slightly.
It was unusual. He had never been sent without soldiers.
“If I may ask, what task awaits me this time, Your Majesty?”
“I command you to kill the leader of the gladiators-the rebel known as Illion.”
The Emperor’s voice darkened.
“You have heard the stories from previous heroes, have you not? The monster who survived through the eras of twenty-one champions. Every warrior sent to slay him either dies… or returns broken.”
A pause.
“And now, that duty has fallen upon your era, Archduke Sora.”
Silence swallowed the throne room.
Yet inwardly, Sora smiled.
For the first time in years, he would be free from the eyes of the Imperial spies.
“This mission shall be carried out, Your Majesty.”
The night before his departure, rain drizzled softly over the Imperial Capital.
The sky was buried beneath rust-colored clouds while Sora stood alone upon his balcony, staring into the crimson wine swirling within his glass.
Alone again.
No soldiers.
No supervision.
No knights worshipping him like a god of war.
And for the first time in years…
Life felt slightly interesting.
The next morning, he departed northward toward the forbidden territory of the gladiators.
A land known only as.
The Broken Colosseum.
A ruined arena drowned in crimson fog and the scent of ancient blood.
Along his journey, Sora found traces of destruction everywhere.
Burned war carriages.
Broken knightly swords.
Imperial emblems trampled into the dirt.
And the farther he walked…
the more he felt watched.
Then~
Clang~
The sound of metal echoed softly behind him.
Sora turned instantly.
Someone stood atop the remains of a stone pillar.
Long silver hair danced beneath the night wind. A black cloak flowed behind him like raven wings, while his eyes-
those eyes-
glowed a dark crimson, like the legendary Red Moon itself.
Beautiful.
Far too beautiful to be called human.
His frame was slender yet elegant, marked with thin scars that only made him appear more dangerous. Black gloves covered his hands, and a silver chain rested around his neck. A thin sword hung lazily by his side.
Sora found himself staring for several seconds too long.
“So…”
The stranger smiled faintly.
“Archduke Sora has finally arrived alone.”
His voice was soft. Deep. Comforting-
and terrifying.
Sora narrowed his eyes.
“You’re Illion?”
Illion bowed theatrically, almost as though he were dancing.
“Leader of the gladiators. Monster of the Empire. Eternal rebel.”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“Choose whichever title pleases you most.”
Slowly, Sora unsheathed his sword.
Yet strangely…
he did not attack.
Because Illion simply stood there.
No killing intent.
No battle stance.
Instead, Illion slowly spread his arms open.
“If killing me is truly your mission…”
His voice softened.
“Then do it now.”
Silence.
Cold wind swept through the ruins.
Sora frowned.
“You surrender?”
“Isn’t that why you came?”
Illion smiled faintly.
“I’m tired of running.”
Sora’s blade stopped inches from Illion’s throat.
But he could not move further.
Their gazes collided.
And for the very first time in years-
Sora’s heart felt alive.
One beat.
Then another.
Finally, Sora lowered his sword.
“How boring,” he muttered coldly. “I came to kill a monster, not a man offering his neck willingly.”
Illion laughed softly.
And somehow, that laughter made Sora’s chest feel strangely chaotic.
“Catch me if you can, Mr. Perfect Sora.”
Then-
Slash!
Illion vanished like a phantom.
Sora chased after him immediately.
The days that followed became a strange game between them.
Sometimes they fought beneath the rain.
Sometimes atop the shattered arena.
Sometimes within silent forests buried in snow.
Their blades clashed endlessly-
yet neither truly wished to kill the other.
And slowly, Sora realized something horrifying.
He enjoyed this.
He enjoyed Illion’s mocking smiles.
The way Illion appeared and disappeared like smoke.
The way those crimson eyes looked at him as though Sora were the only living soul left in the world.
“Why do you never fight me seriously?” Sora asked one night.
Illion sat atop the ruins, wiping blood from his fingers.
Earlier, Sora had nearly pierced his shoulder.
Yet when Illion had the chance to retaliate…
his blade intentionally missed.
“I’m afraid of hurting you,” Illion answered softly.
Sora froze.
Illion smiled faintly.
“Funny, isn’t it?”
“A monster like me… unable to bring himself to harm the Empire’s hero.”
Sora stepped closer.
“Then fight me seriously.”
Illion lifted his gaze.
Their faces were dangerously close now.
“And what if I truly kill you?” he whispered.
For the first time in years, Sora smiled.
A small, genuine smile.
“Then try.”
Illion stared at him for far too long.
Then he laughed quietly and turned away.
“Catch me if you can, Mr. Sora.”
But happiness never lasts long.
Back in the capital, the Empire had begun to grow suspicious.
Too much time had passed.
Sora had not returned.
And eventually, the Emperor secretly dispatched the Imperial Knights to hunt Illion down.
That night, Sora realized the truth too late.
Flames already consumed the gladiators’ hideout.
Screams echoed everywhere.
Blood stained the earth.
Sora’s eyes widened as he saw Illion kneeling amidst the ruins, a deep wound carved through his abdomen.
And even worse-
the knights carried the emblem of Sora’s own division.
Illion’s crimson eyes trembled.
“So… this is how it ends?”
His voice cracked faintly.
Sora rushed toward him immediately.
“It wasn’t me-”
“YOU BROUGHT THEM HERE!”
For the first time-
Illion was truly furious.
The killing intent he had restrained for so long exploded violently into the air.
“ATTACK!” Illion roared toward the gladiators.
War erupted that night.
Gladiators against knights.
Blood and fire swallowed the darkness.
Sora tried desperately to stop them-
but no one listened.
And finally-
Clang!
Sora’s sword collided against Illion’s.
Their gazes were no longer playful.
Only wounded.
“I didn’t betray you,” Sora said through gritted teeth.
“You are part of the Empire.”
Illion’s voice shook.
“And that alone is enough.”
Illion attacked again.
But his movements were unstable.
He had lost too much blood.
Sora noticed-
and for some reason, it made his chest ache unbearably.
“Stop fighting!”
“Kill me if you can, Mr. Killen Sora.”
A thin trail of tears slid down Illion’s face as he smiled.
“Because I…”
“…can’t run anymore.”
Slash!
Sora’s blade pierced through Illion’s body.
Silence.
The world stopped moving.
Illion’s body weakened within Sora’s arms.
Sora trembled violently.
For the first time in his life…
his sword felt unbearably heavy.
Illion laughed softly while blood spilled from his lips.
“So in the end…”
“…you won.”
Sora held him tightly.
But the warmth slowly faded from Illion’s body.
Those crimson eyes that always mocked him gradually lost their light.
“Catch…”
Illion’s breathing trembled weakly.
“…me… if…”
The sentence was never finished.
And that night-
something inside Sora died with him.
Sora returned to the Empire as the greatest hero in history.
The people celebrated his victory.
Flowers covered the streets.
Bells of triumph echoed throughout the capital.
And as promised by the Emperor-
he married Princess Iselleta.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Perfect.
Together, they became the ideal royal couple.
But every night-
whenever rain fell against the windows-
Sora would awaken suddenly.
And without realizing it.
He would always glance toward the balcony.
As though hoping someone stood there smiling faintly beneath the rain.
“Catch me if you can, Mr. Perfect Sora.”