UnbrokenChainENG

As the sun begins to rise and the morning dew still hangs on the leaves, the atmosphere around the temple comes to life. The fresh air mixes with the morning warmth, and the gurgling of the river sounds soothing. But of course, the calm did not last long.

Duncan squirmed, stretching his still sore body. 

"Ahh... good morning to... sleep again." 

Erik who had woken up first kicked his legs slowly. 

"Wake up. We have to find food. You want to starve to death?" 

Duncan yawned broadly. 

"But we've got supplies, right?" 

"What did you spend last night?"Erik folded his arms with a look full of judgment. 

Duncan blinked. 

"Oh... that?" 

Shazmeen, who was concocting the morning potion, looked at him intently. 

"So, you ate the ration today too?" 

"Don't blame me! Lirien and Sylvaine also eat, right?"Duncan hurriedly pointed at the two people who were still wrapped in blankets. 

Lirien only muttered semi-consciously, while Sylvaine turned her face away, pretending to be asleep. 

Renier closed his book and stood up. 

"Alright, we need to catch some fish for breakfast before anyone starves to death." 

Shazmeen turned to Kael who was leaning against the temple wall with a blank look. 

"You want to come?" 

Kael did not answer, only glanced at him before walking ahead of them towards the river. 

---

By The River

On the riverbank, Erik, Duncan, and Renier were busy making makeshift fishing rods from twigs and improvised rope. Shazmeen only observes from afar, while Kael sits on a rock, looking completely disinterested. 

Duncan rolled up his sleeves, putting on a confident expression. 

"Well, look and learn, amateurs. I'll show you how to catch the right fish." 

Stylishly, he throws his homemade rope into the river ... only to lose his balance and splash to the sound of "BYURR!"the hard. 

"UARGHH!! Cold!!" 

Shazmeen closed her mouth with laughter, while Erik massaged her temple. 

"Stupid." 

Duncan thrashed, trying to get ashore, but suddenly something moved in the water. 

"Uh... guys?" 

"Don't tell me you saw something," Renier said flatly. 

"I'm not kidding... there's something big down there..." 

Instantly, the water around Duncan began to churn. Shazmeen narrowed his gaze, trying to see more clearly. 

Then— 

BYUUURR!! 

A giant fish jumped out of the water, almost bumping into Duncan who immediately screamed like a child. 

"AAARGH! IS IT A FISH OR A MONSTER?!" 

Renier took a few steps back, Erik was already preparing with a dagger, while Shazmeen almost fell over from stifling laughter. 

Duncan, who finally managed to get ashore, looked at the river with a panicked face. 

"Okay, we're not eating fish today. Let's just fast. Seriously, what was that?!" 

Kael finally stood up, walking towards the river. With a leisurely movement, he pulled the dagger from his belt and threw it at the fish. 

SPLAAASHH! 

The fish was stuck in a dagger before falling back into the water. 

Everyone fell silent. 

Duncan could only open his mouth silently. 

"Are you serious?!" 

Shazmeen shook his head with a smile. 

"You like to do things in a dramatic way, don't you?" 

Kael looked at him for a while, then sat back on the rock as if nothing had happened. 

"Now you have food." 

Duncan was still in shock. 

"But-but—" 

"Cook or not?"Kael cut her speech in a flat tone. 

Duncan sighed. 

"All right... but I still hate the way you make things look easy." 

Shazmeen chuckles, while Erik and Renier begin to take the fish back to the temple. 

---

Return to the Temple

After bringing the fish caught by Kael to the temple, the atmosphere began to come alive with their busy preparing breakfast. Renier starts cleaning the fish, while Erik lights the fire. Sylvaine and Lirien, who had just woken up, still looked sleepy while sitting by the fireplace, cocoon-like. 

Duncan sat beside them, stroking his belly. 

"It was the first time I felt a mixture of hunger and trauma." 

Lirien blinked. 

"Traumatized by what?" 

Duncan glanced at Kael who was sitting some distance away, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. 

"That..." 

Sylvaine looked at Kael. 

"What is he doing?" 

"Catching a giant fish with one dagger throw."Duncan pointed to the fish that was almost finished cleaning. 

Lirien was silent for a moment, then looked at the fish with a horrified expression. 

"So... this is not an ordinary fish?" 

Shazmeen who was stirring the pot of spices snorted. 

"No, this is the fish that had made Duncan almost cry." 

Duncan coughed. 

"I'm not crying." 

Shazmeen raised one side of his eyebrow. 

"Oh? Then who shouts 'AAAAARGH' and jumps ashore like a frantic rabbit?" 

Sylvaine giggled, while Erik just shook his head. 

Renier sighed. 

"You do have a natural talent for humiliating yourself." 

Duncan snorted. 

"I just have fun in the morning. You should be thanking me." 

Lirien held back a laugh. 

"Yes, yes, thank you, Sir Duncan, the great comedian." 

Meanwhile, Kael still remained silent in her place, not participating in the chat at all. 

---

While the fish is still roasting on the fire, the atmosphere gets more crowded. The sweet smell began to spread, making their empty stomachs even more writhing. 

Duncan sat cross-legged while looking at the fish with a hopeful expression. 

"How much longer is this going to last? I've almost seen the light at the end of the tunnel." 

Renier, who was busy flipping through the fish with a wooden stick, glanced at it lazily. 

"Patience. If you want to go fast, just eat raw." 

Duncan brought his face closer to the fish, sniffing deeply. 

"The temptation is real..." 

Shazmeen mendelik. 

"If you get to eat it before it's cooked, I'll make you the next menu." 

Duncan instantly moved away, his hands raised as if in surrender. 

"Good, good! I'm just kidding." 

Suddenly, the sound of "krek" was heard from next to them. All turned their heads and saw Erik, who had just sat on the weathered wood that was instantly broken, making him fall backwards with a thud! 

Lirien and Sylvaine held back laughter. 

"You okay?" 

Erik, who was still lying with a resigned face, raised one thumb. 

"I just... enjoying the land this morning." 

Renier nodded his head. 

"You can't be serious for even a minute." 

Meanwhile, Kael remained seated in the corner, silently observing them. 

---

Finally, Renier announced, 

"Well, the fish is cooked!" 

Duncan immediately advanced, but before he could take a piece, Shazmeen slapped his hand with a wooden spoon. 

"The wounded eat first." 

Duncan groaned as he held her hand. 

"You can't let a man starve?" 

Shazmeen narrowed his eyes. 

"Sylvaine and Lirien are more important." 

Shazmeen glanced at him, then took a plate of cooked fish. He walked over and without saying much, placed the plate next to him. 

Kael opened her eyes slightly, looked at the food, then glanced at Shazmeen. 

Shazmeen looked at him flatly. 

"Don't just sit there like a statue. Eat." 

Kael stared at the plate for a moment, then closed her eyes again. 

"I'm not hungry." 

Shazmeen sighed, then casually took a piece of fish from the plate and put it in Kael's mouth just like that. 

Kael was surprised, her eyes fully open, looking at Shazmeen with a look full of threat. 

Shazmeen just grinned. 

"Well, you've eaten. See? Not difficult, right?" 

Everyone who saw the incident immediately fell silent. 

Duncan, who was drinking water, immediately choked. 

"OHOHO?! DID I JUST SEE SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY?!" 

Sylvaine closed her mouth with a laugh, while Erik just looked at Kael with a curious expression. 

Renier sighed. 

"Shazmeen, you're the only person in this world who dares to do that." 

Lirien elbowed Duncan. 

"You should learn from Shazmeen if you want to deal with Kael." 

Duncan raised both his hands. 

"No, thank you. I still love my life." 

Kael stared at Shazmeen for quite a while before finally chewing her food with a still flat expression. 

Shazmeen only smiled faintly. 

"See, right. Not difficult, right?" 

Kael didn't answer, but she finished the meal without saying much. 

And for the first time since they met, the atmosphere between Kael and the group felt a little warmer. 

---

On the sidelines of the hearty breakfast, Shazmeen opened a serious morning conversation in the morning, asking what they all came here for. 

"Hey, by the way... what exactly did you come here for?"he asked, putting his last piece of fish on the plate. 

The previously Light atmosphere instantly changed. Rainer straightened his back, looking at him coldly and seriously. 

"Originally, we came here to save you, Shaz." 

Shazmeen blinked, pretending to be confused even though in his heart he could already guess the direction of this conversation. 

"Save me? For what? I've said goodbye and officially left for travel, haven't I?" 

Lirien responded this time. 

"Yes, it was planned that way... but everyone in Valhalla was excited when they heard the rumor that you were kidnapped by Kael." 

Sylvaine added, this time in a somewhat awkward tone. 

"And besides picking you up, we're also planning to kill Kael... because well, she's been mentioned as kidnapping you. We're ... sorry about that, Kael." 

Kael didn't react, just staring at them blankly as usual. 

Shazmeen looked at them with a wrinkled forehead. 

"Wait, Wait... How did you guys come to the conclusion that I was kidnapped by Kael?" 

Rainer sighed. 

"Coguku. The guy we fought yesterday. He's the cause of everything. He incited your father and made him believe that you were kidnapped by Kael. Now, Valhalla and other allied nations are preparing to attack Hikani Island within two weeks." 

Duncan continued, this time with a more serious expression than usual. 

"It's not just Valhalla... all the great nations are after Kael. The island will become a battlefield in the near future." 

Hearing that, Kael finally opened her voice. His gaze is sharp, cold, calculating. 

"So ... they're going to destroy Hikani just to kill me?" 

Lily nodded slowly. 

"We also don't know for sure, but it looks like that will be the case. Before that bastard Coggin of mine opened his mouth and told me the truth, everyone believed you were the biggest threat." 

Shazmeen clenched his hands. He then took a deep breath and began to recount the events of five days ago—about the giant octopus monster that attacked him, about how he almost died... and about how Kael, coldly, defeated the monster without the slightest flinch. 

When the story was over, Duncan widened his eyes. 

"Wait, wait... Kael defeated a giant monster and the one who controlled it all at once?!" 

Erik nodded slowly. 

"He's really crazy..." 

Lirien shook his head in disbelief. 

"Seriously, Kael? You don't even look like someone who cares about the safety of others." 

Kael remained silent, taking only one more piece of Fish and began to eat it expressionlessly. 

Sylvaine looked at him with a curious look. 

"You saved Shazmeen ... why? Wouldn't it be easier to just let him die if you were really like the rumors going around?" 

Kael paused for a moment, then answered flatly. 

"My eyes hurt to see people fighting in such a stupid way." 

Silence. 

Then Duncan burst out in laughter. 

"Oh My God! That's the stupidest excuse I've ever heard! HAHAHA!" 

Shazmeen raised his eyebrows. 

"So ... you saved me just because I looked stupid while fighting?" 

Kael didn't answer, just went back to chewing her food. 

Renier sighed. 

"I don't know whether to be offended or amazed." 

Shazmeen smiled faintly. 

"Well, anyway, thank you, Kael." 

Kael remained unresponsive, but this time, for some reason, the corners of her lips almost looked slightly raised. 

"Ehh....then what's the next plan anyway? Home or what?"Asked Duncan who was still chewing his food. 

"You better eat that shit first!"Erik mocked him. 

---

VALLHALA

The situation is heating up. News of the planned attack on Hikani Island has spread to various regions, creating inevitable tensions. Clan leaders from all corners gathered in the main assembly hall, where the sounds of debate and serious conversation echoed in the room filled with anxiety. 

Ravish Daneen, one of the most influential figures in these negotiations, sat quietly in her chair. His piercing gaze swept across every face present, reading their expressions and emotions like an open sheet of a book. Even though he didn't speak, his mere presence was enough to put pressure on anyone who wanted to belittle him. 

"The closure of export and import lines has weakened our economy drastically," said an old man in a dark blue robe. His voice is hoarse, but still exudes authority. "If we don't find a solution soon, the small clans will start to lose faith in us." 

"Trust?"someone from the other end of the table sneered. "What we are talking about is not just trust, but the survival of the entire region! Hikani island has become the center of the conflict, and Kael—the man—is the main culprit of this chaos." 

The atmosphere is getting tense. Some of the higher-ups argued with each other, while others chose to remain silent, waiting for how the outcome of this debate would lead. 

Ravish, who had been listening silently ever since, finally spoke in a calm voice but containing an undeniable weight. 

"If we act rashly and attack without a well-thought-out strategy, we will only create an unnecessary war," he said, leaning against a chair. "Hikani is probably the target, but what we have to ask is—who really benefits from all this?" 

The room became quiet. No one can directly answer the question. They realize that there are other forces at play behind all of this. 

"My Cogent has manipulated information," Ravish continued. "And I suspect there are more enemies behind the scenes than we realize." 

---

Return to Hikani Island in the evening

After dinner was over, the atmosphere around the small temple where they spent the night was more relaxed. The evening breeze blew gently, carrying the aroma of wet earth and residual smoke from the campfire. The fatigue of the day begins to be felt, but of course, that does not mean they will sleep peacefully. 

Rainer sat leaning against the temple wall with his arms folded across his chest, while Duncan and Erik lay on the grass, staring at the star-filled night sky. Sylvaine and Lirien are trying to clean themselves with cold water from a jug, while Shazmeen is busy playing with his fingers on the sand, forming random patterns. 

In another corner, Kael remained at some distance, leaning against a tree trunk with her eyes closed. He looked like he was sleeping, but from the expression on his face, it was clear that he just wanted to avoid unnecessary interactions. 

However, the silence of the night was soon broken when Duncan suddenly got up and looked at Erik with a sly expression. 

"Hey, Erik. How about we play charades?" 

Erik frowned. 

"Seriously? You think we're still kids?" 

"Of course not. This is no ordinary guessing. Duncan grinned, then continued in a defiant tone, " the one who guessed wrong had to go around the temple three times while singing a song of praise to the gods." 

Shazmeen chuckled. 

"Duncan, you really never run out of stupid ideas, huh?" 

Lirien, who had just finished wiping his face, was interested. 

"All right, I'm coming. But if Duncan loses, he'll have to jump around like a rabbit." 

Duncan shrugged casually. 

"Of course, I won't lose." 

The game begins. 

Duncan started with his riddle. 

"What can run but has no legs?" 

Erik thought for a moment. 

"Hmmm ... river water?" 

Duncan sighed in disappointment. 

"Oh my god, you're right." 

Lirien grinned. 

"My turn! What always goes up but never goes down?" 

Erik thought hard, then smiled triumphantly. 

"Age." 

Lirian nodded. 

"Shit, you're right too." 

While they were busy playing, Sylvaine turned to Kael who was still silent in her corner. 

"Kael, are you coming? Maybe you can beat them all with your genius brain." 

Kael opened her eyes half and looked at Sylvaine with a flat expression. 

"I'm not interested in childish games." 

Shazmeen smiled stupidly. 

"Why? Afraid of losing?" 

Kael raised an eyebrow. 

"I'm not afraid to lose, I just don't want to waste time." 

Duncan suddenly stood up and pointed at Kael excitedly. 

"Alright, then, we'll keep you interested!" 

Duncan then whispered to Erik and Lirien, then the three of them immediately put on a deceitful expression. 

Lirien cleared his throat and said in a dramatic tone, 

"Kael, you're an SSR fugitive, right?" 

Kael looked at him intently. 

"And?" 

Erik added, 

"If you can answer one riddle, we won't be talking about your fugitive status all night." 

Kael squinted, a little suspicious, but finally let out a long sigh. 

"All right." 

Duncan held back a laugh before giving his riddle. 

"What can you touch but not see?" 

Kael was silent for a moment, then answered in a flat tone, 

"Air." 

The three of them immediately put on disappointed expressions. 

"Oh my god! He's right!" 

Shazmeen laughed, while Sylvaine shook her head. 

"You underestimate him too much." 

Duncan snorted and threw a pebble into the grass. 

"Okay, okay, Kael won. But—" 

Suddenly, from inside the temple came a loud rumbling sound. Everyone immediately turned towards the source of the sound, just in case there was danger. 

But what happened was even worse. 

A wild monkey jumped out from inside the temple, carrying something in his hands—Erik's belt! 

"HEY! IT'S MINE!"Erik immediately ran after, but the monkey was more agile than him. 

Duncan immediately fell to his knees. 

"HAHAHAHAHA! Erik! You just got robbed by a monkey!" 

"THIS IS NOT FUNNY! That's my favorite belt!" 

Shazmeen and Lirien laughed out loud when they saw Erik chasing the monkey, jumping around like crazy. Sylvaine even sat down because she couldn't stop laughing. 

Kael, who was aware of the silence, finally took a deep breath and muttered slowly, 

"Do I really have to deal with these idiots?"