Tengen Island floated quietly in the southern sky, just a few hundred kilometers away from the Cedar Islands. On this day, the whole island was alive. Lanterns hung from houses and trees, bright ribbons waved in the wind, and the smell of roasted fish filled the air. People laughed, traded food, drank, and danced. It was the biggest celebration the island had seen in years — the chief’s daughter was getting married.

"Keep the drums steady!" an elder shouted, standing at the plaza with his face painted in festival colors. "The chief’s daughter will walk soon!"

"She’s really beautiful," a merchant whispered to his friend. "Even Captain Redwood stared at her the last time she visited his ship to pay the tribute."

Tengen Island was under the protection of a small pirate group, the Redrose Pirates. They were not a big or famous crew, but they caused enough trouble around Cedar Islands that people had to pay them for safe travel. Their leader, Captain Redwood, was a Master-level fighter. He wasn’t the strongest in the region, but he was sharp, violent, and never forgot a grudge. Because Tengen paid him yearly, they also invited the pirates to the wedding. No one dared to refuse.

The bride, Maelin, walked through the crowd with a shy smile. She had long dark hair braided with cedar leaves and pearls. Her wedding dress was the deep red color of Tengen tradition. People waved at her and whispered blessings. Even Captain Redwood, who rarely showed interest in anyone, stared at her from a distance.

Her groom, Jorran, waited at the altar. He was not rich or powerful. He was a simple craftsman who fixed boats and tools for everyone in the village. But he loved Maelin with all his heart. When she reached him, he squeezed her hand gently.

"You look nervous," Jorran whispered.

"I’m just... overwhelmed," Maelin said, smiling. "This day feels like a dream. I’m ready."

The drums grew louder. Priests began chanting. Everyone focused on the ceremony —

But something changed.

Dark figures started moving through the crowd. They walked quietly, like shadows in the wind. No one noticed at first. Then someone hissed:

"Now."

The voice belonged to Captain Redwood.

His pirates rushed forward. They didn’t wait for permission. They didn’t care that this was a sacred day. Redwood stepped toward Maelin with cold eyes.

"You’re far too beautiful to waste here," he said. "You will come with me. The island will keep paying me protection. Consider this my gift."

"What?!" Jorran shouted. "You can’t do this! She’s my bride!"

"Not anymore," Redwood said calmly.

His men grabbed Jorran and pushed him back. Maelin struggled and tried to hold onto her lover, but she was pulled away. Her red dress tangled around her legs.

"Please!" she cried. "He’s my—!"

Her words were cut off as a cloak was thrown over her shoulders. She looked at Jorran one last time, tears shining in her eyes, before she was dragged away.

The people of Tengen could do nothing. They were simple villagers. Redwood was a Master-level pirate with dozens of armed fighters. Any resistance would have ended in a massacre. So they watched helplessly as the Redrose Pirates carried Maelin onto their skyship and left the island.

The wedding drums fell silent. The celebration died. The entire island felt like it had lost its heart.

---

Nine months passed.

Maelin now lived inside Redwood’s keep — a dark, cold building made of stone and metal. She gave birth to a son. The baby cried weakly in her arms.

Redwood walked into the room and looked at the child. His face twisted in anger.

"He looks like Jorran," he said through clenched teeth. "Look at his eyes. Those are the eyes of that craftsman."

Maelin hugged the baby tightly. "Please... I told you before. I was already pregnant when you took me away. The child is innocent."

"Lies," Redwood snapped. He slammed his hand on the table, cracking a cup. "Everyone will know you were with another man. They will think I am weak. I will not accept this."

"Please," Maelin begged. "He is just a newborn. Don’t hurt him."

Redwood didn’t listen. He sent his men back to Tengen that same night. They destroyed houses, burned boats, and finally killed Jorran. Rumors spread across the island like smoke. People whispered in fear that Captain Redwood had taken revenge.

When Maelin heard her lover was gone, she collapsed to her knees.

"No... please..." she cried. "He was a good man... he never harmed anyone..."

Redwood simply said, "You will obey me. Or your child dies next."

In the end, with no strength left and no hope of saving anyone, Maelin agreed to his demand. She had to choose the lesser evil. She promised to let her baby go — not killed by Redwood’s hands, but abandoned at sea. It was the only way she could protect him from Redwood’s direct cruelty.

At dawn, with her hands shaking, she wrapped the baby in old cloth and placed him in a small fishing boat. She touched his tiny face and whispered:

"I’m sorry... I’m so, so sorry... Please live."

A guard pushed the boat into the fog. The little vessel drifted away, getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared.

Maelin wiped her tears and walked back to the keep like a ghost.

"I carried out your order," she said quietly.

Redwood only nodded and locked her in a dark room beneath the keep. From that day on, she lived as a prisoner.

Time passed.

A year later, Maelin gave birth to another child — a girl. Redwood named her Mana. The baby’s cry echoed in the stone halls, thin and soft.

Maelin held Mana for only one day.

The next night, her despair finally crushed her. She took her life quietly, without leaving a note. No one mourned her except the newborn who would never know her face.

Mana was raised by her father, always watched, always loved, never knowing the truth of her mother or her brother who had been sent away to die.

---

Inside the Red Dragon’s private chamber, the air was thick and cold.

Mana was on her knees, coughing and struggling as sharp claws wrapped around her neck. Red Dragon — the man she had trusted, smiled at, and even relied on — stood over her with a cruel expression.

His claws tightened slightly as he leaned closer and said, "The kid that was thrown into the ocean... the baby who was supposed to die... that was me."

Mana’s eyes shot open. Her breath caught in her throat. "W-What...?"

"I am your brother, Mana." His voice was calm, almost too calm. "My grandfather found me drifting in a broken boat. He raised me, and when I grew older, he told me everything your father did. Everything he forced our mother to do."

Mana felt her whole body go cold. She grabbed his wrist weakly, unable to process the words.

Red Dragon continued, his tone dripping with hatred. "I changed my appearance, hid my identity, and joined your father’s crew. I came here for revenge but only to see that he is truly changed become a good guy. he was no longer a pirate... now just a harmless businessman in the Cedar Islands." He let out a mocking laugh. "Like hell I would let that slide. After killing him, I imprisoned his soul and explained everything. He died in regret. That expression is everything. "

Mana felt her chest tighten. Every word was like a stone crushing her.

"That’s why I took my revenge," he said. "That’s why I pretended to care about you... pretended to love you." His claws tightened just enough to make her gasp. "Don’t misunderstand. I never touched you. I don’t mind touching my own sister. But I always acted like some clueless idiot. Because you are his daughter. I hate you. I hate the whole Redwood family."

Mana’s hands dropped slowly. She stopped struggling. Her mind was spinning too fast to fight back. She couldn’t believe it — her father, the man she always thought was strict but dependable... was responsible for so much pain. So many deaths. Her own mother’s suffering. Her brother’s near death.

Her tears began falling one by one.

"Tyler..." she whispered.

"Hmph." Red Dragon scoffed. "What’s the point of crying my name now? Do you think I’ll feel pity just because—"

"Not you," Mana interrupted weakly, shaking her head. "I’m calling my Tyler... Mana’s Tyler..."

Red Dragon’s eyes narrowed. "What?"

Before he could react, Mana’s body suddenly vanished from his grasp — as if she had been pulled out of reality.

A shadow moved behind him.

A second presence appeared — silent, smooth, and unreadable.

A hand caught Mana just before she collapsed.

"You said my real name," a new voice said quietly.

Red Dragon spun around just in time to see him — the man in the dark coat, the mask of Phantom Blackwood covering half his face, cold eyes glowing in the lantern’s red light.

Tyler White.

Mana didn’t even try to stand. She threw her arms around him and cried into his chest, shaking uncontrollably.

"Tyler..." she sobbed.