In a world where every single person possessed magic… so did he.

His name was Shimizu Toyotomi, nineteen years old.

[He had a balanced build—neither overly muscular nor particularly thin. His skin was fair, and his short, spiky brown hair added a certain sharpness to his appearance. His eyes were a deep brown, observant and always serious. His attire was formal and precise, befitting someone raised under the rigid expectations of the Toyotomi clan.]

He was the son of Kagehisa Toyotomi, head of one of the most powerful clans in the empire.

He also had a younger sister—Shizuka Toyotomi, sixteen. Their mother had died giving birth to her...

[Shizuka had a slender-to-average frame, with fair skin and long, light brown hair styled into two thick braids draped over her shoulders. Soft bangs framed her forehead, and wisps of hair curled near her ears. Her large, dark brown eyes held a gentle light. Her features were delicate: a small, unassuming nose and a subtle, closed-mouth smile. She had an innocence untouched by the harsh world around her.]

Shizuka now lived in Yokohama, under the care of their cousin, Yamiko Toyotomi.

---

Shimizu was quietly writing in his diary when a soft knock disturbed the silence. The door creaked open, and a servant entered with a slight bow.

"Young Master," she said politely, "The Master wishes to see you. Now."

He glanced at the clock, brow furrowing. "Now? It's already midnight..." He sighed. "Fine. I'll go."

The servant nodded and withdrew silently.

He closed the diary, pushed back his chair, and stood up. His footsteps echoed down the corridor as he made his way toward the yard. A chill hung in the air. The silence was heavy—unnatural. His mind raced with questions.

Why would Father call for him at this hour?

---

Eventually, he reached the yard. Moonlight spilled across the stone tiles. His father stood with his back to him, arms behind his back, motionless beneath the stars. Only the outline of his broad shoulders was visible.

Shimizu took a deep breath.

"Father. You wanted to see me?"

Kagehisa turned, eyes sharp with skepticism.

"Listen, son," he said without warmth. "Have you found a way to retrieve the Imperial Dual Swords from her yet? Or are you still full of excuses?"

Shimizu clenched his fists.

"Father, you know I’ve tried... time and again. But the Dual Swords—" he hesitated, "they just won't accept me."

His father growled, stepping closer.

"So you're admitting you’re a disgrace to the Toyotomi name?" he snapped. "A pathetic mage with weak mana, unworthy of leading the clan? You couldn’t even become a captain in the Imperial Divisions! If not you—then who? Sentaro? You want him to lead instead of you?"

"Don’t bring shame to me, boy."

And just like that, Kagehisa turned and stormed off, his footsteps disappearing into the darkness.

Shimizu stood frozen. His eyes remained fixed on the ground as his father’s words echoed through his head.

"...That old man. Always comparing me to them."

"Fine. I’ll go back to my room."

He turned slowly, shoulders heavy with disappointment.

"I wish I was like Yamiko... and Sentaro."

"Damn it. My life... it sucks too much."

Shimizu lay in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, the moonlight casting pale stripes across his room. The air was still, but his mind was restless.

He had only ever studied at the Academy—books, spells, battle formations, and the history of the imperial relics. But none of it had brought him closer to what his father wanted.

The Imperial Dual Swords—blades of legend. Twin weapons said to choose only those worthy of shaping the future.

For the past thirty years, not a single wielder had emerged. The swords had remained dormant, sealed in their Domain, silent and unyielding.

But then, four years ago, everything changed.

The swords stirred.

And they chose someone.

A girl.

She wasn’t just anyone—she was the granddaughter of the last known wielder of the Imperial Dual Swords. As if destiny itself reached back through bloodlines to call her.

Shimizu clenched his jaw at the thought. No matter how hard he trained, how much mana he poured into his spells, the swords had never even flickered for him.

But for her—they had awakened.

He tried to push the thoughts aside, but they kept circling his mind like vultures.

Why her?

What made her so different?

His eyes began to close.

And slowly... his thoughts dissolved into the quiet of the night.

Shimizu fell asleep, his mind still echoing with the weight of a name he refused to say out loud.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window as Shimizu sat quietly at the breakfast table, pushing scrambled eggs around with his chopsticks.

He overheard the servants chatting nearby.

“Did you hear? LADY Yamiko and young Shizuka are returning to Tokyo for a week.”

“Really? That’s rare. Isn’t Yamiko the Vice Captain of Imperial Mage Squad 5?”

“Yes. She’s on temporary leave for some reason. And Shizuka—well, she’s still in training under her.”

Shimizu’s hand paused mid-air. He looked up.

“Apparently, Shizuka’s magic lets her visualize everything within a one-kilometer radius… every object, every movement. She can even turn it into a holographic image that others can see.”

Shimizu muttered under his breath, half-impressed, half-exhausted, “Of course she can…”

“And Yamiko's magic, now that one is something else—she ca—”

Suddenly, the front doors creaked open.

“—speak of the devil,” Shimizu whispered.

SHIMIZU stood up from his seat, stretching slightly — and before he could react, something small and fast collided with him.

> “Oni-chan!!”

Shizuka practically launched herself into his arms. “How have you been?! I missed you so much!”

SHIMIZU chuckled, stumbling back a little.

> “H-Hey, Shizuka—easy there. You might choke me…”

And then she walked in.

The soft tapping of footsteps, the shift in air pressure — even before she spoke, the room felt colder.

> “Long time no see, Shimizu-san,” said Yamiko Toyotomi.

She stood near the entrance, her presence both graceful and distant. She was seventeen, with a slender frame and fair skin that caught the morning light.

Long, wavy gray hair spilled over her shoulders, parted neatly with bangs framing her face. A delicate light blue, lily-shaped hairpin shimmered in her hair, its beads swaying gently.

Her eyes — large and pale blue — were calm, unreadable, and piercing all at once.

She was beautiful. Immaculate.

But to Shimizu, there was always something else.

A pressure. A weight. A dark aura he couldn’t explain.

He had never asked her about it.

And maybe, deep down, he didn’t want to know the answer.

Yamiko says, “Master wants to see me.”

She doesn’t delay, doesn’t engage in small talk. She puts duty first, even if her cousins are in the room. This shows her deep sense of responsibility and discipline.

Yamiko stepped into the Yard, where Kagehisa Toyotomi stood waiting. The early sun cast sharp shadows across the stone floor, but neither of them blinked.

Kagehisa turned his head slightly.

“Yamiko. How is Shizuka’s curse progressing?”

Yamiko bowed respectfully, her voice calm.

“I’ve sealed it — for now. But I don’t believe it will hold forever. The curse runs deep… ever since it passed from Aunt Ayaka.”

She raised a hand to the back of her neck, fingers brushing the hidden scar beneath her cascading gray hair.

Kagehisa narrowed his eyes.

“And yours?”

Yamiko replied evenly, as if discussing the weather.

“It came from the Demon King himself. Containing it is… difficult. But I can manage. It’s not something I allow to interfere with my duties.”

She paused, then asked quietly,

“Master… may I speak freely?”

Kagehisa folded his arms.

“You may.”

Yamiko looked him in the eye.

“This is about Shimizu. Don’t tell me… you’re still training him to take the Dual Swords from me??.”

Kagehisa Toyotomi’s eyes narrowed, his voice cold and sharp:

"What if I have been? You know the law—if Shimizu somehow defeats you, the Dual Swords will recognize him as their wielder. And don’t forget, I taught you how to harness your magic properly. So don’t ever question that again."

Yamiko inclined her head respectfully but kept her tone steady:

"Pardon me, Master. Where is Sentaro now? Is he still keeping watch over the Hiragi clan?"

Kagehisa’s expression hardened as he replied:

"Yes. The Hiragis are attempting to create a potion to defeat the Demon King. They lack enough fighters, so I sent Sentaro to support them—should things take a turn for the worse."

Yamiko’s voice was calm but filled with concern:

"Yes, I know. Sentaro is strong. But the magical potion is dangerous. If the Hiragi clan fails, a demon might be born. I just hope it doesn’t come to that. Master, may I have your permission to go to Wisdom Castle? I need some answers."

Kagehisa’s expression hardened, his tone sharp and unyielding:

"You are not permitted to go there—no matter how hard you try."

Yamiko bowed her head slightly, determination shining in her eyes:

"I understand, but I need to find the truth."

Kagehisa’s voice dropped to a warning, laced with menace:

"I just hope your curiosity doesn’t kill you. You know 'she' lives there, and she will never answer your questions. Instead, she will kill you. And Yamiko, your current—and only—job is to keep an eye on Shizuka."

---

The scene shifts to SHIMIZU and Shizuka sitting quietly under the morning sun, a steaming pot of tea between them.

SHIMIZU: "Does the curse mark still burn?"

Shizuka took a slow sip of her tea before answering.

SHIZUKA: "Not anymore. Yamiko-chan sealed it permanently. I trust her. Even the captain of our squad says Yamiko’s magic is so incredible that she c—"

SHIMIZU (cutting her off sharply): "Let’s not talk about that. She’s our cousin, Shizuka. Try not to weigh her down."

Shizuka looked away, slightly embarrassed. There was admiration in her voice, but SHIMIZU's words struck with a protective edge.

The truth of their family ran deep. Shizuka and SHIMIZU’s mother, Ayaka, was the older twin. Yamiko’s mother, Sayuki, was the younger.

Yamiko herself had an older brother, a formidable presence few spoke of aloud. He is 21 now. His name remained unspoken between them, but his shadow lingered across their story.

Just then, footsteps returned across the stone walkway.

YAMIKO (calm and composed): “I’m back.”

Her gaze locked onto SHIMIZU’s.

YAMIKO: “So? Did you get stronger while I was gone? You’ll have to, if you ever plan to take the Dual Blades from me.”

There was no arrogance in her tone—just a challenge. A reminder that strength wasn’t given. It was earned.

YAMIKO crossed her arms, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips.

YAMIKO: "Honestly, I think even Shizuka might be stronger than you right now, Shimizu. So why not spar with her? What do you say?"

SHIMIZU blinked in surprise.

SHIMIZU: "Wait—what? But… what if she gets hurt?"

YAMIKO: "Then I’ll heal her with my magic. Don’t worry. And Shizuka, you’ll find out just how far you’ve come. You’ll both use your Imperial Arms."