=================Tia's Uncle's Perspective===================

I’m Daogel—Tia’s uncle and adoptive father. Tonight, His Majesty summoned me to finalize Tia’s political marriage to the Empire. But halfway through our discussion, an emergency horn blared outside the palace. That horn only sounds when the palace faces imminent danger.

[What’s happening?!]

His Majesty shot to his feet and rushed to the window.

[This is…]

I followed him. Outside, countless Demons clashed fiercely with palace guards.

[Your Majesty! Stay by my side!]

Wilto, captain of the Azurewing Knights, stood firm before the king.

[Perina! Secure the Treasury—protect *that item*!]

His Majesty barked orders.

[Yes!]

Perina, the royal spymaster, vanished down the corridor.

[Your Majesty! This is clearly the Empire’s doing!]

[Obviously! When force fails, they resort to theft!]

The king sank anxiously into his chair.

[Wait here. I’ll drag those Empire rats out myself.]

[Daogel! The enemy outside is Demons—be careful!]

[Don’t worry!]

I grabbed my Magic Staff and strode toward the door.

*I, Daogel Isabella, Royal Archmage, will expose this conspiracy.*

But the Demons breached the palace faster than I’d feared.

[Stand back! Flame Jet!]

I channeled fire to my staff’s tip and unleashed a searing blast. Demons, though formidable, feared fire. Soldiers leapt aside as flames engulfed a Demon’s chest. It writhed, melting into sludge.

[Incredible! The Archmage felled a Demon in one—]

[No time for awe! Counterattack!]

The soldier’s head exploded—a second Demon’s jaws crushed it mid-sentence.

Worse followed. Behind it surged a horde of Demons, dozens of Mid-tier among them.

[Impossible… Mid-tier Demons don’t swarm!]

Cold sweat traced my spine. A single Mid-tier Demon matched a Platinum-rank warrior. A swarm? A nightmare.

[Go! Protect His Majesty! I’ll hold them off!] I roared at the soldiers.

[But—]

[That’s an order!]

Every soldier here would die pointlessly. Only a wide-scale spell could purge this horde—even if it consumed me too.

*It’s the only way.*

[O Sun suspended in the heavens! Grant me boundless flame! Melt the night’s chill! Thaw the frozen lakes! Let every inch of sky blaze with your radiant fire!]

I gathered every ember of power into my staff—the ultimate spell of an Archmage.

[Secret Art: Scorching Sun’s—]

[AAGH!]

Agony ripped through my right arm. Just as the spell ignited, a Demon’s claw snapped my staff-wielding arm like kindling.

*It’s over. I’m sorry, brother… Tia, you’ll have to walk alone now.*

I closed my eyes, awaiting death.

Silence.

[Planning to die *this* early?]

*Tia’s voice?* My daughter’s voice…

[If you must die, cancel my engagement first!]

[TIA!]

I snapped my eyes open. Tia stood before me, her Magic Staff blocking a Demon’s claw.

[Run! These Demons will tear you apart!] I screamed.

[Do you still see me as that helpless child who clings to you?]

She flung the Demon back and retreated.

[This isn’t about age! You saw what happened when I fought unprotected!]

[Father! I won’t leave until you cancel the engagement. I’m not that child anymore. Judge me as an adult—as I’ve grown!]

Her gaze locked with mine. Then she dropped her staff.

[What?!]

*Why discard her staff? A mage’s life is their weapon!* Was this just a ploy to die with me?

Before I could react, the staff floated behind her. Tia began chanting—a spell I knew by heart. A myth from ancient texts.

[I am Flame’s vessel,

Wreathed in sacred fire.

My hands, instruments of judgment,

Scorch all sin.

I am Heaven’s fire,

Purging the unclean.

I am Flame incarnate.

I am Flame’s sovereign.

I…

Descend here.]

Each syllable thrummed with raw power. *This spell was impossible!* A legend no one had ever achieved—yet Tia stood before me, violet flames coiling around her fists.

[Guess I can only wrap my hands in flame for now…] she muttered.

She hadn’t mastered it fully. The true version was terrifying.

A Demon lunged.

[Look out!]

Tia punched. Its head shattered like glass.

[…]

[This feeling… exhilarating.]

A faint smile touched her lips.

She charged into the horde. The spell sharpened her reflexes, hardened her body. Mid-tier Demons crumpled like toys beneath her fists.

Watching her fight, memories surfaced: the little girl who cried over failed spells, who wept when bullied, who hesitated over every choice. Those images faded in the roar of her flames, scattered by the wind of her strikes.

*She’s no longer that bookish child who cried in silence.* She had purpose. Companions. A life blazing with color. She’d grown wings I never saw unfold. I had no right to clip them.

That cursed engagement? Just a gambit—plant Tia in the Empire to steal their secrets and *that item*. *What a fool I was… risking my own niece for this.*

[Time to show you my husband’s copycat ultimate move! Roar of the Crimson Flame Dragon!]

Crimson-violet flames erupted from her clenched fists, incinerating every Demon.

[…]

[…]

Tia dispersed the flames and walked toward me.

[…]

[…]

Our eyes met.

*She’s grown in every way.*

She extended her hand.

[Get up, Father. Don’t die here.]

*Father.* When I’d failed so utterly as one.

[Tia… your engagement to the Empire is canceled.]

It was the least I could do.