Chapter 2

Alvin and I both came from Ghost Valley, a ruthless place that devoured people clean.

I was the current heir of the place. Born among demons, I possessed bone-suturing and soul-binding skills, which allowed me to command spirits.

Alvin, however, was extremely kind-hearted, like a saint. He could pull lives back from the brink of death, and his healing arts were unmatched in the world.

People revered him like a saint and feared me like the harbinger of death.

When Alvin came of age, I accompanied him out of the valley for training. Among the piles of corpses on the northern frontier, he came across the sixth princess, Susan Roth, who was barely alive at the time.

She had been born with poison in her body, and only Alvin could cure her. She offered herself to him, begging him to help.

My foolish and kind brother not only helped Susan, but he also ended up falling for her.

Eventually, he followed her to the capital.

While seeing him off outside the city gates, I looked at how brightly his eyes shone. Then, I turned back toward the endless desert of the northern lands.

Our farewell lasted ten full years. During that decade, he ruled as the prince regent, enjoying wealth and power.

Meanwhile, I guarded the frontier in his place, becoming the Bone-Suturing Master that everyone feared, just so he could live safely and peacefully.

Alvin often sent me letters and gifts. In his letters, he would say that he was fine and doing well. However, over the last two years, the frequency of the letters kept decreasing.

I began to feel uneasy. I tried several times to go to the capital to see him, but the battles always prevented me from going. Once things had temporarily settled at the borders, I rode at full speed and arrived just in time for the Crown Prince's coronation ceremony.

Alvin still looked the same as before—gentle and compassionate—but there was now an unmistakable authority in his bearing.

Only then did I finally feel at ease.

But now, as I held the corpse in my arms, my hands were shaking beyond control. My mind was filled with images of him as a child, following behind me and calling out "Jace" repeatedly.

I drew in a sharp breath, my fingers trembling as I slowly traced the leg bone covered in blade cuts. Then, at the ankle, I suddenly felt an extremely faint hole in the bone.

The position, the depth, the size… It was identical to the old wound from when Alvin was a child in Ghost Valley, when shackles had pierced his ankle.

"Ah!" I stumbled backward and collapsed, a hoarse cry tearing out of my throat.

This was impossible! I didn't believe it!

Alvin… My younger brother… He was supposed to be in the palace, living a life of luxury and adoration.

How did he… become this pile of broken bones?

It was as if a heavy hammer had smashed straight through my chest. But in the next instant, every emotion was replaced by a cold, murderous intent.

Without a shred of hesitation, I scooped the bones into my arms and ran wildly toward the direction of the capital.

My owl rose sharply into the sky, its piercing cry trailing after me.

Behind me, the shadow guard shouted urgently, "Dr. Bonewright! You mustn't! This is suspicious. We should think this through and not act rashly—"

I ignored him completely.

I was going back to the palace. I wanted to see for myself who the hell was sitting on the throne now.

Whoever dared to lay a hand on my brother was going to be reduced to ashes and scattered to the wind.