In ancient times, during the era of Seraphine, the goddess seraphine finally ascended into godhood and divinity, becoming the first star constellation in the night sky.
But only a few days after her ascension, tragedy struck. Seraphine's husband passed away suddenly, leaving behind their three young children. The people called them the royal heirs of Seraphine, yet they were only fourteen years old—far too inexperienced to rule a kingdom.
Still, there was some comfort among the people. Everyone believed the eldest child, Lycaon, would naturally become the next ruler. As the firstborn, it was his right to inherit the throne.
However, destiny had other plans.
One morning, Lycaon made a shocking decision. He announced that he would abandon his royal status and leave the throne behind. He said he wanted to travel the world—to see its beauty with his own eyes and live freely, without the burden of a crown.
The next day, without any hesitation, he said farewell to his younger brothers and departed.
His choice shook the entire kingdom. The natural order of succession was broken. With the eldest gone, the throne became open to struggle—something the kingdom had not seen for centuries.
Assassination attempts began to rise. Nobles started plotting in secret. Neighboring territories, sensing weakness, began sending threats of war. The once-glorious kingdom of Seraphine's bloodline was now standing on trembling ground.
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In the royal palace, Cain, the second prince, walked down a long hallway. His personal maid followed a few steps behind him, her footsteps quick and light.
"Don't worry, my liege!" she said cheerfully, her tone full of confidence. "You'll be the new king for sure! Only a handsome, charming, and charismatic person like you deserves to be king!"
Cain sighed softly. "Yes, yes…" he replied dryly, not really paying attention.
These days, he often heard the same words from many people. Nobles, servants, and advisors—all tried to flatter him, whispering that he should take the throne and that his younger brother, Aurora, wasn't fit to rule. They thought he was still an innocent boy, easy to manipulate.
But Cain was not a fool. He already knew what they wanted—power, position, and wealth. He also knew his own heart. He loved his brothers deeply, especially Aurora, his quiet and thoughtful younger brother. Cain had always felt protective of him.
Aurora rarely spoke to anyone and preferred staying away from the noise of the palace. But that didn't bother Cain. In fact, it made him more worried for his brother's well-being.
At that moment, Cain was searching for Aurora again. After shaking off his maid's attention, he walked through the garden paths until he finally found him—outside, near the edge of a small forest.
Aurora was sitting quietly under a tall tree, sunlight slipping through the leaves above him. Beside him rested a large beast—a tiger-like creature with two long fangs and silver scales instead of fur. The creature looked terrifying, the kind that could kill with a single strike. Yet it lay calmly beside Aurora, purring softly as he gently patted its head.
Cain froze for a moment, staring in surprise. "You… can control beasts?" he asked.
Aurora smiled faintly, his eyes calm. "Yes," he said. "But right now, it's more like mutual communication. I can feel the nature around me, and they are part of it.
"Umm… y-yes," Cain replied awkwardly, nodding even though he didn't fully understand. He scratched his cheek shyly and smiled.
Aurora turned his gaze toward Cain. His expression was quiet, but there was a deep look in his eyes. "In a few weeks, we'll turn fifteen," he said softly. "Are you ready to take the throne?"
Cain's heart skipped. He looked down, unable to meet his brother's eyes. "Of course not," he said honestly, his voice low. "I've got no interest in the throne either. I was also thinking of leaving—to travel the world, to be free from these heavy responsibilities. But… big brother already left."
He sighed deeply, his voice filled with a mix of helplessness and longing.
To be honest, none of the three siblings truly wanted the throne. They all longed for freedom in their own ways. But someone had to stay and carry on their mother's legacy, someone had to lead the kingdom that Seraphine left behind.
"Well, play with them. I'll come back later," Cain said with a sigh and turned to leave. His footsteps slowly faded as he walked back toward the palace.
Aurora stayed where he was, sitting quietly under the tree. For a long time, he didn't move or blink—just stared into nothing. The forest breeze brushed through his jet black hair, and a deep silence filled the air.
Then, he finally closed his eyes and began to concentrate.
Within seconds, a strange energy rippled through the air. All the crows and birds resting around the palace suddenly froze. Their eyes turned crimson, swirling with multiple ring patterns. Their minds became one with Aurora's.
Through them, he could now see and hear everything that was happening around the palace.
His vision shifted through the eyes of a crow perched on a windowsill. Inside, two maids were gossiping while folding bedsheets.
"Who are you rooting for?" one maid asked curiously.
"Is that even a question? Of course it's Master Cain," the other maid replied quickly, glancing around before whispering. "Aurora feels scary to me… it's like death is always around him. You know, last time a bird died in front of him, I found him in the storeroom trying to bring it back to life using some kind of black magic! I almost fainted right there!"
Aurora's expression stayed calm, but his hands slowly curled into fists.
He moved his focus to another bird sitting on the roof of the palace. Through its eyes, he saw the duke sitting in a large chamber, surrounded by other ministers. They were deep in conversation.
"What do you think about Aurora?" the duke asked seriously. "Do you think the assassination attempt on Lord Cain was his doing?"
"Maybe," one of the ministers said with a frown. "That boy gives off a strange feeling. It's suspicious—unlike his brothers who can control werewolves and vampires, he can't control anomalies at all. Yet he looks like one himself!"
Another man nodded. "What if he's evil? Maybe he enjoys seeing others suffer. You know the saying—'Devils are born in the household of angels.'"
The duke's expression hardened. "We can't take any risks. We must protect Lord Cain from him."
Everyone in the room agreed without hesitation.
Aurora's heart sank as he listened through the crows' ears. He gritted his teeth softly, the pain in his chest growing heavier with every word. It wasn't the first time people had said such things about him. His pale face, quiet nature, and strange aura made others uneasy. Ever since he was a child, he had been judged, misunderstood, and treated like a curse.
But hearing it again—especially from the people who were supposed to serve his family—cut deep.
"It seems… I'm the real obstacle in my brother's path to glory."
That day, Aurora finally made up his mind. He decided to leave his brother and go far away—somewhere no one could ever find him. It wasn't like anyone would even try. In fact, he felt they would be happier if he simply disappeared from their lives.
Without looking back, in one leap he jumped into the sky. The wind rushed past his face as he flew high above the trees, moving faster and faster. The world below became a blur of green forests and glittering rivers. He crossed villages, and valleys in moments, flying without a destination—only the desire to escape.
But then, something below caught his attention.
He slowed down and looked closer. A group of guards was chasing a man through the forest path. At first glance, it looked like a normal pursuit—like the guards were hunting down a thief or a criminal. But what truly caught Aurora's eye wasn't the guards—it was the man they were chasing.
The man had black hair and black eyes, a thick beard, and wore simple white clothes. In his hand was a wooden wand glowing faintly with energy. Aurora could sense it clearly—the man was an awakened, far stronger than the guards chasing him. And strangely, those guards didn't look like they were from this land.
Within moments, the man managed to lose them. He darted into the forest and sat down on a large boulder, catching his breath. But before he could relax, Aurora had already followed, silently landing beside him.
"Who are you, mister? Why are you running from them?" Aurora asked curiously.
The man almost jumped in surprise. "Wha—?" He turned quickly, eyes wide. "I didn't even sense him approach!" he thought in shock. But when he saw Aurora's face, his confusion deepened even more.
"It's my second time meeting someone with black hair other than me," the man said, studying him with interest.
"And it's my first," Aurora replied softly and sat beside him. For some reason, this stranger didn't feel dangerous at all. There was something warm and calm about his presence.
The man chuckled lightly. "I'm Yeshua. Some people call me Jesus Christ, while others…" He gave a faint smile. "…call me the spawn of an evil god."
"Spawn of an evil god? I admire their imagination," Aurora said dryly.
Jesus laughed quietly, his eyes soft. "You've got quite the sense of humor. Who are you, young one?"
"I'm Aurora," he said, avoiding his royal title. He didn't want this man to know he was a prince.
"I was wondering," Aurora continued, "why were you running from them? You look strong enough to defeat them easily."
Jesus smiled faintly. "I know I could, but I didn't want to use force and they wouldn't stop unless I use force. Running away was the better choice."
Aurora tilted his head. "But why were they chasing you in the first place?"
"I'm a healer," Jesus said simply. "I try to spread happiness and heal those in need. But some people can't accept it. They think my powers come from a curse, or that I sold my soul to an evil god."
Aurora looked at him quietly. His chest felt tight. It was strange—he could deeply relate to those words. People misunderstood him too, feared him for things he never meant to do.
"Yet you still continue?" Aurora asked softly.
"Of course," Jesus replied with a gentle smile. "I don't do it for their approval or praise. I do it because it's what my heart tells me is right." His voice was calm, filled with quiet strength.
He noticed Aurora's troubled face and tilted his head slightly. "What about you?" he asked kindly. "How's your journey in life so far?"
Aurora looked down. After a short silence, he began to tell him everything—about his family, his brothers, the throne, and revealing that he was an prince.
Jesus listened silently. When Aurora finished, he let out a long sigh and gently patted the boy's head. "That's a tough life indeed," he said softly. "But running away from your problems won't solve them."
Aurora looked up at him, frowning slightly. "But you're running too," he said flatly. The tone was serious, but the innocent expression on his face made the moment unintentionally funny.
"Hahaha! My situation is different, I came here a few days ago," Jesus said, laughing freely. "I travel from place to place to heal people. I'm not running away, I'm wandering. The people chasing me—well, they're from my homeland. They were sent to kill me." He spoke with such lightness, as if he was talking about the weather.
Aurora stayed silent for a few seconds. His fists clenched slowly, his voice trembling with emotion. "How can you be so calm about it?" he asked. "They think you're a plague! Don't you ever want to shout back at them? To make them see who you really are—your pain, your struggles, your hardships?"
This time, Jesus didn't answer right away. He stood up and walked a few steps ahead, facing the sunlight filtering through the trees. Then he turned back to Aurora, his smile warm and patient.
"Listen, kiddo," he said gently. "No one's here to listen to your struggles. Words can only do so much. What really matters are your actions. One day, those same people will realize that my heart holds nothing but kindness for them."
Aurora hugged his knees and buried his face into them. "You're an idiot," he muttered under his breath.
"Hahaha! An idiot healer," Jesus replied with a cheerful grin.
Although Aurora felt that Jesus's beliefs were too selfless to be real, there was something about his calm voice and gentle smile that touched his heart.
For some reason, those words gave Aurora courage. He realized that his earlier decision to run away had been cowardly. Maybe he couldn't change the whole world—but he could at least face his own.
He took a deep breath and stood up. "I'm… going back," he said firmly.
Jesus smiled softly. "You better should," he replied, his tone calm and kind as always.
Aurora hesitated for a moment before asking, "Will you… meet me tomorrow too?" There was a quiet hope in his red eyes, a rare sparkle of curiosity.
"Yes," Jesus said with a nod. "I'll be here for the next few days."
"And what about after that?" Aurora asked, his voice lowering a little, sadness hiding behind his words.
Jesus smiled faintly. "Hmm… if fate allows it, we'll meet again. For now, we should cherish whatever time we have."
Aurora looked at him for a moment, then smiled back and nodded. "Alright."
When he returned to the palace, no one had even noticed his absence. He had only been gone for a few hours, and the palace was always full of noise and movement. No one knew that Aurora, the quiet prince, had almost run away that day.
From then on, Aurora met Jesus almost every day. They would talk, walk around the forest, sometimes play small games, and often watch as Jesus healed people who came to him for help.
During those days, Jesus taught him many things—about magic and philosophy. Their bond grew stronger with time. It felt like a bond between a teacher and a student.
Days passed quickly, and the day of the throne ceremony was drawing near. Everyone in the palace already expected that Cain would be crowned the new king.
But that wasn't what bothered Aurora. What truly troubled him was knowing that his brother didn't want the throne either. Cain would be forced into responsibilities he never asked for, trapped in a life he didn't desire. Aurora wished he could do something—but he didn't know how.
That afternoon, he drifted off into a light nap. The room was warm, and sunlight peeked through the curtains, painting golden lines across his face.
In his dream, everything was dark—an endless black void. And in that emptiness, Jesus stood in front of him, glowing faintly like a star. His usual smile was there, but it felt different this time—gentle, yet filled with a strange sadness, as if he was hiding something painful.
Aurora, much smaller in size, looked up at him silently.
Jesus reached out and patted his head softly. Then he said in a quiet voice,
"If the world hates you, just remember—it has hated me first."
Everything around him faded.
He woke up suddenly, his heart racing. His eyes were wet with tears that he hadn't even realized were falling. He wiped them quickly, but the feeling in his chest wouldn't go away.
Somehow, deep inside, he already knew what it meant. He would never see Jesus again. That dream had been his way of saying goodbye.
Even so, Aurora didn't feel despair. Instead, he felt something powerful rising inside him—like a flame that refused to die. His heart was full of determination and courage.
He jumped out of bed, his bare feet hitting the cold marble floor, and dashed toward the hallway.
"Cain! Cain!" he shouted, his voice echoing loudly through the corridors.
Servants stopped in shock. It was the first time they had ever seen Aurora raise his voice.
Cain, hearing his brother's voice, came running in panic. "Aurora! What happened? Are you hurt?" he asked, worry clear in his eyes.
Aurora shook his head quickly, breathing heavily, but smiling—truly smiling—for the first time in years.
"The throne," he said with determination. "I'll take it."