POV: Kael Lanpar
It was hard to swallow, even while wrapped in my parents' arms. Even within that warm embrace, Airis's words kept echoing in my mind.
Her confession about what the Lanpars had done left me in a mental void I still couldn't fully comprehend.
I rested my head on my mother's shoulder and, behind her, I saw Airis. Since she told me what had happened to her race, her face had remained shadowed, as if sadness itself had wrapped around her.
I loved my parents deeply. I even accepted without hesitation my grandfather's decision when he begged them to take me on a training journey.
I felt the breeze brush against my face and tried to pull away from the hug, but my mother gently stopped me.
"Promise me you'll write every day," she said, squeezing me tighter, as if she wanted to hold on to my very soul.
"Yes, Mom, I promise," I replied with a small smile. "I'll write to you every day… but, can you let go now?"
She reluctantly loosened her grip, wiping away her tears before letting me go. I walked toward my grandfather, who was already waiting at the entrance with Airis.
I was almost there when my father's deep voice made me stop.
"Son, wait a moment," he called out, pulling a letter from his pocket. "This is for you. It's from someone you don't know, but I'm sure you'll like them."
I approached and took the letter. My name was written on the surface in dark ink that shimmered faintly with mana.
I let out a soft sigh and slipped it into my pocket, feeling a magical vibration run through my fingers as I touched the seal.
This is strange… I've felt this kind of mana before. The particles were different from the usual elemental types, and they didn't seem sub-elemental either. Each one had its own color, its own frequency.
This particular mana released faint white fragments, barely visible—almost as if a protective energy surrounded the letter.
"Kael! We don't have all day!" my grandfather shouted from a distance. "The road is long and night is falling. Hurry up!"
"Yeah, I'm coming…" I muttered, exhaustion slipping into my voice.
As I turned around, I gave my parents a smile—one that was far too hard to maintain. It was awful having to fake such tangled emotions. I loved them, yes… but I was terrified of the secrets they hid.
"Goodbye, everyone! See you soon!" I shouted, running toward my grandfather and Airis.
With every step, the memories of my corrupted awakening hit me harder. I remembered that brief argument between my father and grandfather, before he slammed his hand on the table and said he already knew where to take me.
"You sure took your time," Airis said with mild annoyance. "You're such a crybaby."
"Whatever you say, redhead," I replied, walking past her toward my grandfather.
Each step made it harder to breathe; catching my breath after thinking too much felt impossible.
"So, can you finally tell me where we're going?" I asked as I walked beside him. "Do you have some kind of training plan or…?"
"Fewer questions, Kael," he interrupted firmly. "It's an adventure, so there's no fixed destination. Enjoy the day and take in your surroundings."
I stayed silent, lowering my head in resignation.
I tried to distract myself by kicking a rock along the path, but it didn't work. I couldn't stop thinking about what had driven the Lanpars to massacre an entire race.
We walked for a long while, talking about anything and everything. Simple, empty conversations meant only to keep the journey from feeling endless.
"I hate secrets," I whispered, knowing full well my grandfather could hear me.
"Why do you say that?" he replied without turning around. "What have you gotten yourself into this time, Kael?"
"Nothing, really," I said, averting my gaze. "The same as always — meaningless death."
At the sound of his sigh, I watched him walk ahead, quickening his pace, while I let a bit of my astral magic flow around me. A small current swirled beneath my feet, forming a tiny whirlwind.
I felt like a clown. Sure, I could use astral magic — but only like a street magician performing cheap tricks. Little illusions that barely reflected what that magic was truly capable of.
"When I give the signal, I want you to run with all your strength," my grandfather ordered firmly. "We're about to cross the border into the Elven Kingdom. We mustn't draw attention. Understood?"
Airis and I both nodded, preparing ourselves. The silence of the forest tensed for a brief instant before breaking with my grandfather's shout.
"Run!"
Without thinking, we shot forward. Our bodies blended with the trees, the branches serving as platforms that propelled us faster. We were shadows among leaves, wind between roots.
If anything could distract me from my thoughts, it was the beauty around us.
Despite knowing how hostile this world could be, I couldn't help but admire its landscapes. Every corner seemed to have a purpose. Every shape, every color, every sound… everything coexisted with meaning.
It was as if nature itself whispered a forgotten truth about the cycle of life — one that had governed my old world before we destroyed it with our own hands.
Before everything green vanished, leaving only dust where life once thrived.
Despite our speed, my reflexes allowed me to catch a glimpse through the shifting leaves: a pack of wolves running parallel to us.
Their bodies were covered in ancient runes that glowed with intensity. They moved in perfect harmony, accompanying our pace from the ground, while above the clouds, giant white birds danced with the wind.
"In five minutes, we'll reach our destination!" my grandfather shouted from up front. "Keep running and don't stop!"
Airis accelerated until she was beside him. My grandfather signaled for me to do the same. I obeyed without hesitation. That's when the pack veered off, scattering among the trees, as if their task had been completed.
"Why is the mana here more abundant than in our kingdom?" I asked while still running.
"That's exactly why we're running," he replied, picking up his pace. "We're trying to avoid the being that guards this place. The guardian who sleeps in the Elven Forest doesn't distinguish between friend or foe… he only protects his creators."
His words brought back a story my parents once told me when I was barely a year old. Back then, I thought it was just a bedtime tale.
According to their story, during the war era, the elves — whose connection to mana and life itself was absolute — decided to create another kind of existence.
A creation born from the sacrifice of their very souls, giving form to a celestial being that became the protector of their home.
My grandfather's words confirmed that story. And even more so did the feeling I had while being here — as if thousands of invisible presences brushed against my skin, trying to recognize who I was.
So lost was I in thought that I didn't notice the clearing opening between the trees.
Before us stood a small city bathed in sunlight. Its glow was so pure it seemed taken straight from a dream. Majestic. Alive.
"Children, welcome to Elquairas," my grandfather announced as he descended from the trees. "Our main trading city with the other kingdoms."
I landed beside him, bending my knees to absorb the fall. When I lifted my gaze, the sight before me took my breath away.
There was no other way to describe it — the very definition of diversity.
On the streets walked humans, elves, and a short-statured race I recognized immediately, purely by intuition: dwarves.
"Never seen other races before?" Airis teased, bumping my shoulder. "Did you already forget that I'm not human, idiot?"
I thought we were past the hate phase… I muttered to myself as I rubbed my shoulder, trying to regain composure after witnessing something that, until recently, existed only in fantasy books.
The more I discover about this world, the further I feel from understanding it. Sometimes I wonder if it even has an end… or if it's an infinite cycle of mysteries.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and joined Airis and my grandfather on our walk. Neither of them shared my excitement. It made sense — they didn't come from a world like mine, one where human cruelty had destroyed everything.
As we moved through the crowd, something began to unsettle me — beyond the exotic smells in the air and the metallic rhythm of soldiers' footsteps.
For some strange reason, I couldn't understand a single thing people were saying. Even the human words sounded distorted, incomprehensible to my ears.
"Frere Gray no sagne yo Tori…" — that was just one of the many phrases I caught around me.
"Hey, Grandpa," I asked, tilting my head slightly. "Do you understand what they're saying?"
"Of course not, Kael. I don't speak Elvish," he replied, scratching his beard. "But judging by their expressions, I'd say they're arguing."
I looked toward a group of elves sitting at a bar and saw one throw a mug of ale at another. I kept walking, ignoring the shouts echoing behind me.
"And do they understand what we're saying?" I whispered, dodging a couple of passersby.
"Some do, others maybe not," my grandfather replied quietly. "We're speaking Racing — the continental language. It's the common tongue among races and kingdoms."
"And everyone knows it?" I asked.
"Not everyone," he added, "but it's the only language that allows us to understand each other among so many different kinds."
He stopped in front of a fruit merchant — a human dressed in worn clothes but with a kind expression.
"Vi core nasga der frute granxe. Uta caro no gata," my grandfather said naturally. The man offered him a gleaming fruit in exchange for a few Yenis.
"But… I thought you said you didn't speak another language," I exclaimed, confused.
"He's speaking the native human tongue," Airis interrupted, tossing an orange at me with disdain. "Seriously, you don't know anything…"
Of course I don't know anything. I went from being locked inside a castle to wandering across an entirely unknown continent.
I didn't even know Racing wasn't the original language of humans.
I finished the orange and we kept walking aimlessly through the streets of that small city. Unlike Luzarion or the Astral compound, this place had more carriages than pedestrians.
Different magical beasts pulled the transports. I had to step aside when one of them snorted right next to my ear.
"Watch where you're going, brat!" the driver shouted.
I watched as a massive white-furred bear dragged the carriage forward. With a sigh, I rejoined my group.
A few steps later, we came across an old inn that looked like it was in its final days. Its walls stood more out of habit than structure — older than the world's own traditions.
"Kids, you're free to explore," my grandfather said before stepping inside. "I need to see an old friend before we move on. Stay together… and don't get lost."
His words left me a bit confused. I turned toward Airis, looking for an explanation.
"Hey, where are you going?" I asked as she began to walk away.
"I know," she replied without stopping. "Luis said we shouldn't split up, but I want to explore on my own. I've never left the compound before. This is my chance. See you later."
I silently accepted that I was now alone. I spent several hours wandering aimlessly — observing, listening, learning.
One skill I carried over from my past life was gathering information through conversations.
It's a basic technique, but an effective one. Many spill their secrets without realizing it. Others speak more than they should without meaning to.
I had learned the hard way that it's better to keep your mouth shut. One poorly chosen word can cost you your life… or someone else's.
Now I stood before a colossal statue in the heart of the city. Its presence was imposing, almost divine. The aura it radiated was so powerful it felt truly blessed by a deity.
I touched the inscription carved at its base. The story it told was one that many ancient warriors knew — but one I was only just beginning to discover.
Inscription on the statue:
"Here, between molten metal and the diamond crown, lies the symbol of the one who once brought peace to the world:
Macie Orouh — leader, war, and hope.
If there are still people who believe… then it's worth continuing the fight."
— Macie Orouh
Many quote the words of wise people to find comfort. But I had never seen anyone speak from the heart with a true desire to help others.
"Well… there you are," said a familiar voice — it was Airis. "I've been looking for you. I didn't find anything amazing in this place. It's just like the Astral compound."
"Did you know about her?" I asked, my eyes still fixed on the statue. "Who was she?"
"So this is where the statue was… I thought it was a myth, but it's real," she said, standing beside me. "She's the reason there are no wars between clans — and one of the founders of the Human Kingdom."
"We'd better go back to the old man. He's probably done talking," I said, starting to walk away while she followed silently.
After several minutes, we returned to the crumbling hotel. From a distance, I could see my grandfather speaking with a hooded figure. The stranger wore a golden wolf mask and held something important in his hands.
"Hide!" I whispered to Airis, pushing her against a wall. "Don't say a word. Just listen."
"What's wrong with you? Do you really think—?"
Before she could finish, I covered her mouth with my hand and used wind magic to amplify the sounds. I needed to hear what was being said.
"Thank you for the map. On behalf of the Astrals, there's no further information to give," my grandfather said, taking the sealed map marked with the Lanpar emblem. "Make sure Xavier learns what's happening. Understood?"
"Understood, Lord Luis. We're at your command… and the Kingdom's," the hooded man replied before vanishing into the shadows of dusk.
That was a soldier from Alkaster. Strange. Why would one of them come all this way just to end up here? They were supposed to act only during major events, not as express couriers.
"Ahh! Damn it! Why did you bite me?" I shouted, clutching my hand in pain. "What did I do to you?!"
"Do you seriously think he didn't notice we were spying on him? What kind of mage do you think he is?" Airis snapped, releasing a trace of her magical aura. "He's a Broker, Kael. Try using your brain for once."
Too aggressive for her age. She almost tore my hand off. I never imagined one of my companions would turn out to be… half-crazy.
After leaving our hiding spot, we went straight to my grandfather, who led us to a much better hotel — clean, solid, and quiet. It seemed we would finally get some rest after such a long, exhausting day.
Throughout the entire walk, my grandfather didn't say a single word.
That unsettled me. Maybe it was because he knew we had been spying on him. Or maybe… the message brought by that hooded man wasn't good news. But that expression — it wasn't one of relief or peace. It was pure concern.
"Finally… a bed," Airis said, collapsing onto the mattress.
"Too aggressive…" I muttered, lying down on my own bed, though my mind refused to rest.
I couldn't stop thinking about the possibility that something had happened in the capital — another attack, perhaps.
And that lingering doubt still haunted me: what exactly was my father hiding from me?
"I just hope I'm wrong about all this," I murmured between yawns.
That was my last thought before surrendering to sleep. I closed my eyes, feeling the darkness and exhaustion envelop me… until, within seconds, I jolted awake in fear.
A cold sweat ran down my body. I heard a voice I thought I'd never hear again. Despite its warmth, I couldn't stop trembling.
"Champion Castleboard… Matías, wake up, sweetheart," said the voice.
I thought I was dreaming. A nightmare, maybe. But it was so real I could feel her presence beside me.
I opened my eyes wide and sat up abruptly, breathing hard. I felt as though I belonged to a place I didn't understand. I was alive… yet also dead. A familiar emptiness wrapped around me.
I got out of bed. The cold floor froze my feet and sent a shiver through my whole body. Something wasn't right. I could hear Airis sobbing in the distance, but right now, that didn't matter.
The music…
What was playing outside was one of the last symphonies I'd ever listened to with her — before her body was crushed… drenched in blood… and I was left carrying yet another guilt to my name.
I began walking toward the door. The moon followed me, and with every step I took, its light grew stronger — blinding.
I grabbed the handle. My hands were trembling. I knew whatever I was about to see… I wouldn't like it.
I opened the door fully.
And then I saw her.
Dextrina.