The sun stretched across the village of Elderhart, casting golden light over rolling hills and cobbled paths. Birds chirped in the distance, and the scent of wildflowers mingled with the aroma of fresh bread from the bakery. To any outsider, Elderhart was little more than a sleepy village, a forgotten dot on the map. But to Kaito, it was home — familiar, warm, and full of gentle rhythms.
Yet something had changed.
Ever since the incident in the forest — when he'd stood between Mira and the beast, when that golden light burst forth from within — a quiet unease had settled inside him. Like the beat of a second heart.
Kaito stared at his open palm as he sat under the old oak tree at the hill's edge. The breeze teased strands of his hair. He could still feel the warmth from that moment. It hadn't been his imagination.
"Was that really… magic?" he whispered to himself.
But everyone knew — Kaito had no magic. He'd grown up as the boy with a kind smile and a strong arm, not a single drop of magical energy detected in him. Even when the village's mage tested the children at age six, his stone had remained dull. Unmoving.
So what had happened in the forest?
---
Whispers of the Divine
That night, Kaito couldn't sleep.
The wind howled against the cottage shutters, and the stars shimmered unnaturally bright. He lay in his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling beams. A strange warmth built in his chest — not discomfort, not pain. It was… calling.
He closed his eyes.
And suddenly, everything vanished.
He stood in a realm of glowing mist, floating weightlessly. A soft melody echoed — not music, but a hum that touched something deeper. A voice, gentle and ancient, drifted through the air.
"You chose kindness when strength failed you… You protected without knowing why… That is the truest form of power."
Kaito's eyes widened. "Who are you?"
No answer. Just the soft rustle of unseen wings.
Then a whisper — warm and close.
"One day, you will awaken. But not yet. The world is not ready to see your light."
He gasped as the world around him shattered like glass — and he woke up, drenched in sweat, heart pounding.
Was it a dream? A vision? He didn't know. But one thing was certain.
That warmth within him wasn't gone.
---
Mira's Curiosity
The next morning, Kaito wandered the village in a daze, trying to shake the remnants of the dream. As he passed the flower stalls and greeting neighbors with polite smiles, he didn't notice the silver-haired girl watching him from afar.
Mira Arashima stood near the village fountain, her arms crossed over her elegant blue and white dress. She'd grown used to being stared at, to villagers treating her like fragile porcelain. But Kaito never looked at her like that.
He looked at everyone like they mattered.
And that intrigued her.
Later that afternoon, she found him behind the bakery, stacking firewood. He was humming a tune softly under his breath, sleeves rolled up, sun casting a golden hue on his messy hair.
"You really don't act like someone who saved a noble's daughter from death," Mira said.
Kaito looked up, surprised. "Uh… thanks?"
She smirked. "Most would brag. You didn't even tell anyone what you did."
"I didn't do it for praise."
Mira tilted her head. "Then why did you?"
He paused, gaze drifting to the horizon. "Because someone needed help."
She studied him. "That's it?"
"That's everything."
Mira fell silent, the wind ruffling her hair. For a noble raised on politics and power, Kaito's simplicity was maddening — and refreshing.
"Do you think you used magic?" she asked finally.
"I… I don't know," he admitted.
"Well, you glowed," she said bluntly. "Golden light, right before you passed out. That's magic if I've ever seen it."
He chuckled nervously. "Maybe I'm a late bloomer."
Mira glanced away. "Or maybe you're something else entirely."
---
The Duke's Decision
Word of Kaito's bravery had reached every corner of the village. But few expected what came next.
One morning, the Duke himself arrived — not in pomp or ceremony, but in person, unguarded save for a few knights. He walked through Elderhart's main street with purpose, stopping only when he reached the small cottage where Kaito lived.
Serah, ever the warm hostess, invited him in without hesitation. Theron stood quietly behind her, assessing the situation with the eyes of a trained warrior.
Kaito bowed stiffly as the Duke approached. "Your Grace."
The Duke's eyes, lined with wisdom and sorrow, studied the boy. "You saved my daughter's life. I will not forget that."
Kaito fidgeted. "I only did what anyone would."
"No," the Duke said. "Few would have stood between a noble girl and a beast without magic, without armor. That takes more than courage. That takes soul."
He turned to Serah and Theron. "If you will permit it, I wish to sponsor your son's education. Aurelia Academy would benefit from someone like him."
Kaito blinked. "But… that's for nobles."
The Duke smiled faintly. "Titles mean nothing to me today. You have proven your worth with action, not name."
Theron placed a hand on Kaito's shoulder. "If you wish to go, son… we'll support you."
Tears brimmed in Serah's eyes, pride etched into every line of her smile.
"I—" Kaito hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I want to go."
And with that, the course of his life changed.