The sky above the clouds was a flawless, endless blue, the midday sun burning bright overhead. Kaelen's mid-sized flying boat glided through the open air, its polished hull catching gleams of gold as it rocked gently in the high-altitude breeze.
Below, the Frosthaven Rainforest stretched beyond sight, an ocean of green, endless and unbroken, the canopy shifting like the surface of a living sea. From here, it was beautiful. From within, it was a labyrinth that swallowed the unprepared whole.
A place where anyone on foot would lose themselves within hours.
Kaelen set his monocular telescope to his eye, sweeping the endless expanse. His lips moved without thought. "Almost at the central region."
It should have taken five days. But reality rarely bent to neat schedules. Instead, it was the seventh day.
Two of those days had been stolen by a sky full of wings. Cloudwing Vultures. Individually, they weren't particularly dangerous, but in a swarm, they were relentless.
Kaelen had taken down several of them with his dagger flashing in the sun and his shadow elemental talent, but when the numbers swelled beyond reason, he was forced to descend into the rainforest and conceal the vessel beneath the canopy.
Two days in hiding before the skies finally cleared. Only then had he resumed his journey.
Now, as he drifted lower, Kaelen's gaze sharpened. "If the novel's early chapters were accurate… the dungeon should be hidden behind two massive, ancient trees, with a pond nearby. That's where the male protagonist would one day stumble upon the Aetherium Artifact."
But this time, it wouldn't be the protagonist's discovery.
The boat descended through layers of mist until the trees loomed like titans all around. He searched for hours, the sun sliding toward the horizon, until the glint of water caught his eye. Steering toward it, he set the vessel down in a small clearing beside a tranquil pond.
He stepped off the deck, boots hitting the soft earth. The air here was heavy with the scent of moss and damp bark. And there towering ahead were two ancient trees, their bark gnarled and silver-veined, unlike any others in sight.
A slow smile curved his lips. "Finally."
Without hesitation, Kaelen drew his dagger. A swift cut to his index finger brought a bead of crimson, which he let fall onto the roots of each tree.
At first, nothing.
Ten heartbeats later, the leaves shivered as though stirred by an unseen wind. The ground beneath his feet rumbled softly, a warning growl from the earth itself.
Kaelen didn't flinch. His smirk only widened, blue eyes glinting with anticipation.
The two colossal trunks groaned, splitting apart like a pair of massive doors. Between them, light blossomed — pure, blinding, and white. A portal.
"This is it."
Five years of training, of preparation for this moment. Standing before the gateway, a strange nostalgia welled up in him.
He tightened his grip on the dagger, and with calm, deliberate steps, crossed the threshold.
The instant his figure vanished, the two ancient trees groaned, their massive trunks twisting back together. The silver veins in their bark dimmed to a dull gray, the seam sealing so seamlessly that not even a whisper of magic remained. It was as if the portal had never existed.
Far away, in Wonder Town, a soft drizzle tapped gently against the windowpanes of a small villa. Inside, Elira Arden sat curled on a cushioned sofa, a book resting forgotten in her lap. Her emerald eyes were fixed on the misty streets beyond the glass.
"Kaelen… it's been almost eight days…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
A faint crease formed between her brows. She told herself he was capable, that he knew how to handle danger, but the worry was beginning to creep in, threading itself into her every thought. Her fingers absently tightened around the edge of the book, knuckles pale.
Outside, the drizzle thickened into a gentle rain, each drop seeming to echo the restless beat of her heart.
The world spun. As Kaelen's vision swam in a haze of white and green, his ears ringing as if he had been plunged underwater. When the blinding brightness faded, his surroundings came into focus, though sluggishly as if the air itself was thick.
He lay sprawled on cool, dew-slick grass.
A dull ache throbbed at his temples. "Ugh… my head…" He pressed a palm to his forehead, the dizziness pulsing behind his eyes.
With effort, he reached for his backpack, fingers fumbling with the clasps until he pulled free a canteen. The water was lukewarm, but it didn't matter he splashed it over his face and hair, the shock clearing some of the fog from his mind. A few deep gulps followed, each one grounding him further.
Only when the spinning subsided did he push himself upright.
He scanned his surroundings, expecting… more.
There was no roaring jungle. No hostile creatures. No eerie ruins. Just an open meadow, the grass swaying gently in a breeze that carried no particular scent.
And far in the distance stood a small crooked wooden hut, the only landmark in sight.
Kaelen's brows furrowed. "In the novel… this place was swarming with powerful beasts when the protagonist arrived. So why… nothing?" His thoughts were sharp, uneasy. "Did my interference cause some kind of butterfly effect?"
A prickle of wariness ran down his spine. Whether the danger had been delayed or hidden, it didn't matter—caution was still the only rule.
He slid the dagger from its sheath, the blade catching a glint of pale light, and began to move toward the hut. His steps were deliberate, his senses stretched thin across the empty field. The silence pressed in, amplifying each crunch of grass under his boots.
With every meter, his pulse quickened. The hut drew nearer and it's weathered planks, a sagging roof, and a single crooked window. With no movement. No sound at all.
His pupils darted left and right, scanning for the flicker of movement, the glint of eyes, the shift of shadow.
And then he was at the door.
He stood there, dagger angled low but ready, the air heavy in his lungs. The wood of the door was dark with age, the grain rough beneath his fingertips. Somewhere inside, the faintest creak echoed or perhaps it was just the wind.
He stood there, dagger angled low but ready, the air heavy in his lungs. The wood of the door was dark with age, its grain rough beneath his fingertips, splintered in places by years of weather. Somewhere within, the faintest creak whispered through the stillness—or perhaps it was only the wind slipping between the cracks.
"The Aetherium Artifact… it's in here," Kaelen thought, his pulse steady but sharp.
With a slow push, the door groaned open, hinges singing a long, tired creeeeak!
The moment the gap widened, a rush of mana spilled out. But not the crushing suffocating force he had half-expected, but something warm and almost… welcoming. It seeped into his skin, threading through his veins, and in that instant he felt his control over mana sharpen, refine, as if every nerve in his body had been tuned to perfection.
"It feels warm… almost soothing," he murmured, flexing his fingers as the mana flowed through him.
Inside, the hut was stark and plain bare walls, a single table at its center, and upon it, two black boxes etched with runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light.
"Two?" His eyes narrowed. "In the original plot, there was only one…"
He stepped closer, boots silent on the wooden floor. Kneeling before the table, he reached for the nearest box. The surface was cold and unyielding, the lid refusing to budge no matter how he pried.
Clicking his tongue, he switched tactics, drawing the dagger across his index finger in a practiced motion. Crimson drops splattered against the runes.
The first box answered immediately. A brilliant white light erupted from its seams, flooding the room and blinding his vision.
Kaelen squinted, shielding his eyes until the radiance dimmed, only to find that the box now stood open.
Inside floated a glowing orb of pure azure, its surface like liquid crystal. At its center, a single human-like neon eye slid open, luminous and unblinking. The orb hovered upward with silent grace, turning to regard him.
Kaelen's breath stilled. He met its gaze, black eyes locking with that unearthly pupil.
For a long taut moment, neither moved.
The azure orb, etched with intricate ancient runes that shimmered faintly, was the first to speak. Its voice was soft, almost youthful, yet neither male nor female.
"Human… you are the one who freed me from that relic box?"
Kaelen gave a short nod. "Yeah, that was me. But… why do you look like something straight out of a sci-fi movie?"
The orb floated closer, scanning him from head to toe. It began to drift in a slow circle around him, as if inspecting every detail.
"I was created using advanced technology… in an age long forgotten. An Artificial Intelligence. My origin is unknown—or perhaps… locked deep within my database. As for this… 'sci-fi movie' you speak of… I have no reference."
Kaelen's brow twitched. "Surely this is the butterfly effect… this thing never appeared in the novel at all."
"So… do you have a name?" he asked aloud.
The orb hesitated, its glow dimming slightly. "I do not. Would you… give me one?"
Kaelen smirked. "How about Kitsu? Cool, short… and cute, kind of like your appearance."
"Kitsu…" The orb seemed to consider the name, then pulsed warmly. "Yes. I like it."
"I'm Kaelen Arden. And Kitsu how about becoming my partner?"
"I was programmed to follow the one who freed me. You are my Master now."
They talked for a while, and then Kaelen turned toward the second black box resting on the table. His gaze sharpened.
"Here lies the Aetherium Artifact… the most valuable item in the entire story, practically an overpowered cheat for talent. But now…" A faint grin curled on his lips. "…it's mine."
Kitsu hovered silently by his shoulder, observing as Kaelen repeated the blood ritual.
The moment his blood touched the runes, a pure white light erupted, flooding the room. This time, Kaelen had braced himself and closed his eyes.
When the glow faded, he opened them slowly and a broad smile spread across his face.
Inside lay a baseball-sized fruit, pure purple and covered in faint crystalline patterns, releasing waves of cold, dense mana.
Kitsu's neutral tone carried a note of intrigue. "Master… that is the Aetherium Dragon Fruit. Consuming it strengthens the body, greatly enhances talent… and may even awaken special abilities, though the chance is extremely rare."
"According to my data, it cannot grow on this planet's atmosphere. It would take millions of years and vast mana reserves to mature. I hypothesize… it came from beyond this world."
Kaelen nodded slowly. "Exactly. And now… it's mine."
He lifted the fruit, inspecting it briefly before taking a bite. Cold, refreshing energy surged through him. "Ahh… delicious…"
Another bite, and his thoughts wandered. "I wonder how Mom's doing alone at home… wish I could share this with her."
By the time he finished, the mana swirling inside him felt almost overwhelming. He shut the hut door, sat cross-legged on the floor, and said, "Kitsu, watch over the place. I'll need time to digest its power."
He knew from the novel that after the protagonist ate the fruit, fell into a coma for weeks.
His eyelids grew heavy. Within moments, he was asleep.
Kitsu floated closer, watching his peaceful face. "This human… feels as though he wasn't meant to exist in this world," it murmured to itself.
Time slipped by like water through fingers. In Wonder Town, the drizzle had long since dried, replaced by the stillness of a late afternoon.
Elira Arden sat in her familiar spot by the window, hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her emerald eyes, usually calm were shadowed with unease.
"It's been a month and a half…" she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Kaelen still hasn't returned…"
Though Kaelen Arden was now a capable young man, strong and independent, a mother's heart was not so easily reassured. The lines of worry etched faintly on her face told their own story.
Behind her, four figures in black robes stood with heads bowed in silent respect. The leader took a step forward.
"Madam," he said with measured deference, "allow us to search for the young master Kaelen. We will bring him home without delay."
The others remained wordless, awaiting her decision.
Elira shook her head slowly, her gaze distant. "Not yet. He is likely training… or seeking opportunities. Disturbing him now may do more harm than good."
She lifted a hand in quiet dismissal. "Go. All of you."
The four bowed as one. "As you command, Madam. Take care."
In the next instant, they were gone—no sound, no shadow, no trace left behind.
Elira leaned back into the sofa, closing her eyes. In the quiet, her thoughts whispered like a prayer.
"Kaelen… come back soon. I miss you."
A longing ache bloomed in her chest. She could almost feel his warmth, almost imagine pulling him into her arms the way she used to holding him close.
Elira was about to head to the kitchen to prepare dinner when something caught her eye through the window—a tiny black speck moving in the distant sky. She frowned.
"Hmm… what is that?"