The silver pendant still glowed faintly against Kyle's chest.
The soft light reflected across the polished wooden table, casting pale ripples across the room.
Kyle stared down at it.
His mind felt strangely empty.
"Summoned…?"
The word echoed in his head.
Across from him, Tony Carter sat calmly, hands folded in front of him like a patient teacher waiting for a student to process an important lesson.
Luis Stark remained standing behind Kyle, his posture straight but tense. His sharp violet eyes had not left the glowing pendant since it lit up.
Joshua stood quietly near the door.
But the young omega looked stunned.
Kyle finally lifted his head.
"…You're serious?"
Tony nodded once.
"Yes."
Kyle leaned back slowly in the chair.
"So let me understand this."
He pointed to himself.
"You're saying I didn't just… accidentally transmigrate into this body."
Tony's smile was faint but confident.
"That is correct."
Kyle laughed weakly.
"Then who summoned me?"
Tony tapped the table gently.
"That is the mystery."
Luis spoke calmly from behind Kyle.
"The church has summoning rituals?"
Tony glanced at him.
"The Lumina Church possesses many ancient records."
"That is not an answer," Luis replied.
Tony's eyes softened slightly.
"Some rituals call forth power."
He looked back at Kyle.
"And some… call forth souls."
Joshua's fingers clenched slightly at his sides.
Kyle ran a hand through his hair.
"This is getting complicated."
Tony chuckled softly.
"Yes."
Kyle stared at the pendant again.
"Then this thing…"
Tony finished the sentence.
"…confirms that your arrival was intentional."
Kyle looked suspicious.
"Or maybe it just glows when someone handsome wears it."
Luis snorted quietly.
Joshua looked confused.
Tony laughed again.
The sound was warm and surprisingly human.
"I assure you, Prince Kyle, the artifact has more refined standards."
Kyle sighed.
"Well that's reassuring."
He lifted the pendant slightly.
"So what does it actually do?"
Tony answered calmly.
"It resonates with individuals chosen by fate."
Kyle blinked.
"That still sounds vague."
Tony leaned forward slightly.
"The crystal detects divine interference."
Luis's eyes narrowed.
"Meaning?"
Tony met his gaze directly.
"Meaning someone powerful interfered with the natural order of this world."
Silence filled the room.
Kyle swallowed slowly.
Great.
Just great.
So not only had he transmigrated into a doomed prince…
But someone—or something—had intentionally brought him here.
Kyle leaned forward on the table.
"Do you know who did it?"
Tony shook his head.
"No."
Kyle sighed dramatically.
"Of course not."
Joshua finally spoke softly.
"…Then why show this to His Highness?"
Tony looked at him.
Joshua quickly lowered his gaze.
Tony answered gently.
"Because Prince Kyle will soon become very important."
Luis spoke again.
"In what way?"
Tony's blue eyes returned to Kyle.
"In many ways."
Kyle groaned.
"I hate mysterious answers."
Tony smiled.
"Then allow me to be slightly less mysterious."
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"Please do."
Tony stood up and walked toward the tall window.
Sunlight poured across his white robes.
"The Levicious Empire stands on the edge of change."
Kyle listened carefully.
Tony continued.
"There are forces moving beneath the surface."
Luis's expression hardened slightly.
"Political forces?"
Tony shook his head slowly.
"Something older."
Joshua looked confused.
Kyle frowned.
"Like… magic?"
Tony glanced back at him.
"Yes."
Kyle blinked.
"…Wait, magic actually exists here?"
Luis looked at him strangely.
"Of course it does."
Kyle coughed awkwardly.
"Right. Of course."
Tony smiled faintly.
"You truly are unfamiliar with this world."
Kyle pointed at him.
"Hey, you're the one who said I came from somewhere else."
Tony nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Kyle sighed.
"Fair enough."
Tony returned to the table.
"Prince Kyle, the artifact reacted strongly to you."
Kyle looked down at the pendant again.
"What does that mean exactly?"
Tony answered simply.
"It means your soul carries power."
Luis's gaze sharpened.
"What kind of power?"
Tony shook his head.
"That part is still unclear."
Kyle leaned back again.
"Wow."
He gestured toward himself.
"I come here to survive and suddenly I'm a magical chosen hero?"
Tony tilted his head slightly.
"Hero is not the word I would use."
Kyle frowned.
"…What word would you use?"
Tony's smile returned.
"Catalyst."
Kyle stared at him.
"That sounds worse."
Tony didn't deny it.
Joshua spoke quietly again.
"…If His Highness was summoned…"
Kyle looked at him.
"…Then the one who summoned him must expect something."
Tony nodded.
"A reasonable conclusion."
Luis crossed his arms.
"Which means someone powerful is watching."
Tony's gaze flickered slightly.
"Yes."
Kyle looked around the room suddenly.
"Great."
Joshua looked worried.
"Your Highness?"
Kyle pointed upward.
"Now I'm paranoid about invisible gods."
Tony laughed softly again.
"Relax."
Kyle looked at him.
"You said divine interference."
Tony nodded.
"Yes."
Kyle spread his hands.
"That sounds like gods to me."
Tony considered that.
"…Perhaps."
Kyle groaned.
"I knew my life was too peaceful yesterday."
Luis suddenly spoke again.
"Your Holiness."
Tony looked at him.
"Yes, Commander Stark?"
Luis's voice remained calm but firm.
"Why tell us this information?"
Tony's smile faded slightly.
"Because the empire will soon face danger."
Kyle's heart skipped.
"What kind of danger?"
Tony's blue eyes darkened slightly.
"War."
Joshua inhaled sharply.
Luis's expression turned serious.
Kyle rubbed his forehead again.
"War with who?"
Tony answered quietly.
"Possibly with something that should not exist."
The room fell silent.
Kyle stared at him.
"…You're really not helping my stress levels."
Tony smiled again.
"I apologize."
Kyle stood up slowly.
"Okay."
He pointed toward the door.
"I need fresh air."
Joshua quickly stepped aside as Kyle walked toward the window.
The view from the cathedral tower was breathtaking.
The capital city spread out below them like a living painting.
Kyle leaned against the stone wall.
"So…"
He looked back at Tony.
"You're telling me I was summoned here…"
Tony nodded.
"Yes."
Kyle continued.
"And that I might have some weird destiny."
Tony nodded again.
"Correct."
Kyle took a deep breath.
"And that the empire might face war with… something mysterious."
Tony folded his hands.
"That is also correct."
Kyle sighed heavily.
"Fantastic."
Joshua looked concerned.
"Your Highness…"
Kyle turned toward him.
"Yes?"
Joshua hesitated before speaking.
"…Are you afraid?"
Kyle thought about the question.
Then he smiled faintly.
"A little."
Joshua looked down.
"I'm sorry."
Kyle blinked.
"For what?"
Joshua's voice was soft.
"If you had never come to this world… you would not face these dangers."
Kyle stared at him.
Then he laughed.
"Joshua."
Joshua looked up.
"Yes?"
Kyle shrugged.
"My old life wasn't exactly exciting."
Luis spoke quietly.
"You do not seem like someone who enjoys danger."
Kyle grinned.
"I don't."
He looked at the glowing pendant again.
"But if someone dragged me into this mess…"
His eyes hardened slightly.
"…then I might as well survive it."
Tony watched him carefully.
The faint smile returned.
"Yes."
He murmured.
"That is exactly what I hoped you would say."
Kyle looked at him.
"You hoped?"
Tony nodded.
"Prince Kyle."
Kyle crossed his arms.
"Yes?"
Tony's blue eyes gleamed with quiet interest.
"You are about to change the fate of this empire."
Kyle groaned again.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Tony simply smiled.
But deep within the cathedral…
The ancient artifact continued to glow softly.
As if recognizing the beginning of something that had been waiting…
For a very long time.