A bright morning dawned over the Arkelis estate.Kairos rose from his bed as usual, preparing for his morning training.But something about today felt different.
He couldn't concentrate—something that rarely happened.From the moment he woke up, an odd emptiness had lingered in his chest.As if something… or someone… was missing.
And yet, he had no idea what it was he longed for.
After training, he returned to wash and dress for breakfast.As he entered the dining room, his parents were already seated.
"Oh? You're later than usual. Something wrong?"Lady Amelia, his mother, asked gently.
Kairos shook his head slowly."Not really… Just felt… strange. Like something's missing, but I can't figure out what."
"Oh~ Are you thinking about someone special?"Amelia teased with a playful grin."Maybe your heart's racing now that academy entrance is near. Dreaming of a beautiful girl, perhaps?"
Kairos paused.He didn't smile or roll his eyes. He simply stared, lost in thought.His mother had meant it as a joke, but for some reason… it didn't feel entirely wrong.
"…Maybe. I don't know."
That quiet, serious tone caught both parents off guard.
"W-Wait, are you serious?"Amelia blinked in surprise."I was only joking! You've always been so serious and quiet! Who would it be? A noble girl from one of the houses?"
"Relax, Mother. I didn't say it was real. It's just… the feeling isn't going away."
He waved her off, but the unease in his heart refused to fade.What was this yearning?He had never felt it before.
Lucien, his father, finally spoke after listening in silence."Maybe it was a prophetic dream. Who knows? Maybe it's a sign you'll meet someone special at the academy."
Kairos let out a breath."I hope so, Father. But… you know it's unlikely.Most people avoid me the moment they see my face.Even if I do go to the academy, I doubt anyone will actually talk to me."
Lucien chuckled softly."Well, then this academy trip will be a good chance to broaden your horizons.Even if it's unlikely… maybe someone will."
Kairos sighed, but didn't argue."Let's eat. The food's going cold."
As they began their meal, Lucien and Amelia exchanged a subtle smile.Their son had grown so much.He was finally ready to face the outside world.
Their thoughts drifted back—to the boy he once was…
☙
Morning light filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow across the Arkelis training grounds.A three-year-old boy stood alone in the center, holding a wooden sword with steady hands.His eyes held no fear, no doubt. Only focus.
The clash of wood echoed across the grounds.An old instructor stood nearby, watching in silence with a furrowed brow.
"He learns… far too fast," the instructor muttered, scribbling notes on a parchment."No hesitation. No fear. No frustration… Just pure precision."
Inside the main hall of the estate, the Duke and Duchess listened quietly to the report.
"Kairos is… extraordinary," Amelia whispered."I still can't believe he mastered the basic sword form from just one look."
Lucien nodded slowly."He may become the greatest warrior of our time."
But as Kairos neared his fifth birthday, something unsettling began to surface.
One day, they gifted him a golden dragon music box.He took it, nodded once.
"…Thank you."
No smile.No sparkle in his eyes.No curiosity, no joy.
Just… acknowledgement.
Another time, he returned from a forest training exercise.He had taken down several beasts in under thirty minutes.
"Mission complete."
He said it plainly—emotionless.
And then… that night came.
Assassins had infiltrated the mansion, targeting the heir of House Arkelis.Blades clashed. Blood was spilled.
By the time the parents arrived, it was over.
Five-year-old Kairos stood in the middle of the carnage.Blood soaked his sleeves.His eyes… empty.
"They tried to kill me."
He said it like he was commenting on the weather.
Lucien and Amelia were frozen.Their child stood amid corpses, and yet…His face held no sadness, no fear. Nothing.
That night changed everything.
"We need to seal his power… for now," Lucien said softly."Not because we're afraid of it, but because… he needs to learn to live as a human."
"To feel warmth. To understand sadness. To love," Amelia added.
In the basement beneath the mansion, Lucien performed a sealing ritual.The Arkelis bloodline came from dragon slayers.Lucien had slain the Crimson Thunder Dragon. Their ancestor had felled the Black Dragon.And within Kairos flowed both legacies.
His black hair symbolized the Black Dragon.His crimson eyes—the Thunder Dragon.Together, they gave him unmatched potential.
Two seals were carved upon him.One to suppress physical prowess.The other, his mana.
Kairos didn't resist. He didn't understand, but he accepted it.
The next day, Lucien took him to the training grounds and increased the difficulty.
Kairos tried. He failed.
"…That wasn't right, was it?"
Lucien smiled."No. And that's not a bad thing. Failing means you get to try again. And that's valuable."
Kairos tried again. And again.
(So I can't do it like before… but I want to try again.)
They took him to villages, where he helped the sick, gave medicine to children, saw them smile.
Later that night, Kairos whispered:"…I felt something strange. When that child smiled."
Amelia smiled gently."That's warmth, Kairos. Maybe you'd like to try doing something… just for someone else."
(Doing something for others… I guess I could try.)
And so, slowly, they taught him what it meant to be human.
To care. To feel.To live.
Kairos became the young man he was now—not just a warrior, but a person.
"Stop staring at me and eat, will you?"Kairos broke their reverie with a straight face.
Lucien and Amelia laughed softly and continued eating.
☙
That night, Kairos lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
"…Will I fit in there?""Will anyone talk to me?""…Still… I hope someone will."
The next morning, Lucien summoned him to the basement.
"Kairos. You're ready now."
He was going to remove the seal.
Kairos shook his head.
"No, Father. Let's leave it. I've had it since I was a child. It reminds me… that I'm still human."
"Just teach me how to break the seal. When the time comes… I'll decide."
Lucien smiled, proud."As expected of my son. But you sure you'll keep up? You're going in with your power restrained."
Kairos smirked.
"Come on, Father. Who do you think I am? I'll be fine."
After mastering the unsealing technique, Kairos prepared for his journey.The carriage awaited.
"Safe travels, son."
His parents waved goodbye as he stepped aboard.
Kairos looked toward the capital.
"At last… we begin.Maybe… my fate is waiting there."
.
Elsewhere, in the lands of House Elvareth,Fiona had just bid farewell to her own parents.She too, was headed to the academy.
"…It's time.Time for us to meet again, Kairos."