POV: Kael Lanpar
Pain coursed through my body, the aftermath of a brutal kick that had left me half-conscious. I could barely hear my own ragged breathing.
My senses were fading, yet I could still make out the conversation of those who had saved me.
—"Lord Marquians… what should we do with the boy?" a female voice asked.
For a moment, no one replied. Between the darkness of my fading consciousness and the clarity beginning to seep into my mind, I realized I was nothing more than a spectator, dreading what they might decide.
—"For now, nothing. The boy plays no role in this," a deep, firm male voice answered. "If Xavier's son disappears, we'll be the first to be blamed."
—"We're wasting a great opportunity, Lord Marquians," another voice shouted. "To hell with this, I'm going to—!"
The sentence never finished. The sounds that followed told me he hadn't been lucky with his choice.
The crack of bones and a muffled scream for help were all I heard. Terror surged within me, urging me to wake up and run while I still could.
But I had no strength to rise, no mind to understand why they were attacking him. Before I could think further, a loud crash interrupted me—the sound of a body collapsing against the cold floor. That sound shattered my mind completely.
—"You're lucky, brat. It's not yet your time to pay for your family," the same deep voice threatened. "Gather the bodies and clean the area."
I felt someone lift me into their arms. Then, I drifted into a deep sleep.
(Mental Space)
When I opened my eyes, I was once again beneath the same tree as always—the one that greeted me each time I ended up here.
I knew it wouldn't be long before Kraidir appeared. And as expected, before me, white butterflies gathered and shaped themselves into his form.
He looked at me with a severe expression, a mix of anger and, perhaps, the faintest trace of concern.
I wanted to say something, but the words caught in my throat. Even here, within my own mental space, I was unable to react. Every fiber of my body trembled beyond my control.
—"It's shameful that a former soldier like you would be afraid of something so ordinary," he said with biting irony.
I stayed silent. I couldn't answer him. He was right—this shouldn't be affecting me. And yet, now I couldn't even look death in the eye.
—"Your silence only proves how pathetic you are," he continued, stepping closer.
Before he could take another step, I stopped him with a cry torn from the depths of my soul.
—"You… you don't know what it's like to see… and feel death," I stammered, gathering the last of my strength. "You're nothing but a damned god! You've never lost anyone!"
For some reason, my words struck him. His expression changed; I saw pain flash in his eyes, and his hands trembled ever so slightly. That's when I realized—I had made a mistake.
The butterflies began to scatter, dissolving Kraidir's figure into the endless white void.
Before vanishing, his voice echoed in my mind:
—"You know nothing. Don't fool yourself into thinking you're the only one who has lost someone."
I sighed, slowly regaining some movement. Though Kraidir was no longer before me, I could still feel his presence. The butterflies continued to dance across the ethereal sky.
"Lord Marquians… whoever that man is, he's dangerous. And it seems he has unfinished business with the Lanpars."
Leaning against the trunk of the white tree, I realized yet another problem had been added to the burden I already carried. In the vast emptiness of this void, all I could do was wait to wake… and face whatever came next.
I am afraid. Not for myself, but for those I now consider my family, I thought. I won't let anything happen to them. I swear it on my own life.
(Days later)
After that, I learned that my parents never knew what had happened to me. I intended to tell them, but doing so would have alerted the man who had sworn vengeance against my family for a supposed betrayal I still didn't understand.
When I opened my eyes after fainting, I found myself, as if by magic, back in my room. I was healed, without a single visible wound.
I would have liked to believe it had all been a dream, but the wound—though invisible on the outside—still burned fiercely within me. It was a reminder of what I had lived through, and at the same time, a warning of what might come.
I shook my head.
I blinked a few times before my eyes caught the fireworks lighting up the dark night in what was now a peaceful Luzarion. The people, filled with joy and fervor, walked through the streets of the capital.
Today was a special day. After four years since my birth, everyone celebrated a glorious moment: the day when life and death intertwine.
Boom..!
From the window of the royal carriage, I watched mages casting fire spells that burst into gleaming colors, painting the sky with shifting shapes.
Music played, the crowd sang, and people embraced one another like a single family, chanting in a language I did not understand:
Salve Vitra, viso sangre salvator quereis mi vida.
Sometimes I forgot that other languages existed. At least I was fortunate that my parents spoke the same native tongue I had in my past life.
"Father won't be here, will he?" my sister asked gloomily. "He never is, not even now."
"Your father is very busy, my children," my mother replied with sorrow. "He would have loved to spend this day with you, but he cannot."
It didn't need to be said: Mayrei harbored some resentment toward our father. I didn't blame her. She was still a child, too young to understand the weight of carrying so many lives on one's shoulders.
After several minutes, the carriage stopped. In Luzarion's central square, guards, peasants, and citizens alike awaited us, all eager for our arrival.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived," the driver announced as he reined in the steeds.
At those words, I activated the ability I had recently learned, scanning the aura of each person to remain alert in case something went wrong.
The carriage door opened, and we were compelled to step out in line as cheers of excitement thundered around us.
The crowd pressed forward, trying to get closer, but the imposing guards—firm with their spears and steel armor—cleared a path for us.
"Queen Mabel, don't forget your people!" an elderly woman shouted from within the throng.
My mother smiled kindly at her, then turned to us and, with a sigh, allowed us to step forward and enjoy the day.
Mayrei and I walked among the crowd that laughed and danced without rest. I remained still for a moment, watching how each person savored a peace I had always longed for.
People dressed in costumes for the occasion represented what each of them desired in life and how they envisioned it.
I froze in place, surrounded by passersby filling the lively, melodic streets. I couldn't understand why, in my past life, I had never seen anything like this.
"Happy Day of Life and Death, Prince Kael and Princess Mayrei!" a man greeted us, controlling a fire dragon with magic as it soared above our heads.
"Happy day… to you as well," I replied, still motionless, not entirely grasping what I was feeling.
In that instant, I experienced a void impossible to describe with words. New emotions, unknown to me, bloomed within, drawing out a genuine smile.
I began walking again so as not to lose Mayrei, but my effort was in vain. A simple distraction stopped me: a man performing as my father in a street play.
It was amusing to see him repeat every gesture, every word.
"And remember: to achieve your purpose, you must be willing to sacrifice a part of yourselves," the actor declared, removing the fake crown before bowing deeply.
The children burst into cheers of joy at the sight of their "king"… or at least the likeness of him.
In the distance, while my eyes remained fixed on the performance, a thunder of trumpets announced the beginning of the main act: my father's appearance on the balcony of the kingdom, ready to address his people.
"Mai, we'd better hurry," I murmured to the wind—until I noticed my sister was gone.
I had been so absorbed in that children's spectacle that I hadn't realized when she slipped away. Well… I guess I'm also a child now. Where could she have gone?
I pushed my way through the crowd, trying to find her, but the more I walked, the more lost I felt. The tide of people dragged me farther from where I was supposed to be.
I climbed onto a rock and from there watched as my father's ceremony began.
"Psss… hey, are you lost, kid?" a voice whispered nearby, though I couldn't pinpoint where it came from.
I looked in every direction, activating my new ability to track the source, but all I saw were trees and houses.
"Up here," the voice repeated.
When I lifted my gaze, I spotted a teenager sitting on the branch of a tree, smiling down at me with a bold grin.
"N-no… I'm not lost. My parents are coming," I replied, fearing something bad was about to happen.
"Don't lie," the boy chuckled, leaping gracefully to the ground. "Kal, come with me. I'm not going to kidnap you."
"Uh, no. I'm leaving," I said, turning to go.
Before I could take a step, he grabbed me by the shirt. I tried to summon a fireball, but for some strange reason, I couldn't.
"I'm Alfin… Alfin Lanpar," he said, releasing me. "I'm your cousin. Don't be scared."
I froze.
"I ran into your sister on the way to my uncle's speech. She said you got lost, so we split up to find you faster."
"And how do I know you're really a Lanpar, and not one of those revolutionaries who attacked the capital?" I asked, stepping back cautiously.
"First, don't you think I'm too young to join such a ridiculous cause? And second…" he lifted his hand.
By instinct, my muscles tensed. This time, the fireball flared in my palm stronger than before. I was ready to strike him—until something stopped me. Dangling between his fingers was a necklace glowing under the moonlight, an emblem only Lanpar blood could possess.
"Then… you really are family," I whispered, letting the flames die out.
"Of course," he replied, scratching his head. "We should find a high place to watch your father's speech… and that way, Mai can find us too."
"Do you already know how to use your magic?" he asked curiously, ignoring the fact I had nearly attacked him.
I didn't answer. He just smiled, grabbed my hand firmly, and suddenly, the wind and dry leaves swirled around us, forming a dome.
I shielded my eyes with my arm, protecting myself from the intensity of the power.
"Sorry about that," he said as the energy faded. "Just… don't tell your dad I used magic inside the kingdom, okay? I don't want him scolding me."
"Yeah, I promise," I replied more calmly, lowering my arm.
In the distance, my parents stepped onto the balcony to thunderous applause. They weren't just symbols of power… they were the living embodiment of hope.
My father took the microphone and spoke with a firm voice:
"Citizens of Auroria! Today, we gather to celebrate the cycle of life and death."
A reverent murmur rippled through the crowd.
"This cycle maintains the balance of our world. Life gives us the joy of family, of friends, of savoring each moment. And death reminds us that we must keep moving forward, leaving behind a positive legacy before we depart."
He raised his voice with strength:
"So celebrate the festival, live your lives, and cherish every moment!"
The roar was deafening. People shouted, embraced, and the celebration exploded with more intensity than ever.
"Hey, Kal, want an ice cream?" Alfin asked, holding out his hand.
"Yes, thanks, Alfin," I replied, taking the cone.
"You know…" —his voice took on a strange weight, heavier than usual— "perhaps you won't understand it now, but when you grow up, you'll see the true face of this world. Enjoy your childhood, Kal. It's a gift not all of us were given."
"You're right, Alfin," I told him, meeting his gaze. "That's why I treasure every moment of my life and try to make sure living is worth it."
He sighed, a hint of melancholy in his breath.
"You're very wise for your age… I'm glad you understand."
Then he whispered, barely more than a trace on the air, like a secret meant to vanish:
"I wish I had understood that when I was your age… you're a lucky one, Kael."
I didn't press further. I simply kept eating my ice cream while fireworks continued to paint the night sky.
Amid that colorful illusion and the fragile silence left by war, countless faces shared the same destiny.
Darkness stirred; hidden enemies wove their plans in silence, trying to pose as heroes before a crowd that often chose to follow false guides.
"I could still feel that sinister presence from the castle courtyard stalking me, hidden among the masses, watching with caution—and perhaps, with a malicious smile. It seemed I had already made my first enemy in this world."