When Nujah opened his eyes, he found himself inside a royal palace.
It didn't stink like the places ruled by Alvaren; on the contrary… there was calm. A strange kind of happiness.
Strange—yes. But a beautiful kind of strange.
Before long the door opened. An armored soldier stepped inside.
"Easy, son," he said. "Our Mother the Queen will see you shortly."
"Where… am I?" Nujah asked.
The soldier smiled and shrugged. "I'm not the one to answer that, handsome," he said with a wink. "She'll be here soon. Please wait."
The door closed.
As Nujah sank to the floor, the white dragon statue to his right caught his eye. He tried to look away and couldn't; the marble seemed to drink in the light.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" a voice said. "The first dragon of the universe: Aseriel."
Nujah startled to his feet. "Forgive me… who are you, my lady?"
From the far corridor, a woman approached: an aura strong and beautiful, unlike anything ordinary.
"How rude of me," she said gently. "I am Naraka. The place you see—our kingdom."
"Naraka as in the hell?" Nujah narrowed his eyes.
Naraka gave a wistful smile and shook her head. "No. Let me introduce myself properly:
Destroyer of Darkness, Goddess of Light, Mother of the Shiora Universe. Chosen by the Light."
Caught between belief and doubt, Nujah let out a small laugh. Naraka's gaze turned serious.
"Here—let me show you," she said.
She snapped her fingers—and in an instant they were in the sky.
They stood above the kingdom, in a space even the wind wouldn't dare approach. Nujah cried out for a heartbeat; but when Naraka appeared at his side, his fear ebbed and his pulse steadied.
"Why did you bring me here?" he asked, catching his breath.
"To speak freely," Naraka said, settling onto what felt like an invisible platform in the void. "Most ears cannot hear us here."
After a brief silence, she asked:
"Do you remember what came before?"
"A spear was driven into my back…" Nujah's eyes widened. "My siblings—Seren—what happened to them? Are they safe?"
Naraka's smile softened. Her voice grew warm:
"They're safe. Don't worry. While we speak, King Arthur has taken full control of Alvaren's castle. Seren Valinea will act as an older sister to the survivors. Their lives may not be a fairy tale; but they will be stronger and happier than before—I can promise that. In time, they'll build homes with good people."
Nujah drew a deep breath. "I… never expected that. I only wanted to stop my family—before anything worse happened."
"And that choice," Naraka said, "opened a door to a better future. Arthur has welcomed the people into the keep; no one will starve. Tax burdens will ease. Because of you."
Nujah lowered his head. "Then what do you want from me? If I'm in neither heaven nor hell, I'm here for something important."
Naraka studied him. "Do you know what Shinrei means?"
"No, I don't… my lady."
"Don't call me 'my lady,'" Naraka said, gently. "Shinrei are my children. Don't take it the wrong way—you are my 'child' too; but they are born of my blood and light; they are Guardians of Shiora.
This is Shiora's Heart of Light.
The sacrifice you've made is rare; that is why you interest me, Nujah. I cannot force you—yet if you wish, I want to make you one of the Guardians of Shiora—as my own."
Nujah's eyes lit. "This is… perfect. I would finally have the power to stand against the dark. But what's the price? Handing something so great—into the hands of someone like me—a child…"
Naraka's face grew solemn. "To become Shinrei means you will no longer be human. You will be born again—as an infant. You will grow hundreds of times faster than humans, and you will not age.
But—you cannot marry humans. You cannot have children of your own.
You will lack human organs—stomach, intestines, and the like; instead your body will hold a Soul Stone (Sha)."
"So… what will I be like? A machine?" Nujah asked.
"No," Naraka said, soft but certain. "Shinrei are not simply 'good' or 'evil'; yet innocence and goodwill are their nature. Emotions like vengeance do not live in them. Because you are human, those feelings will fade over time.
Also know this: even if I give you my blood, you will not rise to Shinrei level immediately. You will undergo a long training. Your memories will be reset; your power will grow slowly with your body."
Nujah lifted his head. "There isn't much left for me in the world."
His gaze slid to Aseriel's white silhouette, then returned to Naraka.
He smiled—plain, fearless.
"I accept."
In Naraka's eyes, tenderness and destiny mingled.
"Are you sure?" she asked. "There is no return from this."
"I accept."
A heartbeat later, Nujah found himself back in the palace; beside him a bed of light was forming.
"Lie down, please," said Naraka.
As he lay upon it, an unnameable calm streamed down his shoulders. The texture of light wrapped his whole body and sealed him like a sigil; his mind closed completely.
Naraka raised a small vial in her hand.
"This," she whispered, "is your beginning."
The light in the vial fell drop by drop upon Nujah.
At that moment, something within the machine surrounding the ritual crackled to life.
The blood ran along thin channels and joined the mechanism; the light within the device turned into a drone—as if it were screaming.
The light around Nujah shifted to crimson; his body began to change visibly, swiftly.
Naraka turned her head. "Erymas, come in."
The door opened; a young man hurried inside. "I hope nothing goes wrong, mother," he said—good-natured worry on his face.
"It won't," said Naraka. "Even with his mind closed, the more light around him, the healthier the ritual. You will stay here until tomorrow, understood? I'm going to meet my sister Elyka and her new husband. You will guard him—stay at his side and let no one approach.
If need be—tell him funny memories; keep his soul calm."
"Understood, my Queen. Leave this place to me."
Naraka looked at Nujah one last time; the crimson light quivered like the first beat of a new heart.
And the world began a second time for Nujah.
--
After Naraka left the chamber, the door opened again. A woman stepped inside, her footsteps measured and deliberate.
Erymas instantly drew his sword.
"Shinrei Maria? Why are you here?" he asked, then lowered the blade once he recognized her.
"What else?" Maria replied with a faint smile. "I came to see my new sibling."
She walked closer, her eyes falling on Nujah lying inside the glowing machine.
"When will it be finished? Is it dangerous?"
Erymas's face darkened.
"According to Naraka, it won't threaten his life. But because he was once human, the risks of side effects are high. Still… in the end, he'll survive—and become much stronger."
Maria frowned. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"The cleaner the soul energy around him, the easier the rebirth," Erymas said.
Maria chuckled softly. "Then I could bring some of the kind-hearted creatures from my forests." She snapped her fingers—only for Erymas to raise his hand sharply.
"No. The operation must remain stable. The more crowded the energy, the greater the risk. No more than a hundred small beings."
"My animals aren't mischievous, you know," Maria muttered.
"Mother entrusted me with his safety," Erymas replied firmly. "If you want to help, then help—but if not, please leave."
Maria tilted her head, surprised. "Our new sibling… is a child?"
Erymas stiffened, realizing he had slipped.
"Yes. But tell no one. You didn't hear it from me. As the eldest sister, you have the right to know—no one else."
At that moment, a slender snake with glowing yellow eyes slid into the room. It darted toward the machine. Erymas struck in a flash, cutting it in two—but its foul stench poisoned the air. Nujah's body trembled, the light within the machine fracturing.
Maria quickly raised her hand, purging the foul air with a wave of magic. Together, she and Erymas moved the machine to another chamber.
The instant they entered, Naraka appeared, answering Maria's telepathic call. Without a word, she touched the machine, drawing out the black blood left by the serpent and erasing it in her palm.
"Mother, I—" Erymas began.
"There's no need," Naraka said gently. "You did all you could. It was handled before it grew worse."
She looked down at Nujah. "He will awaken within an hour. Until then, make sure nothing disturbs him. I will investigate the serpent myself."
--
When Naraka entered the chamber, the serpent was nowhere to be seen. She closed her eyes, and for a moment the flow of time within the room reversed. The snake reappeared, frozen in motion. Naraka reached out, reshaping time itself, pulling the creature into reality and taking it in her hand.
It was a rare species, born deep in the Dark Side. By touching it, Naraka read its entire memory: crawling from the depths of shadow, slithering unnoticed into the royal chamber. What struck her most was the gap—the suspicious trail showing her other children passing the same area, yet with no creatures recorded in their memories.
"Guards!" she called. Two armored warriors entered immediately.
"At your command, my Queen."
Naraka conjured a bowl of light in her palm and pressed the serpent into it, sealing it tight.
"Take this to Vekhir Tolen. Tell him there are too many dangerous little uninvited guests like this one roaming. He will know what to do."
"As you command," the soldiers said, bowing before leaving with the light-sealed vessel.
Moments later, Naraka stepped into the chamber where Nujah rested.
"Was there any trouble while I was gone?" she asked.
"No," Erymas and Maria replied at once.
Erymas added carefully, "After you drew out the venom, the device stabilized. He seems calmer now."
"Good," Naraka said softly. "Then it is time to awaken our Sleeping Beauty."
She raised her hand, drawing all the blood and light from the cradle into her palm, compressing them into a small stone sphere. As the others watched, Nujah's eyes flickered open.
"My Queen?" he whispered. But the sound that followed was not a voice—it was a cry, thin and sharp, like the chirp of a newborn bird. His gaze fell on his own body, and terror flooded him.
Naraka dismissed the others with a snap of her fingers, leaving only herself and Nujah in the chamber. She knelt beside him.
"The procedure failed. It did not go as planned. That is why you find yourself in the body of a child. Normally, you would have been reborn as an infant, your mind erased. But your consciousness… remains intact."
She touched his head gently.
"Most of your human parts are gone. Only fragments of your heart and brain remain—about ten percent. Do you remember your family?"
"My… family?" Nujah blinked in confusion. "Did I have one?"
Naraka's expression softened, but her tone was firm. She conjured a vial of liquid light.
"Drink this, then rest. Do not open your eyes until I command it."
As he obeyed, Naraka placed a glowing finger upon his forehead. With a snap, his body convulsed. In a single minute he felt the torment of twenty-four hours compressed, his form shrinking until he lay as a newborn child.
"Nujah," Naraka whispered. "If you can still hear me, lift your hand."
A tiny hand rose shakily.
"I can hear you… still, my Queen."
Naraka studied him closely. His body was now as it should be: every human remnant erased, his heart and brain fused into a single Soul Core (Sha), compressed and blazing.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"I… just want to sleep," Nujah murmured, yawning.
"Any dark thoughts? Any strange urges?"
"No… why would I?"
Naraka exhaled, but her eyes remained tense.
"Strange forces are at work, even beyond my knowledge. For now, your body is perfect, but tampering further could break you. You must grow—at least until the age of ten. In thirty-six days, I will perform a proper correction. Until then, sleep, child."
--
When morning came, Naraka entered the chamber—only to find the cradle empty.
"Guards!" she called, her voice sharp. "Where is the child?"
One of the guards stammered, "Your daughter Maria… she wished to show him the palace grounds, my Queen. We… we dared not refuse."
Naraka closed her eyes. A single breath later, she reappeared behind Maria.
Maria was strolling by the great lake, pushing Nujah in a small carriage. She leaned over with a smile:
"If you keep looking forward, little brother, you'll see endless water. But if you want true fun, look behind you—our brother Ren built an entire park back there—"
"Behind you, sister," Nujah interrupted calmly.
Maria froze. "…He's standing there, isn't he?"
A hand settled firmly on her shoulder. Naraka's voice was both stern and cold.
"My daughter, what are you doing?"
"Mother, I—" Maria began, flustered.
But Nujah cut in quickly, "It was me, my Queen. I begged her to take me out. I was restless in that room. She was only being kind."
Maria shook her head. "No, that's not true. I took him out because I thought he needed fresh air."
"You don't have to lie to protect me, sister," Nujah said softly. "Don't take the blame."
"But you are lying," Maria insisted, frowning.
At that, Naraka laughed suddenly. Both of them turned in surprise. When her laughter died down, she spoke evenly:
"Nujah, I admire your effort. But no one can lie to me—not when I can hear the shifts in your voice. That was only one of many signs. Still… your intent was noble. I'll say no more this time."
She leaned down to Nujah. "How do you feel? Any discomfort?"
"Other than this tiny body?" Nujah sighed. "Everything's fine. Maria has cared for me well since you left. To be honest, I don't even need sleep anymore."
Maria smiled. "As the eldest sister, it was my duty. That's what big sisters are for."
Nujah looked up at Naraka. "And you, my Queen—what will you do now?"
"Let's put an end to that title," Naraka replied gently. "You are family now, Nujah. My child. You are three months old—you have no duties yet. For now, enjoy time with your siblings."
"Don't you want to join us, Mother?" Nujah asked.
"I cannot. Someone must always rule the Realm of Light. That is my burden." And with that, Naraka vanished in a single flicker of radiance.
Maria chuckled, looking down at her brother. "Mother's time is precious. Shall we take the boat out instead? Just the two of us on the sea?"
"A boat?" Nujah blinked. "Why not a ship?"
"That would ruin the fun," Maria said with a grin. "The whole point is to move with our own hands."
"But in this body, I'm not much help," Nujah protested.
"You can speak, and your mind is intact. That's more than enough. I can teach you illusions on the open sea—no harm will come to you there."
Nujah smiled faintly. "You're overestimating me, but thank you. What I am wondering is… will there be giant sharks?"
Maria laughed. "Not where we're going. That place is clean. Trust me."
She snapped her fingers. The world shifted in an instant. They were no longer by the lake, but on a small island surrounded by an endless, silent ocean. The horizon was swallowed in mist.
Nujah shivered. "This silence… it's terrifying."
"Wait," Maria said, snapping her fingers again.
The sea came alive: fish darted in schools, dolphins leapt in arcs, and whales sang from the depths. Strange, gentle creatures Nujah could not name gathered around, filling the water with motion and light.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Maria whispered.
Nujah's eyes widened. "How did you do this? Where are we?"
"You're inside my illusion, little brother," Maria explained with quiet pride. "Among all our siblings, I am the best at shaping worlds. I can make this place into anything I choose."
Nujah laughed, a rare sound in his young voice. "This is… amazing!"
"Then let's take the boat out," Maria said, conjuring a small vessel upon the glowing waters. "I'll teach you your first steps in illusion—child's play, before you learn the greater arts."
--
Maria lifted Nujah into her arms and placed him gently on the boat before sitting beside him. At once, dozens of workers formed from golden light appeared—her illusionary shades, steering the vessel. One of them noticed Nujah, hurried over, and even gave him a coat and food while holding him close.
"Boss Maria, why is this baby here?" the shade asked.
Maria took Nujah back from his arms. "He's my little brother. Just mind your work."
As Nujah ate the crater-shaped food the shade had given, he asked curiously:
"Maria, who are they?"
"They're just shadows within my illusion," Maria explained with a smile. "Not real."
"What? Not real? How! And this tasty crater I'm eating—"
"Look carefully," Maria interrupted.
When Nujah looked at his hands again, there was nothing there. His eyes widened in shock.
Maria chuckled. "They are simply figures I create with my mind, shaped through my sha—my soul energy. That's why they seem so real and speak like living people."
Nujah grinned. "Have I ever told you you're my favorite sister, Maria?"
"Thank you for the sweet words, little brother," Maria replied warmly. "But don't decide too quickly. Each of your siblings shines in their own way. Meet them all first. They're all wonderful—just like me. Anyway, let's stop chatting. Shall we start practicing?"
"Are you sure, in this baby body?" Nujah asked hesitantly.
"For magic, you don't need a strong body," Maria said. "What matters is your inner spirit and the focus of your mind. You can already speak, and your body doesn't tire or need rest. That's enough for the basics."
Though doubtful, Nujah realized early training would help him grow stronger and agreed. "Alright… what should I do?"
Maria set him down in front of her. "Watch me. I'll show you a first-level illusion spell."
She closed her eyes, pressing her hands together in a meditative pose. "To gain full control, I calm my mind. I think of the things that bring me joy… then focus on the light. For example—see this carpet, woven of pure light, slowly lifting from beneath my feet."
Nujah stared in awe as it unfolded exactly as she described. Maria opened her eyes and smiled. "When you're more advanced, you'll be able to create these freely." She floated gracefully on the carpet, then descended.
"Now it's your turn, Nujah."
Nujah copied her movements perfectly—almost too perfectly. His illusionary carpet was flawless, save for faint black fragments hidden within the light. Maria noticed but said nothing.
As he rose higher into the air, Nujah laughed with excitement:
"I did it! I'M FLYING, SISTER MARIA! HAHAHA!"
"Calm yourself, Nujah! Don't lose control!" Maria warned.
But the carpet shook violently, swayed side to side, and then exploded midair. Nujah plummeted toward the ocean—until Maria snapped her fingers. The waters and shore transformed into a cushion of wool-like softness.
She rushed to his side, worried. "Are you hurt?"
But Nujah stood tall, completely unharmed, a grin on his face.
"Sister Maria, are you alright? I'm sorry—I lost control. But it was so much fun! Thank you. I hope we can do more together."
Maria's eyes welled up with tears. She picked him up, holding him tightly.
Nujah panicked. "Please don't cry, sister! I promise I'll do better next time. Don't cry!"
Maria shook her head with a trembling smile. "I'm not crying out of sadness, little cat… but out of happiness."
Moments later, she steadied herself. Then a telepathic message struck her mind:
"Understood. Bring him."
"Who is it?" Nujah asked.
Maria answered softly: "Our mother wants me to take you back to the palace. One of the Firstborn Spirits has come to meet you."