The carriage rattled along the road leading to the capital, horses straining against their harnesses as they pulled the weight of three passengers—Shion, his mother, and the royal official. Though the man's presence was enough to make others bow their heads in fear, Shion paid him little mind. To him, the official was nothing more than someone tasked with escorting them to a new place and recording their residence in the royal ledger.
Lost in his own thoughts, Shion barely noticed the silence stretching between them. The official, growing impatient, finally spoke.
"Despite the rumors that have spread about you recently," he said, eyeing the boy with quiet curiosity, "today I saw something different. Tell me, were you always like this?"
Shion lifted his head slowly, meeting the man's gaze.
"No," he replied with blunt honesty. "Everything changed only today."
He knew the man wouldn't believe him, and indeed, the official smirked faintly.
"Perhaps one can change his clothes in a moment, but not his very nature. Personality is not something so easily discarded. Why not tell me your story while we have time on this road?"
Drawing in a deep breath, Shion glanced at his mother. To his surprise, she seemed to believe him, her eyes wide with something like faith. Strange, he thought. It feels like she trusts me. I only hope she won't interrupt while I weave a story for this man.
Turning back, he straightened his posture and said evenly, "Very well, I'll tell you my story. I know if you hear anything useful, you'll carry it straight to the Second Princess. So listen carefully to every word—though I doubt you'll find anything of interest."
The official leaned forward slightly, intent on his words, while his mother lowered her head, silently praying her son wouldn't drag them into trouble with the royal family.
"I am Shion Ranus," he began, his voice calm but heavy with memory. "The illegitimate and unwanted second son of the head of the Ranus family. I was not born in the palace, but in some far-off place on the edge of the territory, where my mother kept me hidden so no one would know of my existence. For five years, no one did—until a rival of my father discovered us and exposed me to the world."
Shion's eyes lifted to the carriage roof, shadows of sorrow darkening his expression.
"When I first entered the palace, the only thing that greeted me was hatred. Angry stares—directed at me, and at my mother. I didn't understand why, but I felt it: this place was not mine, even if I shared their blood. Surrounded by noise, I was still utterly alone. New to the palace, yet already treated as a stranger."
The official was surprised by the fluency in Shion's words, listening more closely than he had intended. His mother, meanwhile, fought to hold back her tears.
"To rid myself of those stares," Shion continued bitterly, "I tried everything. I pushed myself to prove my worth, to earn recognition. But compared to my brothers, my talents were small. Magic, swordsmanship, combat, medicine, trade—no matter what I tried, I fell short. By the age of fifteen, I had achieved nothing."
He turned to his mother, closing his eyes briefly before pressing on.
"My mother… she was forced to return to the palace as a servant. At the time, I thought of her as a stain upon me. I avoided her, even though she humiliated herself every day just to care for me. I couldn't appreciate her then. The cruelest thing I ever did was on the day of my brother's birthday celebration."
His voice faltered slightly.
"I was in love with a girl from another noble family. My brother, jealous of her gaze lingering on me, revealed before everyone that I was illegitimate. The scorn in their eyes… I had never felt such disgrace. I could do nothing but lash out at my mother. I screamed at her before them all. That… was my greatest sin."
Tears welled in his mother's eyes and slipped down her cheeks. Shion leaned forward, gently brushing them away with a soft smile.
"I'm sorry, Mother. None of this was ever your fault. It was mine—for failing to protect you. I should have struck that bastard instead of hurting you."
His words only made her sob harder. It had been so long since she had seen kindness in her son's face.
But Shion did not stop.
"The last three years were the worst of my life. Preparing for the Academy, I was mocked at every step. When the head of the family denied me nomination and gave it instead to an outsider, I protested. They only laughed at me. I thought the Academy would be my chance to change everything, to earn recognition through my own effort. But when I finally entered, the same looks, the same contempt I'd known since childhood, met me once again—even from nobles my own age. My very existence embarrassed them."
His voice lowered, heavy with grief.
"It was hell… a hell without a sin I could understand."
He had done nothing more than cling to life until that very moment.
Shion snapped with frustration:
— "All I've done… was simply survive until now!"
The royal official, however, remained unfazed. His eyes were cold, his tone calm as he replied:
— "Honestly… I was moved by your story, though I already knew it. You were always aggressive, hostile, vile beyond words, taking revenge on everyone around you. Yet today, your behavior does not match the Shion I know. Tell me, what caused this sudden change? Don't tell me you just decided to change today—such an answer won't work with me. Speak, what is the real reason for this transformation?"
Shion froze. In truth, he didn't know himself. At first, he thought of lying, but when he noticed the faint trace of emotion in the official's eyes, he hesitated. Still, he could not escape. He was forced to weave a story. He lifted his head, his face unwavering.
— "Didn't you find it strange… that I stayed out of trouble in the academy, despite knowing the princess was present?"
The official narrowed his eyes. With the skill Shion had displayed earlier, a careless mistake seemed impossible. Shion pressed on:
— "There is someone you don't know. His name is the Shining Star. He asked me to become his disciple. But he gave me a condition: if I wished to shine, I had to remain alone. If I stayed tied to my family, they would block my light. That is why I abandoned my family name—so no one would claim the art my master wishes to teach me."
His words rang with conviction, as if they were undeniable truth. The royal official studied him, thoughts swirling: If his talents were worthless, no one would ever take him in. Yet with his effort, his endurance, and the pain he bore… perhaps the Shining Star's art is a cruel one indeed.
He asked quietly:
— "Describe him. What does he look like? When did you meet him?"
Shion lowered his gaze, feigning hesitation, then spoke:
— "An old man with white hair, though his skin was fresh and youthful. His eyes were ancient, yet within them lingered a faint light, like a night sky dotted with stars. I met him a week before the incident… the one that caused my absence from the palace. You can confirm it, if you wish."
His tone was firm, unyielding. Though the official doubted him, he found no immediate flaw. Shion's mother, however, was struck with disbelief, staring at her son as though she had never known him. Shion thought bitterly: Even Mother doesn't believe me…
The journey continued in this fashion. The official questioned, and Shion answered smoothly, spinning lies with the skill of a seasoned deceiver. He spoke of the Shining Star as though he were a legend—both swordsman and sorcerer, a master with celestial manuscripts, strong enough to sweep away danger. With each word, the official grew more uneasy at the thought of such a hidden figure. His mother, meanwhile, trembled in silence, fearing her son's fabrications might summon disasters they could not control.
Sometimes Shion feigned ignorance, giving shallow details while claiming he could not sense deeper truths—techniques, power levels, the count of stars or halos. In the end, he painted an ominous image: the Shining Star, wielder of "Celestial King Arts," a warrior on par with the kingdom's greatest commanders, possessing six astral halos and seven magic circles, and perhaps disguised behind the mask of an old man.
By the time they reached the capital's outskirts, Shion turned to the official and said firmly:
— "Sir, I don't wish to live in the noble district. I want a place where I can clear my mind and train. Let us settle among the common folk."
The words struck like thunder. The official was stunned, and his mother even more so. Shion, the boy infamous for despising commoners, now wanted to live among them? Even the official's suspicions began to waver. His mother, too, started to believe the tale of the Shining Star.
They entered a modest district—neither rich nor poor. The houses were simple, built of stone and wood, unadorned. They found a two-story house with a wide entrance and stone floors, though dust covered everything. Hiring locals to clean it, they quickly drew attention. Neighbors whispered that nobles had moved into their street, yet surprisingly, there was no air of arrogance, no disdain. The mother seemed at ease with such simplicity, and Shion himself treated people warmly. They appeared less like nobles, and more like those who had fallen into ordinary life.
Later, Shion turned to his mother, voice low:
— "Mother… forgive me if this is strange, but… may I know your real name?"
She hesitated, then with trembling lips, smiled faintly.
— "My son… my name is Rita Lan."
Her breath quickened. For the first time in years, she had called him my son. She felt as if she were dreaming. Shion helped her to a chair, speaking with resolve:
— "From now on, I have no ties to the Ranus family. My name… will be Shion Lan."
But suddenly, a wave surged through his mind. His body shook violently, then collapsed, his head striking the floor. His mother screamed, rushing to him as neighbors gathered. Even the royal official, shaken, realized that this day would forever remain the strangest of his entire life.