In the luminous city of Angelica, giant, palm-like trees gleamed under the warm, stoic breeze—their brightness ever so gracefully shining on the lively grass below.
The streets pulse with life and citizens erupt in joyous cheers. Street Angels stood in corners, their harmonious hymns filling the air. "O' Mary, O' Mary, you come with my heart. Bring forth your great love, and make me all the more. For love, I have waited; it's all in your hands. Give me all your attention as this is my stand."
Inside bustling bars, chaos reigned as many gathered to watch as brethren, regardless of race, political, or social stature. A massive TV broadcasts an airball tournament: an angel deftly evades the opponents' tackles, causing the crowd to chant their name, "Ralsee! Ralsee! Ralsee!"
The angel was nearing the end, but his flag was swiftly snatched in a matter of seconds by the rival team's speedster, ceasing his near-flawless run. The bar explodes in outrage and disbelief: "WHAT!" "Unfair!" "Really?!" "HOW?!" "BOO!"
In shops, Earth Fairies toiled tirelessly, stocking shelves with trinkets. One sighed as they put toys on the shelves. "Replenishing my Phylx after a long day of creating is so mentally exhausting."
Another pats their back, letting out a belly laugh. "Tell me about it. But as long as business thrives, we'll manage, son."
But in a particular hospital, an angelic woman is in labor. Her husband clutches her hand gently and worriedly. "Let me ease your pain with my healing, love," he offered.
She smiles, her eyes sparkling ever so thankful. "Thank you, David. I really appreciate it."
The doctors enter the room in time to hear parts of their conversation. One of them quickly butts in. "Whoa—there, love birds. If you're planning a perfect pregnancy, we must supervise to avoid any complications. She'll be fine, sir. Let us prepare before you do anything."
The doctors settle in and position themselves. The first doctor positions herself between her legs, while the other checks the vitals. After a while, the doctor signals them to begin.
The two angels activate their healing magic, as the doctors make haste with the pregnancy. She gently removes the newborn as it wept in her arms, delivering yet another painless pregnancy. As she inspects the baby for any signs of illness or disability, they instead freeze in awe.
The baby gleamed faintly, his wet wings shimmering brightly, and his eyes more luminous than those of a typical Genesis Angel.
"A charged Genesis baby?" the male doctor whispered.
"Unbelievable… this is my first time seeing one of this caliber!" the female doctor exclaimed excitedly.
David and Sphyla stared in shock, stunned by the rare sight.
"God has blessed us," David exclaimed, tears streaming.
Sphyla smiled softly. "Indeed."
The female doctor hands David his baby and the male gives the bill. "Once you've recovered, you're free to go." David pays in gold and the doctors swiftly leave.
He cradles the newborn in his arms, murmuring in pure curiosity. "Just what will you become, little one?"
—At eight years old, the boy heals a wounded dove with a single touch. His father watches him in awe.
"My father, David, trained me under the Solomon Rule for the first time. My first task was to heal animals. It seemed very simple at first but has grown harder over time—or so I thought."
—At ten years old, he ventures into the hidden library beneath his home. As he wanders aimlessly, he stumbles upon his father's open autobiography. Overwhelmed by curiosity, he takes a slight glimpse at its content: "During my teenage years, my sister ate my ice cream, so I dunked her toothbrush in the toilet. You like ice cream, huh? How about you taste its remains!"
Kailus was very amused and tempted to read more, but his fear of being caught in such a predicament kept him at bay. He closes his book before hurriedly leaving.
"I know reading a living relative's book is forbidden, but it was just too irresistible. But~, the book proves one thing, and that's my Father's pettiness. I still remember the day he pushed me to the point of exhaustion over a 2-topping sandwich. A sandwich you could've made in 3 minutes, even if you were too lazy! He hasn't changed at all. The same man as yesterday and forevermore."
—At twelve years old, his mother dragged him to the hospital to visit Aunt Anabel, an esteemed nurse in the medical industry.
"I was forced to visit Aunt Anabel during her break. I thought it'd be boring, but while they were chatting, I managed to sip some of Aunt's poison liquor~. Guess what? It was absolutely disgusting! Honestly, made my time there worse. I don't really get the hype for it. And now looking back, why was she even drinking near patients?"
—At sixteen years old, he donated blood to the Vampire Queen.
"Father calls it 'training', but she drank more than I can regenerate, and I'm a CHARGED GENESIS ANGEL! I was stiff for days, missed a week of school, and had a nervous breakdown during my first Phylx depletion. And all he gave was a golden bracelet to make up for it—pathetic."
—At eighteen, he sat with his parents on a branch, watching the view.
"At eighteen, I was finally leaving for the Oldest Solomon College," he wrote, "ready to begin anew and leave this life behind… Oh yeah, the branch beneath us broke, and my father forgot to fly up. So he fell 27 feet down and broke his back, karma~!"
As he's writing in his autobiography, Sphyla calls out to him. "Kailus, sweetie, come out of the library or you'll miss college!"
'It's time already? I gotta be quick. I thought I'd be done with my dairy by then.'
He leaps up in an instant and grabs his autobiography at a moment's notice.
'The college opens to all who turn eighteen across the Golden Continent with a 100% rate. It's meant to teach economics, social cues, intense biology (you know what that means), and you get the point—it's to prepare everyone for the real world. I only heard of it through whispers about its own money system. Everything I've heard about it sounds so amazing~.'
Kailus rushes to pack his essentials but his parents stop him at his room's door. Sphyla smothers him with kisses, causing him to drop his book. "Oh, Kalie, how you've grown so much. Be sure to take care of yourself," she said warmly.
David hugged him tightly. "Train daily, son. And stay strong like your father. Trust in God for stability like always."
Kailus nods proudly with a hint of irritation. "Yes, Father."
Sphyla pouts playfully. "No love for me? Oh, how you've always been a daddy's boy your entire life. I still remember when you were, but a mere child, flying for the first time. I opened my arms, expecting your presence in between them, because that's what all babies do: 'Favor their mother'. But oh nooo~, instead, you went into your bumbling, idiot dad! He didn't even see it coming. But I guess that's what I get for getting my hopes up in having a mama's boy."
David pulls her close, teasingly pinching her cheek. "Well, at least you have me~."
"Save that for the bedroom," she quipped, turning her head away.
Kailus, not wanting to add to the conversation, continues packing his suitcases. While preparing, his pet eye watches him. Their eye. a pure black and white star, stares elongated and oddly. Their wings flapped around them continuously.
Kailus senses her presence and just smiles. "What are you always thinking? You barely said anything yesterday."
The eye responds blankly. "I'm still trying to process the elimination of you from this household."
Kailus takes his shoe boxes out and his undergarments. "That's a weird way to put it into perspective."
The eyes say. "It's not really. I've seen all parts of your life. From spoiledness to accountability. I'm surprised you were able to find adulthood years before this moment came. Most of my race lack merely two years behind their maturity. You should be grateful for your eyes."
Kailus stops packing and stares at her. "Don't mention my hard times again."
The eye stares in a variety of emotions. She then blinks irrapidly, signaling her understanding.
He finished packing his suitcases and left his room. David and Sphyla are having a light-hearted conversation. Kailus sees this as a chance to leave without another long conversation.
As he grips the front door, Sphyla suddenly calls him. "One last thing, sweetie: learn to forgive yourself. I know you dwell in the past, screaming in your room for things you should've forgiven yourself years ago."
A vivid memory surfaced:
In class, the teacher announces, "Take notes—this is for your finals."
He looks around in his bag to find nothing.
'I've given all of my pencils to my friends. I hope my classmates have some spare.'
He asks the bunny girl beside him, "Do you have a pencil that I could use?"
She scoffs loudly at him, "How about you get your own supplies? This isn't daycare, Kailus!" The class roared with laughter as Kailus sank into his seat, mortified.
Flashback ends.
Sphyla hugs him. "Just don't embarrass yourself, darling."
Kailus nods at her. He waves one last time before soaring ahead. They wave back with tears in their eyes, watching their child disappear in the distance—leaving them for the last time.
When he's out of view, David pinches Sphyla's waist, causing her to yelp. "Great, you reminded him of that."
She smacks his head. "I was just being cautious!"
"You know that's my weak spot!" David groaned.
Sphyla whispers into his ear. "How about I make it up since the house is empty?"
"Fine," he mumbles, rubbing his head.
The eye exits Kailus' room. "David, Sphyla, let me follow the boy for a moment."
Meanwhile:
Kailus soars ahead, passing many along the way. Angelica's golden roads gleamed, lined with shops, bars, and entertainment venues, forever vibrant. On speakers, The Magical Musicians' vocals drift throughout the area, enchanting anything around it: "I hope that you believe~ that good is defeated, but I'll tell you that the coins on the roll. Hope did it! (Yeah) Hope did it! Now that the coins on the roll."
'Ah, "Last Chance" was one of my favorites when I was five,' Kailus sighs heavily, reflecting on his time.
'Now that I'm leaving my home for a place full of strangers, it feels isolating. Yes, I was silent for most of my time, but it's because they always deviate the conversation into 'Lovey Dovey', rather than about me. Losing my only source of comfort was always my greatest fear—and fear, one way or another, always comes to challenge me out of all people. Now, I'm left with only myself, my parents' lessons, and no friends at all. I-I think I'm prepared for what's about to happen.'
He glances at his body. 'Father's harsh training has really chiseled my body to perfection. I will always be grateful for having a father who'd work me to death for my betterment. Mother always scolds him for pushing me too hard, but he's more of a coach than the drill sergeant she thought of.'
He looks at his suitcase. 'Father made me practice flying with this, packed with weights or concrete and some other abhorrent stuff. I dropped it countless times. The thing that really gets me is that he was shocked when it broke. He even took it to a repair center. Why are you so concerned about a suitcase we've been using for the last thirteen years for weights?'
"But I guess I can't blame him. He was always clumsy, horrible at apologizing, petty, and at least on time whenever school was over. Even with all these flaws, I still love you, Father," he murmured.
Landing at Solomon College, Kailus enters its esteemed doors.
Solomon College:
He's astonished by the interior: its marble-coated halls, the red royal carpets, the statue of Solomon in the center of the room, paintings of various events among its walls, and a peculiar statue of Lazuel in the corner.
'The "Consequence" guy...'
Distracted by the particular statue, he walks straight into the desk, drawing a curious look from the receptionist below.
'These kids need to look straight or at least take their time to stop and look around. This is the fifth time.' The receptionist grumbles.
Kailus blushes at the sight of her. 'I already embarrassed myself this early. I'm such a damn idiot…'
Suddenly, they both think simultaneously. 'Wait, is that a Sun Fairy/Charged Genesis Angel?'
They studied each other in silence. The stare-off intensified until the receptionist broke the silence. "Are you, by any chance, a Genesis Angel—and perhaps a charged one?"
"Ye-yes?" he stammers.
Her eyes light up as sparks come out of her hair. "A charged Genesis Angel?! The rarest race and a charged one?! Can I touch your wings?" she asks eagerly, shaking his hand with excitement and drawing the attention of onlookers. Kailus's face flushes deep at the unexpected welcoming.
Noticing his blush, she ceases her excitement, brushing it off with a cough.
'How are you so calm?!'
She straightens herself and speaks with a formal voice, "Apologies for my reckless behavior. Hello, my name is Carolice. Welcome to Solomon College, the world's oldest and greatest college. What's your name so I can designate you to your dorm?"
'Dorm? Roommates? I thought we'd have separate rooms. Oh no, what if I walk in naked? I don't want to wear heavy clothes every day—that would be torture. I can't do that.'
Carolice taps his shoulder. "Uhh, Genesis Angel??"
"Kailus Elevan Afton!" He quickly speaks.
Carolice bends over to scan the files below. "Normally, I expect a girl with that name. Seems like we have to change your dorm… hm, da, da, da."
Kailus' eyes slightly twitch at her feigned insult. 'The audacity to say that so confidently..'
The air was still between them until Carolice's voice rang out, "The boys' dorms are awfully full, so you'll be in the same dorm I assigned you. Your roommates are: Akiro, a powerhouse kitsuné, and Shalius, an ancient fairy—room 237. The dorms are to your left, make sure to go to the left building. The rules are: no excessive noise, no other person on campus, no bullying, and don't poop on the floor."
"Oh, um… thank you," Kailus muttered. "Uh, 'don't poop on the floor'?"
"Every rule has a story behind it," Carolice replies ominously.
"Oh.. goodbye then." Kailus departs from the main hall.
A while later:
Kailus finds the dorm.
'A lot of loops and tricks around here. I need to find a decent route otherwise I'll be stranded, and I don't like to be needed.'
As he enters the dorm, he stumbles upon a Kitsuné lounging on a couch. She lies face down in her undergarments, her many tails swaying in the air, lazily muttering toward Kailus, "Sup."
Kailus blushes, averting his eyes from her. "Hello, I'm your… new roommate. You must be Akiro?"
"Yeah, that's my name," Akiro gets up from the couch, facing her back toward him. "I can tell you're a soft, innocent boy from that cute voice of yours. Why did they let a innocent boy into a girls' dorm, especially in a Kitsuné dorm~? Is it population increase or something? If so, you're quite lucky—a powerhouse Kitsuné and an ancient fairy. You're collecting a harem of beautiful, strong monster girls, and I'll be glad to be the number one in it."
Kailus lies speechless at her words. '…w-what…'
She stretches before turning toward him, "Now, let's take a look at y—"
She pauses for a second before her eyes widen. "OH MY GOSH, A charged Genesis Angel!"
'Why does everyone say that? With how many in my family tree, we should be considered regular rather than some exotic species—except for the charged part. I mean, we are a native and a minority in our own continent, but that's beside the point.'
While deep in thought, Akiro touches Kailus' wings, causing him to yelp. She nestles into them, cooing, "So soft! It's like a personal blanket!"
"Um—Uhh… thanks?" he mumbles.
He looks around, noticing the dorm is humongous. There's an entire kitchen, a living room with a wall-mounted TV, and a laundry room. Upstairs, there are three doors, each with a sticker: one with Akiro's, Kailus', and Shalius' name.
In the background, Akiro kept complimenting his wings: "Oh, these wings are so fluffy." "I could use this for my pillow." "So smooth!"
While scouring the room, he catches a glimpse of two glowing white eyes scrutinizing him from Shalius' door. Just as he made eye contact, the door immediately shut silently.
Kailus asks Akiro, "Is that Shalius by any chance?"
"Yeah, tried to talk to her, but she's as quiet as a Druid baby," Akiro said, still stroking his wings.
'I probably embarrassed her by staring. She was probably star-gazing at me. I've been there before with people staring at me because of my charged aspect. I even greeted them with honesty and made up with them. I should tell her I forgive her before she carries an eternal guilt just like me.'
Kailus moves away from Akiro and approaches her door. "Shalius, can I—" but before he finishes his sentence, she pulls him inside. Akiro smirks at the sight. "Lovers at first sight, or is it some native pact? Either way, your harem is starting."
Inside, Shalius' room was a colorful sight: vibrant blossoms sprouting everywhere, a magic circle, a double bed, a nightstand, a bathroom, three wool seats, and a vanity desk.
It's a lot to take in, including her appearance: her dull purple eyes sparkle in aesthetics, her cheeks shaped like soft eggshells—waiting to be eaten—and her radiant white dress of innocence. "Hello, my Angel friend," she said softly. Her voice, sweet and gentle, accompanied her body perfectly.
Kailus, awestruck by her beauty, stammers: "Uh, hello, Shalius, I'm Kailus. I want to say I forgive you for staring at me. I understand that my body is unique, so to say—"
She tilts her head. "You didn't embarrass me."
'Now, I sound just like my old self. I need to go before I embarrass myself again.'
He mumbles an excuse. "I-I need to go."
She notices the halo and gently grabs his arm. "Don't worry, I forgive you. We all misunderstand situations, including me."
Relieved, Kailus' halo shines a bright yellow. "Thank you, I feel a lot better now."
Shalius asks. "Now that I have your attention. I must ask you something."
Kailus ponders as a light blue hue castrates over them. "What is it, Shalius?"
"Can you tell me about your ancestors?" She asks politely.
"It's family only," he said defensively. "Do you not know how sacred it is, and to many others who harbor their ancestors' history? It stays in the family."
Desperate, she explains, "But I want to know if you're the one who saved my lineage. During the Takeover War, a Genesis woman saved my father's life by sacrificing her lifespan to revive him. I've been searching for her offspring for the longest time. At least tell me your ancestors' names for goodness sake?"
"Oh, Byzel and Walzer Afton from my father's side, and Sophiel and Dumos Eros from my mother's," he replied effortlessly and reluctantly.
Shalius gasps in shock, hugging him tightly. "Byzel Afton! You're her grandchild! I am forever in your debt. Thank your parents for saving mine."
Kailus accepts her hug in silence. 'I didn't know my ancestors saved hers. Their books never mentioned it, not even in their bragging pages. I guess it's nothing to brag about. I can do what they've done—better and faster—without sacrificing so much life. But I am a charged angel, so I really can't argue. My gene pool was just too lucky.'
Shalius releases him and steps back. "Well, these years will be interesting with you."
Kailus doesn't know what to say about it. "Well then, I'll go to my room. I'll catch you later."
Shalius waves as he departs. When he enters his room, he finds Akiro sitting on his bed. "Looks like you charmed the fairy, pretty boy. Are you going to go further or what?"
'WHAT! Who says that randomly?!'
"N-no!" he sputtered.
"Took too long to answer," she laughs, getting up. "Listen up, Lucy, I don't mind if you love her—just don't be noisy and ruin my precious sleep. Otherwise, I might join in on the fun!"
Her words fluster him, but before he can reply, she leaves the room.
He notices his luggage neatly arranged in the center of the room.
'Aside from leaving a warm spot on my bed, she at least brought my luggage here.'
He glances at his room; it was standard: a double bed, two wardrobes, a bathroom, a nightstand, and a vanity desk. He decorates the room with his supplies.
'I was hopin' the comfy chairs came with it. Why did Shalius even decorate her dorm so elegantly? We only stay for a few years.'
After a while:
He lies in bed, reflecting. 'Well, that was strange. I expected an energetic Kitsuné and a quiet fairy, but instead, it's a bubbly fairy and a clingy, relaxed, horny Kitsuné who'll ship us daily. College starts tomorrow, and I hope I don't embarrass myself as Mother warned.' He sees images of his mother smiling.
He thinks for a while. 'Wait—Carolice didn't even give me the schedule. Eh, I'll follow Akiro and Shalius, unless our classes are different. But hey, what could go wrong?'
Suddenly, flashbacks of past humiliations flood his mind: "I said it's MINE!" "Teacher, he hit me." "Hey, let's avoid that kid. He's a brat." "He'll tell the teacher on anyone." "Run, the teacher's pet is here." "Kailus, I'm sorry, but I don't wanna be friends with you."
"No!" he yells. He clutches his autobiography and tucks himself underneath the covers.
He puts his eye mask on and lets himself drift into slumber. As time goes by, he begins whispering mournful apologies. "I'm so sorry."