In the radiant city of Angelica, towering trees glowed under the wind, their brightness rivaling the lively grass below. The streets pulsed with life as citizens erupted in joyous cheers. Street Angels stood on 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. A massive TV broadcast an airball tournament, an angel deftly evades the opponents' tackles as the mass chants the team's name, "Ralsee! Ralsee! Ralsee!"
But when the rival team's speedster snatches the flag in his pants, ceasing his run. The bar explodes in outrage as patrons shout, "Booo!" "Unfair!" "Really?!"
In shops, Earth Fairies toiled tirelessly, stocking shelves with trinkets. One sighed, "Replenishing my Phylx after a long day of creating these gadgets is exhausting."
Another nodded. "Tell me about it. But as long as business thrives, we'll manage."
Meanwhile, in the hospital, an angelic woman is in labor, and her husband clasps her hand. "Let me ease your pain with my healing, love," he offered.
She smiles. "Thank you, David."
With both of their magic, the delivery cruised smoothly. The doctors gently took the newborn out, who wept in their arms. They froze, awestruck at their appearance. The baby gleamed faintly, his wings shimmering brightly, his eyes more luminous than those of a typical Genesis Angel.
"A charged baby?" a doctor whispered.
David and Sphyla stared, stunned by the rare sight.
"God has blessed us," David exclaimed, tears streaming.
Sphyla smiled softly. "Indeed."
The doctor handed them the bill. "Once you've recovered, you're free to go." David pays the bill while he waits for Sphyla to recuperate.
Shortly thereafter, they leave the infirmary, David cradling their glowing son. He murmured in curiosity, "Just what will you become, little one?"
—At eight, the boy heals a wounded dove with a single touch, its injuries vanishing. His father watches in awe.
"My father, David, trained me under the Solomon Rule. It was simple at first, but it grew harder over time—or so I thought."
—At ten, he ventures into the hidden library beneath his home. As he wanders around, he finds his father's open autobiography. Overpowered by curiosity, he takes a glimpse at its content. "When I was ten, my sister ate my ice cream, so I dunked her toothbrush in the toilet," he reads, giggling.
He was tempted to read more but feared being caught in this situation. He closes his book before hurriedly leaving.
"I know reading a living relative's book is forbidden, but it was irresistible. The book proves my Father's pettiness—he once pushed me to exhaustion over a stolen sandwich. He hasn't changed at all."
—At twelve, his mother dragged him to the hospital to visit his aunt.
"I was forced to visit Aunt Anabel. She was on her break working as a nurse. While they were chatting, I managed to sip some of my aunt's poison liquor. It was disgusting. I don't get the hype."
—At sixteen, he donated blood to the Vampire Queen.
"Father called it training, but she drank way too much, and I fainted on the spot. I was stiff for days, missed a week of school, and had a nervous breakdown. He gave me a golden bracelet to make up for it—pathetic."
—At eighteen, he sat with his parents, watching the sunset.
"I was finally leaving for the Oldest Solomon College," he wrote, "ready to begin anew."
As he writes his memories, Sphyla calls out to him, "Kailus, sweetie, come out of the library otherwise you'll miss your first day of college!"
He leaps up, dusts his pants, and grabs his autobiography. The college opens to all who turn eighteen across the Golden Continent. Kailus rushes to pack, but his parents stop him. Sphyla smothers him with kisses, causing him to drop his bags. "Oh, Kalie, you've grown so much. Take care of yourself," she said warmly.
David hugged him tightly. "Train daily, son. Stay strong, like your father. Trust in God for stability."
Kailus grinned. "Yes, Father."
Sphyla pouted playfully. "No love for me? You've always been a daddy's boy.
I still remember when you were flying for the first time. I opened my arms, expecting you to fly into them, because that's what all babies do, 'Favor their mother'. But oh nooo… instead, you went into your bumbling, idiot dad."
David teased, pulling her close. "You still have me."
"Save that for the bedroom," she quipped.
Kailus prepares to leave, but Sphyla stops him again. "One last thing, sweetie—forgive yourself. I know you dwell in the past, screaming in your room."
A vivid memory surfaced: in class, the teacher announced, "Take notes—this is for your finals."
He looked around in his bag to find nothing to write with.
'I've given all of my pencils to my friends. I have to ask around.'
He asked the bunny girl beside him, "Do you have a pencil?"
She scoffed loudly, "How about you get your own supplies. This isn't daycare." The class roared with laughter as Kailus sank into his seat, mortified, as it faded away.
Sphyla hugged him. "Just don't embarrass yourself, darling."
Kailus nodded, grabbing his suitcase, autobiography, and a recipe book. He waved at them as he flew toward the college.
They waved back, watching their child disappear into the distance—leaving them behind. David pinches Sphyla's waist, causing her to yelp. "Great, you reminded him of that!"
She smacks his head. "I was being cautious."
"That's my weak spot!" David groaned.
Sphyla whispers, "How about I make it up to you, now that the house is empty?"
"Fine," he mumbles, rubbing his head.
Kailus soars toward college, passing many along the way. Angelica's golden roads gleamed, lined with shops, bars, and entertainment venues, forever vibrant. The Magical Musicians' song drifts throughout the area: "I hope that you believe~ that good is defeated, but I'll tell you that the coins on the roll…"
'Ah, 'Sympathy' was my favorite when I was five,' Kailus reflected. 'Now, leaving my home for a place full of strangers feels isolating. I only ever felt comfortable with my parents. Losing my only source of comfort was always my greatest fear—and fear, one way or another, always comes to challenge me. Now, I'm left with only myself—and the skills my parents acquainted me with.'
He glances at his body. 'Father's harsh training chiseled my body to perfection. I was always grateful for such. Mother always scolded him for pushing me too hard, but he was more coach than drill sergeant.'
Looking at his battered suitcases, he recalled, 'Father made me practice flying with these, packed with weights or concrete. I dropped them countless times.'
"I love you, Dad," he murmured.
Landing at Solomon College, Kailus marveled at its marble-coated halls, adorned with a statue of Solomon, a painting of the Heavenly Continent Civil War, and a peculiar statue of Lazuel.
'The "Consequence" guy...'
Distracted by the statute, he bumps into a desk. The receptionist stares curiously at him.
'No, I already embarrassed myself this early… wait is that a Sun fairy?'
They studied each other in silence until she broke it. "Are you, by any chance, a Genesis Angel—perhaps a charged one?"
"Ye-yes?" he stammered.
Her eyes light up. "A charged Genesis Angel? The rarest race! Can I touch your wings?" she asks eagerly, shaking his hand with excitement and drawing the attention of onlookers. Kailus's face flushes even deeper.
Noticing the attention, she coughs and pretends nothing happened.
'How are you so calm?!'
She speaks, "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?"
'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.'
"Kailus Elevan Afton," he replies.
Carolice scans her files. "Normally, I expect a girl with that name. It looks like we have to change your dorm… hm, da, da, da."
She checks the boys' files to search for an open room.
Kailus' eyes twitch at her words. 'The audacity of this fairy to say that so confidently.'
They remain silent until Carolice says, "The boys' dorms are full, so you'll be in the girls' dorm with Akiro, a powerhouse kitsuné, and Shalius, an ancient fairy—room 237. Follow the rules: no excessive noise, no bullying. That's it."
"Oh, um… thank you," Kailus muttered, heading to his dorm.
Once he finds and enters the room, he sees a Kitsuné lounging in her undergarments, her many tails swaying in the air. "Sup," she says lazily.
Kailus blushes, averting his eyes from her nakedness. "I'm your… new roommate. You must be Akiro?"
"Yeah, that's my name," Akiro nods. She gets up from the couch, her back to him.
"I can tell you're a boy from your voice. Why did they let a boy into a girls' dorm? Population increase or something? If so, you're quite lucky, eh—a powerhouse Kitsuné and an ancient fairy."
She stretched before turning to him, her eyes widening. "A charged Genesis Angel!"
'Why does everyone say that? With how many we have in our family tree, we should be considered regular rather than some exotic species—except for the charged part. We're a native race here and a minority, but that's beside the point.'
As he ponders, Akiro touches his wings, cooing, "So soft! Like a blanket!"
"Uh, thanks?" he mumbled.
He looks around, noticing the dorm is huge—an entire kitchen, a living room with a wall-mounted TV, and three doors upstairs, only two of which have stickers: one with Akiro's name, the other with 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!"
He catches a glimpse of a slightly open door with glowing white eyes scrutinizing him. "Is that Shalius?"
Akiro, still stroking his wings, said, "Yeah, I tried to talk to her, but she's as quiet as a Druid baby."
'I probably embarrassed her by staring. She was probably star-gazing at me by accident. I've been there before. I should tell her I forgive her before she carries eternal guilt like me.'
Kailus moves away from Akiro and approaches the door. "Shalius, can I—" Before he finishes his sentence, she pulls him inside.
Akiro smirks at the sight. "Lovers at first sight or is it some native pact?"
Inside, Shalius' room was a sight: colorful blossoms everywhere, a magic circle, a double bed, a nightstand, a bathroom, three wool seats, and a vanity desk. Her purple eyes sparkled, her skin was like soft eggshells, and her white dress was radiant. "Hello, Angel friend," she said softly.
Kailus, awestruck by her beauty, stammers, "Uh, hello, Shalius. I'm Kailus. I want to apologize for staring at… your eyes and embarrassing you."
She tilts her head. "You didn't embarrass me."
Mortified, he muttered, "I-I need to go."
She grabbed his arm gently. "You're forgiven. We all miscalculate situations."
Relieved, Kailus smiles lightly. Shalius notices his autobiography. "Can I see it?" she asks.
"It's for family only," he said defensively.
Desperate, she explained, "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?"
"Oh, Byzel and Walter Afton from my father's side, and Sophiel and Dumos Eros from my mother's," he replied effortlessly.
Shalius gasped in shock, hugging him tightly. "Byzel Afton! You're her grandchild! I am forever in your debt." Kailus accepts the hug.
'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.'
Shalius smiles at him. "Well, these years will be interesting."
Kailus doesn't know what to say about it. He blankly says, "I'll go to my room."
Shalius waves as he leaves her room. When he enters his own, he finds Akiro sitting on his bed.
"Looks like you charmed the fairy, pretty boy. Are you going to go further or what?" She teased.
'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, or I'll join in on the fun!"
Kailus is flustered by her words, but before he can reply, she leaves the room.
He notices his luggage neatly arranged.
'Well, at least she brought my luggage to my room.'
He glances at his room as which was standard: a double bed, two wardrobes, a bathroom, and a vanity desk. He decorates the room with his supplies.
Afterward, he lies in bed, reflecting, 'Well, that changed. I expected an energetic Kitsuné and a quiet fairy, but instead, it's a bubbly fairy and a clingy, relaxed Kitsuné who's going to be shipping us daily. College starts tomorrow, and I hope I don't embarrass myself like Mother warned.' He has a vision of his mother smiling.
He thinks for a while before realizing, "Wait—Carolice didn't give me the schedule. Eh, I'll just follow Akiro and Shalius… unless our classes are different."
Suddenly, flashbacks of past humiliations flood his mind. "No," he says aloud.
He clutches his autobiography and tucks himself under the covers, whispering in his sleep, "I'm so sorry."