Another year had passed, and with it came new milestones for Ash.
He had begun speaking at the age of two — fluently, in fact — but he chose to remain mostly quiet, not wanting to draw unwanted attention to himself. After all, even a child prince with an uncanny vocabulary could raise a few eyebrows.
But now, at age four, he no longer held back.
He spoke freely and with clarity, often catching nobles and attendants off guard with his calm tone and insightful questions.
And today… was special.
For the first time in his new life, Ash would be leaving the Imperial Castle.
He stood before the towering crystalsteel double doors that led out into the world. Behind them lay the city, the crowds, the sights, the smells — everything he'd only seen through windows.
At his side stood Princess Nyssari Neyru, his ever-watchful older sister.
Ash wore finely embroidered black robes with sapphire-blue trim, the Neyru Clan's crest stitched proudly into the chest — a coiled serpent wreathed in cosmic flame. Nyssari wore a matching dress, elegant yet functional, with her silver-blonde hair pinned back and sapphire earrings glinting in the morning light.
She reached for his hand.
"Come on, little Ash. Today, I'll show you around the Imperial Capital."
Ash nodded and walked beside her, wide-eyed.
"Alright, big sis," he said. "Will there be magic?"
His voice brimmed with curiosity. After all, he'd seen nobles, maids, and guards using simple magic around the palace — lighting torches with a flick of their fingers, floating tea trays with mana threads — but nothing that truly dazzled him.
He wanted more.
"Hehe~ No, not really," Nyssari chuckled as they stepped into the royal carriage waiting just outside.
"This world's peaceful, remember? Most people don't flaunt their magic unless there's danger — and there hasn't been any in centuries."
She pulled him onto her lap, adjusting his collar. "But don't worry. Once you awaken at ten, I'll show you some real magic."
She grinned, then pinched his cheeks gently. "You better be strong by then, little prince."
"I will be!" Ash declared proudly, puffing out his chest. "I'll protect you by then."
Nyssari blinked, then softly smiled — a strange glimmer in her eyes.
"Always and forever," she thought silently,
---
The carriage rolled through towering white archways adorned with goldleaf and runic wards. As they passed through the final gate, Ash's breath caught in his throat.
The city of Elarion, capital of Neyru and crown of the world, unfolded like a living monument.
Massive floating platforms rotated above the city, housing sky gardens and observatories. Mana lanterns drifted mid-air, shedding light through ambient glowstones. Sprawling streets paved with silver-threaded stone wove between marble towers, with towering spires rising in all directions.
Marketplaces overflowed with color and noise. Food vendors sold steamed beast meats and mana-infused fruits. Street performers danced, played floating instruments, and told tales with light illusions. Children chased magical birds made of flame and water, laughing as they dispersed into particles.
Statues of past emperors lined the Grand Avenue, each exuding faint traces of residual soul energy — not just decorations, but silent sentinels of history.
"It's… huge," Ash whispered, eyes wide as the carriage slowly rolled forward.
"This is just the First District," Nyssari said with a smirk. "There are ten."
"Ten? How long would it take to walk through all of them?"
"Days," she said simply. "And that's if you're not stopped by crowds or nobles or random festivals."
Ash leaned out the window just enough to avoid a scolding, watching as citizens bowed or saluted the royal carriage as it passed.
"They really like us, huh?" he asked.
Nyssari looked thoughtful for a moment.
"They revere us," she said. "The Neyru Clan has ruled for so long that to most people, we're more than rulers. We're symbols."
"We keep peace. We build the world. But…"
She paused.
"…Being loved and being obeyed aren't always the same thing."
Ash turned to look at her, surprised at the sudden shift in tone.
"You're smart for a four-year-old," she added, ruffling his hair to lighten the mood.
"You're just saying that because I look cute in my robes," he shot back.
Nyssari laughed — an honest, ringing sound.
"That too, little Ash. That too."
They spent the day touring the city: the different shops, the war monuments, the great tree of Aeralen — a soul-bound Worldwood said to be planted by the first Neyru emperor.
Everywhere they went, people stared.
At first, Ash thought it was because of the carriage… or their clothes. But no.
It was him.
And though he didn't know it yet, many of those gazes weren't just admiration.
Some were curiosity.
Some were doubt.
And a few... were fear.