The funeral was quick.
A white-draped casket sat at the front, empty—just a symbol for the man no one could truly bury. Professors gathered, wearing solemn expressions, their words feeling dull and robotic, almost as if they were reciting lines from a script.
Maya hung back from the crowd, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles were white.
Her vision blurred, but she wouldn't look away. Leo… You weren't reckless. You weren't weak. So, where did you go?
Meanwhile, far from the city, in a damp cave.
Then, the old man finally broke the silence.
"Kaelion. That name… it's ours."
Leo tilted his head. "My full name's Leo Kaelion. What's the big deal?"
The old man stood up, his voice trembling. "No. Not 'what's the big deal.' This can't just be a coincidence. Tell me… are you the Executioner's child?"
Leo stared, shocked. Executioner? The term meant nothing to him, but he could feel the weight it carried—important, even dangerous.
He could be honest—that he'd never heard of this Executioner, that he wasn't from this world at all. But tied up in a cave with a guy who could snap bonds without lifting a finger? Not the best idea.
So, Leo leaned against the wall, trying to hide his confusion with a lazy half-smile.
"…Yeah. I'm his son."
The old man's eyes narrowed as he moved in closer, examining Leo like he was looking through his skin.
"Words don't mean a thing," he said in a low voice. "Blood tells the truth that words can't fake."
Before Leo could say anything, the old man lifted a finger. A faint glow appeared at its tip, sharp like a needle. With a quick jab, he pricked Leo's palm.
"Ow—hey!" Leo jerked his hand back, frowning. "You could've just asked me, you know."
But a droplet of blood floated into the air, held up by the old man's magic. The glow around it flickered, turning silver for a brief moment before pulsing softly with violet sparks.
The old man's eyes widened, and his hands shook. "This blood... No doubt about it. The Kaelion bloodline."
Leo blinked, still feeling the sting in his palm. "...So I bleed fancy colors now? That's a surprise."
Ignoring Leo's sarcastic remark, the old man spoke with a mix of wonder and a hint of sorrow.
"You bear the same mark of divinity..."
Leo leaned against the wall, trying to maintain a smirk even as his mind raced. So now I'm stuck with this biological connection to all this chaos? Fantastic. There's no way I can talk my way out of this one.
The old man's eyes grew wide. He gasped, then his shoulders shook, caught between laughter and tears.
"My grandson…! After all these years… did that bastard sent you here!"
Leo nodded slightly, going along with it. "I guess so."
Inside, his mind was racing. Executioner. Grandson. Bloodline. This guy thinks I'm part of this world. Good. Let's keep it that way until I can sort things out.
The old man stepped closer. With a flick of his wrist, the ropes around Leo snapped off, cut not by a weapon but by some unseen force.
Leo rubbed his wrists and raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Cool trick. I've got a few card tricks myself."
The old man breathed out slowly, unimpressed. "Card tricks…? Just where have you been living all this time?"
Leo shrugged."What can I say? I appreciate the finer things in life."
Just then, his stomach growled, loud and needy.
Heat rushed to his face. He scratched his cheek, laughing awkwardly. "Uh… ignore that."
The old man started laughing again. "Still, that hunger proves you're human enough."
He motioned for Leo to follow. "Come. There's something you need to see."
They stepped outside the cave.
The forest stretched out under a silver moon, trees standing tall like ancient guardians. The night air was alive with the sounds of unseen creatures, their calls both strange and chilling.
A faint shimmer hung in the air just outside the cave—something like glass, like water, but still. Leo reached toward it, and the surface rippled slightly.
"This," the old man explained, "is a barrier of magic. A shield that distorts space and conceals us from the outside. Only those who manipulate mana at a similar level can notice it." He studied Leo closely. "But looking at your frail frame… it appears you stumbled in here by sheer luck. Fate alone brought you near the river."
Leo merely shrugged. "Guess I'm built different."
The old man shook his head.
Leo walked over to the riverbank and splashed cold water on his face. When the reflection cleared, he froze.
The face staring back wasn't his own.
It was younger, leaner, the features of a boy—no older than fifteen.
Leo touched his cheek in disbelief. "I… aged backward?" His voice faltered, then he groaned while leaning over the water.
"Just great. I make it through time travel, and the universe turns me into a teenager again."
He squeezed his eyes shut, muttering to himself. "Ugh… this is going to be a hassle."
Behind him, the old man's gaze remained steady, unreadable.
Because what stood before him wasn't just a boy—it was the return of a long-lost prophecy.