Four years had passed…
Kairu Nijima was now four years old. His body was still small, yet within his eyes burned a maturity far beyond his age, a light of determination that never seemed to fade.
That day, he walked slowly through the grand hall of the palace, the residence of his new father, King Alden. Towering marble pillars stretched toward the ceiling, while colorful stained glass reflected the sunlight, making the hall feel like another world filled with radiance.
In the world of Xyroo, there were four great regions often spoken of by the people:
Aurelia: A prosperous land of light and endless green plains.
Nocturne: A desolate land of darkness, barren deserts, and ancient ruins.
Sylvaris: A vast forest of towering trees, waterfalls, and rivers brimming with magical energy, the home of elves and elemental spirits.
Frostgard: A land of eternal snow, crowned with towering ice mountains.
At that moment, Kairu resided in Aurelia, within the grand palace that had become his new home. After tiring himself running through the vast halls, he returned to his chamber.
The room was spacious, adorned with golden carvings and soft silk curtains. Yet, despite its splendor, it felt strangely quiet and lonely.
Kairu sat on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"At last… no one else around… hehe…" he muttered softly, as though savoring his solitude.
But that peace didn't last long. The door creaked open, revealing the figure of a young maid. Her long black hair was tied with a simple white ribbon, her face beautiful with calm eyes, and at her waist hung a gleaming slender sword.
Her name was Iris.
Kairu turned, a little surprised, but quickly broke into a smile.
"Iris… it's you again, huh?" he said with a half-playful tone.
Iris bowed politely before stepping forward with graceful poise.
"Your Highness Prince Kairu, it is time to rest. You ran too much in the hall earlier," she said gently, yet firmly.
Kairu pouted, his face like that of a child unhappy with being scolded.
"Hmph… you're always telling me to stop playing. But I'm strong, you know!" he replied, crossing his arms.
A faint smile touched Iris's lips. She then knelt before him, bringing her gaze level with his.
"If you're truly strong, that also means you must know when to take care of yourself. A prince must not only be strong… but also wise." Her voice was soft, yet filled with meaning.
Kairu fell silent for a moment before turning his gaze away with a small huff.
"Wise, wise… you always say that. But even so, if no one's with me… I'm still alone," he murmured quietly.
His eyes dimmed for a moment, as fleeting shadows of his past life as Akira crossed his mind.
Iris watched him for a while before smiling warmly.
"In that case… let me be the one who always stays by your side, Prince Kairu."
Her words filled his chest with warmth. He looked at her, then gave a small smile.
"Alright then… don't you ever leave me, Iris."
On the table nearby lay an open thick book, filled with ancient letters and drawings of magic circles. Kairu's eyes sparkled with wonder as he flipped through the pages.
"Wow… this is amazing," he whispered, tracing the symbols of fire, water, wind, earth, light, and darkness. Each one looked mesmerizing.
Iris stepped closer, glancing at the book's contents.
"Does Prince Kairu favor a particular type of magic?" she asked gently.
Kairu turned quickly, his eyes shining like stars.
"Yes! I like… well… I like all kinds of magic!" he replied eagerly, his tiny fists clenched with excitement.
Iris paused, slightly surprised by such a pure ambition. Yet a smile soon appeared on her lips.
"All kinds of magic, huh… quite the ambition for such a little prince."
She closed the book gently, then looked at Kairu with soft eyes.
"But… you cannot wield them just yet. Your body is still too young. Magic can be dangerous if forced."
Kairu's eyes widened.
"Eh!? So I can't use any at all!?" he cried, his face filled with the despair of a child losing his favorite toy.
But deep within, an older voice echoed in his mind.
Oh right… I almost forgot I reincarnated into this small body. And here I was, so eager to master all kinds of magic already…
He lowered his head, lips pouting. But soon after, determination flared again in his eyes.
"In that case… I'll just wait until the time comes," he thought firmly.
Iris noticed the shift in his expression and whispered softly, almost inaudible.
"Prince Kairu… you are truly different from other children."
Suddenly, Kairu stood up, his eyes blazing with resolve.
"Iris! I want you to teach me how to use a sword!" he declared boldly.
Iris was taken aback, but a smile quickly curved her lips. She lowered her gaze slightly to meet his.
"I can teach you, my Prince… but sword training is rough. Your small body may get hurt."
Kairu froze for a moment.
"Eh…" he murmured, imagining himself falling.
But then he clenched his little fists again.
"I don't care! What matters is that I learn the techniques! Please teach me, Iris!"
Iris smiled warmly, her eyes filled with admiration.
"In that case… very well. Let us begin."
Kairu grinned wide, his eyes glowing with excitement.
Together, they left the chamber and stepped into the palace courtyard. The massive doors opened, revealing a wide training ground with gleaming white marble floors. The evening breeze carried the scent of steel from weapons hanging on the walls.
That day marked the beginning of Kairu's journey into the world of sword and sorcery.
Iris turned toward the weapon rack, picking up a small wooden sword. She handed it to him.
"Here, use this wooden sword first," she said.
Kairu accepted it, eyes sparkling, though its weight was heavy for his small frame.
"Wow… it feels more real than I imagined," he whispered in awe.
Iris crossed her arms, her expression turning serious.
"First, Kairu… before you can swing a sword, you must learn to channel mana into the weapon," she explained.
"Channel… mana?" Kairu repeated, frowning.
Iris nodded, placing her palm on another wooden sword.
"Like this."
In an instant, a soft blue glow spread from the sword in her hand. Magical energy swirled around it like radiant wind, filling the courtyard with shimmering light. A faint hum of power echoed, as if the wooden blade had transformed into a sacred weapon.
Kairu's mouth dropped open, his heart racing.
"Uwahhh! That's incredible!" he exclaimed in awe.
He gripped his sword tighter, his small body trembling with excitement.
"If I can do that… I'll definitely become strong too!" he thought with fierce determination.
Iris smiled softly, her eyes filled with both pride and concern.
"Now it's your turn, Prince Kairu. Show me just how strong your resolve truly is."