---
Chapter 1 – The Child of Knowledge
The bells of Aurelia's capital rang out, echoing across white stone walls and golden banners fluttering in the spring breeze. Today was no ordinary day. Within the grand temple of the Human God, a child was about to be born—one who would shake the balance of the world.
Inside the temple's inner chamber, Lady Seraphina Vaeloria lay surrounded by radiant sigils. Her long silver hair spilled like moonlight over the silk sheets, her breath heavy as she endured the pain of childbirth. Beside her stood her husband, Lord Kael Vaeloria, his sharp eyes calm but his hand tightly gripping hers.
Kael was known as the Sword Saint of Aurelia, a man who had once cut down an entire dragon legion with a single swing. Seraphina was the Archmage of Light, the youngest demi-god mage in human history. Together, they were feared, respected, and loved.
And now, their third child was about to arrive.
The temple shook. Stars shifted in the sky. Priests gasped as runes lit up across the floor, ancient ones long forgotten.
Then the cry of a child pierced the silence.
> "He's here…" whispered Seraphina, her voice trembling with relief.
"Our son."
The infant in her arms had hair like pale gold, and his eyes—though barely opened—shimmered with shifting colors, as though reflecting every element and every star at once.
"Aelion," Kael murmured, naming him with a reverence he had never shown to any blade.
"The one who sees beyond all."
As if hearing the name, the baby's gaze flickered toward the sword at Kael's hip, then to the magical tome on Seraphina's bedside table. His tiny hands reached for both at once.
The priests exchanged terrified glances.
"A newborn… already reaching for both sword and magic? That is… impossible."
One priest fell to his knees, whispering,
> "The prophecy… The Spirit God's prophecy… the child who shall know all paths…"
Outside, the heavens roared. Across all six realms—demon, dragon, elf, spirit, and monster alike—strange phenomena erupted. Storms of mana, blazing auroras, rivers glowing gold. Even the Six Gods turned their gaze toward the human lands.
And in the shadows of distant mountains, an ancient, forgotten presence stirred, muttering in a voice like cracked stone:
> "So… the cycle begins again."
---
Meanwhile, two young children pushed past the temple guards to see their new sibling.
Eryndor Vaeloria, age ten, already had the bearing of a prince, a faint blue glow always lingering around his hands from overused magic. Beside him, his twin sister Selene dragged a wooden practice sword twice her size, her eyes bright with pride.
They peeked at the baby in their mother's arms.
"He looks weak," Selene teased, tilting her head.
"He can't even hold a sword."
Eryndor snorted. "Idiot. He'll be a mage, like me. Look at those eyes. He understands already."
But Aelion, though only hours old, turned his gaze directly on them. His lips curled into something—something that was not quite a smile, but more like… recognition.
Both siblings froze. For a moment, they felt as though the baby wasn't their brother at all, but a being that already knew them.
Selene swallowed. "That… was creepy."
Eryndor muttered, "No, not creepy… terrifying."
Kael chuckled softly. "Good. Fear him if you must. Protect him if you can. But never forget—he is your blood."
---
Far away, in the obsidian halls of Narak, the Demon God narrowed his crimson eyes.
In the skies of Drakthar, dragons roared uneasily.
In Sylvara, elves gazed at the stars that refused to move.
In Ethyros, spirits whispered in panic.
In Gorrath, monsters stirred restlessly.
The world itself knew it:
A child had been born who would one day rival even the gods.
---
⚔️ End of Chapter 1 ⚔️