A month passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. I met the Duke every two days, and with each meeting, my control deepened. My magic became sharper. My confidence grew. The forest clearing, once foreign, had become my sanctuary — a place where the air itself seemed to hum with possibility.
Then one day, after training, the Duke placed a firm but gentle hand on my shoulder. "I wish to meet your parents," he said.
My heart skipped a beat. "Why?"
"To discuss your schooling," he replied, his gaze turning distant. "There is an academy you should attend." Then, almost shyly, he added, "And… we've grown close, you and I. Closer than I am with my own blood. I don't speak like this to anyone but you… and the knight."
Warmth spread through my chest at his words, a feeling I didn't realize I'd been missing. "Sure," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I'll bring them next time."
"I look forward to it," he murmured, and he meant it.
As I turned to leave, the knight — silent until now — walked over. He didn't speak. He simply pressed a ripe, red apple into my hand and offered me a small, genuine smile.
The Duke chuckled. "You've started to take a liking to the kid, haven't you?"
The knight nodded, his eyes steady on me. "Yeah," he said, his voice rough but kind. "He's a good kid."
I carried that apple home like a treasure more valuable than gold.
When I arrived, my parents were waiting. I rushed to wash my hands, my excitement spilling over. "Dad, Mom… I have something to tell you."
My mother leaned forward, curious. "What is it, my son?"
"The Duke… he wants to meet you."
The room went perfectly still. The color drained from my father's face. "What?" he breathed, panic flickering in his eyes. "What happened, my boy? Tell me everything!"
"Calm down," I said softly, and I told them. About the training. About the Etherion. About the strange, wonderful bond forming between me and the Duke.
They listened in stunned silence. When I finished, they looked at each other, a world of unspoken thoughts passing between them. Finally, my father turned to me. A slow, proud smile spread across his weathered face. His hand trembled slightly as he reached out and patted my head.
"My son," he whispered, awe in his voice. "My son has magic. And an Etherion."
That night, I didn't sleep. For the past month, at the deepest hours of the night, I had been practicing. I would sink into my Etherion, feeling its boundaries, stretching them, making that inner world larger, stronger. I learned to channel its energy to heal my exhaustion, to push my body and spirit beyond their limits.
And that night, as I pushed myself once again, I heard it. The voice.
But this time it was different. Not the old man. A woman. Her voice was clear, gentle, like a bell ringing deep in my soul.
You have grown so much stronger, she whispered, pride echoing in her tone. Keep going. Keep getting stronger.
A wave of exhaustion and peace swept over me. For the first time, I didn't resist the darkness. I let it take me, falling into a deep, dreamless unconsciousness, cradled by the echo of her voice.
The next day, I woke as always. My father and mother were waiting at the dining table. I ate quickly. My father looked up. "When are we meeting the Duke?"
"In two days," I said.
He nodded slowly. "Good. I'll arrange everything."
Two days passed like the wind. On the appointed day, we went to the forest. The Duke saw me first, waved, and smiled. My mother and father bowed, but he raised his hand. "No need to bow. We're not in public."
He gestured for us to sit, forming a circle. "Expand your Etherion," he said.
"Okay," I replied, standing. He left me with the knight while he spoke with my parents.
The knight kept watching me as I trained. When I finished, he called out. "Kiddo. Let's talk."
I walked closer. "Sure."
His eyes were steady. "About your eyes," he said. "I saw them the first day you came here. There's a ring inside them — a circle of light purple magic threads."
I froze.
"You've got a magic far beyond any human," he said slowly. "Your magic is unique. You're stronger every time we meet. I know you've been using it to heal your weakened body."
I nodded. "Yes… I've been using magic to heal myself."
He studied me for a long moment. "And you don't look like your parents," he continued. "Look at your hair — golden, your face — a face that could charm any woman. Not just immense magic, but unimaginable, raw, high-tier magic. Yet your parents…" He glanced at them. "Dark hair. Blue eyes. You're different."
I swallowed hard, but he shook his head. "It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is getting stronger."
Then he said He leaned closer, his expression grave. "Listen carefully, kid. What you carry inside you isn't something any human should have. Your Etherion has the potential to tear open realms no one should ever touch. It's dangerous, but if you learn to control it…" He paused, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. "If you master it, you'll be walking a path that no one has ever walked before."
The weight of his words pressed into me like stone. My chest tightened. I wanted to ask him more — about what he meant, about what kind of realms — but all I could do was nod, silently.
Then he gave a faint, rare smile. "But for now, don't overthink it. What matters is that you keep training."But tell me, kid. Your name."
I straightened. "Kairu Caelorn."
The knight smiled faintly. "for now continue your training, Kairu."
And I did.. .
...