High above the clouds, where the sky brushed against the heavens, lay the Light Village.
A woman sat quietly upon a field of soft, silver grass. The wind moved gently around her, lifting strands of her long, radiant hair, though her face remained hidden turned toward the enormous moon hanging low in the sky. From this height, the stars felt close enough to touch, scattered like diamonds across an endless sea of night.
She breathed in the calm.
"Mom… Mom!"
The voice broke the silence.
She turned, smiling.
"Yes, dear?"
Standing before her was a small boy barely two years old with white hair that shimmered faintly in the moonlight and bright blue eyes full of curiosity. Beside him stood an older boy, around five, wearing elegant earrings on both ears. His hair bore two distinct colors, woven together as if the wind itself had shaped it.
"Tell us a story," the little one said, tugging at her sleeve.
The older boy nodded eagerly. "I want to hear one too."
She laughed softly. "How many stories must I tell before you finally sleep?"
Both boys giggled.
Before she could say more, the younger boy wrapped his arms around her—and suddenly, three more children rushed in.
"We want to hear one too!"
She blinked in surprise.
Two young girls from the Light Clan and a boy from the Wind Clan no older than the youngest stood before her, eyes shining with excitement. These were his friends. Her smile widened as she looked at them, affection filling her gaze as though they were all her own children.
Her eyes drifted to the side.
Two woven baskets rested nearby. Inside them slept twin girls, only a few months old, their peaceful faces illuminated by starlight. Curled protectively beside them lay a magnificent beast formed entirely of light, it's body glowing softly as it stood watch.
The woman's smile softened.
She turned back to the children. "Alright," she said gently. "I'll tell you a story."
Cheers erupted.
"What kind of story?" one of the girls asked.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "My favorite one."
With a snap of her fingers, a book appeared in her hands.
The children gasped.
The book floated slightly as its pages flipped on their own, stopping at a marked place. The woman watched their faces filled with wonder, anticipation, and innocence and felt her heart tighten.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"Yes!" they said in unison.
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"Tonight, I will tell you a story of legends… of heroes… of Guardians.
"This story is called—"
Her voice dropped to a whisper that drew them all closer.
"The Ageless Past."
The mother began.
"A very long time ago more than five thousand years in the past on an island far across the sea, people lived in peace. Humans and mythical beings alike shared the land. They loved one another, worked together, and lived in unity.
"Among them was a man unlike any other.
"They called him the Creator.
"He was born with power that could only be described as divine. Yet instead of ruling over others, he chose to share his strength. He gifted humanity a fragment of his power, so that they might understand one another… protect one another… and grow together."
The children listened in silence.
"At first, the people rejoiced. With their newfound strength, they prospered. But not everyone accepted the gift. Some rejected it outright.
"And when the Creator's time in the world drew to an end, he feared what would become of his power."
Her fingers tightened on the book.
"To protect it, the Creator shattered his strength into sixteen fragments and entrusted them to humanity."
A hush fell.
"But instead of harmony… came war.
"The fragments became objects of desire. People fought over them. They turned on one another. Greed twisted their hearts, and suffering spread like a plague."
Her voice darkened.
"And from that suffering… new beings were born."
The children shivered.
"They were called Nulls.
"Beings born from existence darkest desires."
"Terrified, the people prayed for salvation."
"And their prayers were answered."
Her voice grew stronger.
"From the light within existence… new protectors were born."
"The Guardians."
"They fought the Nulls for centuries… until finally the war ended."
She turned a page slowly.
"But victory came with a price."
"The Guardians remained… and the world slowly changed."
Her voice softened again.
"And many years later… in an age when hope had nearly faded…"
"A boy was born."
"A boy who carried freedom in his heart."
The wind moved gently through the silver grass.
"A boy who would one day decide the fate of the world."
She closed the book softly.
"That boy's name… was Kaito."
The children gasped.
The wind rose slightly.
And suddenly—
this was no longer just a story.
It was beginning.