Kael reached the path leading to his home, completely exhausted. He had run without stopping, and his young, small body couldn't take it anymore.
He sat down for a few minutes to catch his breath, still trying to process what had happened back there in the forest.
"I really would've died back there…" he muttered to himself, breathing heavily.
He was terrified, but at the same time… astonished.
"Why didn't that wolf kill me?" he wondered.
As he continued sitting, he slowly leaned back and lay down, his face turned toward the sky. The clouds above were glowing gold as the sun began to set.
"Now that I think about it… I would've been easy prey. I wouldn't have been able to resist, or even put up a fight," he said quietly, his mind desperately trying to understand why the beast had spared him.
"Did the crow save me?" he thought.
"I really do not understand that creature. It's always watching me. Even if I don't see it… every time I enter the forest, I feel like I'm being observed."
He paused, swallowing hard.
"Just what could that creature want with me? Is it stalking me… the way predators stalk their prey?"
His thoughts continued to spiral.
"No… it can't be that. If it was hostile, it would've killed me several times already—especially when I was done training. I was always tired after training. I wouldn't even be able to run away."
Kael frowned.
"And I don't think I could go up against that creature at all…"
The crow always seemed ancient. Not just in the way it looked, but in the aura it carried. Every time Kael saw it, it felt like he was looking at something that had existed long before him… something that didn't belong in a normal forest.
There was no way Kael—a five-year-old boy with a small, fragile body—could resist it if it ever decided to attack.
"So why… why is it always observing me?" Kael asked himself inwardly.
He had too many questions, and none of them were going to be answered anytime soon.
"At least it isn't hostile," he muttered, the fear inside him fading slightly.
"One day… I'll get the answer I need."
With that thought, Kael stood up. He wanted to continue home quickly. He didn't want to be late again, because that would mean another scolding from his mother—and he definitely didn't want that.
He began walking at a fast pace, though not fast enough to exhaust himself again.
The distant lights of the floating city, combined with the soft glow coming from the neighboring houses, looked beautiful in the evening. It was calming.
After a few minutes of walking, Kael finally reached the front door of his home.
At least he wasn't as late as yesterday.
He placed his hand on the scanner beside the metallic door. It lit up green, and the door slid open.
Kael was greeted by the warm interior of their living room, lit up by a mana lamp floating near the ceiling.
"Hi Kael."
His mother appeared from the kitchen, wearing an apron over her white dress. That could only mean one thing—she was preparing dinner.
"Hello, Mom," Kael replied as he removed his shoes and slipped into the slippers placed neatly by the door.
His mother stopped and looked at him closely.
His clothes were dirty, but that didn't concern her much. It only meant her son had been playing.
But she noticed something else.
Something was off.
Maybe it was her motherly instinct.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she stepped closer, gently touching his face and looking him straight in the eyes. A hint of concern appeared on her expression.
Kael quickly lied, forcing himself to sound cheerful like he usually did.
"Everything's fine, Mom," he said, letting out a cheeky smile.
"Are you sure, son?" she asked again, still studying him. "You don't look so well."
"It's really nothing, Mom. I'm just tired, that's all," he reassured her.
His mother finally let go of his face.
"Okay, son… if you say so." She smiled softly. "Go and take a bath and change your clothes. It looks like you were playing in the mud."
"Okay, Mom," Kael said, and immediately headed upstairs to his room.
"Oh, and dinner is almost ready," she added while turning back toward the kitchen. "So hurry up. I shouldn't have to call you again, okay mister?"
"Yeah, Mom!" Kael shouted back so she could hear him.
He entered his room, and the mana lamp lit up automatically.
He changed his clothes and wrapped a towel around himself, but before going into the bathroom, he lay down on his bed for a moment, wanting to rest just a little.
After about five minutes, he finally stood up and went to take a shower.
He stayed in there for a long time. He was dirty, and he had sweated too much.
Training was taking its toll on his body.
It was strange, honestly. All he did was practice swings with a stick, yet after every session, he ended up completely drained.
"I will get stronger one day," he thought inwardly as he turned off the shower.
After drying himself, he changed into warm, comfortable clothes—soft pants and a loose shirt. Then he sat on the edge of his bed, feeling calmer.
He turned on the holographic screen beside his bed and checked the time.
8:30 PM.
He turned it off.
His eyes drifted to the history book resting on the floating table in the middle of the room. He considered reading it now, but quickly dismissed the thought.
He would read it before sleeping.
It had been a while since he last opened it, so he planned on continuing it tonight.
"Kael!"
His mother's voice echoed from downstairs.
"Dinner is ready, so you better come down before it gets cold!"
"Okay, Mom!" Kael replied, heading downstairs immediately.
A sweet smell floated through the air from the kitchen.
Kael really loved his mother's cooking. It was always good—so good that you could tell from the first bite that it was made with love, care, and warmth.
He entered the dining room and took a seat on one of the floating chairs across from his mother.
His plate was already served, and she had put a generous portion on it. She always wanted him to grow up healthy and strong.
Before they began eating, they both uttered a small prayer.
"Thank you for the meal."
Then they started eating.
It was a simple meal, but it tasted amazing to Kael. Rice, beef stew, salad, fruit, and juice to wash it down.
Kael never really knew who the prayer was directed to… but it could only be Zeus, since they lived in his nation.
"How was your day, honey?" his mother asked while they ate.
"It was great, Mom," Kael said after taking a bite. "The forest is a really amazing place."
His mother narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You didn't go too deep, did you?"
"No, Mom, I didn't," Kael lied smoothly. "I just explored near the edge."
Then his excitement rose.
"Oh, and Mom… I saw some funny creatures. They had white fur, long ears, and two pairs of eyes on their heads."
His mother nodded calmly.
"Oh, those ones… they're not really dangerous. Some people even keep them as pets."
"Really?" Kael's eyes lit up instantly.
"Yes," she replied, "but don't go looking for them. They have to choose you. And they can become hostile if they feel threatened."
"Okay, Mom," Kael said obediently.
Then he remembered something.
"Mom… where's Dad?"
"He hasn't arrived yet," she answered while standing up and taking the used dishes to the sink. "But he'll be home any minute now."
"Okay, Mom."
Kael stood up.
"Mom, I'm going to bed."
"Okay, son. Goodnight… and sweet dreams," she said, hugging him tightly.
Kael smiled and hugged her back before heading upstairs.
He wasn't going to sleep immediately though.
He planned on reading about the history of the nation first.
He quickly brushed his teeth, but as he walked out of the bathroom, he tripped over his clean shoes that he hadn't put away earlier.
He fell forward.
"Ouch!" Kael muttered.
He wasn't seriously injured—just a few scratches.
But his fall knocked the history book off the floating table. It landed beside his bed and opened by itself.
Kael groaned as he stood up, then bent down to pick it up.
But suddenly… he froze.
His eyes locked onto the page.
There was a drawing of a strange figure. It had two horns, and its face was covered with a mask.
Beside the image, one word was written clearly.
Demon.
Kael's heart skipped a beat.
He stared at the page, completely taken aback.
"Demons… still exist in this world too?" he whispered.
"But… I thought that after my death, the gods would go after each and every one of them…"
He swallowed.
His mind raced with thoughts, but his body felt too tired to handle it.
He slowly closed the book.
"I'll read it in detail tomorrow…" he told himself.
Kael climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling.
"Could they still be alive…?" he whispered.
His eyelids grew heavy.
And soon, Kael drifted off to sleep.