One thing that slowly became famous throughout Dominion was not Kaien's strength.
Not his victories during the Final War.
Not even the stories surrounding Karna, Aditya, Arin, and Kaien.
It was something far simpler.
Something most people initially failed to understand.
Kaien hated unnecessary destruction.
Especially when it involved nature.
The policy had started quietly during the first years of reconstruction.
At first, people assumed it was temporary.
A sentimental decision made after the devastation of war.
Yet five years later the policy remained.
Not only remained.
It had become one of the fundamental principles guiding Dominion's expansion.
Whenever new settlements were planned, forests were studied before construction began.
Whenever roads were designed, natural terrain was considered first.
Whenever cities expanded, engineers were required to adapt their plans around existing ecosystems whenever possible.
Many architects initially hated the policy.
Many engineers complained.
Many officials argued it slowed development.
Then they learned arguing with Kaien about nature was one of the most pointless activities imaginable.
Because unlike political matters where he listened to debate and compromise, this was one of the few areas where his position rarely changed.
If a forest could be preserved, it would be preserved.
If a river could be protected, it would be protected.
If wildlife habitats could remain untouched, they would remain untouched.
The plans would change.
The environment wouldn't.
Simple.
Eventually people stopped arguing.
Not because he forced them.
Because the results spoke for themselves.
Dominion's cities began developing differently from older civilizations.
Instead of consuming the landscape, they integrated with it.
Parks naturally formed between districts.
Ancient trees remained standing even inside major population centers.
Rivers flowed through cities rather than beneath them.
Greenery existed almost everywhere.
Visitors from distant settlements often found it strange.
Then they spent time there.
Afterward, most understood.
There was something peaceful about it.
Something human.
One spring morning, Kaien received reports regarding a major expansion project near the western regions.
A new settlement was planned.
The location was ideal.
Trade routes passed nearby.
Resources were abundant.
The terrain supported future growth.
Everything seemed perfect.
Except for one problem.
A forest occupied nearly half of the proposed construction area.
Predictably, some officials recommended clearing it.
The forest wasn't particularly famous.
It contained no rare resources.
No strategic value.
No historical significance.
Removing it would make construction easier.
Cheaper.
Faster.
Several planners even highlighted those advantages within their reports.
Unfortunately for them, Kaien happened to be reading the reports personally.
Which meant their proposal immediately encountered a problem.
A very stubborn problem.
Three days later, Kaien arrived at the location.
Several engineers waited alongside regional officials.
The moment they saw him studying the forest, many of them already knew where the conversation was heading.
One unfortunate official still attempted optimism.
"Director, if we remove only this section—"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
The official sighed.
Several engineers looked sympathetic.
They had likely experienced similar conversations before.
Kaien continued examining the landscape.
Massive trees stretched toward the sky.
Sunlight filtered through leaves.
Wildlife moved naturally throughout the area.
Birds nested among branches.
Small streams crossed the terrain.
Life existed everywhere.
Destroying it simply because construction would become easier felt wrong.
Deeply wrong.
Eventually one of the engineers spoke.
"With respect, adapting the plans could delay development by several months."
Kaien nodded.
"I know."
The engineer hesitated.
"And increase costs."
"I know."
Silence followed.
Then Kaien looked toward the forest.
"What happens if we remove it?"
The question caught everyone off guard.
The engineer answered cautiously.
"The settlement becomes easier to build."
Kaien shook his head.
"No."
He pointed toward the trees.
"What happens to them?"
Understanding slowly appeared.
The engineer fell silent.
Because there wasn't a pleasant answer.
The forest would disappear.
Thousands of trees gone.
Animals displaced.
An ecosystem erased.
Not because it threatened humanity.
Not because survival demanded it.
Because convenience demanded it.
And Kaien had never been particularly impressed by convenience.
The discussion continued for nearly two hours.
Maps covered tables.
Alternative designs emerged.
Engineers debated possibilities.
Some sections would need redesigning.
Roads would require adjustment.
Building locations would change.
Logistics would become more complicated.
Yet gradually a new plan began forming.
One that preserved the forest.
One that integrated it directly into the settlement.
By the end of the meeting, even several critics admitted it looked better.
Not merely environmentally.
Visually.
Practically.
Humanly.
The settlement suddenly possessed character.
Identity.
Something unique.
All because the forest remained.
That evening, while returning home, Kaien found himself remembering something.
A memory from long ago.
Not of Karna.
Not of war.
Not of kingdoms.
A memory from his childhood as Arin.
He remembered wandering through forests.
Climbing trees.
Sleeping beneath open skies.
Feeling more comfortable among nature than inside buildings.
The memory brought a small smile to his face.
Even after all these years, some things hadn't changed.
He still preferred open landscapes over crowded rooms.
Still enjoyed rivers more than grand halls.
Still found peace beneath trees.
Perhaps that was why he protected them so fiercely.
Not because of policy.
Not because of ideology.
Because he genuinely loved them.
Several weeks later, construction officially began.
The revised plans received approval.
The forest remained untouched.
The settlement grew around it.
As news spread, several journalists questioned the decision.
Many citizens supported it.
Others criticized the additional expenses.
One reporter eventually managed to ask Kaien directly during a public appearance.
"Why spend additional resources protecting a forest?"
The question wasn't hostile.
Just curious.
The answer came naturally.
"Because civilization isn't measured by what it builds."
The crowd became quiet.
Kaien continued.
"It's measured by what it chooses to preserve."
The statement appeared in newspapers throughout Dominion the following day.
To Kaien's eternal frustration.
Because it sounded far more profound than he intended.
Months passed.
The settlement gradually took shape.
And when construction finally reached completion, people immediately noticed something.
The preserved forest became the most popular location in the entire settlement.
Families gathered there.
Children played there.
Markets occasionally operated nearby.
Visitors traveled specifically to see it.
What once seemed like an obstacle had become the settlement's greatest attraction.
The engineers responsible for the original clearing proposal wisely avoided discussing the matter.
Everyone else found it amusing.
Especially Nyra and Lyss.
One evening, while reviewing reports at home, Lyss casually placed a newspaper before him.
Kaien glanced at it.
Immediately regretting the decision.
The headline read:
THE FOREST DIRECTOR STRIKES AGAIN
Kaien closed his eyes.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As though hoping the headline would disappear.
It didn't.
Nyra nearly fell from her chair laughing.
Lyss wasn't far behind.
Kaien stared at both of them.
Unimpressed.
Neither showed mercy.
"The Forest Director."
Nyra repeated the title.
Clearly enjoying herself.
"A legendary protector of trees."
Lyss nodded seriously.
"Defender of leaves."
"Guardian of wildlife."
"Champion of squirrels."
Kaien contemplated leaving.
Possibly forever.
Unfortunately, they followed him whenever he attempted such strategies.
Experience had taught him that much.
Eventually he surrendered.
The twins celebrated their victory.
As always.
Later that night, long after the teasing ended, Kaien stood outside overlooking the city.
Trees lined streets.
Gardens occupied rooftops.
Parks stretched between districts.
Nature existed everywhere.
Not because it was efficient.
Not because it was easy.
Because someone had chosen to protect it.
The wind moved gently through nearby branches.
The sound felt peaceful.
Familiar.
Comforting.
Kaien smiled faintly.
People often assumed he loved nature because he was a leader.
The truth was simpler.
He protected it because across four lives filled with wars, losses, responsibilities, and endless struggles, nature had remained constant.
The sunrise looked the same.
The forests felt the same.
The rivers sounded the same.
No matter who he became.
No matter what name he carried.
Karna.
Aditya.
Arin.
Kaien.
The world itself had always been there.
Patiently waiting.
Growing.
Enduring.
And if he could help preserve even a small part of it for future generations, then he would.
Not because he was a hero.
Not because he was a leader.
But because some things deserved to survive long after legends faded away.