Morning sunlight filtered through the palace curtains, slipping quietly across the floor and resting against the bed where a young boy stirred.
Prince Adrian Leonhart blinked his tired eyes open. He looked exhausted—his hair messy, his eyes shadowed by deep, dark circles. The night had been restless. That dream… or whatever it was, kept replaying in his mind. The masked figure, the voice calling his old name—Evan. It felt too real to ignore.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face. His body felt heavy, his thoughts clouded. But when his gaze shifted to his hand, he froze.
There—glowing faintly against his pale skin—was a mark.
A delicate half-moon, curving gently around a half-sun, like two halves meeting to form one whole.
Adrian's heart skipped a beat.
He turned his hand over, tracing the symbol with trembling fingers. It pulsed lightly, almost like a heartbeat.
"…What is this?" he whispered.
He didn't remember ever having such a mark before. He pressed on it—it didn't hurt, but a strange warmth lingered beneath the surface.
Could it be connected to the dream?
Or to that man… the one who called him Evan?
He stood and paced around his room, his mind running wild with possibilities.
It couldn't be magic—he hadn't cast anything. And no one in the palace had the ability to leave such a mark unnoticed.
The mark's faint glow faded as the morning grew brighter, leaving only a pale outline, like a secret burned into his skin. Adrian sighed, trying to shake off the unease.
"…Maybe I'm just overthinking it."
But even as he said it, he knew he wasn't.
A knock came from the door.
"Your Highness? Are you awake?" a servant called.
"Yes, come in," Adrian replied, quickly tugging his sleeve down to hide the mark.
The maid peeked in with a polite bow. "His Majesty requested your presence in the dining hall. He wishes to have breakfast with you."
Adrian blinked. His father rarely called for breakfast together unless there was something special. "Alright," he said, forcing a small smile. "I'll be right there."
He changed into a light cream tunic with the royal emblem stitched on the shoulder and made his way down the polished marble halls. The morning guards bowed as he passed, their armor glinting in the sunlight streaming through the tall glass windows.
When he entered the dining hall, King Leon Leonhart—the Lionheart of Arathia—was already seated, his sharp but kind eyes brightened by the morning light.
"Adrian," Leon greeted warmly. "You look tired, my son. Didn't rest well?"
Adrian hesitated, then sat down across from him. "Not exactly. I had… a strange dream."
Leon tilted his head slightly. "A dream?"
"Mm," Adrian nodded. "But it's fine. It's just… something that felt a little too real."
Leon chuckled softly, sipping his tea. "Dreams can be powerful, especially for someone with strong mana sensitivity like you. Perhaps your mind is trying to tell you something."
Adrian poked at his breakfast absentmindedly. "Maybe…"
He hesitated before looking up again. "Father, can we visit the Kastahn estate today?"
Leon paused mid-sip, surprised. "Felix and Marcus, you mean?"
Adrian nodded quickly. "It's been years since I saw Felix. I… thought it'd be nice to see him again."
A small smile crossed Leon's face. "You've always had good instincts for people, Adrian. Very well. I'll send word ahead."
By midday, the royal carriage rolled through the countryside roads leading to the Kastahn territory. The land was lush and peaceful, with golden meadows and strong oaks standing guard along the paths.
Adrian peered out the window, his heart a little lighter now. Beside him, Leon seemed relaxed too—he had always trusted the Duke's family deeply.
When they arrived, servants were already waiting by the entrance of the grand mansion. The Duke, Marcus Kastahn, a tall man with auburn hair streaked with silver, came forward with a broad smile.
"Your Majesty Leon!" Marcus said, bowing deeply. "And young Adrian—look at you! You've grown since I last saw you."
Leon clasped his friend's hand firmly. "It's good to see you, Marcus."
"And you, my friend," Marcus replied before turning to Adrian. "Felix has been looking forward to seeing you again. He talks about you quite often."
Adrian blinked in surprise. "He does?"
A boy about nine years old came running out from the courtyard, his messy brown hair bouncing, a wooden sword in hand.
"Adrian!" Felix grinned widely. "It's been forever!"
Adrian couldn't help smiling back. "You've grown taller!"
Felix puffed his chest proudly. "Of course I have! You look the same though—just smaller!"
Leon chuckled quietly as Adrian frowned in mock offense. "Smaller? I'm six, you know!"
"Yeah, yeah," Felix laughed, swinging his practice sword lightly. "Come on! Let's go play before the grown-ups start talking boring stuff."
Adrian turned to his father. Leon smiled gently and nodded. "Go ahead, my son. We'll talk inside."
The boys ran off into the courtyard, where flowerbeds lined the walls and a fountain sparkled in the middle. Felix grabbed two wooden swords and tossed one to Adrian.
"Still remember how to hold one?" Felix teased.
Adrian caught it smoothly. "You'll find out soon enough."
They sparred playfully, laughter echoing through the open yard. Felix swung wide; Adrian ducked and tapped his side.
"Hey! No fair, you're too fast!"
Adrian grinned. "You're too slow."
They both fell back into the grass, breathing heavily and laughing. The sun was warm above them, clouds drifting lazily.
After a moment, Felix turned his head toward Adrian. "Hey… is it true what I heard? That you already know magic circles and sword techniques?"
Adrian blushed slightly. "W-Who told you that?"
Felix smirked. "Everyone! They say the Crown Prince of Arathia's a genius!"
Adrian groaned, covering his face. "That's exaggerated…"
But Felix only laughed louder. "You're really humble too. That's unfair, you know?"
Adrian smiled faintly, though a small ache tugged at his heart. He didn't want people to see him only as the genius prince. He wanted to be someone who could stand on his own, not because of titles—but because of who he was.
For a moment, the rune on his hand pulsed again under his sleeve. He glanced down, frowning softly.
"…What's wrong?" Felix asked, noticing his change in expression.
Adrian shook his head quickly. "Nothing. Just… a weird feeling."
Felix sat up. "Well, weird feelings usually mean something's up. My father says the world always has its way of telling us things."
Adrian laughed quietly. "That sounds like something my father would say too."
Later that afternoon, Leon and Marcus watched from the terrace as the boys chatted and trained together.
"They remind me of us when we were younger," Marcus said fondly.
Leon nodded, his gaze soft. "Adrian seems more at peace here. It's good for him to be around others his age."
"Felix will keep him grounded," Marcus added. "He's got a good heart."
Leon smiled. "Then I'm counting on your son to be my son's anchor."
As the sun began to set, Adrian and Felix sat on the fence overlooking the fields, the sky painted in orange and gold.
"Next time you come," Felix said, "I'll be better with the sword. So be ready, okay?"
Adrian grinned. "Deal."
They bumped fists, laughing one last time before the servants called them back.
But as Adrian climbed into the carriage beside his father, the faint light of the rune peeked again through his sleeve. The symbol of sun and moon pulsed once—quietly—like a heartbeat echoing from another world.
And somewhere deep inside, that same voice whispered faintly once more—
Evan…
Adrian looked out the window, the wind brushing through his hair. He said nothing, but his heart was restless.
Something was changing.
Something had already begun.