A warm breeze carried the scent of exotic flowers and freshly baked bread through the bustling streets of Khazadcoher.
The morning sun was already high when Jai, disguised as Arthur, and James, under the identity of Clement, prepared for their first day at Alverian Academy.
Zayn stood beside a wooden cart, his golden eyes moving between them.
"Don't forget her," he said, gesturing toward Morisa. "She studies at the same academy. You two are escorting her today."
Morisa nodded proudly.
A moment later, Jai, James, and Morisa climbed into the cart.
The driver, a broad Dwarf with bright blue skin, snapped the reins.
The cart began moving.
They had barely traveled a short distance when something suddenly darted into the road.
A boy.
He couldn't have been much older than Morisa.
White hair.
Pale skin.
Bare chest.
Tattered shorts.
He looked exhausted.
Terrified.
And close behind him came a large, sweating man in an expensive tunic, swinging a whip.
CRACK!
The whip missed the boy by inches.
Jai reacted instantly.
"Stop the cart!"
The driver pulled hard on the reins.
Before the vehicle had fully stopped, Jai jumped down.
Three quick strides brought him between the boy and the man.
The man swung again.
Jai's hand snapped out.
He caught the leather whip just before it struck the boy's back.
"Stop."
His voice was quiet.
Firm.
The man froze.
Then anger flooded his face.
"Do you know who I am?"
He tried to pull the whip free.
Jai didn't release it.
"And you dare interfere with me?"
The commotion quickly attracted attention.
People stopped walking.
Merchants leaned away from their stalls.
Morisa and James climbed from the cart and hurried toward Jai.
The moment the fat man noticed Morisa...
his entire demeanor changed.
The arrogance disappeared.
He dropped to one knee.
"M-Madame!"
Morisa frowned.
"We heard that you had been kidnapped," the man stammered. "How were you rescued?"
Then his eyes moved toward Jai and James.
"And who are these two humans?"
Morisa stepped forward.
"That's none of your concern."
Her small voice carried more authority than her size suggested.
"But since you insist..."
She pointed toward Jai and James.
"These men came from the Human Kingdom to help our children learn more about Elemental Magic."
The man slowly stood.
Some of his arrogance returned.
"Madame, have you forgotten?"
He laughed.
"We are the ones who bestow knowledge upon humans."
Morisa's eyes narrowed.
"Have you forgotten who saved this world when the dragons first arrived?"
The man's expression changed.
"Emperor Dominatrix."
Silence.
Morisa continued.
"She saved the entire planet."
Before the man could answer, two hidden royal guards appeared behind him.
Both blades pressed lightly against the back of his neck.
The man immediately stopped speaking.
Jai barely paid attention.
His focus had already shifted toward the boy.
The child stood trembling near the cart.
Jai knelt until they were at eye level.
"What's your name?"
The boy swallowed.
"My name is Arthur..."
Jai froze.
The boy coughed weakly and continued.
"Arthur Milliam."
For half a second, Jai's composure slipped.
Arthur?
The same name as his disguise.
He quickly hid his surprise.
Then he turned his head slightly toward the fat man.
"Why were you beating him?"
The man immediately answered.
"He tried to steal food from me!"
Jai looked back toward Arthur.
The boy's green eyes were filled with fear and exhaustion.
"Arthur," Jai said gently, "why did you try to take food from his shop?"
The boy's lower lip trembled.
"I'm hungry."
His voice was barely audible.
Jai's expression softened.
"My mother and father came to this kingdom to explore."
The boy paused.
His eyes filled with tears.
"But in the jungle..."
He swallowed.
"...an organization called the Shadow Ledger killed them."
Jai's face hardened instantly.
He leaned closer.
"Lower your voice."
Arthur blinked.
"That name is dangerous."
The boy nodded weakly.
Then he whispered:
"They kidnapped me too."
James's expression changed.
Arthur continued.
"They hurt me."
His voice grew weaker.
"I haven't eaten for two days."
Jai's jaw tightened.
"I asked that man for food."
The boy looked toward the merchant.
"He refused."
"So I tried to take some."
For several seconds, Jai said nothing.
Then he made his decision.
"Do you want to come with me?"
Arthur stared at him.
Jai placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"I'll take care of you."
The boy's eyes widened.
"You can stay with me."
Jai continued.
"I'll make sure you eat properly."
"I'll help you study."
"And I'll enroll you in the academy."
Arthur's eyes filled with tears.
He nodded.
That was all he could manage.
Morisa had been listening.
Her own memories seemed to hit her all at once.
She rushed forward and wrapped both arms around Arthur.
"Don't cry."
Her voice cracked.
"I'm here."
Then she started crying herself.
"Call me Big Sister."
Arthur stared at her.
Morisa hugged him tighter.
"I'll take care of you too."
James watched the two children.
Then looked toward Jai.
His expression clearly said:
She's the one crying.
Jai almost smiled.
The crowd around them suddenly shifted.
People moved aside.
A tall figure walked through.
White hair.
Golden eyes.
An immaculate white suit.
Zayn.
His gaze immediately moved across the scene.
The merchant.
The guards.
Jai.
The small boy.
Then Morisa.
Crying.
His expression changed instantly.
"What happened?"
He moved toward them.
"Why is everyone gathered here?"
Then his eyes locked onto Morisa's tears.
Zayn grabbed Jai by the collar.
"What happened to my sister?"
Jai remained calm.
"Relax."
Zayn's grip tightened.
"Give me a moment to explain."
Jai quickly told him everything.
The boy.
The whip.
The hunger.
The kidnapping.
The death of Arthur's parents.
By the time Jai finished, Zayn had already released his collar.
His anger disappeared.
Sympathy replaced it.
Zayn crouched beside Arthur.
"You've been through all that?"
Arthur nodded silently.
Zayn studied his face.
Then he noticed something.
"You two look a little alike."
Jai raised an eyebrow.
James immediately spoke.
"And his name is Arthur too."
Zayn smiled.
"Perfect."
He pointed toward Jai.
"Senior Arthur."
Then toward the child.
"Junior Arthur."
James laughed.
Even Jai smiled.
The tension around them eased.
Zayn then looked toward Jai seriously.
"Do you truly intend to take care of him?"
Jai nodded.
"Raising a child isn't easy."
"I know."
Zayn raised an eyebrow.
Jai glanced toward James.
"I started taking care of my younger brother Clement when I was around eleven."
James almost protested.
Then remembered the disguise.
He stayed quiet.
Jai continued.
"He was only ten."
Zayn watched him for several seconds.
Then nodded.
"I understand."
He clapped once.
A nearby servant immediately approached.
Zayn pointed toward Arthur.
"Take him to the palace."
The servant bowed.
"Get him washed."
"Give him clean clothes."
"And feed him until he can't eat anymore."
Arthur looked toward Jai.
Jai smiled.
"It's okay."
The boy nodded and followed the servant.
With that handled, Zayn turned back toward them.
"You should get going."
Morisa groaned.
"I don't want to go to the academy."
Zayn stared at her.
"It's boring!"
"You're going."
Morisa crossed her arms.
"No."
"Morisa."
She sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
They returned to the cart and continued toward Alverian Academy.
The academy gates were enormous.
Tall pillars of dark stone flanked the entrance, decorated with glowing elemental symbols.
Students moved through the courtyard in groups.
Some practiced magic openly.
Others carried books, artifacts, or training weapons.
A tall instructor with translucent blue skin met them near the entrance.
"Arthur Barne?"
Jai nodded.
"This way."
The instructor guided him through the academy corridors.
James was sent toward the construction wing.
Morisa followed Jai.
Eventually, they reached a classroom.
Jai stopped outside the door.
For the first time that morning, he felt nervous.
He was human.
Or at least everyone here believed he was.
And now he was supposed to teach a room full of young Dwarfs about Elemental Magic.
Morisa noticed his expression.
She smiled.
"Big Brother."
Jai looked down.
"Just start the lesson."
She grinned.
"They're only kids."
"That doesn't help."
"It should."
Jai sighed.
Then entered.
The students turned toward him.
Dozens of curious faces.
Jai took a slow breath.
"Good morning."
The room became quiet.
Since it was his first day, he kept the lesson simple.
He explained the basic categories of elemental powers.
He discussed how human Awakening differed from the natural affinity of some other races.
He also gave a brief overview of human civilization and how elemental education worked in the Human Kingdom.
The students asked questions.
Some intelligent.
Some ridiculous.
But by the end of the lesson, Jai had relaxed.
Maybe teaching wouldn't be as difficult as he had expected.
When the class finally ended, he stepped into the hallway and released a quiet breath.
Then—
A chill ran down his spine.
Jai stopped.
Something felt familiar.
Not a face.
Not a voice.
An aura.
His eyes narrowed.
Where have I felt this before?
Then the answer struck him.
The cage.
The artifact.
The energy surrounding the Chronos-Cage Latch.
Vystan.
Jai's expression changed.
No.
This is an academy.
His eyes moved rapidly through the corridor.
Teachers.
Students.
Servants.
Visitors.
No Vystan.
No familiar face.
Then Jai felt the aura again.
Closer.
His gaze snapped toward one person standing farther down the hallway.
Different clothing.
Different appearance.
But the energy was unmistakable.
The same aura.
The same signature.
Jai's stomach tightened.
That's him.
Vystan.
Inside Alverian Academy.
Jai watched the figure disappear around the corner.
A bitter thought crossed his mind.
Destiny really is cruel.
It always brings the wrong people together at the worst possible time.