A warm, gentle breeze carried the scent of exotic flowers and freshly baked bread across the bustling street. The morning sun, already high, cast long shadows as Jai, disguised as Arthur, and James, as Clement, stood ready for their day. They had finished their breakfast, and the anticipation of their first day at the academy was palpable.
Their friend, Zayn, stood by the wooden cart, his golden eyes sweeping over them. "Don't forget her," he reminded them, gesturing toward the small, dark-haired girl. "Morisa studies at the same academy, and you are her escorts now."
Morisa, the princess of this dwarf kingdom, nodded solemnly. With a shared glance, the three—Jai, James, and Morisa—climbed into the cart. The driver, a stocky man with bright blue skin, snapped the reins, and the cart began to roll.
They had barely started when a flash of white hair and pale skin stopped them. A small boy, no older than Morisa, darted into the middle of the road. He wore only tattered shorts, his chest bare, his small frame visibly shaking. Close behind him, a fat, sweating man in an expensive tunic was swinging a whip.
Crack!
The whip missed the boy, but the sound was enough. Without a moment's hesitation, Jai slammed his hand down on the driver's shoulder, bringing the cart to an abrupt halt. He vaulted out and, in three swift strides, was between the man and the boy. The fat man was mid-swing, and Jai's hand shot out, catching the leather whip a mere inch from the boy's back.
"Stop," Jai's voice was low and firm, a sound that brooked no argument.
The fat man, stunned, pulled the whip back and glared at Jai, his face mottled with rage and exertion. "Do you know who I am? And you dare to stop my hand?" he sputtered, puffing out his chest.
The commotion had drawn a crowd, and Morisa and James quickly emerged from the cart to stand by Jai's side. The fat man, catching sight of Morisa, instantly deflated. His bluster vanished, replaced by fawning terror. He dropped to one knee, bowing low.
"M-madame," he stammered, his eyes wide. "We heard you had been... kidnapped. How were you rescued? And who are these two humans? I've never seen their like before."
Morisa stepped forward, her small stature belying the regal authority in her voice. "That's enough! It is not your concern to know who these two men are. But, as a King's daughter, I will inform my kingdom that these two people have come from the human kingdom to help our children understand more about Elemental Magic."
The fat man, regaining some of his previous arrogance, laughed, a high, irritating sound. "Miss, do you not remember? We are the ones who bestow knowledge upon mere humans!"
Morisa's eyes flashed with anger. "Have you forgotten who saved us from the dragons when they first arrived? Emperor Dominatrix! She is the one who saved the entire planet from the dragons!"
The mention of the legendary emperor silenced the fat man instantly. He opened his mouth to protest, but two of Morisa's hidden guards, who always shadowed the royal children, appeared as if from nowhere and placed the cold, sharp points of their swords against the back of his neck. He swallowed hard and remained silent.
Jai, taking in the scene—the trembling boy, the cowed fat man, the audacity with which this kingdom's common folk spoke to a noble—was inwardly astonished. He then focused on the boy, who was watching the drama unfold with a confused, fearful expression.
"What's your name?" Jai asked gently, kneeling down to be at the boy's level.
"My name is Arthur..." the boy began, then coughed, correcting himself quietly, "My name is Arthur Milliam."
Jai's composure faltered. The name—Arthur—was the very one he was currently using as his disguise. The shock was evident in his eyes, but he quickly masked it.
"Why were you beating him?" Jai asked the fat man, turning his head slightly. "What has he done to deserve a beating from you?"
"He tried to snatch food from me!" the man quickly explained.
Jai turned back to the boy. He could see the palpable fear and the heartbreaking innocence in those wide, green eyes. His heart melted. He knelt fully down, ignoring the rough ground.
"Arthur," Jai asked, his voice now a soothing murmur, "what happened? Why were you trying to steal food from that person's shop?"
The boy's lip trembled. "I'm really hungry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "My mother and father came to this kingdom to explore, but in the jungle, an organization called The Shadow Ledger killed them. They kidnapped me and... and they tortured me."
At the mention of the notorious organization, Jai's face hardened. He immediately leaned in, shielding the boy with his body, and whispered fiercely, "Don't raise your voice! That name is very dangerous."
Only Jai could hear the boy's subsequent explanation, which was barely a breath due to his hunger and lack of energy. "I haven't eaten for two days. I asked him very kindly for food, but he refused. That's why I tried to steal it."
Jai looked at the boy, then at the cruel fat man, and made an instant decision. "Do you want to come with me?" Jai said, placing a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "I will take care of you like my own little brother. I'll pay for you to go to the academy, take you to my home, and buy all your favorite foods."
The boy, Arthur, could only nod, tears welling up in his green eyes.
Morisa, watching the entire exchange, felt a deep pang of recognition. Her own painful past, the feeling of utter helplessness, rushed back. Tears immediately filled her eyes. She rushed forward and hugged the little boy tight. "Don't worry and don't cry," she choked out. "I'm right here. Call me big sister. I'm going to take care of you."
James, watching his companion and the princess weeping over a child, couldn't help but think to himself, 'You are the one who is crying, why are you telling him not to cry?'
The assembled crowd watched the emotional drama unfold, but a sudden shift in the atmosphere made them turn.
A striking figure strode through the gathered people. He was a boy with white hair and piercing golden eyes, dressed in an immaculate white suit. He surveyed the scene, his eyes landing on the Morisa in James's comforting embrace and the little white-haired boy.
Jai immediately sensed the powerful, authoritative aura emanating from the newcomer. He didn't need to be told who it was. As if on cue, Zayn—the white-haired boy—came directly toward Jai and the child.
"What is happening?" Zayn demanded, his eyes fixed on the spectacle. "Why are people gathered here?"
When he finally saw Morisa in tears, his golden eyes flashed with a bright, angry light. He gripped Jai's collar, his voice laced with protective fury. "What happened? Why is my sister crying?"
"Calm down, man," Jai said evenly, his own composure unshakeable. "Give me time to explain everything."
Jai quickly recounted the story: the beating, the fat man's cruelty, the boy's hunger, and the tragic tale of his mother and after by bandits. As he spoke, Zayn released his collar, his demeanor shifting from anger to deep sympathy. He gently took the little boy, Arthur, by the hand and stood him up.
Zayn studied the boy's face, his expression softening. "You two look the same," he commented, noting the boy's white hair.
"And his name is Arthur too," James chimed in.
Zayn smiled slightly. "So now we have Senior Arthur and Junior Arthur," he declared.
The tension broke, and the crowd—and even James—chortled with relief and amusement.
"Do you really want to take care of this kid, Arthur?" Zayn asked, his tone serious once more. "Raising a child is not easy. It takes so much patience."
Jai's face held a look of quiet resolve. "From the age of eleven, I started to take care of my little brother clement when he was only ten years old."
Hearing Jai's words, and seeing the earnest care in his eyes, Zayn's heart melted. He saw a reflection of a younger, burdened self in the little boy. He readily accepted. He clapped his hands and immediately summoned a nearby servant.
"Come," Zayn commanded the man. "Take this kid. Get him washed up, give him clean clothes, and feed him until he can't eat another bite!"
With the matter settled, Zayn reminded the group to head to the academy. Morisa pouted. "I don't want to go to the academy! It's so boring!"
But Zayn insisted, and so they set off once more. They arrived at the grand gates of Alverian Academy. A teacher, a tall being with translucent blue skin, met them and directed Jai to his classroom.
Jai walked the corridors, a knot of nervousness tightening in his stomach. He was a human, about to be a class master to a room full of elemental dwarves. He was the only human there. The absurdity of the situation struck him again when he realized that Morisa was in his very class.
Seeing his nervousness, Morisa grinned. "Big brother, start your lesson! They are all just kids, so you don't have to worry about anything," she said, trying to ease his mood.
It was the first day, so Jai kept the lecture simple, explaining the number of elemental powers and giving an overview of how human civilization works.
When the class was finally over, Jai walked out into the busy corridor, breathing a sigh of relief. As he walked, a sudden, familiar chill ran down his spine. An aura. He stopped, his mind racing. 'Where have I felt this aura before?'
The answer slammed into his mind: Cornos Cage. It was the same unique energy signature of the person who had used the powerful binding spell on their cart—Vystan.
Shock coursed through him. 'This is a school! How could he be here?'
Jai frantically scanned the corridor, looking for the tell-tale white hair and arrogant sneer, but Vystan was nowhere in sight. Then, his eyes fell upon a person who exuded that unmistakable Cornos Cage aura.
He knew instantly. That person was Vystan.
A bitter thought crossed Jai's mind: "The destiny is always cruel. It always makes us meet at the wrong time."