Kaito smirked at his phone screen, thumb hovering as he zoomed in on the sprawling metropolis glowing beneath his fingertips.
Eldoria.
Towering districts spread outward like a living organism, roads pulsing with simulated traffic, mana lines glowing faintly beneath the city. Numbers ticked upward in the corner of the screen until they finally settled.
Population: 150,000,000.
"Hah," Kaito let out a quiet laugh under his breath. "You're getting crowded."
With a few taps, rows of units filled the display. Mages in long robes, archers standing in disciplined lines, wizards gripping their staffs as magical energy shimmered around them. At the front stood magic swordswomen, blades resting casually at their sides, expressions calm and unshakable.
His chest warmed with pride.
Someday, he thought, adjusting his round glasses as his eyes gleamed. Someday, I'll conquer everything.
He locked the screen and slipped the phone into his pocket, still smiling as he walked home from school. His steps were light, mind already racing ahead to Eldoria's next expansion. Maybe a new district near the eastern wall. Or an elite battalion upgrade. Hmm… resources were tight, but—
"Oi."
Kaito slowed.
The street had narrowed without him realizing it. Buildings loomed close on either side, swallowing the daylight. The air smelled faintly of trash and damp concrete.
"Hey!" a voice said again, closer this time.
Kaito turned, and his stomach dropped. Three guys blocked the alley, their grimy faces twisted into smirks. The one in the middle, tall and l bulky with a jagged scar above his left eyebrow, eyed Kaito's pocket like a hungry predator sizing up his prey. His hair was a mess of greasy black strands, and a cigarette hung limp from his lips.
To his right stood a shorter, wiry guy with a rat-like face and beady eyes that darted between Kaito's body and his face. A faded tattoo of a skull peeked out from under his sleeve.
The third thug, lean and lanky with a mop of blond hair, leaned against the wall, arms crossed. His smile was lazy, but his gaze lingered on Kaito's backpack.
None of them looked like they'd hesitate to take what they wanted.
One of them grinned, showing crooked teeth. "Whatcha hidin' there, huh? That phone looks expensive."
Kaito's heartbeat spiked.
"I— I don't know what you're talking about," he said quickly, backing up a step. "I'm just heading home."
Another thug snorted. "Yeah? Then why you gripping your pocket like that?"
"C'mon, man," the first one said, tone mockingly friendly. "Just let us see it."
Panic surged.
Kaito turned and ran.
"Hey! The fuc– get him!"
His shoes slapped against the pavement as the alley seemed to stretch endlessly ahead of him. His breath burned in his chest, lungs screaming as footsteps thundered behind him.
"Don't let him get out!"
"Move your ass!"
A hand grabbed his backpack strap and yanked hard.
Kaito cried out as he stumbled, shoulder slamming into the wall. Pain exploded through his arm as he hit the ground, vision flashing white.
Before he could scramble up, someone kicked his side.
"Wallet," a voice snapped above him. "Now. Don't make this harder."
Hands shaking, Kaito fumbled it out and thrust it forward. "T-Take it, just— just leave me alone!"
The thug flipped it open, scoffed. "That's it? You broke or something?"
He tossed it aside like trash.
Another shadow loomed over him. "Phone too."
Kaito froze.
His fingers curled instinctively over his pocket. He didn't want to be separated with the game he had been playing for years. His chest tightened, breath coming in short, panicked bursts.
"No," he said, voice cracking. "Please. Not that."
The alley went quiet for half a second.
Then laughter exploded.
"Did you hear that?" one of them said. "He said please."
A fist crashed into Kaito's stomach. Air rushed from his lungs as he doubled over, coughing violently.
"Idiot," someone muttered.
He barely felt the next kick, or the one after that. His vision blurred as the world spun. Somewhere in the chaos, his phone slipped free, clattering across the pavement.
"No—!"
A boot slammed down.
CRACK.
The sound was sharp, final.
Kaito dragged himself forward, fingers scraping against the concrete until he reached it. The screen was shattered, glass spiderwebbed and dark. Blood dripped from his forehead onto the broken display as he curled around it, trembling.
"Pathetic," one of the thugs scoffed as they walked away. "Protecting trash."
Their footsteps faded.
Silence rushed back in, heavy and crushing.
Kaito lay there, shaking, staring at the ruined phone in his hands. His body ached everywhere. His head felt light, thoughts slipping away like sand through his fingers.
No parents. No home waiting for him.
"No one'll miss me," he thought weakly. "Just… an orphan…"
The phone flickered.
His breath caught.
Light seeped through the cracks in the screen, soft at first, then blinding. White glow spilled outward, wrapping around his fingers, his arms, his entire body. Glittering dust rose into the air, swirling gently despite the stillness of the alley.
"What…?" he whispered.
The pain faded. The cold concrete vanished and the world dissolved into light.
And then Kaito was gone.
The glow dispersed, leaving only drifting particles that slowly settled onto the empty pavement.
_______________
Kaito's consciousness drifted, suspended in a void where time didn't exist. The last threads of thought came slowly. A flash of light, bright enough to blind anyone. "What... was that?" he wondered, mind clinging to the question.
Darkness pooled around him, heavy as stone. This is death, Kaito realized, acceptance creeping in like a chill. No pain, no thought, just endless black.
But in the distance a spark grew.
A wave of radiance swelled on the horizon of his mind, rolling forward with a silent, unstoppable force. It crashed over him, shattering his vision into a thousand fragments. The sound of its impact roared like thunder, then cut out abruptly, leaving Kaito waking up slowly.
At first, all he felt was warmth. Not the harsh cold of concrete, not the dull sting of bruises, but something soft and enveloping, like he had been wrapped in comfort itself. His eyelids fluttered, vision hazy as light filtered through them.
"…Huh?"
The ceiling above him was unfamiliar. High, elegant, adorned with subtle carvings that caught the light in soft curves. Red and cream white fabrics framed his vision, rich and refined in a way that immediately felt expensive.
Where… am I?
His heart began to beat faster as awareness crept in. He shifted instinctively, only for pain to flare through his body. A sharp ache ran along his back and shoulders, and a low groan slipped past his lips before he could stop it.
"Ah…"
The sound echoed slightly in the room, too clear, too open. This place was large. Larger than any bedroom he had ever been in.
Kaito inhaled slowly and pushed himself up, movements cautious. The bed beneath him dipped slightly, layered with thick red sheets that felt impossibly smooth against his skin. He sat there for a moment, breathing, letting the pain settle into something manageable.
This is not a hospital.
That thought came immediately, clear and certain.
He glanced down and froze.
He was wearing a night gown. Red and white, finely tailored, the fabric silky and cool beneath his fingers. He brushed his hand against it, eyes widening slightly at how soft it felt.
This is… expensive.
The realization only deepened his confusion. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, wobbling briefly before steadying himself. His body felt heavy, unfamiliar in a strange way, but it followed him.
Kaito lifted his gaze and took in the room properly.
Luxury greeted him from every direction. Ornate furniture lined the walls, polished wood carved with intricate designs. To his right stood a large wooden door, its surface etched with patterns so detailed they almost looked alive. To his left, sunlight spilled in through tall glass doors.
A balcony.
Drawn by instinct, Kaito took a slow step forward, then another. His bare feet met cool stone as he approached the glass, each movement careful, cautious.
Did I survive? he wondered. Did someone help me?
But if that was the case, why bring me here?
He reached out and pushed the door open.
Morning light poured in immediately, warm and gentle. A soft gust of wind brushed against his face, carrying with it unfamiliar scents. Clean air, faintly sweet, mixed with something metallic and alive.
Kaito stepped onto the balcony.
And forgot how to breathe.
Before him stretched a vast city, sprawling far beyond what his eyes could fully take in. Stone buildings with sloped roofs clustered together in orderly districts. Towers rose proudly above the rest, banners fluttering in the wind. Roads wound through the city like veins, already busy with movement even at this early hour.
It was medieval.
No cars. No high rise building. No signs of modern life.
Just stone, banners, and life.
"Wow…" Kaito whispered, his voice trembling.
A shiver ran through him, not from fear, but from the sheer magnitude of what he was seeing. The city felt... Alive. Grand in a way that made his chest tighten.
For a moment, everything else slipped from his mind. The alleyway, the pain he felt, and the thugs who beat him up. Even the impossible situation he was in.
He stood there, hands resting lightly on the balcony railing, eyes drinking in the view.
Behind him, the wooden door creaked softly.
The sound went unnoticed.
A figure entered the room, steps silent out of habit. The man's long purple hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, strands shimmering softly as light touched them. He wore a dark tuxedo, pristine and formal, his posture straight and disciplined.
His eyes moved immediately to the bed.
Empty.
The color drained from his face.
His heart skipped violently as his gaze snapped around the room, breath catching in his throat.
No! No, no, no—
Then he saw him.
Standing on the balcony.
The butler's eyes widened, pupils trembling as starlike purple slowly bled into crimson. His knees weakened, emotion crashing into him all at once. Tears welled and spilled freely, though his expression remained stiff, as if he were afraid to move.
"M… Master…"
The word came out broken.
Before Kaito could turn around, the man rushed forward, his movements losing all composure. He dropped to his knees at Kaito's feet and clutched his legs tightly, his grip trembling.
"Master… you're finally awake."
Kaito stiffened, shock flooding through him as he looked down.
"…What?"