Episode 2 — The First Crack In Fate
The execution was canceled.
Not because the emperor showed mercy.
But because Kairus collapsed on the platform.
Palace Infirmary
The smell of herbs filled the room.
Kairus slowly opened his eyes.
White ceiling. Golden royal symbols. Soft magical lights floating above his bed like glowing fireflies.
He tried to move his hand.
Pain.
His body felt like it had been crushed from inside.
A young healer girl was sitting beside him, writing something on a floating parchment.
When she noticed he was awake, she jumped slightly.
"You shouldn't move," she said quickly. "Your mana channels are unstable."
Kairus stayed quiet.
He was checking something else.
His system interface was still there.
Fate Devourer System
Fate Points: 1
Current Ability: Minor Fate Resistance
Kairus frowned.
"Only resistance?" he whispered.
The healer girl blinked.
"You said something, Prince?"
He shook his head.
Then asked, "How long was I unconscious?"
"…Two days."
Two days lost.
He clenched his fists slowly.
Time was the most important resource he had.
Because in three years, he would be executed again.
Unless he became strong enough to rewrite his destiny.
The First Visitor
The door to the infirmary opened.
Heavy footsteps.
Kairus didn't need to look up to know who it was.
The imperial crown prince entered.
Prince Roderic Arvantis.
He was dressed in white royal armor with gold engraving. His presence alone felt suffocating — like standing near a roaring fire.
The healer girl immediately bowed and left the room.
Roderic sat down slowly beside Kairus's bed.
Silence filled the room.
Then Roderic spoke.
"You scared the nobles."
Kairus didn't respond.
"You also scared Father."
Still silence.
Roderic sighed.
"You activated mana despite suppression silver. That has never happened in our royal bloodline."
Kairus finally looked at him.
"And?"
Roderic studied him carefully.
Then said something unexpected.
"I don't want you to die."
Kairus almost laughed.
Too late for that.
Roderic continued.
"If you continue acting strange… the nobles will push for your execution earlier."
Kairus turned his head slowly.
"So you came here to threaten me?"
"No."
Roderic leaned closer.
His voice lowered.
"I came to give you advice."
He placed a small black ring on the table beside the bed.
"Take this."
Kairus didn't touch it.
"What is it?"
"A mana storage artifact. It will help you survive training without collapsing."
Kairus's eyes narrowed.
"Why help me?"
Roderic stood up.
"Because the prophecy doesn't say you will destroy the empire."
He turned toward the door.
"It says you will destroy something inside the empire."
Then he left.
After He Left
Kairus stared at the black ring.
Trust was dangerous.
But so was dying.
He picked it up.
The moment the ring touched his skin—
Pain exploded through his body.
Not physical pain.
His mind was pulled somewhere else.
Fate Space
Darkness.
Floating golden chains surrounded him.
Each chain had names written on it.
His father's name.
His brothers' names.
The empire's name.
And one chain was already broken.
His death in his past life.
A cold voice spoke.
[You have gained 1 Fate Fragment.]
[Fate Devourer ability grows stronger when you survive events that should have killed you.]
Kairus smiled slowly.
"So I become stronger by surviving?"
The voice did not respond.
But the chains around him trembled slightly.
As if fate itself was afraid of him.
Back In Reality
Kairus woke up gasping for air.
The ring on his finger was now glowing faintly.
He checked his status again.
Fate Points: 2
Minor Fate Resistance → Fate Adaptation (Unlocked)
He stared at the ceiling.
Three years.
He would not waste a single day.
Because this time…
He was not going to beg for mercy.
He was going to make the empire fear his survival.