The Prince's First Steps

Four years have passed…
Kairu Nijima is now four years old. His body is still small, but his eyes hold a maturity far beyond his age—a light of determination that never seems to fade.
That day, he walked slowly through the grand hall of the royal palace, his new home under King Alden, his new father. Towering marble pillars reached the ceiling, and colorful stained glass windows reflected the sunlight, making the hall glow like another world filled with light.
In the world of Xyroo, there are four great regions people always talk about:
Aurelia — a prosperous land filled with light and endless green fields.Nocturne — a dark land of barren deserts and ancient ruins.Sylvaris — a massive forest filled with waterfalls and rivers of pure mana, home to elves and spirits.Frostgard — a land of eternal snow, with towering mountains of ice.
Right now, Kairu lived in Aurelia, in the grand palace that had become his new home. After spending his time running around the great hall earlier, he had now returned to his room.
The room was large—decorated with gold carvings and soft silk curtains—but somehow, it felt quiet and lonely.
Kairu sat on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.“Finally… no one’s here… hehe…” he muttered softly, as if savoring the silence.
But his peace didn’t last long. The door opened slowly, revealing a young maid. She had long black hair tied with a simple white ribbon, a calm yet beautiful face, and a thin shining sword strapped to her waist.
Her name was Iris.
Kairu turned toward her, slightly surprised, but then smiled warmly.“Iris… you again?” he said, half-teasing.
Iris bowed gracefully before stepping closer.“Your Highness, Prince Kairu, it’s time to rest. You’ve been running too much in the hall,” she said gently but firmly.
Kairu pouted, looking like a child who didn’t want to be scolded.“Hmph… you always tell me to stop playing. But I’m strong, you know?” he said, crossing his arms proudly.
A faint smile appeared on Iris’s face. She knelt down to match his eye level.“If you’re truly strong, then you must also know when to protect yourself. A prince must not only be strong… but also wise,” she said softly, her tone filled with meaning.
Kairu fell silent, then looked away with a small huff.“Wise, wise… you always say that. But if no one stays with me… I’m still alone,” he said quietly.
His eyes dimmed for a moment, and a flicker of his past life as Akira flashed through his mind.
Iris looked at him for a long moment before smiling warmly.“Then… let me be the one who stays by your side, Prince Kairu.”
Her words made Kairu’s chest feel warm. He looked up at her and smiled softly.“Alright… then don’t ever leave me, Iris.”
On the nearby table lay a thick book filled with ancient runes and drawings of magic circles. Kairu’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he flipped through the pages.
“Wow… this is amazing,” he whispered, tracing the symbols of fire, water, wind, earth, light, and darkness magic. Each one seemed to call to him.
Iris stepped closer, glancing at the book.“Does Prince Kairu have a favorite type of magic?” she asked gently.
Kairu turned to her quickly, his eyes shining like stars.“Yes! I like… um… all of them!” he said energetically, clenching his small fist with excitement.
Iris blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly.“All types of magic, huh… quite the ambition for such a small prince.”
She gently closed the book and looked at him tenderly.“But for now, you can’t use magic yet. Your body is still too young. Magic can be dangerous if forced.”
Kairu’s eyes widened.“Eh!? So I can’t use it at all!?” he exclaimed, looking genuinely disappointed.
But deep inside, the older voice of Akira echoed within him.“Right… I almost forgot I’ve been reincarnated into this small body. I really wanted to master magic as soon as possible…”
He sighed a little, his face sulking. But soon, that familiar fire lit up in his eyes again.“In that case… I’ll just wait until the right time,” he thought with firm resolve.
Iris noticed that change in his expression and whispered softly, almost to herself,“Prince Kairu… truly unlike any child I’ve ever met.”
Suddenly, Kairu stood up, his expression serious.“Iris! I want you to teach me how to use a sword!” he declared boldly.
Iris blinked in surprise, but soon a smile curved her lips. She lowered her gaze slightly, meeting his determined eyes.“I can teach you, Your Highness… but sword training can be rough. Your body might ache.”
Kairu froze for a moment.“Eh…” he murmured, clearly imagining himself falling over.
But then he clenched his tiny fists.“I don’t care! As long as I can learn! I have to train, Iris!”
Iris smiled warmly, her eyes filled with pride and a hint of admiration.“Very well then… let’s begin.”
Kairu grinned brightly, his eyes shining with determination.
They stepped out of the room together, heading to the palace courtyard. The grand doors opened, revealing a wide training ground with gleaming white marble floors. The evening breeze carried the faint scent of steel from the weapons hanging on the walls.
That day marked the beginning of Kairu’s journey—into the world of swords and magic.
Iris turned toward the weapon rack, picking up a small wooden sword. She handed it to Kairu.“Here, use this wooden sword for now,” she said.
Kairu accepted it eagerly, though it felt a bit heavy for his small hands.“Whoa… it feels more real than I imagined,” he said in awe.
Iris crossed her arms, her tone becoming serious.“First, Kairu… before you can swing a sword, you must learn to channel mana into it.”
“Channel… mana?” Kairu repeated, frowning slightly.
Iris nodded, pressing her palm against another wooden sword.“Like this.”
Instantly, a soft blue light glowed from the sword in her hand. Magical energy swirled around it like shimmering wind, filling the courtyard with a radiant aura. The faint sound of mana hummed in the air, making even the simple wooden blade feel like a legendary weapon.
Kairu’s eyes widened, his heart pounding fast.“Uwahhh! That’s amazing!” he shouted, full of excitement.
He gripped his sword tighter, his little body trembling with enthusiasm.“If I can do that too… I’ll become strong…!” he thought, his will burning brightly.
Iris smiled softly, watching him with both pride and worry.“Now, it’s your turn, Prince Kairu. Show me how strong your resolve truly is.”