VOL. 1: CHAPTER 7 — "THE CAPITAL THAT FEARED THE ANOMALY, AND THE QUEEN OF SYLVRINE"

It was a glowing forest cathedral carved by nature and magic.
Whitewood towers spiraled upward like living trees. Bridges of mana-light connected them like threads of starlight. Spirit lanterns floated gently through the air, illuminating paths carved with ancient runes. Small elemental sprites zipped between branches, leaving trails like glitter.

It was beautiful.
It was peaceful.
It was… very deadly.
I could feel thousands of mana signatures watching us.

Judging us.
Specifically—Judging me.

“…They’re all staring,” I muttered.

Lythiriel walked beside me, stiff posture hiding clear anxiety.
“That is natural,” she said quietly.

“So you’re saying I’m natural?” I joked.

“No,” she countered instantly.
“You are the opposite of natural.”

“…Thanks.” I replied with sarcasm.

“You are welcome.” She did too.

“That was sarcasm!” I said.

“No it wasn’t.” She denied.

“It was!” I persisted.

“Elves do not use sarcasm.” She said.

“That’s a lie.” I said.

“…It is not.” She denied again.

“It is.” I still persisted.

“Silence!” She said firmly.

“Make me.” I challenged.

A guard muttered, “Same routine every hour…”
Another whispered back, “At least they haven’t killed each other yet.”

Aerin held my hand tightly as we walked.
He looked up at the glowing towers with childlike awe.
“Big brother… this is where I live.”

I smiled. “Pretty fancy for a kid.”

“Mm! The big tree over there is where Mom used to take me—” He paused.
Voice trembling.

My heart clenched.
I squeezed his hand gently.
“You’ll show me the whole place later, yeah?”

“…Okay.” He said happily .

The moment we entered through the main gate—
Every elf within a fifty-meter radius froze.
Nobles in elegant robes.
Arcane researchers.
High-ranking guards.

They all looked at me.
Then—

Someone whispered too loudly:
“…The anomaly.”

A ripple of unease spread.

Lythiriel stiffened instantly.
“Do not speak such nonsense,” she snapped at the whisperer.

But it was too late.
The word had spread like a virus.

“Anomaly…”
“The omen child…”
“The human with impossible mana…”
“He’s the one who destroyed the Sky Burrow rift last night—”
“No, the Princess said he erased a beast—”

“I heard he commanded lightning like a Spirit King—”
“He is dangerous.”
“He must not remain here.”
“This is a threat to the realm.”

Aerin hugged me tighter. “Big brother… I don’t like this…”

I squeezed his shoulder. “Hey. They’re just loud. Nothing to worry about.”

But honestly?
I was worried.
Very worried.


— Lythiriel’s POV —

As the nobles whispered, as rumors twisted into venom, a cold anger flushed through me.

They weren’t there.
They didn’t see Kai hold back a Mythical-class alone.

They didn’t see him risk himself for Aerin.
They didn’t see him protect me.
All they saw—

Was a human.

And that was enough for them to fear him.
Enough for them to hate him.

I stepped closer to him—almost shieldingly.
“Kai,” I whispered, “stay by my side. Do not speak unless addressed. Nobles twist words into weapons.”

He frowned. “…Why do I feel like I’m attending school again?”

“Because you act like a child.” I told him.

“That’s rude.” He said.

“It is also true.” I said.

“Tch.” He clicked his tongue.

“…Stay close,” I said more softly.

He blinked.
But obeyed.

Aerin whispered to me:
“Princess Lythiriel… please protect big brother…”

My heart tightened.
I gently touched Aerin’s hair. “I will.”


— POV: Elven Nobles Gathering Near the Central Terrace —

Noble's spoke among themselves, whispering.

 “Is that the human? The one the Princess brought?”
“Impossible. Humans cannot carry that much mana.”
“No… look at his aura. That is not human at all.”
“The Princess made a mistake. She endangered the entire patrol by bringing him.”
“Should we petition the Queen to have him detained?”

One of the noble whispered in low voice:
“I heard an Oracle died centuries ago because of an anomaly. They bring calamity.”
Other noble replied. “Then we must isolate the human before it spreads.”

A shadowy figure behind them whispered:
“…The Astryllan Dominion will be interested in this.
A Sylvarine Princess bringing home an unstable human…A stain on their pride.”

A rival nation’s spy…---


— KAI’S POV —

We passed through the grand archway.
My palm brushed the stone.
It glowed faintly—
Like reacting to something.
Runes pulsed.

The guards gasped.
“Elven wards detected an unknown Authority-like resonance—!!”

I froze.

Lythiriel whipped around. “Kai—what did you touch?!”

“I just—laid my hand on it—?!” I said honestly.

The runes flashed brighter.
More elves drew back.

Some panicked.
Some stared.
Some pointed.

“He triggered the sacred wards—!!”
“Only those with Royal Blood or Authority-level skills can do this—!”
“He is not normal—!”
“He must be restrained—!!”

The guards raised their weapons at me.

Aerin screamed. “No!! Big brother is not bad!! Stop it!! STOP IT!!!”
He hugged my leg, refusing to move.

Lythiriel stepped between me and the guards instantly.
“Lower. Your. Weapons.”

“Princess—!”
“He is a threat—!”
“He triggered the Royal Runes—!”

“Yes,” she snapped, “because the runes detected a savior, not a threat. If he meant us harm, we would all already be dead.”
Her voice cracked with fury.

Silence fell.
Everyone stared.

Lythiriel realized what she said—her cheeks reddened—she coughed sharply.

“Ahem. I simply stated facts.”

I grinned. “Aww~ Princess, you defended me.”

“I DID NOT—!!” She denied.

“You did.” I pressed.

“I DID NOT DEFEND—!” She denied further.

“You totally did.” I pressed further.

“BE SILENT!!” She yelled.

Aerin giggled nervously. “…Big brother and Princess argue every day…”---


— Amara’s Interruption —

I whispered: “Amara?”

> 『Yes, Master?』

“…Can you make more cool spells like Lightning Break?”

> 『Clarify: cool = visually impressive but structurally inefficient?』

“YES.”

> 『Affirmative. Analyzing your childhood memories for references.』

“Good girl.”

> 『Warning: I am not a ‘girl’. I am an Authority construct.』

“Yeah but you’re MY Authority construct.”

> 『Irrelevant statement. Spell synthesis starting.』

Lythiriel stared. “…Are you arguing with someone in your head?”

“Yes.” I replied.

“Are they winning?” She asked.

“…Probably.” I said.

“…I hate this.” She whispered.


— Arrival at the Royal Platform —

We approached the high terrace of Lunaryn — an elevated platform made of glowing mana-crystal and living tree roots.

Nobles lined the sides, whispering like serpents.
But their eyes all turned upward—
Toward the throne-like balcony.

Because she was there.
Queen Vaelindra Sylvaris.
The elven queen.

Tall.
Regal.
Silver-haired.

Eyes gleaming like moonlight over still water.
A presence that silenced even the most arrogant noble.
Her gaze fell on me.

Hard.
Piercing.
Ancient.

Lythiriel stiffened beside me. “Mother…”

Vaelindra’s voice was gentle yet powerful:
“Lythiriel. You have returned safely.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“And the human…?” Her eyes locked onto mine.

There was no hatred.
No fear.
Just calculation.

“…Bring him forward.” Queen ordered.

Aerin froze.
Lythiriel froze.
Elorin tensed.
The nobles held their breath.

I stepped forward.

Queen Vaelindra looked at me like a dissected creature.
“Human. State your name.”

“Kai Rajput.” I said.

“And your origin.” She asked.

“Earth.” I answered honestly.

A ripple.
Nobles gasped.

“A lost world—?”
“Impossible—!”
“Aether drift?”
“No, it’s myth—”

The Queen continued unfazed:
“And your purpose in my kingdom?”

“…Don’t know.” I said.

She narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know.”

“Yeah. I kinda got… I dunno… kidnapped by a goddess?” I explained.

NOBLES:
“…WHAT?!”
“A goddess—?!”
“Blasphemy—!!”

Vaelindra raised a hand.
Silence.
“…Explain.”

I sighed. “Saw a bright light. Got summoned. Landed in a forest. Had to punch a deer monster. Then a tree monster. Now I’m here.”

Silence.
Absolute silence.

Queen Vaelindra’s lips twitched.
Once.
Almost amused.

But she regained composure. “You are strange.”

“Thanks.” I replied..

“It wasn’t a compliment.” She replied.

“…Still taking it.” I said.

She exhaled.
“You hold power that should not belong to any mortal. You are an unknown variable in a world already strained by prophecy.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Why should I allow you to exist in Sylvarine?”

Aerin stepped forward. “Because… because big brother saved me!!”

The nobles murmured.

Queen Vaelindra lifted an eyebrow. “…And who is this child to you?”

Aerin clung to me. “H-He’s my big brother!! And if anyone tries to hurt him—I’ll bite them!!”

“Aerin—!!” Lythiriel gasped.
“Aerin, you can’t say that—!!”

Queen Vaelindra’s lips twitched again.
A faint smile this time. “…A brave child.”

Aerin puffed his chest.
Lythiriel sighed, defeated.

I shrugged. “He and you adopted me.”

“I DID NOT adopt—!! Kai—!!” Lythiriel retorted.

I grinned. “You totally adopted me.”

“WE ARE NOT RELATED—!!” Lythiriel screamed.

Aerin giggled.
I held him on my hip.

Queen Vaelindra watched this.
Quiet.
Thoughtful.

Her expression softened ever so slightly. “…Very well.”

Everyone froze.

The Queen straightened. “I hereby announce:The human Kai Rajput will be given temporary sanctuary within Sylvarine.”

Gasps filled the terrace.
“But—!”
“Your Majesty—!”
“He is a calamity—!!”

She raised a single finger.
All fell silent.

“I have made my judgement.” Her eyes locked onto mine again.
“But understand this, Kai Rajput.”
A cold wind blew through the terrace.
“If you disrupt the fragile balance of this world—If you endanger my people—If you unleash power you cannot control—”
Her voice turned sharp as a blade:
“I will erase you myself.”

My heart thumped.
Her killing intent was real.
Heavy.
Ancient.
But…

“…Okay.” I said.

She blinked. “…Okay?”

“Yeah. Fair enough.” I shrugged.

Confusion flickered across her face for the first time.

Lythiriel quietly hissed at me:
“Kai—!! Don’t be casual about the Queen threatening to kill you!!!”

“But she’s right.” I replied.

“That’s not the point—!” Lethiriel spoke.

Queen Vaelindra studied me.
Long.
Slow.

Then said:
“…This will be interesting.”