VOL. 1: CHAPTER 10 — "THE PROPHECY, THE CHALLENGE, AND THE BONDS THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST"

I spoke slowly:
“Kai Rajput possesses two Authorities. But only one is sentient. The other—ANYparxía—is pure void.”

Whispers followed.
“Yes… the Oracle said it…”
“Then he truly is—”
“The anomaly that breaks fate—!”

Queen Vaelindra lifted a hand, silencing them.

I continued. “The world’s fate bends around him unnaturally. Yet the path I saw was not fixed.”

Kai lifted his head slightly. “If fate isn’t fixed… then I can change it, right?”

“Perhaps,” I said, “but fate will resist you.”

“Fate?” he echoed.

“Yes,” I whispered.
“The world itself will move to destroy those who deviate from its script.”

A cold shiver passed through him. “Why me…?”

“Because you should not exist.” I explained.

He stiffened.

I softened my tone. “…And yet, precisely because you should not exist… you can break what others cannot.”

Silence.
Then—

“Mina,” Queen Vaelindra said, “is he the harbinger of destruction?”

I looked at the boy.
His tired eyes.
His scarred soul.
His contradictions.
And the little elf child clinging to him like a lifeline.

“…Not yet,” I answered. “And not inevitably.”

Vaelindra narrowed her eyes. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” I said firmly, “his fate will depend on those who stand beside him.”

Lythiriel stiffened.
Kai blinked.
Aerin hugged him tighter.
And Vaelen looked like he had swallowed a sword.

I continued. “If left alone, he will fall toward ruin. If guided… he may become our greatest protector.”

“Guided by who?” Vaelindra asked.

My eyes drifted toward her daughter.

Lythiriel froze. “…Elder?” she whispered.

“The Princess,” I said, “is uniquely compatible with the boy’s fractured fate.”

Kai muttered, “...Princess, we’re fate-compatible?”

“NO WE ARE NOT—!!” Her ears went scarlet.

I ignored them both. “The Princess’s soul anchors his instability. Without her… the anomaly may lose balance.”

Kai blinked. “Wait. So she’s my emotional support elf?”

“KAI—!!!” She yelled.


— QUEEN VAELINDRA’S DECISION (KAI'S POV)—

The Queen stood.
The room hushed as her mana stirred like moonlit tides.

“Very well,” she said.
“Kai Rajput.”

I straightened. “Yes?”

“You will remain under Sylvarine custody.” Queen announced .

“Cool.” I said.

“And you will be placed under the supervision of my daughter, Princess Lythiriel.” Queen announced further.

Lythiriel nearly died on the spot. “WHAT—? Mother, I—Kai—WHAT—?”

Kai blinked innocently. “Guess I’m officially your problem now.”

“NO YOU ARE NOT—!!” She yelled.

“You heard your mom.” I said.

“BE SILENT!!” She yelled again.

Aerin cheered. “Big brother gets to stay with us!!!”

Vaelen looked like he wanted to personally snap his own neck.

Vaelindra continued:
“He will undergo evaluation by Elder Mina weekly. He will train under royal observation. He will be protected. But watched.”
Her voice hardened. “And if he deviates…if the void within him swells…if fate twists toward ruin—” Her mana pulsed like moonlight sharpened into a sword. “I will erase him myself.”

Kai nodded slowly. “…Fair enough.”

Lythiriel’s throat tightened.
“Kai…” She whispered something too soft to hear.


— OUTSIDE THE ORACLE CHAMBER —

Aerin held my hand as we walked through the long corridor of living wood and glowing runes.
Lythiriel walked beside me.
Too close.
Trying very hard to look composed.
Failing.

Vaelen followed behind us, radiating pure hatred.
I didn’t acknowledge him.
He wasn’t worth the mental calories.

“Princess,” I said, “you okay?”

“I am FINE.” Lythiriel said.

“You’re biting your lip.” i said.

“No I am NOT—!” She retorted.

“You’re doing it right now.” I said.

“I—!! SILENCE!!” She looked away, ears red.
“…I’m not used to being assigned responsibility for someone like you.”

“Like me?” I asked.

“…Someone who terrifies the entire Council. Who breaks ancient wards. Who wields powers that should not exist. And who–for reasons unknown–listens to no one.” She reasoned.

I smirked. “I listen to you.”

Lythiriel stopped walking. “You… what?”

“I listen to you.” I teased her.

Her breath caught. “T-That’s—That doesn’t mean anything—!!”

“It does to me.” I teased her further.

Her steps stumbled.
Her face red.
Her ears red too.

Aerin blinked up at her. “Princess, are you sick?”

“I AM NOT—!!” She shouted.


— AMARA INTERRUPTS —

> 『Master. Regarding your request.』

“Anime spells?”

> 『Analyzing your memory catalogue… Spell 002: “Dragon Surge Beam”.』

“Oh hell yeah.”

> 『Spell 003: “Phantom Blade Projection”.』

“Yes yes yes—!”

> 『Spell 004: “Forbidden Black Flame Spiral”—』

“OH MY GOD YES—!!”

Lythiriel stared at me. “…He’s… malfunctioning.”

Aerin giggled. “Big brother is funny.”

Lythiriel sighed. “No, Aerin. Your big brother is dangerous.”

I winked at her. “Yes I am.”

She turned red. “I—!! That is NOT—!! Not in THAT way—!!”

Vaelen made a disgusted noise behind us.


— CAPITAL SQUARE —

As we stepped onto the main plaza of Lunaryn, the city spread before us:
Great spiral towers of crystal-white wood.
Bridges woven from moonlight threads.
Spirit stones floating gently in the air.
Elves stopping mid-walk to stare.

Their expressions ranged from curiosity—to fear—to pure hatred.
Lythiriel stepped slightly in front of me without thinking.

Elorin whispered, “Princess… you’re shielding him again.”

“I AM NOT—!!” She yelled.

“You are.” I said.

She sputtered.
Kai smirked.
She shoved him slightly

.Aerin tugged my hand tighter. “Big brother… don’t leave.”

I ruffled his hair. “I won’t.”
Even if I was terrified inside.

This world was too big.
Too political.
Too magical.
Too… fragile.

And Elder Mina’s words kept ringing.
You are not meant to exist.
And yet… you are the key.


— ROYAL EDICT ANNOUNCED —

A loud chime rang across the plaza.
A herald stepped forward, scroll in hand.
“By decree of Her Majesty Queen Vaelindra Sylvaris…the human anomaly known as Kai Rajput…shall undergo official induction into the Sylvarine Academy of Arcane Combat and Spirit Arts.”

A collective gasp swept the plaza.
“WHAT—?!”
“He’s being admitted?!”
“Her Majesty has lost her mind—!”
“He’ll destroy the Academy—!”

Aerin gasped excitedly. “Big brother gets to go to school with me!?”

“Wait,” I muttered, “school?!”

Lythiriel sighed. “Yes. School. You need education.”

“Ugggh. I don't want to” I said.

“It is not optional.” She said.

“I didn’t even get to skip school in my old world…” I said.

“You will not skip school in this one.” She informed.

“This is torture.” I muttered.

“It is responsibility.” She replied.

“Same thing.” I said.

She glared.
I smirked.
She looked away quickly.---


— VAELEN’S CHALLENGE —

When the crowd thinned, Vaelen stepped in front of me.
His eyes held pure venom.
“Kai Rajput.”

“Yo.” I replied.

“You humiliated me today.” He said.

“That’s on you. Pal.” I said.

“You stand too close to the Princess.” He said.

“She stands close to me.” I replied.

“You defy the realm.” He said.

“The realm started it.” I replied again.

“You insulted your betters.” He said.

“I insult everyone equally.” I replied firmly.

He trembled. “You—!!!”

He thrust forward a ceremonial blade made of silverwood.
“I invoke Royal Moonblade Tradition.”

Lythiriel gasped. “No—Vaelen—!! Not that—!!”

“By ancient law,” Vaelen continued, “I challenge you to a sanctioned duel. Three days from now. At dawn. On the Moonforge Arena.”

I blinked. “Okay.”

Lythiriel grabbed my arm. “KAI—NO—!! You can’t accept—!!”

“I just did.” She spun me around.
“Do you understand what you just agreed to?!”

“Hmm. A duel?” I said.

“A duel of prestige! A duel where nobles settle honor! A duel meant to humiliate rivals—!!” She explained.

“So it’s a normal fight.” I said.

“NO—!! It’s not—!!” She shook my sleeve.
“It’s political—!!” 

“Ugh. Politics.” I muttered.

“Yes! POLITICS!! You are in danger!” She said.

“Princess, I survived a giant tree monster. I can handle pointy-ears #2.”

“I AM POINTY-EARS #1—!!” She asked.

“True.” I said.

“KAI—!!” She yelled.

Vaelen grinned in triumph.
“Prepare yourself. You will not walk away unbroken.”

I shrugged. “Cool. Me neither.”

He blinked. “…What?”

“I’m not planning to break anything.” I said confidently.

“You—!!” He stomped away in frustration.---


— LYTHIRIEL’S BREAKDOWN (ALMOST)— 

As soon as Vaelen was out of sight, Lythiriel grabbed my shoulders.
Hard.

“Kai Rajput—!!” She called.

“Yes, Princess?” I answered.

She trembled.
Her ears shook.
Her voice cracked. “You… you cannot keep doing this!!”

“Doing what?” I feigned ignorance.

“THROWING YOURSELF INTO DANGER—!!” Her voice echoed through the plaza.

Aerin flinched.
Elorin looked away politely.
A few guards pretended not to hear.

I softened my tone. “Princess…”

Her eyes glistened with frustration and something else.
“You are not invincible,” she whispered.
“You are not a weapon. You are not a solution to every crisis.”

“…I know.” I said honestly.
It's true, I am neither a weapon, nor a solution to every crisis. 
Or am I?

“THEN STOP—!!!” She covered her face with her hands.
“…I don’t want to watch you die.”

My breath caught.

Aerin hugged her leg. “Princess… big brother won’t die.”

She knelt and hugged Aerin.
Her voice soft. “…I hope not.”

Then she stood.
Composed.
Cold.
Mask restored. “We must return to the palace. You will be assigned temporary living quarters. Do not wander.”

I nodded.
But I saw it.

The crack.
The fear.
The care.

She wasn’t afraid of me.
She was afraid for me.

That made something warm and heavy twist inside my chest.

— BACK TO AMARA —

As we walked:

“Amara?”

> 『Yes, Master?』

“Think you can build me a spell that’s like… y’know… a Rasengan but with lightning?”

> 『Clarify: spiraling lightning sphere? High risk of arm removal.』

“…Why is it always arm removal?”

> 『Your ideas threaten your limbs.』

“Can’t you stabilize it?”

> 『Working on structural solution: “Thunder Spiral Core”.』

“Oh hell yeah.”

Lythiriel groaned. “…Please stop letting him build spells based on children’s stories.”

> 『Request denied.』

“Kai, who is that voice—!!” Lythiriel asked.

“Uhhhh—” Before I could answer.

Aerin tugged my sleeve. “Big brother?”

“Yeah?” I answered.

“Can I watch you train for the duel?” He asked.

I smiled. “…Sure.”

“And… don’t lose.” He said.

I chuckled. “I won’t.”

But inside—
The Oracle’s visions still echoed.
A future of ruin.

A future of salvation.

Both possible.
Both terrifying.
And everything depended on me—
And the people beside me.