Shiebe stood there, feeling the electric tingling of his syreum as the dark clouds above slowly dissipated, revealing the warm rays of sunlight.
Liliana and a few maids hurried outside, drawn by the explosion they had just witnessed. Liliana's face was a mix of fear and concern as she spotted the Z-Mon's lifeless body on the ground. Her eyes quickly locked onto Shiebe, who was standing there, seemingly unaffected by what had just happened.
Liliana (frantically): "Shiebe! Are you alright?!"
She rushed toward him, her expression full of worry. She pulled him into a tight embrace, checking him over quickly, her hands trembling as she examined him from head to toe.
Liliana: "Thank the heavens you're okay… What on earth happened out here?"
Shiebe blinked, surprised by her reaction, but he couldn't help but feel comforted by her warmth. He glanced at the Z-Mon's corpse, still in shock over what had just transpired. Before he could say anything.
???: "Shiebe!!"
Xeno rushed toward Shiebe, his eyes scanning his son for any signs of injury. He wasn't alone—a young man was right beside him. Xeno quickly checked Shiebe from head to toe before his gaze fell upon the lifeless body of the Z-Mon lying on the ground.
Xeno (raising an eyebrow): "A Z-Mon?! How the hell did it get in here? Wait, Shiebe, did you cause that explosion?"
Shiebe nodded slowly, unsure of how to respond. His father's stern tone made him nervous, and Liliana's worried face only made him feel more unsure. Despite being in a three-year-old's body, his mind still had the maturity of a fifteen-year-old, and he was terrified of disappointing his parents.
Xeno paused, a smile slowly forming on his face as he saw the seriousness in his son's eyes.
Xeno: "Well, I guess you're old enough to unlock your syreum. I'm a bit jealous, to be honest. You're already able to use it so well, and you took down a Z-Mon too."
???: "Looks like your boy might be stronger than you in the future."
A man standing next to Xeno, much younger, spoke up. He had a mischievous smile on his face.
Xeno chuckled, the pride clear in his voice.
Xeno: "Of course he is. He's my son after all."
The light mood was briefly interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Liliana gave Xeno a small, relieved smile, but her focus never left Shiebe.
Liliana (softly, to herself): "I was so scared…"
Liliana (still holding Shiebe): "You shouldn't be doing things like that, Shiebe! What if something happened to you?" She tightened her grip on him, her voice trembling. "You're still so young, and you don't know the danger you're in."
Shiebe blinked, unsure how to reassure her. He had always felt like he was older than his body suggested, but seeing his mother so worried made him feel conflicted.
Liliana (tears welling up in her eyes): "Please, don't scare me like this again. I can't lose you… not after everything we've been through."
Before Shiebe could respond, Luni spoke up, his tone a little more serious than usual.
Luni: "Excuse me, sorry to break the mood, but can we focus more on how the Z-Mon got into the house?"
Liliana (still holding Shiebe tightly, voice cracking): "Oh, Luni, I didn't even see you. But… yes, we need to figure out how this happened."
Xeno: "He's right. The barrier should've kept the Z-Mon out. It's impossible for one to get in unless—"
A heavy silence settled over the group. A barrier surrounded the entire town, designed to prevent any Z-Mons from entering. But somehow, one had gotten into their back garden.
Shiebe (curious but hesitant): "What exactly is a Z-Mon?"
Luni crossed his arms, his expression turning more somber.
Luni: "Z-Mons are ancient beings, Shiebe. They've roamed the world for millions of years. They're the second oldest race in existence, after the dragonfolk. Though we call them a race, they aren't exactly like us. They're more like monsters from another world. And they're dangerous. Over a thousand years ago, there was a war between them and humanity, and over a million people died."
Shiebe's eyes widened as he absorbed the information, but Luni's next words were a bit more comforting.
Luni: "Don't worry, your ancestor helped defeat most of them. But," Luni sighed, "they're still a threat. So yeah, Z-Mons are bad news, and they're usually not the kind of monsters you want to deal with."
Shiebe blinked, processing the information. But his mind quickly shifted gears.
Shiebe: "Oh, I see." He paused, a slight grin tugging at the corners of his lips.Shiebe: "But I'm only three years old, and I defeated one. Pretty cool, right?"
Xeno let out a laugh, his pride evident.
Xeno: "That's the spirit, kid."
Luni: " You're showing great potential. Your syreum could be something really special."
Shiebe's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Shiebe: "Really? That means I could get even stronger?"
Luni: "Oh, definitely. You've got the talent. But remember, the power you have is a double-edged sword. That's why you'll need to learn control. You don't want to hurt the ones you love, right?"
Shiebe nodded earnestly, the weight of Luni's words settling in. His excitement was tempered by the responsibility that came with his power.
Luni (serious, but with a somber tone): "There's a group that stands as a symbol of hope in the world. They're the strongest syreum users—heroes, if you will. They call themselves the Council of Hope."
Shiebe looked up at Luni with wide eyes.
Shiebe: "The Council of Hope?"
Luni: "Yes. They're the number one guild in the entire world. The strongest syreum users banded together to protect humanity from the likes of the Z-Mons, the Council of Despair, and any other threats. They are the ones who give hope to the people. Without them, the world would be much darker."
Xeno: "And these guys are as powerful as they come. Only the strongest make it into their ranks."
Luni: "They're a symbol of hope for everyone. They stand against all evil and fight to keep peace. People look to them when the world feels like it's falling apart. And you... with your syreum, you could be someone who one day stands among them. If you train, if you learn to control your power, you could be a hero just like them."
Shiebe's heart raced. To think that one day he could be part of something as legendary as the Council of Hope was both overwhelming and inspiring.
Shiebe (determined): "I'll work hard! I want to be just like them."
Luni (smiling warmly): "That's the spirit, Shiebe. We'll help you every step of the way."
********
Winter came, and Shiebe was now 6 years old. He had grown accustomed to the strange world around him, feeling more at home here than in his past life. He spent most of his days either training with his syreum or reading books about the lore of this new world.
One day, a maid came to his room to call him downstairs.
Maid: "Young master, your mother is requesting you downstairs."
Shiebe nodded, setting aside the book he was reading, and headed toward the main hall. But as he walked, he passed by the room that had always given him an eerie sense of unease. That ominous aura still lingered, the one he'd always avoided.
Shiebe shook it off, pushing forward and heading toward the main hall, where his mother was waiting.
When he entered, he was met with an unexpected sight: his father was standing in the center of the room, tears streaming down his face, while the maids looked on with wide, joyful smiles. There was an overwhelming sense of happiness in the air, and for a moment, Shiebe felt a weight in his chest.
His father looked up, his eyes filled with joy.
Xeno (grinning through his tears): "SHIEBE! YOUR MOTHER IS PREGNANT!!!"
Shiebe froze. His eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe.
Shiebe (blinking rapidly, stammering): "H-Huh?! P-Pregnant?!"
He stared at his father, his mouth hanging open, then over to his mother, who was smiling at him with an expression that melted his heart—but also made his mind spin.
His head was racing, trying to process the news, but all he could manage was the feeling of complete disbelief.