Leon sat on the smooth stone of the courtyard, his small hands still warm from the trial's final flames. The embers had long since faded, yet their presence lingered in his mind.
His tiny chest rose and fell rapidly as he struggled to catch his breath. He was exhausted, yet something inside him burned even brighter. Power. Understanding. Growth.
His grandfather, the mighty Marcellus Ignis, knelt before him. His piercing red eyes studied Leon for a long moment before he finally spoke.
"Good," Marcellus murmured, his deep voice laced with approval. "You learn fast. Faster than any child should. Your instincts are sharp—unnaturally sharp."
Leon blinked up at him, golden eyes gleaming with curiosity. His small fingers twitched, as if grasping at something unseen.
Marcellus exhaled, standing tall. "Your training with me is over, but this is only the beginning. You must keep growing, refining your power. Fire alone will not be enough in the world you are about to step into."
Leon wobbled slightly as he tried to stand, but Seraphina was already at his side. His mother gently scooped him into her arms, her embrace both protective and proud.
Marcellus turned to his daughter. "He is strong, but he is still just a baby. Do not rush his path, Seraphina. His body must catch up with his soul."
Seraphina smiled softly, pressing her cheek against Leon's hair. "I know, Father. But he surprises me every day."
Duke Reynard Aeternis, standing beside them, placed a firm hand on his father-in-law's shoulder. "Your guidance was invaluable, Marcellus. You've given him a foundation that most wouldn't gain in a lifetime."
Marcellus simply nodded. There was no need for further words.
As the sun dipped beyond the horizon, he turned on his heel and strode toward the departing carriage. His time here was done—for now.
Leon watched him go, his small fingers curling into his mother's dress. Something inside him stirred as if recognizing that this departure marked the end of something important.
But also, the beginning of something greater.
---
Deep within the dense forests of the Solaris Kingdom, Prince Alistair's party moved in silence. The towering trees cast long shadows as the last remnants of daylight faded into twilight.
A scout knelt before Alistair's horse, head bowed. "Your Highness, the rumors appear to be true. There is a family in the western territories, one that holds… an unusual child."
Alistair's sharp blue eyes narrowed. "Unusual how?"
The scout hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Some say he commands fire as if it were part of him. That he is… unnatural."
A slow smirk tugged at Alistair's lips. "Is that so?"
He turned to the knight riding beside him. "Increase our pace. I wish to see this so-called child with my own eyes."
The horses surged forward.
The hunt was drawing to a close.
---
On the outskirts of the Aeternis Estate, the cloaked figure watched from the treetops, eyes gleaming in the darkness.
"The prince is moving faster than expected," they whispered to themselves. "And Leon… he is growing far too quickly."
The wind rustled through the leaves, carrying their murmured words away into the night.
They pulled a small, glowing crystal from their pocket, letting its eerie light flicker across their concealed face.
"It is time to act."
With a final glance toward the estate, the figure vanished into the night, leaving only the whisper of fate in their wake.
---
Inside the Aeternis Manor, Seraphina gently rocked Leon in her arms. His tiny fingers curled around a strand of her hair as his golden eyes flickered with lingering firelight.
She hummed softly, running her fingers through his hair.
"You are growing so fast, my little star," she whispered. "But the world is vast and filled with dangers beyond what you can see now."
Leon tilted his head, his baby-like expression of curiosity melting her heart.
She pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. "No matter what happens, you will always have me… and your father."
As if sensing something in her tone, Leon's small hand rested against her cheek. Warmth. Reassurance.
Seraphina smiled.
She would protect him.
No matter what was coming.