Five years had slipped by in quiet rhythm, marked not by war or upheaval but by the steady beat of family life. The gardens outside the Estate bore witness to countless seasons, and now once more they rang with the sound of wooden swords clashing in spirited combat.
Sinbad moved with surprising grace for his age, a grin flashing across his face as he exchanged blows with Kagami. His daughter, now no longer the stumbling child of yesterday, stood her ground fiercely, sweat glistening across her brow. Her strikes came fast, each one more measured than the last, though her father parried them with practiced ease.
On the bench nearby, Aurora sat beneath the soft shade of a tree, her poise elegant, her gaze never straying from the duel. Beside her stood Sarah, the young maid with brown hair tied neatly and bright blue eyes lowered in courtesy.
"Is there anything you would like to eat or drink, Madame?" Sarah asked in a gentle voice, bowing politely.
Aurora lifted her eyes briefly to the maid before letting out a soft sigh. She turned back to the sparring figures, her tone absent yet kind. "No, that will be all for now."
The clash in the garden grew sharper. Kagami's blade slipped from her grip and spun into the air. Rather than panic, she clenched her small fist, summoning a faint swirl of wind around her hand. With that momentum, she blocked her father's descending strike barehanded. Sinbad chuckled with approval but moved swiftly, sweeping at her legs with a playful kick. Kagami stumbled, yet in the same breath her blade came flashing down from the air, narrowly grazing Sinbad's hair before she seized his arm and pulled him forward.
For an instant it seemed victory was hers—until Sinbad twisted with an acrobat's grace, wrapping his legs about her neck and bringing her to the ground. The edge of his wooden sword rested at her eye before she could even think of escape.
"Checkmate, daughter," he declared, rising with a boyish grin. "You're getting quite strong—you almost made me sweat."
He extended his hand. Kagami took it, brushing dirt from her trousers and tunic. Her expression was one of irritation mingled with determination.
"I'll win sooner or later, Father," she muttered. "Tch—I'll even reach big brother's level soon, and then I'll beat him too!"
Sinbad roared with laughter at her stubborn fire, though Aurora finally rose from her seat and approached them with a sigh.
"You two are such a noisy pair," she said, though her lips betrayed the faintest smile. "No surprise there. Now, enough sparring—it's time to eat."
Kagami exhaled, shoulders slumping, before frowning curiously. "Where's big brother anyway?"
Aurora paused at the question, her eyes drifting thoughtfully to the horizon. "Hmm… if I recall, he mentioned something about going to fetch coconuts and… other things."
Kagami blinked, dumbfounded at the vague answer. Her mouth fell open.
"I may only be ten," she cried, "but I'm not stupid!"
Sinbad broke into laughter again, unable to contain himself. Aurora joined in, her softer chuckle carrying through the garden, and for a time the Estate echoed with the sound of shared joy.
But far away, their eldest son was anything but carefree.
---
Across the vast continent of Solthar, in the heart of an unforgiving desert, Yamori crouched against the howling winds. A black scarf shielded his face, and his long red coat whipped against his body in the storm. At his hip hung a steel sword, its hilt worn from constant use.
Through the blinding waves of sand, he pressed a hand to the ground. "This should be the place," he murmured, voice calm despite the tempest. "Tricky, yes… but there's no other way forward."
The air shifted violently, as though obeying his touch. The storm's fury stilled, collapsing into eerie silence, and the earth groaned beneath him. A fissure opened wide, its yawning mouth leading into shadow. Without hesitation, Yamori slid down with the cascading sand until the world above was swallowed.
Darkness consumed him, save for a dim glow that pulsed from below. Closing his eyes, he felt the light grow stronger, guiding him until he landed upon grass soft beneath his boots. His hand gripped the rough bark of a massive tree, and when his eyes opened, the sight that greeted him stole his breath.
"The ruins of the old world," he whispered. "Father's notes weren't wrong. Shame he never dared to explore it himself."
A sharp beep echoed through the cavern. Yamori's eyes widened, his hand instantly upon his blade. He scanned the shadows, but nothing stirred. The silence returned, leaving only the uneasy pounding of his own heart.
Cautious, he pressed onward. The deeper he went, the more the place defied understanding. Towering beasts unlike any he had seen roamed freely—massive creatures with reptilian hides and thunderous steps. Verdant plants stretched skyward, unfamiliar yet vibrant. The air itself felt thicker here, saturated with ancient mana.
"This world…" he murmured under his breath. "So different from mine before. So much larger."
His thoughts turned inward, piecing together what he had learned. "No wonder the days span forty hours, the weeks ten, the years fifteen months. Regalo Ateneo… a realm sculpted differently than any other. And Raphael, that so-called god who promised a world of desire—he has yet to show himself. Did he truly shape this place for me? Or am I but another pawn?"
A thunderous roar tore through his musings. Yamori dove into the underbrush just in time to glimpse a colossal tyrant lizard lumbering past, its steps shaking the ground. He held his breath, heart hammering, until the beast passed beyond sight.
Exhaling slowly, he lifted his gaze—and there, almost absurd in its simplicity, hung a cluster of coconuts swaying gently above.
His lips twitched. "All this trouble… for coconuts."
With a swift stroke of his sword, he brought them down. The fruits tumbled neatly into his waiting bag. Securing them, he tapped the button fixed to the collar of his coat. A low hum vibrated through the air before the sleek form of an S-20 Eagle aircraft descended to the cavern's entrance, its polished frame gleaming faintly against the ruin's light.
Stepping aboard, Yamori collapsed into a seat, letting the weight of his journey sink in. His hand tightened briefly on his sword hilt as the memory of the beeping sound lingered. But with a sharp shake of his head, he cast the thought aside—for now.
"Take me home," he ordered quietly.
The aircraft roared to life, vanishing into the desert sky at impossible speed. Behind him, the ancient ruins trembled once more, their gates sealing shut as though his presence had been nothing more than a fleeting dream.