✦ Prologue — The Dawn of a Legend ✦
The story begins not with a cry, nor a clash of swords, but with a vision of a world.
In the silent void of space, a lone sphere revolved in eternal rhythm. A vibrant planet bathed in the glimmer of distant stars, cloaked in oceans like polished sapphires and continents etched with emerald forests, golden plains, and vast mountains that pierced the skies. This was the world known as Eryndor, a land steeped in both magic and history.
A slow rotation, a cosmic dance, and then—like the eyes of a god drawing closer—the vision descended, parting through the veil of clouds. Narration, heavy with reverence, unfurled:
> "This is Eryndor… a realm blessed by the currents of mana and cursed by the ambitions of men. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, yet heroes and tragedies carve their names into eternity. Among these tales, one begins here, within the land of Solmare Kingdom, where bloodlines of warriors are both feared and admired—the Leonheart family."
The planet dissolved into light, and from that brilliance emerged a sprawling kingdom bordered by silver rivers and towering walls. Beyond the gates lay a serene manor, not ostentatious, but proud in its silence.
It was here, within the Leonheart household, that fate stirred.
― ✦ ―
The Legacy of the Leonhearts
The Leonhearts were no ordinary family. For generations they stood as defenders of Solmare's crown, warriors bound by oath and blade. Their name alone carried weight upon battlefields, a banner of loyalty and strength.
At their head was Kenji Leonheart, once the Vice Commander of the Royal Army. His swordsmanship had won wars, his strategies had saved thousands. Yet, the day his first child was born, he laid down the commander's mantle and chose instead the life of a father.
The king himself had honored Kenji's departure, declaring:
> "Your service has carved a legacy. Your son shall inherit not merely your name, but the blessings of Solmare's throne."
Thus Kenji, once a lion upon the battlefield, devoted himself to his family.
― ✦ ―
The Birth of a Heir
The chamber was dim, the air thick with the scent of herbs and the faint cries of a newborn. Kenji, tall and broad, eyes fierce yet softened with tears, cradled his son for the very first time.
"Finally… a son," he whispered, voice trembling as if the universe had gifted him something beyond treasure. "My child… my Ryu… Ryuken."
The infant, wrapped in white linen, stirred at his father's words as if acknowledging the weight of the name.
Amelia, Kenji's wife, her beauty radiant even in weariness, smiled gently from her bed. "What a pleasant name you've given him, Kenji. Ryu… it carries strength, yet grace. One day, he will grow into a man as noble as his father."
Kenji chuckled softly, brushing his thumb against the baby's cheek. "And kind as his mother."
In that chamber, a vow unspoken bound their hearts: that this child would be nurtured by love and forged by destiny. A tender silence lingered, broken only by the laughter of two souls who had once endured blood and fire, now softened by the miracle of life.
― ✦ ―
Nine Years Later
Time flows swiftly, like a river unwilling to slow its current.
Nine years passed. The child swaddled in cloth now stood tall for his age, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and will. The Leonheart manor echoed with new life, for Amelia was once again heavy with child.
"Can you believe it, Amelia?" Kenji's voice rumbled with disbelief. "Our Ryu is already nine years old. It feels as though yesterday I first held him in my arms."
Amelia chuckled, her hand resting upon her rounded belly. "Yes… he's grown faster than I ever imagined. Soon he will not just be our son, but an elder brother."
Beyond the garden walls, Ryu's voice rang clear. A sphere of flame danced above his palm—fire magic, summoned with startling ease.
Amelia's eyes softened with awe. "Kenji, do you see? He has mastered magic far before his time. Children usually struggle until they are twelve… yet our son, at nine, conjures fire as though it were an extension of himself."
Kenji folded his arms, a rare pride glittering in his stern gaze. "Of course. He is our son."
In a narrative tone, Kenji reflected:
> "From the earliest days, he adored books. Where other children played, he read of heroes and wars. He cultivated mana with the focus of a sage, and now, at nine, he wields both fire and water spells—a feat difficult even for youths of fourteen. A genius… yet still a child yearning for adventure."
― ✦ ―
The Wooden Sword
"Father!" Ryu ran into the courtyard, excitement bright in his eyes. "Let me train with a real sword! I want to practice swordsmanship properly."
Kenji arched a brow, noticing the broken shards of wood in his son's hands. "Ryu… did you break your training sword again?"
"A-ah… yes," Ryu muttered sheepishly, scratching his cheek.
Kenji groaned with mock frustration. "That's the seventh one this month! Do you intend to bankrupt me, boy?"
Amelia laughed, her voice like a bell. "I told you, Kenji—our son is stronger than you think."
Kenji narrowed his eyes. "You didn't… use magic while wielding it, did you?"
Ryu averted his gaze. "I was… experimenting."
Kenji's jaw dropped before laughter escaped his lips. "Stronger indeed! But listen, boy—never fuse sword and magic recklessly. Your body isn't ready. I'll get you a wand instead."
"Yes, Father…" Ryu pouted, but a faint smile betrayed his excitement.
The courtyard echoed with laughter, the kind that made even the stone walls seem alive. Yet beneath it, subtle worry stirred. Amelia's gaze lingered on her son, her heart torn between pride and fear of his rapid growth.
― ✦ ―
The Adventurer's Duty
"I believe it's time we found him a teacher," Amelia said, her tone serious.
Kenji nodded. "Already done. A teacher will arrive within weeks. I could not ignore the growth of my son. His future… demands guidance."
Their conversation was cut short by duty. For Kenji was not only a father, but an adventurer.
"Soon, I must leave," he admitted with regret. "The royal palace has entrusted my team with guarding the Third Prince on his journey to Yujin Academy."
Amelia's smile faltered. "Always leaving, Kenji… always drawn back into danger."
He grasped her hand, his eyes steady. "I fight not only for crown or coin, but for you, Amelia… for Ryu, and for the child yet unborn. Trust me—I will return."
And so the days passed. On the appointed day, a teacher arrived.
Her name was Akari.
― ✦ ―
The Arrival of the Teacher
A young woman approached the manor gates—slender, her hair a cascade of dark silk, her eyes like violet glass reflecting both resilience and sorrow. She bowed respectfully.
"My name is Akari, the mage summoned to teach young master Ryu," she said, her voice carefully composed.
Her composure, however, shattered the instant she witnessed Ryu's demonstration.
With a casual lift of his palm, the boy conjured a sphere of fire. Without a word, without even a whisper of chant, the flame roared into being.
Akari gasped, her hand covering her lips. "This… this is impossible. Even skilled magi struggle to manifest chantless spells. And yet—you, a child…"
Ryu tilted his head, his expression earnest. "It's just a basic fire spell."
For a long moment, silence reigned, broken only by the crackle of the flame before it fizzled into the air.
Finally, Akari exhaled. "You… are not a student. You are a prodigy. Very well. I shall teach you—but beware, Ryu. Genius is both a gift and a curse."
― ✦ ―
A Family's Embrace
After their introductions, Akari prepared to take her leave for the day.
"I will find a place in town to stay," she said with formality.
Amelia blinked. "Stay in town? Whatever for?"
Akari hesitated. "…It would be improper to intrude on the privacy of your family."
But Amelia's smile was gentle, unyielding. "Nonsense. You are Ryu's teacher now. That makes you part of our family. Live here. It would bring us joy."
Ryu's eyes sparkled. "Yes, Master! Please stay with us."
For a moment, Akari's mask crumbled. Tears brimmed in her eyes, falling like jewels upon the ground.
"Everywhere I have gone… families have cast me out," she whispered. "They feared me. They believed I was dangerous simply because of what I am."
Amelia's arms wrapped around her, soft but firm. "How cruel. But here, you will never be cast aside. You are safe, Akari. From this day, you are one of us."
The words pierced Akari's heart like sunlight breaking through a storm.
"…Thank you," she whispered, trembling. "Truly… thank you."
― ✦ ―
Shadows of the Past
That night, gathered around a warm dinner, Amelia broached the subject gently.
"Akari," she said, her voice soft, "if you do not mind, tell us of your past. Only if you are comfortable."
For a moment, Akari hesitated. Then, slowly, she spoke, her words weighed with grief.
"I was born in a magical village. By seven, I could already wield basic spells. But one night… everything ended. A tide of monsters breached even our strongest barrier. They destroyed everything. My family, my home—burned to ash in moments."
Her hands trembled.
"I survived. Only a handful of us did. But because I alone wielded the element of darkness, they branded me cursed. Rumors spread that I had caused the calamity. They tried to kill me."
Amelia's eyes widened with anger. "Monsters may destroy villages, but humans… humans can be crueller still."
Akari's voice broke as she continued. "An old woman rescued me. She believed me. She told me that the Shadow Cult was behind the attack. She raised me… until the villagers found us again. They burned her home. She protected me to the very end, forcing me to flee. She died so I could live."
By now, her tears flowed freely.
Amelia reached out and clasped her hand. "You endured so much… no child should suffer such cruelty."
Akari lowered her head, but a faint smile trembled on her lips. "That old woman told me… one day I would find a true family. A place to belong." She lifted her eyes toward Amelia, then Ryu. "Perhaps… she saw this future."
Amelia's smile deepened, warm as the hearthfire. "Then let this be the end of your loneliness. From today, Akari, you are my daughter."
Akari's breath caught. "Your… daughter?"
"Yes. Call me 'Mother,' if you wish. You are home now."
Akari's tears renewed, but this time they fell not from grief, but from joy. "Then… Mother… I will stay. Truly… thank you."
― ✦ ―
The Days of Training
From that day onward, Akari shared a room beside Ryu's.
Every morning began with laughter. "Ryu! Wake up, your training awaits!" she would call, dragging the sleepy boy from bed.
The fields beyond the Leonheart manor became their classroom. Under the open skies, magic surged and sparked, guided by Akari's patient instruction.
"Show me what you can do, Ryu."
Obligingly, the boy extended both hands. Fire bloomed in one palm, water swirled in the other, and with a grin, he summoned a shard of ice between them.
Akari's eyes widened. "…To wield three elements at once… and at your age? Truly, I underestimated you."
Ryu only smiled shyly. "It's thanks to you, Sister Akari."
"Not 'Master'? You prefer 'Sister'?" she teased.
"Of course. You're family now."
The words struck her with a sweetness she had long forgotten. And so, with every day, the bond deepened.
― ✦ ―
The Pendant
One night, under a sky jeweled with stars, Akari found Ryu on the balcony, gazing at the moon.
"Ryu, you're not asleep?" she asked softly.
He turned, smiling. "I couldn't sleep. The moon feels too beautiful to ignore. But now that I have someone to share it with… I'm glad."
Akari laughed gently. "You speak like someone far older than nine."
Then she reached into her robe, summoning a faint glimmer of light. From her palm appeared a pendant—silver chain, with a gemstone of emerald green that pulsed softly as if alive.
"This belonged to my master," she said, her voice reverent. "She told me to give it, one day, to someone truly precious. It will aid your magic, Ryu."
Ryu's eyes lit with wonder. "For me? Sister Akari… thank you! It's beautiful."
Sleep claimed him soon after, his head resting against her shoulder, the pendant clutched in his small hand.
Akari whispered as she tucked him into bed, "Yes… you are precious. My little brother… my family."
― ✦ ―
A Distant Awakening
But as night deepened, the pendant began to glow faintly—its emerald light shifting into an ominous crimson.
Far away, in the bowels of the earth, a circle of ancient runes flared red. The lines pulsed with sinister life, feeding into a jagged crystal that had long been sealed.
The crystal cracked.
The world stirred.
And fate, unseen, moved its first piece.
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