Morning came quietly over the Solarin estate.Mist rolled down from the hills, curling around the white walls like ribbons of silk.
The young master awoke just before sunrise, his small frame already straightening the sheets with near-habit precision. The maids called it strange — a child that tidy — but they'd long stopped trying to stop him.
He dressed himself, combed his hair, and sat down for breakfast, the kind served every morning: warm bread, soup, and a slice of roasted fruit.
Across the table stood Mira, the maid assigned to him for the day.She poured his tea and smiled softly.
"Your father left early this morning, young master."
He looked up, spoon halfway to his mouth.
"Left? Where to?"
"To the Salian Kingdom."
He tilted his head slightly, blue eyes narrowing in thought.
"Salien… that's west, isn't it? Part of the Anglican Forty-Kingdom Coalition?"
"Yes, my lord," Mira said, impressed by how sharp he always was. "A council of small kingdoms beyond the Twelve Empires."
The boy hummed faintly, pushing his spoon aside.
"And mother?"
"The Lady said she'll return soon. Until then, we're to make sure you don't exert yourself. No running. No training. No overuse of Ether."
He paused, staring at the table for a moment before sighing softly.
"So, no training…"
For the first time, Mira noticed it — the faintest trace of disappointment flickering across his face.
In her thoughts, she whispered to herself:
That's new… the young master showing emotion. Guess he's still just a kid after all.
He straightened again, his small expression composed.
"Then I'll be in the study. Could you have the maids bring me books on Ether? The kinds that talk about its nature — the difference between natural and elemental. And… maybe some snacks."
"Of course, young master."
He gave a faint nod and finished his tea. As he stood, he whispered under his breath, almost pouting,
"I really wanted to train today… Mother would probably get mad."
He walked through the corridor toward the study, sunlight painting the marble floors gold.Passing one of the tall windows, he paused, glancing out at the courtyard where the knights were already training.
Their blades glinted in the morning light. The rhythm of their movements pulled at him.
"I'd really like to see the knights again," he murmured. "Just to watch."
Then, after a moment, he turned and kept walking.
Inside the study, everything was already waiting.Stacks of old books — Ether and Flow, The Nature of Elements, Light as Motion — neatly arranged across the desk.A small note rested on top, written in Mira's neat handwriting:
"Don't work too hard, young master. The body grows slower than the mind."
Beside it sat a tray of sweet biscuits and dried fruit.
He smiled faintly, set the note aside, and began reading.
Hours passed as he turned the pages, each one describing the relationship between Ether and the world.At one point, he paused — something shifted in the air around him.The energy in the room suddenly felt sharper. His own Ether reacted before he even realized it, focusing, condensing, pointing… somewhere.
He turned his head sharply, eyes narrowing.
No one.
He waited.
Then —
"I guess she was right," a voice said lightly. "You really are sharp."
The air rippled.Out of it stepped a woman — robes of scarlet and gold flame, runes glimmering faintly across her sleeves. She carried herself like someone who'd long since stopped caring about rank.
"Who… are you?" the boy asked, his tone even.
"Relax." She smiled, soft and mischievous. "I'm Seris Valen. Archmage of Azen's Flame Tower. Your mother asked me to come."
He blinked, studying her the same way he studied the knights — quiet, analytical.
"You sensed me," she said, the playful tone fading slightly. "Do you know how rare that is? Even legendary-ranked mages can't feel my presence. And you…" she leaned forward, eyes narrowing with curiosity, "…you noticed without even turning."
He didn't speak — just tilted his head, unsure if he should answer.
Before Seris could say more, footsteps echoed from the doorway behind her.
Two figures entered — one draped in white and gold robes, her expression sharp but composed.The other wore a knight's uniform, steel plates etched with blue markings, her auburn hair tied back in a braid.
Elara Solarin's eyes were the first to meet her son's.
"You're up early," she said softly.
Beside her, the knight bowed slightly.
"Commander Arin Lys, Guardian of House Solarin," she introduced herself. "A pleasure, young master."
The boy stood up politely and bowed in return.
Seris glanced at the two women, then back to the child.
"Well," she murmured, her smirk returning. "It seems this house breeds prodigies — and protectors alike."
Elara stepped forward, her gaze lingering on her son.
"So… what do you think, Seris?"
Seris folded her arms, eyes gleaming with faint firelight.
"I think your son doesn't just feel Ether," she said quietly. "He sees it. Even its pulse, even when it hides. That's not sight. That's comprehension."
The knight behind her stiffened slightly, as if the air itself had grown heavier.
"Then we'll have to make sure he learns to control it," Elara replied calmly.
Seris smiled faintly.
"Control? Or understand?"
The silence that followed carried its own weight.
And so, in the morning light of the Solarin estate,the boy who saw Ether before motion met the women who would shape his path.