Lidaz descended from the sky with the grace of a falling feather, his vast griffon wings beating against the wind as he landed at the heart of the devastated village. What had once been a peaceful settlement was now reduced to rubble and ash. Houses stood half-collapsed, the smell of char and dried blood clinging to the air. Soldiers moved tirelessly among the debris, clearing fallen wood and stone while gently lifting the lifeless bodies of villagers who had not managed to escape.
Those who had fled earlier were slowly returning now—faces pale, clothes torn, spirits shattered. Some fell to their knees the moment they recognized familiar homes now ruined beyond recognition. Others broke down when they found the bodies of loved ones wrapped in blankets by the soldiers.
Cries echoed everywhere.
Mothers wept for their children. Children wept for their parents. Husbands wailed for wives they would never hold again. The tragedy felt endless.
"You should have come sooner!" a man suddenly shouted, his voice trembling between grief and fury. His eyes were bloodshot, and he pointed at Kazien with a shaking hand. "Because you were late… I lost my son!"
The villagers froze. Even the soldiers stopped moving for a moment.
Kazien turned sharply. Before Alvin could react, Kazien strode toward the grieving man, his footsteps hard against the broken earth. The man glared at him with hatred that only deep loss could create.
Instead of meeting that rage with compassion, Kazien's temper snapped.
"Instead of thanking us, you choose to blame us?" he barked. "If I had known I'd be greeted like this, I wouldn't have bothered helping you at all!"
The man stiffened, jaw clenched so tightly it seemed he might break his teeth. Kazien's anger only intensified at the sight.
"Do you even know how far this place is from our territory?" Kazien continued, voice rising. "Have you ever traveled it on horseback? Think with your brain, not your emotions!"
A heavy silence fell over the entire village. Even the wind seemed to still.
"When someone has done everything they could, and you still blame them," Kazien said coldly, "how do you think they feel? Tell me—wouldn't you be furious too?"
The man's anger faltered. His defiance melted away, replaced by guilt and helplessness. He lowered his head, shoulders trembling.
Kazien took a deep breath, though his tone remained sharp. "If you have something to say in your defense, say it. Don't hold back because I'm a noble."
The man's voice cracked. "Why were you late? If you had arrived sooner—my son… he would still be alive."
"Then ask your landowner that question." Kazien replied bitterly. "As for me— I came here the moment I received word. I slew every monster I found without hesitation. I even sold their corpses at the guild, and the money will be sent to all of you through Duke Hubert."
He reached into his dimensional storage and pulled out the massive body of the Silver Pholidota, letting it drop heavily onto the earth. Shock rippled through the villagers as they recoiled from the towering beast, its metallic scales glinting dully under the sun.
"It was this creature," Kazien said, "whose sudden frenzy caused the herd to attack your village. This was the cause of your tragedy."
The man who had screamed at Kazien earlier collapsed to his knees beside the monster. Tears streamed down his face as he touched its cold scales.
"My son… my son…"
Kazien's expression softened—if only slightly.
"If you must grieve, then grieve until your heart is empty," he said quietly. "But don't drown in sorrow forever. If you allow sadness to consume you, it will only lead you to ruin."
With a flick of his hand, the monster vanished back into his storage. Kazien turned away, climbing onto Lidaz's back beside Alvin.
"Father," Kazien called out to Duke Elgard, "I'll leave the rest to you."
Lidaz spread his wings and launched into the sky. Everyone watched as the griffon ascended higher and higher, disappearing into the horizon.
Meanwhile, another villager approached the grieving father and sighed deeply.
"You fool," he muttered. "Do you think you're the only one who lost someone? I lost my wife and children… but I never thought of blaming him."
Near the edge of the village, Duke Hubert watched the griffon vanish into the distance. He exhaled slowly.
He is remarkable… far more remarkable than any leader I have known. Even I, a duke, feel ashamed. He rushed to save people not from his own land—he did so without hesitation. Elgard… your son is extraordinary.
Hubert turned to Duke Elgard beside him.
"Is it true, Elgard? Your son… he prefers men?"
Elgard snorted. "He does. He likes cute-faced men. And I know what you're hinting at. But no one will ever replace Alvin in his heart."
Hubert blinked. "Is that high elf that important to him?"
"Yes," Elgard replied. "From the beginning, Kazien dreamed of marrying an elf. And somehow fate gave him exactly that. Kazien believes Alvin is his destiny. And Alvin feels the same."
Hubert hummed thoughtfully. "Do you have a daughter?"
"I do—Ritalia, my adopted daughter."
"You already have five children. Why adopt another?"
"It was Kazien's request," Elgard admitted. "He loves Ritalia as if she were his own blood. They behave like siblings who grew up together from birth."
Hubert stared. "Do you always do everything Kazien asks?"
"We trust him more than anyone," Elgard said without hesitation. "All of his siblings' fiancés? Chosen by him. And every one of them was happily accepted. His influence in the Altavis family surpasses even my own."
Hubert's brows furrowed. If his influence is that great already… his charisma is like that of an emperor.
He hesitated, then asked, "Does he seek influence? Fame? Recognition?"
"Never. That's the surprising part. It's his sincerity that earns people's trust. Even the villagers in our territory trust him with their lives. Kazien is a genius. If we're thinking about tomorrow, he's already preparing for the next thirty years."
Hubert exhaled, astonished.
"Then… what about his strength?"
Elgard chuckled. "He is a master swordsman. A wielder of every elemental attribute. He can fight up close and from afar—at the same time."
Hubert almost choked on the air. "Are you joking? Is he a god?"
"We wondered the same," Elgard said, laughing. "But he scowled and said he's just human."
Then Elgard placed a hand on Hubert's shoulder.
"As your childhood friend, I must warn you—never use your sword techniques in front of him unless you want to regret it."
Hubert stiffened. "Why?"
"He can copy someone's movements with only one glance," Elgard said. "He even replicated the signature techniques of our strongest commander, Hellius. Without using magic. And Hellius still struggled."
Hubert froze.
Hellius? Overwhelmed… by a thirteen-year-old?
"This is insane," Hubert whispered. "Impossible…"
And yet Elgard's expression was deadly serious.
The sun hung overhead, scorching and bright, but Hubert barely felt its heat. All he could think about was Kazien's monstrous talent.
I must see it for myself. If he copies my techniques, then so be it. I'll treat it as teaching my nephew.
High in the sky, Lidaz soared toward the mountain ranges. The wind was cold, but Alvin paid it no mind. He sat snugly on Kazien's lap, arms wrapped tightly around him.
"Alvin," Kazien groaned, "I can't see the way forward if you cling to me like this."
"But I've always wanted to sit on your lap!" Alvin said happily. "Your lap is the best place in the world."
Kazien sighed in defeat—but the small smile tugging at his lips betrayed him. He would endure anything if it meant seeing Alvin smile like that.
"My dear," Alvin asked, "when we live in the capital… will we rent a house?"
Kazien raised a brow. "Do you want to live in the academy dormitory? Or in a house?"
"A house!" Alvin said instantly. "Then I can cook for you every day!"
"Then we'd better start saving money," Kazien laughed. "I'm looking forward to your cooking."
"When we return," Alvin said cheerfully, "let's take as many guild missions as we can!"
Soon, Lidaz began to descend toward a wide mountain peak. A large flock of griffons roamed freely, wings stretching beneath the sun.
Kazien's eyes lit up. "Lidaz, you found them. They'll be valuable allies."
"It is my duty to help you, Master." Lidaz replied. "Please do what you did for us."
Kazien hopped off his back. "Alright. I'll go greet them."
As he approached the herd, several griffons turned their sharp heads toward him, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
One of them growled. "What are these humans doing here?"