The chamber deep within the Fairy Castle was sealed by ancient runes.
No light entered unless permitted. No sound escaped unless allowed.
The Fairy King stood near the center, hands resting behind his back. Yuzora remained silent near the far pillar, her water-mana gently circulating—alert, restrained.
Lunareth stood calmly, arms folded.
Kaelith leaned against the wall.
One hand rested on his sword.
No pockets.
No wasted movement.
The silence was broken by Lunareth.
"Where did you see them?" she asked.
"The Demon King and his hands."
Kaelith lifted his gaze slowly.
"They were walking," he replied.
"At the Hollowspire."
The Fairy King's posture stiffened.
"…You're certain?"
Kaelith nodded once.
"They weren't hiding. They weren't attacking."
"They were observing."
Yuzora frowned. "That place hasn't been used since—"
"Since the old wars," Kaelith interrupted.
"That's exactly why they chose it."
The Fairy King exhaled slowly.
Then Kaelith spoke again.
"There's more," he said.
The room felt colder.
"There is someone among them," Kaelith continued, "who carries dragon blood."
The Fairy King turned sharply.
"…Dragon?" he repeated.
Even Yuzora's control slipped for a fraction of a second, mana rippling outward.
"That bloodline was erased," the king said.
"Purged from history."
Kaelith's eyes remained steady.
"History lies," he replied.
"Blood does not."
Silence returned—heavier than before.
Lunareth finally spoke.
"If that's true," she said carefully, "then the balance—"
Kaelith raised a hand.
Before she could continue, his gaze shifted toward her.
"Tell me about the human," he said.
"Reeve."
Lunareth blinked once, surprised by the sudden change.
"…Why?"
"Because," Kaelith said calmly,
"he stood where trained warriors froze."
The Fairy King's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lunareth hesitated—then answered honestly.
"I met him in the jungle," she said.
"He was… ordinary."
Kaelith tilted his head slightly.
"Was?"
"At first," Lunareth continued.
"I gave him normal training. Movement. Balance. Awareness."
She paused.
"He handled it easily."
Kaelith's fingers tightened imperceptibly on his sword.
"So I changed the training," Lunareth said.
"To the way I was trained."
Yuzora turned toward her. "That's—"
"Dangerous," Lunareth finished.
"Yes."
She exhaled softly.
"At first, he laughed. Said it was easy."
"Then his mana flow started increasing."
Kaelith's eyes sharpened.
"How much?"
"I placed a level five seal," Lunareth said.
"It broke."
The room fell silent.
"I replaced it with level seven."
"It cracked."
Kaelith straightened.
"…And?"
"I used a level ten seal," Lunareth said quietly.
"That was the only thing that held."
For the first time—
Kaelith looked genuinely shocked.
"A human?" he asked.
"With that kind of output?"
"He doesn't control it," Lunareth replied.
"But it responds to him."
The Fairy King closed his eyes briefly.
"This is becoming troublesome."
Kaelith looked away.
"…Or interesting."
— Scene Shift —
Reeve lay on his back beneath the open sky.
Grass rustled softly beneath him.
Stars of Sylvarin shimmered—too bright, too sharp, unlike any sky from his old world.
"So," Reeve said quietly,
"how bad is it?"
Inside his mind—
[System Response]
Mana circulation stabilized.
Current output suppressed.
Seal interference detected but manageable.
Reeve sighed.
"You're avoiding the question."
A pause.
Then—
[System]
Your existence is no longer categorized as 'human' by multiple observers.
Threat perception toward you is increasing.
Reeve closed his eyes.
"…Figures."
[System]
Query: Do you regret awakening?
Reeve thought of Lunareth.
Of Elaryn's words.
Of Kaelith's presence pressing against the world.
"No," he said calmly.
"I regret how predictable everyone else is."
The system went silent.
Then—
[System]
Interesting answer.
Above him, the stars shimmered.
And somewhere far away—
Those who watched from shadows began to prepare.