The dining hall of the Wind Clan estate was quiet tonight.
Not the comfortable kind of quiet.
The forced kind.
Candles flickered along the long wooden table, their flames swaying gently as currents of wind slipped through the tall open windows. The scent of roasted vegetables and warm soup filled the air.
Kaito sat between his parents, happily eating.
"Mm! This is good!" he said with a grin, stuffing another bite into his mouth.
Across the table, Ren laughed.
"You've said that five times already."
"That's because it is good," Kaito replied confidently.
Hana smiled softly as she placed another piece of meat onto Kaito's plate.
"Eat slowly, dear."
"I am eating slowly," Kaito protested with a full mouth.
"You're inhaling it," Toru said.
"I am not!"
The table filled with light laughter.
But beneath that laughter…
Something felt wrong.
The maid standing near the wall—Kaede—had not taken her eyes off Kaito since the moment dinner began. Her gaze was calm but sharp, quietly observing every movement, every breath.
Kaito noticed.
Of course he noticed.
But he pretended not to.
He kept smiling. Kept joking. Kept eating.
As if nothing had happened earlier that day.
Across from him, Rize quietly watched.
His blue eyes flicked between Kaito… and Kaito's parents.
Something's off…
But he said nothing.
Dinner continued.
Conversation drifted between small things—the village, training, a funny story Toru told about Akira nearly blowing away an entire training field when he sneezed.
Everyone laughed.
Even Kaede allowed a faint smile.
But the tension never fully disappeared.
Finally, after the last dishes were cleared, Rize stretched.
"Haaah. That was good."
He stood and bowed politely.
"Thank you for dinner, Aunt Hana. Uncle Toru."
Hana smiled warmly.
"You're always welcome here, Rize."
Toru nodded.
"Travel safely."
Kaito jumped up from his seat.
"I'll walk you out!"
Outside the estate night had fallen over the Wind Village.
Floating lanterns drifted lazily through the sky like tiny stars, lighting the pathways between homes built along the cliffs.
The wind was calm tonight.
Kaito and Rize stepped outside together, laughing about something.
Hana and Toru stood in the doorway watching them.
Kaede remained just behind them.
"You're heading back already?" Kaito asked.
"Yeah," Rize replied. "Father would probably send a search party if I stayed longer."
"Relax. I'll tell them you got kidnapped."
"That's not funny."
"It would be a little funny."
Rize snorted.
Then suddenly—
Two figures descended from the sky.
They landed silently behind Rize.
Tall.
Armored.
Their robes carried the blue crest of the Water Clan.
Kaito blinked.
"Oh! Your bodyguards."
One of the men bowed slightly.
"Rize sama. We are ready."
Rize groaned.
"See? Search party."
Kaito laughed.
"Well… see you?"
"Obviously," Rize said.
They bumped fists.
"Next time I'm winning."
"You say that every time."
"ONE DAY I WILL!"
Rize grinned before stepping toward his guards.
The three of them rose into the air, water currents spiraling beneath their feet as they ascended into the night sky.
Kaito watched them go.
"Whoa…"
He smiled widely.
"That never gets old."
Behind him, Hana and Toru watched quietly.
Their smiles… were strained.
Kaito turned back toward them.
His eyes were bright.
Everything looked normal.
But something deep inside him… had shifted earlier that day.
And they knew it.
Later that night.
The Wind Clan estate had fallen silent.
Moonlight spilled softly through the windows of Kaito's room.
He slept peacefully in his bed.
Breathing slow.
Calm.
Unaware.
Elsewhere in the estate, three figures stood inside a private chamber.
Toru.
Hana.
And Kaede.
The room was dimly lit.
No one spoke for a long time.
Finally—
Kaede broke the silence.
"It was the third time."
Toru's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
Hana folded her arms, worry clear in her eyes.
"The first time he collapsed."
Kaede nodded.
"The second time he remained conscious."
"And today…" Hana said quietly.
"He stayed awake again."
The room fell silent.
Toru stared out the window.
The wind outside moved restlessly.
Kaede spoke carefully.
"This is progressing faster than expected."
Toru exhaled slowly.
"I know."
Hana's voice trembled slightly.
"What if next time… he loses consciousness?"
No one answered.
Because they all knew the answer.
If Kaito lost consciousness completely…
Freedom would take control.
And if that happened—
Kaito might never return.
Toru clenched his fist.
"He's only four."
Kaede's eyes softened slightly.
"But he is also Freedom."
Hana looked down.
"We have to teach him control… before it's too late."
Toru closed his eyes.
For a moment, memories flashed through his mind.
A younger Kaito collapsed in the courtyard.
Wind exploding violently around him.
His small body trembling.
His eyes glowing with something ancient.
Something not entirely his own.
Hana screaming his name.
Toru rushing toward him.
The wind roaring like a storm.
Then—
Darkness.
Toru's eyes opened again.
His expression had changed.
Resolved.
"…We need to call him."
Hana looked up.
"You mean—"
Toru nodded.
"The old man."
Kaede spoke calmly.
"Your grandfather."
Toru sighed.
"I didn't want to bother him…"
Hana shook her head gently.
"This isn't bothering him."
"This is Kaito."
A long silence passed.
Finally—
Toru nodded.
"…Alright."
"We'll call him."
Meanwhile — In Kaito's Dream
White.
Endless white.
Kaito opened his eyes.
"…Huh?"
He slowly stood up.
There was nothing.
No sky.
No ground.
Just a vast white world stretching forever.
"Hello?"
His voice echoed strangely.
"…Mom?"
No answer.
Kaito began walking.
His footsteps made no sound.
"…Dad?"
Still nothing.
Far ahead—
Something appeared.
A throne.
Distant.
Lonely.
Sitting in the middle of the endless white.
Kaito frowned.
"What is that…?"
He began walking toward it.
One step.
Two steps.
Ten.
A hundred.
The throne never got closer.
Kaito stopped.
"…Hey!"
His voice echoed loudly.
"Who's there?!"
Silence.
His breathing quickened.
"HELLO?!"
Still nothing.
He began running toward the throne.
Faster.
Faster.
But the distance never changed.
The throne remained far away.
Unreachable.
Kaito slowed.
His chest rising and falling.
"…What is this place?"
His voice cracked slightly.
"Someone answer me!"
Nothing.
The endless white world remained silent.
Kaito's small figure stood alone in the vast emptiness.
And far away…
The throne waited.
Somewhere else, far beyond the Wind Village.
Beyond mountains.
Beyond oceans.
Deep within a place that seemed untouched by time itself.
A vast ancient temple floated in the middle of a sky filled with swirling clouds and drifting stars.
At the center of the temple sat an old man.
His hair was long and white.
His presence…
Was overwhelming.
He sat cross-legged in meditation.
Eyes closed.
Completely still.
Then—
His eyes slowly opened.
Far away…
A faint voice echoed in the depths of his mind.
A child's voice.
Calling.
Confused.
Lost.
The old man looked toward the horizon.
"…Kaito."
The wind stirred around him.
And for the first time in many years—
Daigo opened his eyes.