The soldiers surrounded Kaito in a tight circle.
Spears pointed toward his chest.
The young queen stood calmly in front of them, observing him with sharp emerald eyes.
Kaito slowly raised his hands.
"Okay… everyone relax," he said nervously. "I'm not here to cause trouble."
One of the soldiers growled.
"He appeared out of nowhere inside the royal courtyard. That is already trouble."
Kaito whispered to himself.
"Yeah… that's fair."
The queen took a step closer.
Her golden cloak moved slightly in the sea breeze.
"You say your name is Kaito Fujimori."
"Yes."
"You are clearly not from Brigenorea."
Kaito blinked.
"So… this place really is called Brigenorea."
The queen frowned slightly.
"Of course it is."
Kaito rubbed the back of his head.
"This is going to sound insane… but I think I came here by accident."
A soldier scoffed.
"No one 'accidentally' appears inside the royal capital."
Another soldier raised his spear.
"Your Majesty, he could be a spy."
The queen lifted her hand.
Instant silence.
The soldiers lowered their weapons slightly.
She turned back to Kaito.
"You appeared inside the temple courtyard."
Kaito's eyes widened.
"The temple?"
"Yes."
Her voice became colder.
"That area is sacred. Only priests and the royal family may enter."
Kaito sighed.
"Great. I time travel once and immediately break the rules."
The soldiers exchanged confused looks.
"Time travel?" one whispered.
The queen studied Kaito carefully.
"You speak many strange words."
Kaito looked at the city around him again.
Tall white buildings.
Market streets full of merchants.
Ships in the harbor.
Everything was alive.
He whispered to himself.
"This… this is real."
The queen heard him.
"What do you mean?"
Kaito hesitated.
How was he supposed to explain this?
Finally he said quietly—
"I think I'm from the future."
Silence.
A long… uncomfortable silence.
Then one soldier burst out laughing.
"The stranger has lost his mind."
Another soldier shook his head.
"Yes, clearly a fool."
But the queen did not laugh.
Her eyes remained locked on Kaito.
"You say you come from the future."
"Yes."
"And how exactly did that happen?"
Kaito thought about the artifact in the temple.
"There was a relic. A ring with a glowing crystal."
The queen's expression changed instantly.
"You touched it."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
The soldiers looked confused.
But the queen suddenly turned toward them.
"Leave us."
The soldiers froze.
"Your Majesty?"
"Now."
They hesitated… then obeyed.
Soon the courtyard was empty except for Kaito and the queen.
She stepped closer.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"The relic you describe… is forbidden."
Kaito frowned.
"Forbidden?"
"It is part of an ancient ritual."
Kaito blinked.
"A ritual that sends people to the future?"
The queen shook her head.
"No."
Her eyes darkened.
"A ritual that alters fate."
Kaito stared at her.
"Wait… you believe me?"
"I did not say that."
She crossed her arms.
"But your appearance matches an ancient prophecy."
Kaito sighed.
"Of course it does."
The queen tilted her head.
"You sound disappointed."
"Because every time someone says 'prophecy' it means something terrible is about to happen."
For the first time, the queen smiled slightly.
"You may be right."
Kaito rubbed his temples.
"Okay… let me try explaining this properly."
He pointed toward the harbor.
"In my time, this city doesn't exist."
The queen's smile vanished.
"What do you mean?"
"It's gone."
The words hung in the air.
"Your civilization disappears from history."
The queen stared at him.
"That is impossible."
"I wish it was."
Kaito took a deep breath.
"In the future, archaeologists only find ruins."
"Temples buried underground."
"Statues broken."
"And no one knows what happened to Brigenorea."
The queen slowly turned away.
Her gaze moved toward the sea.
"That… cannot be true."
Kaito spoke softly.
"I think something destroys this civilization."
She clenched her fist.
"Then we will stop it."
Kaito blinked.
"That was fast."
She turned back to him.
"You claim to know the future."
"Sort of."
"Then you will help me change it."
Kaito pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"I'm just a historian."
"You came through the sacred relic."
"That was an accident."
She stepped closer.
"Then perhaps fate has chosen you."
Kaito groaned.
"Why does fate always pick the guy who was just doing research?"
The queen ignored his complaint.
"What do you know about the disaster?"
"Not much."
He sighed.
"Just fragments of history."
"Something about earthquakes… and possibly war."
The queen's expression hardened.
"War."
Kaito nodded.
"Maybe an invasion."
The queen looked toward the royal palace in the distance.
"No enemy would dare attack Brigenorea."
Kaito shrugged.
"That's what every civilization thinks before it falls."
She turned back toward him.
"Then we must uncover the truth before it happens."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"You trust me that much?"
"I do not trust you."
She said it calmly.
"But I believe the relic brought you here for a reason."
Kaito looked at the sky.
"Well… this is officially the weirdest day of my life."
The queen extended her hand.
"I am Aurelia Brigenor."
Kaito blinked.
"The queen."
"Yes."
He shook her hand slowly.
"Kaito Fujimori."
Aurelia looked directly into his eyes.
"From this moment forward…"
"You will assist me in protecting Brigenorea."
Kaito sighed.
"Guess I'm part of the royal staff now."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Consider it a temporary duty."
Kaito smiled slightly.
"Alright, Your Majesty."
Then he added quietly—
"Let's save your civilization."