(Two months before the incident)
Kael Lanpar's POV
I had grown used to living in this world by now, though there were still things I couldn't quite grasp.
Beyond the magic, the fantastic beasts, and the battles that seemed so ordinary to everyone… what I struggled to understand most was how naturally people accepted someone killing another.
In my previous life, humanity was governed by laws. There are laws here too, but morality seems like nothing more than an empty word.
Maybe it's because, from the moment you're born, you learn that death is always just a step behind you. Or maybe it's because, sometimes, taking a life is the only way to protect your own.
Whatever the reason, I'm not wasting time thinking about that now. Not when I'm stuck here… with this damn clown.
Alfin actually seemed likable at first. Charismatic and way too smart for his age. But what's truly exhausting is his natural ability to attract trouble.
It's honestly impressive.
"So, trying to steal, kid?" said the owner of one of the exotic fruit stalls in our capital. "Didn't anyone teach you there are consequences for bad little boys?"
"Uhh… I'm not stealing, sir. I was just curious about the fruits," Alfin replied.
It was obvious he was about to say something dumb and make things worse, so I did what I do best—slowly turned around, started whistling, and walked away backward, waiting for the moment.
The second I heard Alfin whisper under his breath, I knew it was time to run:
"Grumpy old man," Alfin muttered.
"What… WHAAAAT? What did you just call me, you little thieving brat?!" the vendor shouted, pulling a machete from who knows where.
Alfin just raised his hands, then appeared at my side in a gust of wind and said:
"We better run. That demon wants to kill us."
"I think he just wants to kill you," I replied, pointing at him. "Why do you always drag me into your messes?"
I had no choice but to run with him, especially after hearing the vendor charging at us like a lunatic.
We ran for quite a while, without any clear direction, dodging people and trying not to get recognized.
And honestly, I kind of understood the vendor—I wouldn't trust a couple of hooded figures with hidden faces either.
After a few minutes, we finally managed to lose that maniac—and the guards who had clearly agreed with his perspective.
"Can you remind me why we're wearing hoods instead of just normal clothes?" I asked, panting, my hands on my knees. "You're a lost cause, Alfin."
"You have to trust your little cousin more. Besides, when have I ever let you down?" he declared before flopping down onto the grass in the forest we'd reached.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" I asked, catching my breath as I looked at him.
"Better not say anything, Kal. You're way too mean for your age," he said with a wounded look that, to be honest, wouldn't fool even his grandma.
I don't know how far we ran, but it was amazing we made it this far. From the rock I stood on, I could take in the breathtaking view of Luzarion. From here, I could see the castle and the magnificent architecture of every building in our capital.
It's strange, but I never get tired of saying the same thing over and over again: I'll never grow tired of the landscapes in this world.
"What are you staring at?" Alfin asked as he stood up.
"The perfect creation of something beautiful," I replied, jumping down from the rock and walking toward him. "Now that you've had your rest, care to explain why we were wearing hoods?"
"You're way too smart and curious for your age," he said, looking at me.
"I read a lot and hate being left in the dark," I said, folding my arms. "So, talk. Now."
"Well, to begin with, I think you already understand—at least a little—what it means to be a Lanpar," he began. "Our bloodline is… one of many demons disguised as promises and sealed in blood."
Until now, I had only heard praises about the blood of the clan that ran through my veins, but… demons, really? What exactly did the Lanpars do?
"Kael, no one's perfect in this life. We all make mistakes," Alfin continued. "Our lineage isn't saintly, nor is it loved by everyone… so I hope you can understand why things are the way they are."
I did understand what he meant. It was obvious that so much power and so much fame couldn't exist without something dark lurking behind this bloodline—especially in a world where people choose to ignore the past and cling to a meaningless present.
If Alfin was right, and there really were enemies hunting the Lanpars, that would inevitably put me in the position of a primary target.
"Yeah, I think I kind of get what you're trying to say," I lied, putting on a half-confused face. "Another question… What about Mai? Why isn't she here? She said she would train me with you."
"Mayrei asked me to tell you she wouldn't be able to make it," he said, stretching his arms. "So, I'll be training you today."
I still didn't really understand what Mai was involved in. It was strange how the princess—the second in line for the throne—kept disappearing all the time.
I'd heard my father say that Mai held the rank of Roamer Mage, which meant she occasionally went on missions with some squads and the royal army. But that's just it—occasionally, not always, and not this often.
"You're probably wondering what I'm going to teach you," Alfin said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah, that," I replied, setting aside the Mai situation. "I guess you already know I can't use magic, right?"
He just nodded, then sat down and said he'd explain what magic—or as it's better known in this world, Astral, spiritual magic—truly is.
Alfin began with the basics I already knew about mana: how it's everywhere and how most people can use it. Most, because not everyone manages to reach the second phase of Astral awakening. Controlling the soul is hard—Mai said that emotions can corrupt it.
"It's something, at least," Alfin added. "In a way, you have to keep your emotions in check and under control to reach Astral awakening. But there's another way to achieve it. Kal… the soul can awaken in two ways: through corruption or through enlightenment."
Alfin struggled to explain why this happened. Supposedly, you were supposed to master your emotions—not the other way around. From what I could gather, the number of people who've awakened this way is extremely small… and no one really knows what the consequences are.
"Interesting," I said, standing up and grabbing a rock, then hurling it through the towering trees. "Do you think I'll ever awaken?"
"Of course you will. You're a Lanpar!" he exclaimed, cracking his knuckles. "Though… the thing is, I don't know which will win in the end: your emotions… or you."
Up to now, I had focused on cultivating a healthy mind, one that wasn't weighed down by the pain of my past. At least, not entirely. I had come to understand that I couldn't keep tormenting myself over a previous life when I had another one—this one—on the line.
It was hard… but necessary. And I think it worked. I owe part of that to Kraidir. He was always there when I had doubts, and I'm deeply grateful to him for that, even if he is a god.
"How about a warm-up?" Alfin said, finishing his stretches.
"I think that's a good idea… but don't cry when I beat you," I replied.
He just smiled and got into position.
From that day on, I trained with Alfin relentlessly, pushing my small body to its limits. We spent our days trying to trigger my awakening and training in close combat.
After about three weeks of training, I was already seeing results. I wasn't going to grow huge muscles or have six-pack abs at this age, but at least my physical condition had improved—as had my adaptation to this body for fighting.
"You've improved… seriously," Alfin said, panting. "It's hard to fight without Astral support."
"Yeah, I've improved," I replied, before falling to my knees, finally feeling the exhaustion of the fight. "At least now I can last longer in battle."
"Hey, what was that combat technique called again?" Alfin asked, still catching his breath.
"Moikido," I answered.
Moikido was a fighting style that blended offense and defense simultaneously. I learned it in the military, under the guidance of Marcois. Old friend… wherever you are, forgive me for not understanding your decision.
"And where the hell do you even learn something that crazy?" Alfin muttered before collapsing onto the ground.
"From a book in the royal library," I replied, lying down beside him. "To be honest, I don't remember which section exactly… but I think it was the one on clans."
"Well, I think it's a good idea for you to head home. It's already late, and you need to rest after such a long day of training."
"You're probably right," I replied, standing up and offering him my hand. "See you tomorrow, same time?"
"Yeah, same time. Now go! Night is falling and you'll end up getting lost," he said, and I nodded before walking off. "Don't forget to do your exercises!"
These past few days, aside from the training, I've noticed that the castle—and my parents—have been unusually restless. Add to that whatever's going on with Mai… and now Lilia's sudden disappearance. I don't like this one bit.
Just as I was about to leave completely, I heard a voice. Something made me quickly hide behind a tree and look to see who it was.
I couldn't make out their identity clearly—maybe because of the mask they wore, or the darkness of night masking their presence… but that white hair flowing in the wind, I recognized it.
Mai.
I listened for a while. It wasn't just a conversation—it was an argument. Neither of them was in a good mood. Ironically enough, Alfin was the calmest of the two.
That was until he said something that chilled me to the bone:
"Mayrei, you're talking nonsense. Family? What family are you talking about when you don't even have one? You're adopted. Did you forget that?"
She froze for a moment when she heard that. Then, I saw her hands cover with ice and form two spears, which she hurled with force—one on each side of Alfin's head.
He didn't move. He just stared into her eyes.
"I hate you!" she screamed, before leaping away and vanishing into the trees.
I don't know if it was real or just my imagination, but I could've sworn I saw Alfin cry. Those words weren't just a moment of rage… they hurt him deeply.
So Mai isn't my sister.
I had already suspected it, but… why so much cruelty from Alfin?
I'd better get going. I'll worry about that later.
It took me a few minutes to get back to the castle, where I was greeted by Nova—who was already half asleep, leaning on his axe.
I didn't pay him much attention and headed straight to my room, where I could hear Mai crying.
In a way, I understood her. My parents weren't around, and she had no other family to comfort her or tell her everything would be okay.
I simply opened the door, closed it quietly, and laid down beside her. She used me as a pillow.
I hate seeing people cry. I'm sentimental when it comes to that.
"Kal… why?" she said through her sobs. "I just want to protect them…"
"Get some sleep, sis," I said, hugging her and closing my eyes. "I understand that you want to protect everyone. And I know you're doing it well. Rest."
(The next day)
It was obvious that by the time I opened my eyes, she'd be gone. And she was.
When I turned my head, I didn't see her. At least I could tell myself that maybe she was feeling better about what happened yesterday and had gone on some mission.
But something still doesn't sit right with me—the idea that Alfin might be up to something dangerous.
If my memory serves me right, near the end of their conversation, Mai mentioned something about Alkaster and its headquarters.
Whatever it is… I'm going to find out today.
Alfin told me to always be punctual for training, and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
After doing a few push-ups and changing into my training clothes, I opened the door and headed straight to the stairs.
The maids were there, as usual, and so was Nova—who no longer looked as tired.
What caught my attention and made me think twice was seeing my father standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking at me with curiosity… and joy.
It was the first time we'd seen each other in four weeks.
Whatever had happened, it was over now—and he was free.
But the fact that my mother wasn't there… that only told me the opposite.
"Dad!" I said, rushing down the stairs. "What are you doing here? Don't tell me you ditched another council meeting…"
"Good morning, Kal," he replied, scratching his head. "There are no meetings today, so I thought I'd spend some time with you."
"I see… And where's Mom?" I asked.
"About that… Let's go for a walk, shall we?" His words were light. They didn't sound like bad news, but still… what was going on?
"Yeah, sure," I replied, beginning to follow him.
During our walk, we caught up. He didn't speak more than necessary, so I couldn't get much information out of him about what was going on… let alone anything about Alkaster.
What really distracted me was the place we had entered. I had never seen this part of the castle before. The windows were decorated with colorful stained glass, the pillars stretched high into the ceiling, and the floor… polished white marble.
But what struck me the most were the statues covered in red sheets. I remembered seeing similar ones in the upper part of the castle, though those weren't covered. These ones seemed to be in mourning, as if they were hiding a tragedy.
"You know… I heard about what happened yesterday," my father said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Thank you for being there for your sister. I know sometimes we're not around for you two, but supporting each other… that's important."
"That's what family does, right?"
"Yes, exactly. That's what family does," he replied, continuing down the corridor.
"Dad," I said, catching his attention. "Mai… she's not our blood. She's not a Lanpar."
He froze. I saw him tremble slightly before turning around and letting out a sigh.
It seemed I was finally about to get some answers.
"You're right. Mai isn't a Lanpar… but that doesn't mean she isn't part of our family," he said, ruffling my hair. "Not everyone in this world is lucky enough to live in peace."
"Why do you say that, Dad?" It was clear this was going to end in something tragic… but I didn't imagine how much.
My father told me that Mayrei had been a slave during my grandfather Xavier I's reign. Back then, it was common to have people working against their will. Exploitation. Abuse. Things I don't even want to imagine.
On one of his missions to the far lands of the kingdom, he and his team came across a group of human traffickers. They took care of them. That was where my father found Mai… and adopted her.
"And well… that's the whole story," he said. "There are still things I won't tell you because you're too young… but I think now you understand why things are the way they are."
"In part… yeah," I told myself.
Going from a life of pain and suffering, where all you breathed was hatred and contempt, to a life full of affection and love… isn't easy to accept.
My previous life was the opposite. But there's one key difference: life isn't about how it starts, but how it ends.
And mine… didn't end particularly happy.
"Your sister… the reason she's not always at the castle is because she doesn't want to hurt you with her scars," my father said, a sad expression on his face.
At that moment, I couldn't hold back my emotions. I felt guilty. I had spent my whole life repressing my feelings… only to come here and be overwhelmed by a sea of emotions I never learned to handle.
"And where is she now? Isn't she hurting herself even more?" I asked, my voice breaking.
"She's with our family," he replied, taking my hand to guide me. "I suppose by now you've heard of Alkaster, the organization Mai and Alfin are part of."
"No… I hadn't heard of it," I replied, confused. "But… aren't they too young to be involved in something like that?"
"Yes, Kal… they are too young. But in this world, age means nothing. Life doesn't show mercy," he said, tightening his grip slightly.
"The hardest part," he continued, "is knowing you can't always protect the ones you love. But that's just how life is…"
And when you grow older, you'll come to understand what it means to have power… but not the choice.
It felt illogical for him to say that—especially when I had already lived through it myself.
But back to reality… he doesn't know who I am. He doesn't know my past, or the blood I've spilled.
Although, in a way, he's right.
We… we have the power to do many things. But that doesn't mean we get to make the decisions we want.
It sounds crazy at first, but it's easy to grasp once you've lived it.
"Kal," my father said, just before opening a massive door in front of us. "This… is your legacy.
The source of your strength to keep going, even when life takes everything from you."
Before me, a vast hall stretched out, lit by the soft, golden glow of sunlight.
More statues—but this time made of gold, each with a name engraved beneath and a title.
The kings of the Human Kingdom: the Lanpars.
I stood frozen.
Not just because of the grandeur of those figures, but because of the number of them.
I couldn't even count how many there were… but one thing was clear:
Either this world has existed for a very long time…
Or the blood of kings has been spilled often.
"Our bloodline is far from holy, Kal," my father said softly. "Before the Lanpars rose to power, there was another dynasty. One that ruled with an iron fist.
I won't justify what we've done… but…"
"What had to be done for the kingdom was done," he added. "No matter how many souls had to leave this world."
I didn't respond.
I didn't say a word.
I just stared at a particular statue, my heart numb.
I had already suspected it… this world is no better than mine.
In the end, we always find the solution in destroying others… no matter the value of life.
I see now that… morality never really matters.
The only thing that truly carries weight…
are our choices.
Because in the end, our idea of good and evil…
will always be different for each person.