One year had passed since Kateku's sisters left the estate. The once lively halls had grown quieter, and the household seemed to shift in their absence. Life moved on, as it always did, but for Kateku, time felt... stagnant.
He sat in a chair by the window, a familiar spot where he had spent countless hours just staring into the distance, his mind a storm of thoughts. Today was no different. His dark blue hair hung loosely, and his sharp blue eyes seemed lost in the horizon, as if searching for something—anything—that could break the monotony of his life.
What am I doing here?
The question echoed in his mind, louder each day. His sisters had purpose, his family had status, but Kateku? He had intelligence, skill, and an unnatural maturity that set him apart from everyone, yet he felt as if he had no story—no reason for being.
He had heard tales of heroes and legends, of people destined for greatness, those who shaped the world around them. But here he was, a boy with all the tools to be someone extraordinary, sitting idly in a chair, doing nothing.
Am I supposed to be a main character in this world?
The thought struck him hard. He had been pondering it for months now. All the abilities, all the potential, yet nothing seemed to push him toward a grand destiny. No great event, no mysterious figure revealing hidden powers, no call to adventure. Just... nothing.
He drummed his fingers on the armrest of the chair, thinking back on his life. His sisters had left, probably to live their own stories, and here he was, unsure if he even had one. What if he was just another background character in the grand scheme of things?
That's when he came to a decision—a strange, perhaps reckless decision.
I'll test it.
He stood up from the chair, stretching his arms, feeling the weight of the world around him. The weight of possibility. If he was truly meant for something greater, then surely the world would find a way to pull him into it, right?
For two whole years, he would do nothing. No training, no searching for purpose. He would remain passive, an observer of life rather than a participant. If he was destined to be the main character of some grand story, then something would happen to him. Fate would intervene, and his story would reveal itself. But if nothing happened… then maybe he didn't belong here at all.
His mind was made up.
If I'm the main character, the world will force me to act. If I'm not, then… I don't belong in this world.
The decision felt strange, almost absurd, but it also gave him a sense of control over his own fate. By doing nothing, he would test the very fabric of his existence in this world. He would see if the world had plans for him, or if he was truly just an extra.
The days passed slowly. Kateku stuck to his plan. He ate, slept, and observed. He watched the servants go about their duties, the nobles discuss politics, the kingdom's people live their lives. But he did nothing. His mother grew concerned, often asking why he wasn't training or studying like he used to, but Kateku would just offer a calm smile and a vague response.
In the quiet of his room, Kateku often wondered if this was how it would always be. Would the world pass him by, leaving him behind, forgotten and unimportant? Or would something—anything—happen to prove he had a place in the story?
One year passed, and still, nothing happened.
Kateku remained patient, though doubt began creeping into his mind. He knew he was intelligent, stronger than most his age, yet here he was, stagnant. Was this all there was? Would his life remain a series of empty days?
Maybe I'm not meant to be here.
It was a terrifying thought, one that he had entertained before but now felt all the more real. He didn't belong. The idea gnawed at him, day after day.
And so, he continued to wait. Two years. That was the test. Two years of doing nothing, and if the world didn't intervene, then he would know. He would know that he wasn't the main character of this world.
But then again, he had to be patient.
Kateku sat in silence, his thoughts sinking deeper, like a stone descending into the abyss of a vast, dark ocean. It felt suffocating, the weight of it all. Two years of patience, of doing nothing, had left him with a realization that gnawed at his core.
Is this my life? Is this what it means to exist—just following the rules, the motions of everyday life?
His thoughts grew heavier with each passing day, an endless spiral that seemed to draw him further from everything he thought he understood. His young body was here, in this world of magic, nobility, and politics, but his mind was trapped—bound by the laws of a world he barely remembered. The laws of his past life still lingered, haunting him like a shadow that refused to fade.
Kateku had never felt like he truly belonged. Not here. Not in this kingdom. Not in this life. His time here had been a cruel reminder of how trapped he was, bound by expectations, by rules, by the endless monotony of noble life. He wasn't free. Not in the way he wanted to be. And every day, it felt like the walls were closing in around him.
Why do I need to follow anyone? The thought burned in his mind. Being under someone's control, even his own family's, made him feel like his freedom was slipping through his fingers, like he was just another cog in the machine of the kingdom's order.
He wanted more.
I need to escape. I need to find my own path.
For two years, he had tried to blend in, tried to live like a normal person in this world, but it wasn't who he was. Kateku wasn't normal. He wasn't meant for this mundane existence. Every fiber of his being screamed for something greater, something beyond the chains of the kingdom of Grox. He needed to be free—to break away from the system that held him back. He was only eight years old, yet his mind buzzed with the thoughts of rebellion, of finding his own way.
I need to do my own thing.
A spark ignited within him. The plan was starting to form, vague and distant, but it was there. The path to freedom lay beyond the kingdom, far from the walls that contained him. The kingdom of Grox was not his world—not where he was meant to be. He needed to leave, to escape. But he couldn't just walk away. He needed to be smart, to plan carefully. The nobles, the guards, even his own family—they would all be obstacles.
But how?
Kateku leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, as he mapped out every possible route, every potential danger. He had to slip away unnoticed. He would need supplies, information, and most importantly, a destination. The kingdom beyond Grox stretched wide, filled with the unknown, but that didn't matter. Freedom was the only goal.
Kateku's mind was racing with endless questions, thoughts that circled back to one thing—his purpose. If I had a story, what would it be? The thought echoed in his head. What would be the beginning? What would be the end?
His frustration built with each passing second. He was tired. Tired of trying to make sense of it all. Of wondering if he was meant for something greater or if his existence was just... nothing.
I'm done with all of it.
No longer bound by the rules, the expectations, or the ideas of fate, Kateku decided that he would live as he saw fit. No one would tell him what his fate was. No one would decide his destination. He alone would carve out the meaning of his life, whatever that might be.
But where could he start? There was no grand escape plan forming in his mind, no brilliant strategy to break free of the kingdom's control. Instead, he felt numb. The only thing that made sense was walking—just putting one foot in front of the other and letting his mind wander until something clicked.
He stood up abruptly, pushing the chair back as it scraped against the floor, the sound echoing through the empty room. He didn't hesitate, didn't think twice. He just walked, heading towards the door. Once outside, he kept walking, his steps slow and deliberate, as though each step was dragging him deeper into his own thoughts.
He walked through the night and into the next day, aimlessly, not caring where he was going. His stomach growled from hunger, but he ignored it. His feet ached from walking, but he didn't stop. In his mind, the questions continued to swirl. Why am I here? What is my purpose?
There was only one answer that made sense to him. If I don't have a purpose, then I'll just make one.
The thought brought a sense of clarity, but it didn't change the reality around him. Before he knew it, he found himself at the outskirts of the kingdom, standing in a line of people waiting to leave. He barely noticed them. His mind was too preoccupied to care. Soon enough, he was outside the kingdom's borders, walking down the main road.
The rain started lightly at first, a few drops here and there. But before long, it was pouring. Kateku barely noticed. His clothes were soaked through, and his hair clung to his face, but the rain felt distant, like it wasn't even touching him. He looked up, through the storm, and saw something strange. The stars—they seemed to be shifting, like they were moving across the sky in ways they never had before. And closer than usual, he could see distant planets hanging in the night sky, visible to the naked eye.
He blinked and rubbed his eyes. Have they always been there?
His clothes were now completely drenched, and the cold was starting to seep into his bones. Realizing he needed shelter, Kateku found a small cave off the side of the road and slipped inside. It was dark and quiet, the sound of the rain muffled by the stone walls. He curled up against the cold rock, resting his head on his arm.
For now, he would rest. The road ahead was still uncertain, but that didn't matter. He would live his life the way he chose. He would make his purpose, no matter what it took. As he drifted off to sleep, the stars outside the cave continued to shift, and the rain kept falling, but for the first time in a while, Kateku's mind felt... still.
His life up to now he was living as the kingdom see fit, doing what the kingdom thought he should do, but he didn't want that he wanted to do what he wanted to do, doing what he thought he should do