In a modern world filled with bustling cities, thriving kingdoms, and untamed wildlife, magic, and supernatural events are an ordinary part of life. On the countryside near the northeastern metropolis known as Neon City, a single father kneels down, helping a young boy put on his shoes.
"Ready to go?" the father asks, smiling at the boy.
The boy nods, and they head out, driving toward Neon City. Their destination is an orphanage. Upon arriving, the father approaches the front desk to speak with the receptionist. Meanwhile, the boy wanders around the building, his curious eyes drawn to the sound of laughter coming from another room.
Peeking in, he sees children playing together. At the center of the group is a young girl whose smile stands out the most. The boy watches in fascination until his father and the receptionist enter the room, drawing everyone's attention.
The father approaches the girl, crouching to her level. "Hello there," he says warmly. "My name is Ganz, and today, I'm here to adopt you."
The girl's eyes widen, and her smile grows even brighter. "My name is Ashly," she says softly.
Ganz gestures to the boy. "This is my son, Nox. From today forward, you two are brother and sister."
Ashly's expression falters for a moment, a hint of sadness crossing her face. Concerned, Ganz asks, "Is something wrong?"
Ashly hesitates before replying, "I have a brother here too."
Ganz nods thoughtfully and turns back to the receptionist. "Can I speak with you about this?" he asks, walking toward the desk again.
Meanwhile, Nox wanders further into the room. He notices a boy sitting alone by the window, away from the others. Intrigued, he approaches him and extends his hand. "I'm Nox," he says confidently.
The boy looks up, his eyes meeting Nox's. After a moment, he reaches out and shakes Nox's hand. "Ignis," he replies.
As their hands meet, a small spark of magic flickers between them. Startled, both boys pull back, staring at each other in confusion. Then, they burst into laughter, brushing off the strange occurrence.
Just then, Ganz and Ashly return. Ganz looks at the two boys and smiles. "I can't leave Ashly's brother behind. Ignis, you're coming with us too."
The four of them exchange looks of happiness. Over time, their bond grows stronger.
Years later, in their home, Nox sits at his computer, engrossed in a video game. Ashly lounges on the couch with a book in her lap, while Ignis stands by the window, gazing outside. He sees Ganz pulling into the driveway, stepping out of the car with bags of gifts in his hands.
"Hey, Dad's home!" Ignis calls out, a grin spreading across his face.
Ignis bolts out of the room to help Ganz with the bags. Once everything is brought inside, the family gathers in the living room. Ganz pulls out a neatly wrapped present and sets it on the table.
"Ashly, I've got what you wanted," he says with a smile.
Ashly's eyes light up as she jumps in excitement. She tears open the wrapping paper to reveal a massive book. "Thank you so much, Dad!" she exclaims, hugging him tightly.
Nox peers at the thick book and scrunches his nose. "Books are for grown-ups," he says dismissively.
Ganz chuckles. "Well, Ashly is quite mature for her age. She wanted to know more about the world, so I got her this history book. It covers the major events from the past thousand years."
Nox's eyes widen as he flips through the hefty volume. "That's way too much to read!" he says, shaking his head.
Ganz reaches for another gift and hands it to Nox. "This one's for you," he says.
Nox tears it open eagerly, revealing the latest model phone. His face lights up, and he runs around the room in excitement before throwing his arms around Ganz in a tight hug.
"Thanks, Dad!" Nox shouts, his voice brimming with joy.
"I know you love watching videos," Ganz says with a grin, "so I thought it'd be great if you could start making your own."
Nox immediately starts recording Ashly flipping through her new book. Meanwhile, Ganz places a sleek box on the table and gestures toward Ignis.
"This one's for you," he says.
Ignis unlocks the box and opens it, revealing a small but beautifully crafted sword. Ganz carefully lifts it and places it in Ignis's hands. Tears well up in Ignis's eyes as he gazes at the weapon in awe.
Nox lets out a loud yell, still recording. "What?! Dad, you gave the coolest present to Ignis!"
Ignis begins to swing the sword lightly, practicing a few moves. Ganz says "Be careful with that," he warns gently.
Ignis grins and holds the sword up high. "I'm going to be a knight—the hero of light!" he declares confidently.
Nox watches in amazement as Ignis strikes a dramatic pose with the sword. "I want to be a cool knight like you too!" Nox shouts enthusiastically.
Ganz laughs and reaches into the bag once more. "All right, kids. I got everyone some play swords."
He hands out three wooden swords, and the room erupts with laughter and playful cheers as they all start sparring with their new toys, filling the house with joy.
Years pass, and the summer sun shines brightly over the family's backyard. Ashly sits by the window, reading her history book. Glancing outside, she spots Nox adjusting his phone on a stand. He presses the record button and steps back.
"Hello, everyone! Today, my brother Ignis and I are going to show you guys some amazing moves we learned from the internet!" Nox announces, swinging his wooden sword dramatically as he addresses the camera.
Ignis, standing nearby with his elegant sword, begins a mesmerizing sword dance. His movements are fluid and graceful, each step a display of dedication and skill. Nox stops mid-swing, pointing to Ignis with excitement.
"Wow! This is exactly what I was talking about, guys!" Nox exclaims. "Ignis has been studying sword dances and even came up with his own!"
As Ignis moves, faint magical sparks shimmer with each strike of his sword.
"Whoa, did you guys see that? Magic..." Nox says in awe.
Ashly leans out the window, her face lighting up. "Ignis, you've done it! Your natural magic is finally showing!"
They watch in amazement as Ignis's sword dance becomes increasingly magical. Ganz steps into the backyard, pausing to admire the glowing display. Moments later, Nox uploads the video, and within hours, it racks up over 1,000,000 views.
Nox screams in excitement, reading aloud from the comments section. "'Ignis, you're amazing!' 'Ignis, you need to become a knight!' 'You have the potential to be a high-ranking knight!' Oh, someone said, 'I'm sharing this with the knight community. No, actually, I'm sharing it across all platforms—you deserve it all!'"
They gather around the phone, their excitement growing as they read the flood of positive comments.
Days later, the family gathers again in the backyard. Ganz steps forward, holding a wooden sword. "Since our Ignis is gaining popularity, we should seriously consider the way of the sword," he says with a grin.
Nox tilts his head. "Wait, Dad, you know how to use a sword too?"
Ganz chuckles. "Of course, Nox. You've just never seen me in action at work."
Ashly smirks. "Yeah, Dad's the Head Captain of the Mars Star Agency. You'd know that if one of you wasn't too busy with his videos and the other wasn't too busy with himself."
Ignis steps forward, bowing formally. "It would be an honor to learn the mastery of the sword from you, Father."
Nox bursts out laughing. "Ignis, you don't have to be so formal with Dad!"
Ashly crosses her arms, amused. "He's doing it because he's serious about becoming a knight."
Nox adjusts his stance, determination flashing in his eyes. "Oh yeah? Well, I'm serious too. I'm going to be a knight, just like Ignis!"
Ganz smiles but shakes his head. "Only Ignis will become a knight. The entire capital of the Kingdom of Oasis is already keeping an eye on his future. It's our job to support him in every way we can. Meanwhile, Ashly and Nox, you're better suited to becoming Star Agents instead."
Ashly nods in agreement. "I'm all for it. Knighthood isn't for me."
Nox frowns, his voice filled with determination. "No way! I want to be as cool and famous as Ignis. I'll prove it today!"
Ganz laughs and begins teaching them the basics of swordsmanship. Hours pass, and while Ashly and Nox collapse onto the grass, completely worn out, Ignis continues training, even sparring with Ganz.
Lying next to Ashly, Nox looks at the sky. "Ash, Ignis is something else... He's going to be an amazing knight someday."
Ashly nods, smiling. "He sure is."
Nox's gaze hardens with determination. "He might be naturally talented, but I'll catch up to him soon. Just wait until I unlock my magic!"
Years pass, and Ignis is now 18, along with Nox, while Ashly is 17. Early one morning, Nox and Ashly are awaken by loud voices coming from outside. They rush to the window to see a large crowd of Ignis fans gathered on their lawn. Ganz is outside, pushing people aside to create a path.
Inside the house, Ignis walks into the room with his packed bags slung over his shoulder. "Off I go," he says with a confident smile. "Once I become the strongest knight, I'll come back for the family, and we'll live out our lives in the Kingdom of Oasis."
Ashly hugs Ignis tightly. Nox, feeling a mix of emotions, stands to the side, crossing his arms. "No farewell from me" he says, forcing a smirk. "I'll see you soon, Ignis—when I'm a knight too."
Ignis smiles warmly. "I'm counting on it, Nox," he says before turning and walking out of the room.
Nox and Ashly watch from the window as Ganz guides Ignis through the cheering crowd. Nox reaches for his phone to record a video but hesitates and sets it down.
Ashly notices and places a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Nox," she says gently. "Sometimes our dreams feel too far to reach, but you have so much talent in other areas. You could be an amazing Star Agent or a top content creator."
Nox's voice trembles with emotion as he replies, "I'm going to follow my dreams. I'll keep making content, and it'll be about how someone untalented, with no magic like me can still become the strongest knight."
They look out the window again as Ignis steps into a sleek limo that drives away. Outside, they see Ganz stopping to answer questions from reporters.
A knock at the door interrupts the moment. Ashly opens it to find a reporter holding a microphone and a camera pointed in her direction. "Ashly," the reporter begins, "how do you feel about Ignis finally starting his journey to become the strongest knight?"
Ashly takes a deep breath and answers politely, "I'm proud of him. He's worked so hard for this moment."
The reporter then leans in with another question. "Can we also speak to Nox? You two are also famous online, and we'd love to collaborate with you both!"
Ashly pushes the mic away firmly. "My brother isn't feeling well today. He's not available for questions," she says, her tone final.
Ganz appears moments later, stepping between the reporters and Ashly. "That's enough questions for today," he says firmly. "I'll answer more at the agency. Please leave."
He escorts Ashly back inside, closing the door behind them.
Moments later, Ganz steps into the living room dressed in a sharp suit, ready for work. Ashly is in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. Ganz adjusts his tie and says, "Ashly, make sure to take good care of Nox today. I'm sure he's going to be upset for a while. Also, I've already submitted your papers to the agency—you'll start working there soon."
Ashly nods, stirring a pot on the stove. "Yeah... but I totally understand how Nox feels. After all these years, he doesn't even have an ounce of magic. To become a knight, you need at least some magic. Having those dreams snatched away—it must be hard to bear. Those were his dreams since we were kids."
Ganz sighs and responds, "Sometimes we dream too big and fail to see the other opportunities right in front of us. He'll understand that someday."
He heads out the door, briefcase in hand, leaving Ashly to finish cooking.
As she plates the food, a faint whisper catches her attention. She freezes, looking toward the window, but sees nothing. The voices come again, louder this time. Furrowing her brow, she steps into the hallway. "Nox, if you're pranking me, this isn't funny!"
She checks the other rooms but finds no sign of him. Venturing into Nox's room, she's startled by the sight of a ghostly figure floating near the ceiling, devouring a ball of glowing, swirling magic. Its translucent form shimmers eerily in the morning light.
Her eyes widen in shock as she mutters, "What... is that?"
Summoning her courage, she steps forward and reaches out to touch it. The ghost jerks back, seemingly startled that she can see it. Without warning, it bolts through the open window, disappearing into the horizon.
Ashly stumbles back, falling to the floor. Breathing heavily, she glances around the room and notices something else. "Wait... where's Nox?" she says aloud, panic rising in her voice.
She scans the room, flinging open his closet doors to find several of his clothes missing. Turning toward the open window, she leans out, calling his name. "Nox! Nox, where are you?"
A short distance away, on the long, winding road leading away from their home, Nox is running as fast as his legs can carry him. With a phone in hand, he records himself, his voice filled with determination. "I'm going to follow my dreams and prove you all wrong!"
The camera shakes as Nox sprints under the golden rays of the rising sun, his breath ragged but his spirit unwavering.