A series of firm knocks echoed against the door, pulling Kayn from his deep sleep. He groaned, rolling over and burying his face into the pillow, trying to escape the insistent noise.
"Kayn, don't you think you've slept enough already?" a feminine voice called from the other side of the door.
The young boy cracked his eyes open slowly, blinking against the faint light filtering through the nearly closed curtains. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he felt the weight of exhaustion anchoring him to the mattress. He barely managed any sleep the night before, though he couldn't quite remember why.
He tried to ignore the persistent knocking, burrowing his head deeper into the pillow, hoping the noise would stop. But the knocks came again, this time louder and more determined.
Finally, the creak of the door opening announced someone entering his room. Kayn lazily lifted his gaze and saw a feminine figure approaching. She was a slender, attractive woman with light brown hair that fell in soft waves to her shoulders. Her amber eyes shone with a mix of tenderness and patience as she looked at Kayn sprawled on the bed. She let out a small sigh.
"How long do you plan to keep sleeping?" she asked in a sweet voice.
Kayn didn't answer. Instead, he turned his back to her and sank even deeper under the blankets. The woman sighed again and walked over to the window. She yanked the curtains open in one swift motion, letting the sunlight flood the room, bathing it in golden hues.
The morning light illuminated every corner, from the shelves filled with books to the wooden swords propped in the corner. The bright rays struck Kayn's eyes directly, prompting another groan as he clung desperately to the pillow to shield himself from the blinding light.
"Just five more minutes, Mom," he pleaded, his voice muffled by the blankets.
"Fine, but don't make me come back here, or I'll have Pong roll you out of bed," Thalia warned, though her face held a playful smile. Still, her threat was no joke. It wouldn't be the first time Pong had jumped onto his bed, nearly breaking his spine in the process.
Thalia turned and left the room, leaving the door open behind her. The scent of freshly baked bread and spices wafted in from the kitchen, tempting him to get up.
Minutes later, Kayn sat on the edge of his bed, hesitating before letting his feet touch the cold wooden floor. He rubbed his eyes with both hands, trying to wake himself up. He searched for his slippers with his feet and stood, stretching his arms above his head. He was still wearing his usual pajamas, which featured an adorable panda print in the center of the shirt.
As he stepped out of his room, he made his way to the bathroom. He turned on the faucet and let the cold water run through his hands before splashing it onto his face. The chill made him shiver, but it effectively banished the lingering traces of sleep. Raising his head, the mirror reflected a young man with tousled light brown hair. Kayn wasn't one to bother with combing; he preferred his hair as it was when he woke up, much to his mother's dismay. His sleepy green eyes stared back at him. He splashed more water onto his face and grabbed a towel to dry off.
Descending the creaking stairs, he let out a small yawn. As he entered the living room, he spotted his father, Galen, seated on the sofa with a newspaper spread out before him. The room was bathed in sunlight streaming through the large windows, revealing shelves lined with books.
Galen was a man of thirty-five, whose presence was imposing even in a relaxed posture. His jet-black hair cascaded in dark waves, and his emerald-green eyes scanned the newspaper with focused attention. A long, thin scar ran across his right cheek, perhaps a relic of a past battle. He wore a gray linen shirt with rolled-up sleeves that revealed strong forearms marked by scars. His outfit was completed with black pants and worn leather sandals.
Beside him sat his guardian, a small panda chewing on a branch, likely plucked from the backyard. Its fluffy fur and dark eyes gave it an endearing appearance, oblivious to the world as it focused intently on its task.
Galen seemed to notice Kayn descending the stairs.
"Good morning, Kayn," he greeted, lifting his gaze from the newspaper. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks, Dad," Kayn replied with a smile. He approached the panda and began to stroke its head gently. "Good morning to you too, Pong."
Pong glanced up, emitting a soft growl before returning to his branch, undeterred. Priorities, after all.
Galen folded the newspaper and set it on the table, giving his full attention to his son.
"Are you ready for today?" he asked.
Kayn raised an eyebrow, unsure of what his father was referring to, and his confusion was evident in his expression.
"Today's the bonding ceremony—did you forget?"
"Oh, that's right!" Kayn exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "I can't believe I forgot. And to think I could barely sleep because I was so nervous."
Galen chuckled at his response. Kayn felt a bit embarrassed for forgetting something so important. From the kitchen, Thalia peeked her head out, drying her hands on an apron.
"Well, that reminds me of someone I know," she remarked with a mischievous grin, causing Galen to stop laughing. "If I remember correctly, someone was the last to arrive at their ceremony."
"Really?" Kayn asked, looking at his father, who coughed awkwardly before answering.
"Well, yes…" he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "The truth is, I was so excited for the test that I ended up staying up too late, which made me oversleep. By the time I woke up, the ceremony was nearly over."
"The poor thing was so flustered he didn't even notice he'd left the house still in his pajamas," Thalia added, laughing. "You should've seen him shouting, 'I did it!' in his underwear when he bonded with Pong."
"And here I thought you'd forgotten…" Galen muttered, his embarrassment deepening. He turned to his guardian. "Though, in the end, I did manage to bond, didn't I, Pong?"
The panda ignored him entirely, tearing off another leaf from the branch and chewing it contentedly. Thalia chuckled softly, placing her hands on her hips.
"Well, after that performance, it was the least you deserved."
Kayn barely registered his parents' exchange. His mind was preoccupied with what would happen in just a few hours: the bonding ceremony. A test where young people his age would attempt to bond with a spirit known as a guardian. He imagined himself standing before everyone, successfully forming the bond. The thought sent a thrill through him, barely able to contain his excitement.
"I'll do it too!" he suddenly declared, brimming with enthusiasm.
His parents, startled by his outburst, exchanged glances. Galen smiled before approaching him.
"All right, but don't be overconfident. You don't want to end up disappointed."
Kayn hardly paid attention to his father's warning. He couldn't imagine anything going wrong. He couldn't wait for the ceremony to begin.
"Enough talk; breakfast is almost ready," Thalia announced, disappearing back into the kitchen.
Galen rose from the sofa, stretching his arms like a bear waking from hibernation.
"You'd better eat something, Kayn. You don't want to face the ceremony on an empty stomach."
Kayn nodded and followed his mother into the kitchen. The sweet aroma of syrup and freshly made pancakes filled his senses, further awakening his appetite. His stomach growled in response.
He sat by the window, where sunlight streamed in, bathing the room in golden hues and making the floating dust particles resemble tiny stars.
On the table, his mother placed a glass of freshly squeezed juice and a plate piled high with fluffy pancakes steaming with warmth. Since he was little, Thalia had made this breakfast for his birthday—a tradition that never failed. This year was no exception.
"Don't just stare at the pancakes. Eat them quickly, or they'll get cold," she warned, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder before returning to the kitchen.
Kayn smiled softly and picked up his fork, plunging it into the stack of pancakes that practically melted under the pressure. He poured a generous stream of syrup over them, watching the golden liquid flow like a slow river down the sides.
Galen sat across from him, adjusting his chair with a soft creak. Pong occupied a chair beside him, sitting like an oversized baby. Kayn found it amusing.
To him, his father's guardian had always been like a pet. Many afternoons were spent running around with Pong or, occasionally, even training. Though Pong was much stronger than Kayn, he didn't seem to mind letting him win sometimes.
Thalia handed Galen a steaming cup of coffee, its strong aroma contrasting sharply with the sweetness of the syrup on Kayn's pancakes. Kayn never understood why adults loved coffee so much. It was far too bitter; the last time he tried it, he could barely swallow without grimacing.
"Thank you," Galen said, blowing gently on the cup before taking a sip. He paused when he noticed Pong staring intently at him. Moving the cup slightly out of Pong's reach, he chuckled nervously.
For a few moments, silence settled over the table, broken only by the sound of Kayn devouring his breakfast with gusto. His mind, however, remained far away, lost in thoughts of the upcoming ceremony.
"What's on your mind?" Galen asked, watching him curiously.
Kayn looked up, swallowing the last bite of pancake before answering.
"I'm thinking about what I'll name my guardian."
"I see…" Galen murmured, letting out a small sigh. He seemed like he wanted to say more, but instead, he turned his gaze to the window, where the first rays of sunlight illuminated the backyard.
Kayn didn't notice the unease in his father's expression; his thoughts were elsewhere. After downing his glass of juice in one go, he stood, dragging his chair back with a scrape.
"I'm going to take a shower," he announced, wiping his mouth on his pajama sleeve.
Galen nodded silently, sipping his coffee, while Thalia gave him a loving smile as he left.
Kayn bounded up the stairs two at a time. Once in the bathroom, he shut the door behind him, quickly undressed, and turned on the shower, letting the cold water run as steam filled the space, fogging up the mirror.
He stepped under the icy stream, shivering as it hit his skin but finding it cleared his mind. The water ran down his body, washing away some of the anxiety that had clung to him since he woke up. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and allowing the steady sound of water to envelop him.
After finishing, he wrapped himself in a towel and stood before the mirror for a moment, observing his reflection once more. The moment was drawing closer, and he could feel the nerves building in his stomach. He quickly dried off and returned to his room to change into the outfit he had meticulously chosen the night before—one of many activities that had kept him awake.
First, he put on a white linen shirt with a low collar. The soft fabric fit snugly at the cuffs. Over it, he wore a long, dark blue jacket, so deep in hue it almost appeared black. The design was simple, with stylized lines along the shoulders. His pants were black and highly flexible, without buttons—Kayn hated buttons, despite his mother's numerous complaints. He despised anything that restricted his movement.
Finally, it was time to leave. At the entrance, his parents waited patiently. Galen now wore a dark brown wool vest over his white linen shirt.
Thalia, on the other hand, had completely changed her outfit. She wore a simple cyan-blue dress. Its long sleeves were slightly rolled up, giving it a casual touch, while the hem fell just below her knees. She was adjusting a wool scarf around her neck.
Meanwhile, Kayn was still putting on his shoes, having taken longer than expected in the bathroom.
"Kayn, are you coming or not?" his mother called.
"I'm coming!" he replied, hurrying down the stairs and nearly tripping on the second-to-last step. "Sorry, I got distracted in the bathroom."
As he headed for the front door, something caught his attention. He stopped in front of a small polished wooden table. On it rested a hand-painted portrait of a man who bore a striking resemblance to his father, though his features were harder. Beside it, a sword—a katana, to be precise—lay on a pedestal, its blade reflecting Kayn's face.
"Almost forgot," he murmured to himself.
He approached the portrait and bowed before it, beginning to speak.
"Good morning, Grandfather. You know what? Today is finally my bonding ceremony. I'll finally become a binder like you and Dad," he said, his voice filled with emotion. He paused for a moment, staring intently at the portrait. "To be honest, I'm really nervous. I don't think I've ever felt this way in my life, but… I'm sure everything will turn out fine in the end."
"Kayn, for the last time. Let's go, or we'll be late!" Thalia shouted from the doorway.
"Coming!" he called back, bowing once more to the portrait. "Looks like I have to go now, Grandfather. When I return, I'll come talk to you again. Wish me luck."
Before turning away, he placed a hand on the katana's hilt, feeling the cool metal under his fingers as he gazed at his reflection. One day, Kayn would wield that sword, but for now, he was content to admire it.
Kayn dashed to the entrance, stepping out of the house before his parents, who had been waiting. Galen and Thalia exchanged a glance, their silence breaking into soft laughter.
"You know, Kayn really adores your father," Thalia said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "He never gets tired of talking to him. I think it's very sweet."
"Today will be a big day for him," Thalia commented, watching their son wait impatiently at the door.
"I know," Galen replied, though a shadow of worry crossed his eyes. He wasn't entirely sure why. "No matter what happens, we'll be by his side."
Thalia glanced at him, offering a sweet smile full of warmth. She took his arm, and together they stepped out of the house to join Kayn, who was waiting eagerly.
"Finally! I thought you were going to leave me here," Kayn said.
Galen approached him, ruffling his hair.
"Stop messing with my hair. I'm not a kid anymore," Kayn protested, pulling away.