This is a world full of magic, dragons, demons, gods and everything your heart can imagine. In this world wizards have formed magical guilds and take on quests in order to protect and help the people of the world from minor things all the way to fighting giant monsters.This is the story of a young boy and a god who both wish to exist freely and protect what they love.
A young boy named "Kael" woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, it was another nightmare— the same one he had been having for the last 10 years: the destruction of his village and the death of his parents and friends. It was a normal raid by some run-of-the-mill bandits, although there was one defining factor that made this different—There was a god sealed inside Kael, and not just any god. It was the god of fire, "Azesis"—the same god who fought against and was banished from the heavenly realm. While falling from the heavenly realm, Azesis entered Kael's body on a pure whim. At that moment, Azesis's powers activated. Suddenly, a wave of black fire surged from Kael, destroying all in its path—village and bandits alike.
Only a very young Kael was left crying in what was once his home.
Kael was found the next day by a group of traveling merchants, a humble bunch who didn't belong to any major guild.
They took Kael with them to the city of Eldoria, a large seaside city in the country of Aeloria.
There, he was dropped off at a random orphanage, where a young assistant named Margaret Reed took him in.
Kael was still shaken up from the destruction of his village, so when Margaret tried to hug him, he panicked and swiped his hand across her to stop her from getting closer, accidentally activating his new powers and setting a part of her on fire.
Kael started crying and begging the fire to go out. At that moment, Margaret placed her hands on Kael's face and said with a smile,
"It's all going to be okay, don't worry." Even though she was in pain, she didn't cry or scream. Instead, she comforted Kael with a warm-hearted smile, her eyes filled with tears.
At that moment, the flames disappeared, but the damage was already done. A large chunk of her shirt had burned off, revealing multiple burns on the left side of her face, neck, and shoulder
Suddenly, the orphanage caretaker and a group of children, some younger than Kael and some older, rushed outside because of the commotion.
The orphanage caretaker ran to Margaret's side, trying to help her and asking what had happened. Margaret refused to blame Kael.
The children, on the other hand, didn't have the same hesitation.
They stood between Kael and the caretakers, calling him names like "Monster" and "Freak."
Kael lowered his head, fearing that, in a strange way, they were right.
He felt a power inside him, a power that had destroyed his village, the bandits, and now, perhaps, his only chance at a home.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Margaret shouted, surprising everyone.
Margaret took a deep breath, her voice firm and unshaken despite the pain. "Everyone, stop! Right now!" she commanded, her eyes burning with determination.
The children froze, their harsh words still lingering in the air, but something in Margaret's gaze made them hesitate.
The caretaker, who had been about to scold the children, looked over at her, waiting for guidance.
"Kael isn't a monster," Margaret continued, her voice softer now, but with a quiet authority. "He's just a child, like all of you."
She turned to Kael, kneeling down to meet his eyes. "Look at me, Kael. It's not your fault."
Kael raised his eyes to hers, tears still brimming, but the anger and fear in his chest began to ease.
Margaret reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder, steadying him.
But in the back of his mind, the doubt lingered, whispering that maybe, just maybe, the children were right.
Maybe the power inside him was a curse, not a blessing.
Margaret's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. "You didn't choose this. You didn't choose the destruction. What matters now is who you choose to be." She squeezed his shoulder gently. 'You're not alone in this, Kael. We'll figure this out together.
Ten years have passed since then, and Kael has kept the sentence Margaret said on that day—"You didn't choose the destruction. What matters now is who you choose to be."
He has played it in his head again and again, every time the fear of his dormant power surfaced.
Kael took a big sigh and turned on the other side, hoping that would help him fall asleep again.
In the morning, Kael was jolted awake by the sound of children rushing downstairs, excited for breakfast. The noise from the orphanage echoed through the thin walls, a mix of laughter and playful shouts. He groggily rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of his dreams, which were still haunting him.
Margaret entered his room shortly after, a soft smile on her face, though her eyes were always kind and understanding. The burns she had suffered all those years ago were now nothing more than old scars, reminders of the day Kael had lost control.
"Morning, Kael," she said, her voice warm but gentle, as always.
Kael blinked at her, his gaze briefly lingering on the scars that had faded into her skin, now a pale reminder of the past. His chest tightened at the sight.
"She was 23 when she got those scars from me," Kael thought, guilt crawling up his spine. "Pretty sure I ruined all her chances at relationships... and probably her whole life."
Margaret seemed to notice his lingering gaze and, with a soft chuckle, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about me," she said, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "Scars are just stories we carry, and I don't mind mine."
But Kael couldn't shake the feeling. Every time he looked at her, he remembered the pain she had gone through because of him.
He couldn't help but think of all the things he had ruined, all the things that might have been if he hadn't been there, if he hadn't been the boy with an unknown power sealed inside him.
"I'll be downstairs when you're ready," Margaret added, sensing his unease. She gave his shoulder a light squeeze before stepping out, leaving Kael alone with his thoughts.
As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, Kael couldn't help but wonder:
"How can i pay her back for everything?"
After breakfast, Kael helped Margaret and the orphanage caretaker with cleaning the table.
"Thank you for helping, Kael," Margaret said, her tone light as she placed a dish back in the cupboard. "The children will be heading to the market after lessons. Why don't you join them today? It might be good for you to get out of the orphanage and—"
Before she could finish, a sharp knock echoed through the wooden door. It wasn't the usual light rapping from a neighbor or delivery person; this knock was insistent, almost urgent.
The children froze mid-laughter, exchanging confused glances. Then, as children often do, one of the younger girls darted toward the door with wide-eyed curiosity.
"I'll get it!" she called, her small feet pattering on the floor as she ran.
"Something's not right. The air feels heavier," Kael thought, glancing around. It seemed no one else had noticed.
The little girl opened the door, and two men in grey cloaks stepped inside.
"Sorry to disturb you so early in the day, but we're looking for a child," one of them said, his tone awkward.
"A child?" Margaret's tone remained polite, though her eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at the suspicious two men.
"May I ask what this is about? Why are you looking for a child, and who exactly are you?" Margaret asked, her voice firm but calm.
"My name is Orin Stormrider, and this is my twin brother, Dorian," the man said, his tone steady but warm. "We're the guild leaders of the Second Dawn."
Margaret glanced at the children, who were standing nearby, wide-eyed at the strangers in the doorway. "Alright, children, why don't you head upstairs for a while?" she said with a gentle but authoritative tone. "I need to speak with these gentlemen alone."
The children hesitated for a moment before reluctantly shuffling toward the staircase, casting curious glances back at the men as they climbed to the upper floor.
Once the room was clear, Margaret turned her full attention back to Orin and Dorian. "Now, what is it that brings you to our doorstep?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with the weight of suspicion.
"We're looking for a child with magical potential, someone who can help us on a quest at Arcanorum Academia." Orin's voice was steady, though there was an urgency beneath his calm exterior. "The academy offers some of the best education and opportunities in the entire country, if they were to be accepted."
Margaret raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful. "A quest at Arcanorum Academia, you say?" She took a step closer, her gaze sharp. "And why do you need a child with magical potential for this? What exactly is this quest, and what role would they play?"
"To guard and protect the daughter of a duke from her unknown stalker," Dorian chirped in casually.
Margaret's brow furrowed slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied Dorian. "A stalker, you say?" Her tone had shifted, no longer just curious but now tinged with skepticism. "And you expect a child to assist in guarding someone, especially from something as dangerous as a stalker? This doesn't sound like the kind of task for a young person, especially one you're asking to trust you so quickly."
She stepped forward, folding her arms across her chest, her gaze focused on the brothers.
"If you're really in need of help, I would appreciate a little more information. A quest that involves danger and a stalker? It sounds like a lot more than you're letting on."
"All we know is that this girl has been receiving creepy letters the entire school year. The only times she hasn't received anything were when the school was closed for vacations, so we concluded that her stalker is likely from her school. Might I add that there are still nearly three months before the new school year starts, plenty of time for preparation," Orin said confidently.
"You expect me to send a child—any child—into a situation like that? To protect someone from a stalker at a prestigious school? That's not something to take lightly," Margaret said, her voice tinged with annoyance. "And even if Kael has potential, he's still just a boy, barely more than a child."
"And who might Kael be?" Dorian asked, his tone casual but inquisitive.
Margaret's eyes widened slightly as she realized what she'd just said. She quickly cleared her throat, a hint of embarrassment creeping onto her face.
Margaret shifted uncomfortably under Orin's gaze, realizing the conversation was moving toward something she hadn't prepared for. "I... I don't think this is the right time to—"
"Really now?" Orin said smugly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced toward the hallway. "Is this the child you're so protective of?"
At that moment, Kael appeared in the doorway, his presence startling both Margaret and the twins. He looked between them, sensing the tension in the room.
"Kael," Margaret said quickly, her tone a little softer as she tried to regain control of the situation. "This is Orin and Dorian. They've come to talk about... something."
Kael stood still for a moment, his gaze lingering on Orin, who was watching him intently with a hint of amusement.
"Can I help you with anything?" Kael asked, his voice firm and confident.
Orin's eyes glinted with interest as Kael stepped forward, his confident voice cutting through the tension. He exchanged a glance with Dorian, who raised an eyebrow, silently acknowledging the young boy's composure.
"Ah, so you're Kael," Orin said, his tone still smug but now laced with curiosity. "I see. You don't look like much of a 'child' after all. Tell me, Kael, do you know what you're being asked to do?"
Kael met his gaze without hesitation, the same unwavering confidence in his eyes despite the weight of the moment. "I'm listening. What exactly do you want from me?" he asked, his voice steady, though a flicker of uncertainty danced in his chest.
Margaret watched him, a little surprised at how grown-up Kael seemed in that moment. But she knew better than anyone that beneath the surface, he was still just a boy—a boy who had been through more than most could understand.
Orin chuckled softly, clearly intrigued by Kael's composure. "It's not about sending you off blindly, Kael. We need someone who can protect a young woman—the daughter of a duke—who's being stalked. We believe the culprit is someone from her school, and we need someone with magic to help us uncover the truth. The academy we're sending you to will not only teach you how to harness your abilities, but it will prepare you for the kind of dangers you'll be facing."
Dorian's tone grew more serious, his earlier smugness fading. "You'll be up against dark magic, people who'll stop at nothing to get what they want. It's not going to be easy. Are you sure you're ready for something like this?"
Margaret's protective instincts flared up again. She stepped forward, her expression a mix of concern and quiet worry. "Kael, this is a big decision. You don't have to take this on if you're not ready. You've already been through so much—this doesn't need to be your responsibility."
Kael hesitated for a moment, glancing at Margaret. He could feel the weight of her words, but deep down, he knew she wasn't the one holding him back. It was his own fear, his doubt about what he was capable of. But there was something else, too—a desire to prove himself, not just to the world, but to himself.
He turned back to Orin and Dorian, his gaze steady. "I'm ready. I want to do this. I need to find out who I really am—what I'm capable of. I can't keep running from it."
Orin and Dorian exchanged a look, both seeming satisfied with Kael's answer, though they were keenly aware of the stakes.
Margaret gave Kael a long, searching look. For a moment, she almost regretted her earlier words, but she knew he needed this.
He needed to prove to himself that he could handle the challenges ahead, that he could stand on his own.
"If you're sure about this, then I'll support you. But I won't let you go unprepared. We'll make sure you're ready for whatever comes next."Orin nodded, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "We'll ensure that. You're going to need all the training you can get. But we'll make sure you're prepared."
Kael nodded, determination growing within him. He wasn't sure what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he might actually be ready for whatever came next.Â
The tension in the room seemed to dissipate, leaving only the quiet hum of the moment.
Kael stood at the door, ready to leave, but before he stepped out, he hesitated.
Margaret, who had been standing nearby, looked at him with a mixture of pride and worry. She could feel her heart tightening in her chest, the weight of the coming separation sinking in.
Without a word, she stepped forward, her arms wrapping around Kael in a tight, warm hug. For a long moment, they just stood there, her tears threatening to spill over, his face buried in her shoulder as he fought back his own emotions.
Kael hadn't realized how much he was going to miss her—how much he was going to miss the safety and warmth of her presence.
When they finally pulled away, Kael took a deep, steadying breath, his eyes glistening but determined. "Thank you for everything, Mom," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion.
Margaret's heart caught in her throat. She blinked rapidly to hold back her tears, her hand resting gently on Kael's cheek. "Oh, my sweet baby boy, you don't have to thank me, " she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "Just take care of yourself. That's all I want."
Kael gave a soft nod, his expression a mixture of resolve and tenderness. He stepped back and gave her one last look before turning toward the twins. Orin and Dorian stood at the doorway, silently watching the scene unfold, aware of the significance of the moment.
Margaret watched him go, her heart swelling with pride and fear in equal measure. She'd given him all she could. Now, it was up to Kael to forge his own path.