After returning to his room and confronting the haunting letters of his past, Karlous needed air. The walls of the castle, once grand and cold, now felt like they were closing in. Overwhelmed by frustration, he stepped outside.
The world outside the Phoenix estate was wild yet serene. He wandered aimlessly through the castle grounds, past the marble arches and pristine fountains, and finally beyond the high walls into the wilderness beyond.
He walked until the stone paths turned to soft earth and grassy fields. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, speckled with drifting clouds. Birds with shimmering feathers called from treetops, and the scent of blooming wildflowers danced on the breeze.
Eventually, he stumbled upon a flat clearing surrounded by golden and green grass that shimmered under the mid-morning sun. At the center stood an ancient tree—tall, thick, and regal. Its roots seemed to reach into the heart of the world, and its branches spread wide like a guardian's arms. From the top, one could see the entire Marquisdom stretch beyond the hills.
Karlous paused, his gaze lifting to the canopy.
Ah, yes—this world.
This wasn't the Earth he once knew. This realm was known as Ayodhara, an ancient and mysterious land where empires were built not only on magic and might but on history long forgotten.
Karlous currently resided in the empire of Suryaastra, governed by twelve powerful noble houses.
His family—the Phoenix House—ranked third among them.
Above them stood:
The Pendragon Dukedom, wielders of dragon blood and ancient martial rites. At the very top, the feared Archduchy of Mahakaal, infamous for their command over void, black, and life magic.
Below the Phoenix House—but only just—was the Lionheart Clan. Equals in strength, opposites in spirit. Their rivalry with the Phoenix family was legendary.
Ayodhara was a land steeped in magic and mystery. Mythical creatures—dragons, phoenixes, ancient spirits, and elusive beasts like Navkunjers—roamed freely in hidden corners of the realm.
And right now, Karlous was home for summer break from Empress University.
He wasn't weak. Just... average.
While his blood sister wielded terrifying cold and poison flames, he could only muster the most basic of fire magic—no affinities, no unique traits. In a world where power defined identity, this meant everything.
To his family—especially his mother—he was a disappointment.
But what they didn't know was that Karlous carried memories of another life. A past life.
He had once lived as an ordinary man in an ordinary world. No powers, no connections. Yet he had clawed his way upward—not through talent, but through sheer willpower and relentless growth.
Unshakable belief.Relentless learning.And a vow never to give up.
He would use those same principles here.
Standing beneath the tree, Karlous felt everything rush in. The loneliness. The rejection. The weight of being cast aside.
He looked up at the ancient tree and whispered, his voice trembling:
"I don't know what to do. No one sees me. No one listens. I'm trying… but it's not enough. Why is it never enough?"
He spoke to it not as a tree—but as Mother Nature herself.
Unbeknownst to him, something within the tree stirred.
A spirit—ageless, soft, and glowing faintly—listened from within the bark. Her eyes shimmered with emotion as she heard the pain in Karlous's voice. A pain that resonated with something long buried in her soul.
She had not wept in centuries.
But for this boy—this human filled with sorrow and fire—she shed a tear.
Karlous didn't see her.
Exhausted, he laid beneath the tree. The grass cradled him like a blanket, and the warm breeze lulled him into sleep.
But they were not alone.
Hidden beneath a neighboring tree lay a young man with long golden hair, dressed in regal traveler's garb. A massive weapon, etched with the mark of a dragon, was strapped to his back. From his bag, the glint of a hidden crown peeked out.
He had been meditating, long before Karlous arrived.
But as Karlous's voice broke through the quiet, his golden eyes opened.
For a brief moment, his pupils slit like a serpent's—vertical and glowing.
Then they faded, returning to calm gold.
He said nothing.
But as he looked at the sleeping boy beneath the tree, he smiled faintly.
"Interesting…"