The storm had passed by the time Kael returned home that night. The scent of rain still lingered in the air, and puddles glistened under the moonlight outside the Renji household. As Kael stepped through the door, brushing the raindrops from his coat, he was met by the sound of footsteps rushing toward him.
"Daddy!" Maiya called out, her hair still damp from earlier. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Kael smiled warmly, hugging her back. "You're up late, princess. Everything okay?"
Maiya pulled back, her eyes wide with excitement. "Daddy! Something crazy happened! Me, Jinsei, and Renzo—we took down a Fracture Beast today!"
Kael blinked. "…What?"
"In the middle of the street!" she continued. "It was huge, but we handled it. Renzo led the charge, Jinsei used lightning, and I got a few hits in too!"
Kael's face shifted from curiosity to concern. He crouched down to her level. "You fought a Fracture Beast… without me? Where?"
"Right outside the market road, just before we turned down the river street." She spoke casually, like it was just another day at training.
Kael looked over her carefully, checking for any injuries. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"Nope!" she said proudly. "We worked together. We were awesome."
Kael stood slowly, eyes darkening with silent worry. He trusted Renzo and Jinsei—they were both skilled and ahead of their years—but the thought of his five-year-old daughter facing something that dangerous without him...
That night, sleep didn't come easy for Kael.
The next morning, Nova Tower stood tall against the clearing skies. The world always moved fast after storms in Shinzai.
Kael arrived early, his coat flowing behind him as he strode down the marble halls toward the training courtyard. Renzo and Jinsei were already there, sparring lightly, exchanging quick strikes and movements as they warmed up for the day.
Kael didn't say a word at first. He simply watched.
Renzo noticed him first and lowered his stance. "Oh, hey Kael—uh, Ryuun."
Jinsei followed suit. "Good morning, sir."
Kael approached slowly, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable for a moment, until it softened with a sigh.
"You two..." he began. "Thank you."
Renzo blinked. "Huh?"
Kael looked them both in the eyes. "For keeping my daughter safe. She told me everything. A Fracture Beast that close to the city… If you hadn't been there—"
"She held her own," Jinsei interrupted respectfully. "She's your daughter, after all."
Kael chuckled at that, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… she is. Still, you didn't have to fight it. You could've waited for reinforcements, called someone stronger."
"We're her teammates now," Renzo said, stepping forward. "And we're Wielders. That's what we do. We protect people, especially our own."
Kael paused, a proud look forming in his eyes. For all their youth, the new generation was already proving themselves beyond what he expected.
"Alright then," Kael said. "Let's train harder than ever today. I wasn't there for that beast, but I'll make sure if anything like that comes again, you're ten times more ready."
"Yes, sir!" both boys replied in unison.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the training grounds echoed with the sound of determination. Kael watched them spar with fierce intensity, his heart steady. He was beginning to see it—what the future of Shinzai looked like.
And it was bright.