As the carriage prepared to depart, the villagers of Willowshade gathered around. They watched with mixed emotions - sadness at Kai’s departure, but also hope for his future. The chief, along with other villagers, waved at the moving carriage, their voices carrying in the wind, “Take care, Kai!”
The carriage rumbled along the cobblestone path, the rhythmic clatter of the horses’ hooves echoing in the quiet morning. Kai sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the receding silhouette of Emily’s grave. Sakura and Hiro exchanged glances, understanding their son’s need for silence.
As the carriage moved further away, Kai finally turned his gaze away from the window. He looked at the pendant in his hand, the red core no longer glowing. He clutched it tightly. As he did, he heard a call from Sakura.
“Kai,” Sakura began, her voice soft. “We know this is a lot for you. But we want you to know that we’re here for you. We always have been, and we always will be.”
Kai looked at her, then at Hiro. He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I know,” he wrote, showing them the paper. “Thank you.”
The rest of the journey was filled with small conversations, mostly initiated by Sakura and Hiro. They told Kai about their kingdom, about the life he was supposed to have. They told him about the grand mansion, the beautiful gardens, and the people who were eagerly waiting for their prince’s return.
Soon after that, Hiro and Sakura fell asleep. It was midnight by then, but Kai was still awake. “Eva,” Kai called out through his thoughts. “Yes, Sir. How may I help you?”, it gave a quick response. “Could you get me a Rubik’s cube?” he asked. “Alright, Sir.” As Eva responded, a colorful cube materialized in Kai’s hand. He began to twist and turn it, his fingers deftly moving the squares.
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As he started to solve the cube, Kai found himself deep in thought. “Based on the information Eva had gathered, it seemed the empire was under attack. But who would dare? Another empire? Unlikely, given the Lunara Empire’s amicable relations with its neighbors. Could it be the demon clan? That’s a possibility, but why would they kidnap a child?”
The more he pondered, the clearer the picture became. “The original owner of his body was the child of the Archduke, the mightiest of the four heroes who had brought peace to the empire. The Archduke possessed a unique power, the “Red Dragon Aura.” This potent ability, exclusive to those of ancient dragon lineage, surrounded the user with a fiery red aura in the shape of a dragon upon activation. It enhanced their physical capabilities and granted them dragon-like abilities. However, it required a strong will and emotional control, and overuse could lead to exhaustion.”
To this, Eva spoke up, “Perhaps they believed the child would inherit this power and planned to brainwash him, using the power for their own nefarious purposes.” Eva voiced this theory, and Kai nodded in agreement. As they spoke, he absentmindedly solved the cube in his hands. “Under five seconds, sir,” Eva noted. Kai merely sighed in response. “I think I’ll get some sleep,” he said, and the cube vanished into thin air. Closing his eyes, Kai soon drifted off to sleep. “A lot of things don’t add up here…”
After six days of traveling, they neared the mansion. Kai could see the majestic mansion and the symbol of the moon crest to it. He could see the people gathered at the gates, their faces filled with anticipation. He took a deep breath, ready to face his new life.