Kenneth sat in his room, staring at the small flame flickering in his palm, his thoughts drifting back to his conversation with the Crown Prince. Why did the Crown Prince seem so convinced that there was something more on this fire? Kenneth frowned, trying to brush off the thought. It didn’t make sense to him. He stood up, pushing the nagging feeling aside.

As he headed downstairs, voices drifted up from below. He paused on the staircase, peering down. A group of people stood in the main hall, speaking with Fintan. Kenneth recognized them—they were vassals of the Fireon family, loyal supporters who had clung to the hope that the Ultimate Fire would one day return.

Since Kenneth had been announced as the successor and rumors of the Ultimate Fire’s revival spread, these vassals frequently visited the estate, always hoping that today might be the day they inherited the magic again.

“It’s been months now. Are you not planning to hold an inheritance ceremony soon?” one of the vassals asked, his tone respectful but edged with impatience.

“Not yet,” Fintan replied firmly. “Kenneth is still young to be the head of Fireon.”

Kenneth noticed the tension in the room. The vassals were holding back their frustration, but the impatience was clear. They had been waiting for too long, and Kenneth could feel it—if this dragged on, many of them might leave, pledging their loyalty to other families.

They’re waiting for Joash, Kenneth thought with a sinking feeling. He couldn’t shake the suspicion that Fintan, and perhaps the others, still didn’t see him as the true successor. No matter that he had awakened the fire—they hadn’t fully trusted him. He was still an outsider in their eyes.

He sighed, the weight of it all pressing down on him. If only I hadn’t awakened the fire.

Kenneth slipped out through the back door of the estate, heading toward the town. He hadn’t been there since Joash had brought him last time.

The town bustled with life, people moving about their daily tasks, markets filled with the hum of voices, and the clatter of carts. But as Kenneth wandered through the streets, he noticed something deeper. Beneath the surface liveliness, there was a clear divide—one he hadn’t fully realized before.

The Wizards, those who had inherited magic, carried themselves with an air of superiority. They worked for the powerful families that had given them their magic, raising their status and wealth. Meanwhile, the Commoners, those without pnevma, and the Elementless, who lacked ties to the elemental families, lived simpler, often harder lives. They filled the lower and middle classes, working in shops or laboring in the streets. There was an invisible wall between them and the Wizards, an unspoken hierarchy that determined their place in society.

Kenneth noticed how the Wizards were given priority, their paths cleared as they moved through the town. The Commoners and Elementless stepped aside without hesitation, eyes downcast. The elemental families, he realized, were cautious about whom they trusted with their magic. Inheritance was only granted to those they trusted deeply—or to those with power and wealth.

It struck Kenneth then, just how vast the gap was between him and so many others. Even though he hadn’t come from this world, he was now seen as part of it—yet, he still felt like an outsider.

As Kenneth walked through the bustling town, a small child suddenly darted toward him and latched onto his leg, sobbing. Startled, Kenneth froze, glancing down at the teary-eyed little girl gripping his leg tightly.

Where did this kid come from?

“Wait, Lucy!” Kenneth heard a familiar voice approaching. He looked up to see Lucian rushing over, clearly surprised to see him.

“Kenneth? What are you doing here?” Lucian asked, his eyes wide with shock.

Kenneth raised an eyebrow. “Lucian? I could ask you the same thing.”

Lucian shifted his focus to the child still clinging to Kenneth’s leg. “Lucy, let go of him. That’s not me.”

But the girl, Lucy, refused to budge. “No! No! I hate you, brother! You promised me we’d go get strawberry cake today!” she cried, still hugging Kenneth’s leg, clearly mistaking him for Lucian.

Kenneth tried not to laugh at the adorable confusion, while Lucian knelt beside Lucy, gently prying her off Kenneth’s leg. “Lucy, that’s not me. I’m right here. Come on, let go.”

Lucy pouted but reluctantly released her hold on Kenneth, her big eyes still wet with tears. “You broke your promise,” she muttered, glaring up at Lucian. “You said we’d go right after your training.”

Lucian sighed, reaching out to lift her into his arms. “I know, and I’m sorry. We’ll get the cake now, okay?”

Kenneth couldn’t help but chuckle at the exchange, finding the situation both amusing and unexpectedly heartwarming. The Lucian he was seeing now, soft and patient with a child, was so different from the serious and reserved person he knew from the academy.

Lucy, still sniffling, glanced back at Kenneth. She gave him a shy smile and asked, “Will you come too?”

Kenneth crouched down, smiling at her. “You want me to come?”

Lucy nodded eagerly. “Yes! You look like a hero from the storybook that I have read.”

Lucian raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised at how quickly Lucy had taken a liking to Kenneth. “She usually doesn’t warm up to strangers this fast.”

Kenneth grinned, giving Lucy’s hair a gentle ruffle.

Lucian stood, lifting Lucy into his arms. “Sorry for what just happened. How about you join us? I owe you for dealing with her little tantrum.”

Kenneth blinked, a bit taken aback by the sudden invitation. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”

Lucian gave a rare smile. “You won’t be. Besides, it looks like Lucy’s already decided she likes you.”

Lucy beamed, clinging to Lucian’s shoulder as she gave Kenneth an approving nod. “Hero brother! You should come!”

Kenneth laughed, nodding. “Alright, I’ll come along”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

＊＊＊

Together, the three of them made their way toward the café. Lucy happily dug into her strawberry cake, while Lucian and Kenneth sipped their tea in silence, occasionally glancing at the little girl. This was the first time Kenneth and Lucian were alone without the other successors.

Lucy beamed at Kenneth as she devoured her cake, her eyes lighting up whenever she caught his gaze. Kenneth smiled back at her, amused by how sweet and carefree she was. She looked like a younger, more innocent version of Lucian, with the same blonde hair and bright eyes.

Breaking the quiet, Kenneth asked, “Is she your sister?”

Lucy quickly piped up between bites of cake, “He’s my brother!” she declared with a big grin, her face smeared with icing.

Lucian chuckled softly, wiping Lucy’s mouth with a napkin. “No, she’s my cousin. My aunt’s daughter.”

Kenneth’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “The Light Guardian’s daughter?”

Lucian’s expression briefly tensed, and he hesitated before replying, “It’s not something everyone knows about.”

Kenneth sensed the delicate nature of the topic and decided not to press further. But the silence between them didn’t last long.

Lucian seemed lost in thought for a moment, his gaze lingering on Lucy as she hummed softly. Kenneth, feeling the quiet stretch on, wondered if he should say something, but then Lucian spoke, his voice quieter this time. “You know, my relationship with Lucy is similar to yours… with Joash.”

Kenneth’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Joash.

Does he know about Joash’s connection to the Fireon family? he wondered, feeling a flicker of unease.

Lucian didn’t look at him right away, as if debating how much to share. “I remember seeing Joash with the Fire Guardian when we were kids. I thought he would be the successor, but instead, it turned out to be you.”

Kenneth stayed silent, sensing that Lucian wasn’t done. There was a hint of vulnerability in his voice now, something Kenneth hadn’t expected.

Lucian finally turned to face him, his expression softer than usual. "I’m much like you… holding the position of successor because the real successor can’t. It’s not our role, but here we are.”

Kenneth’s eyes widened as the weight of Lucian’s words sank in. There was a hesitation in Lucian’s voice, as if he wasn’t used to opening up. “Lucy’s meant to inherit the Ultimate Light, but…?”

“She was born with magic from her father’s side,” Lucian finished, his gaze flicking toward Lucy, who was still happily munching on her cake, oblivious to the gravity of their conversation.

Kenneth saw the reluctance in Lucian’s eyes, but there was also an unspoken bond forming between them. “That’s why you became the successor,” Kenneth said gently, understanding dawning on him.

Lucian nodded, his voice quieter now. “I’m the only one in our family who has Light Magic and can inherit the Ultimate Light.”

Kenneth took a deep breath, his mind racing. Their situations were more similar than he’d realized. Both of them were placeholders, standing in for those who were meant to inherit but couldn’t.

“Must be tough,” Kenneth murmured, glancing at Lucy, who was now humming a cheerful tune.

Lucian’s gaze softened as he watched her, his voice gentler than before. “It is. But I’ll do what I have to—for her and for my family.”

Kenneth nodded, feeling the bond of shared responsibility between them. “I get it. We do what we have to.”

＊＊＊

After leaving the café, Lucy skipped alongside Lucian, her voice light and cheerful. “I really enjoyed today’s walk,” she said, smiling up at him.

“Me too,” Lucian replied, feeling a rare sense of peace. It had been a long time since he had been able to spend time with Lucy, especially since entering the academy. Today was special—not only was it her fifth birthday, but it was also the first time their aunt had agreed to let her explore the town. Due to her unique background, only a few people even knew of her existence. As a precaution, there were guards stationed nearby, keeping watch over them.

Lucian glanced back in the direction Kenneth had gone, his thoughts lingering. Inviting him to join them hadn’t been planned.

Why did I share so much with him? Lucian wondered. Maybe it’s because we’re both in the same situation…

“The next time we do this, can we invite Hero brother again?” Lucy asked, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

Lucian chuckled at the nickname. “Hero brother, huh? You’ve already decided on that, haven’t you?”

Lucy nodded enthusiastically. “He’s nice.”

Lucian smiled down at her. “Alright, we’ll invite him again,” he promised, touched by how quickly Lucy had warmed up to Kenneth.

As they continued walking, their peaceful moment was suddenly interrupted.

A woman in a dark cloak stepped out from a side street, blocking their path. There was something unsettling about her presence, and Lucian’s instincts immediately went on high alert. He moved protectively in front of Lucy, his muscles tensing.

Where are the guards? he wondered, glancing around but feeling no sign of their presence.

“Who are you?” Lucian demanded, his voice steady but sharp.

The woman tilted her head slightly, her face obscured by the hood. “I can’t believe how weak Luminel has become,” she said mockingly.

Lucian’s heart raced as he took in the threat. “What did you do to the guards?” he asked, his tone hardening. The guards assigned to them were some of the best in their family. If they had been taken out so easily, this woman was far more powerful than she appeared.

“Don’t worry,” she said with a cold smile, raising her hand. “I merely put them to sleep.”

A thick, dark miasma swirled from her fingertips, curling toward them like a living shadow. Lucian quickly conjured a light barrier around him and Lucy, but the miasma pressed against it, seeping through the cracks like smoke. The oppressive darkness clung to them, filling their lungs with a suffocating heaviness.

“Dark magic?” Lucian gasped, his vision blurring as the miasma engulfed them completely. His body grew heavy, and before he could react, his world faded into blackness as the dark magic dragged him into unconsciousness.

Within moments, his vision blurred, and the world around him faded to black as he lost consciousness.

＊＊＊

Lucian woke up in his bed, his head pounding as he slowly sat up. His hand instinctively went to his forehead, trying to steady the dizziness that overcame him. His personal maid was beside him, quietly tending to his injuries, her expression tight with concern.

“What happened? Where’s Lucy?” Lucian’s voice cracked with panic as he scanned the room, hoping to see Lucy nearby.

The maid remained silent, her eyes filled with unease as she looked toward the door. Lucian’s heart sank deeper. Did that woman take her? He swung his legs over the side of the bed, but before he could stand, the door burst open with a loud bang.

Aunt Leora, the head of the Luminel family, entered the room. Her presence was commanding, but her expression was cold, distant. Without a word, she crossed the room and struck Lucian across the face with a sharp, deliberate slap.

The sting left him stunned, not just from the pain but from the emotionless precision of her actions. There was no anger in her eyes—just a detached disappointment. Lucian barely had time to register the blow before her voice, cold and sharp, cut through the silence.

“This is your fault, Lucian.” Her tone was devoid of warmth, as though she were discussing a matter of business, not the disappearance of her daughter. “You were responsible for Lucy’s safety, and now she’s gone.”

“Head Leora, please,” the head butler pleaded, hurrying into the room after her. “The young master—”

Leora cut him off without even glancing in his direction. “Find her, Lucian. Before the other families do.” Her gaze finally met his, but it wasn’t with concern—it was more like she was staring at a tool that had failed its purpose. “If you don’t, don’t bother coming back.”

Her words were calm, almost chilling in their indifference. There was no outburst of emotion, no trace of a mother’s worry—only a cold, calculating demand.

Without another word, Leora turned and walked out of the room, her steps as composed as her voice. The head butler and maid followed, the door closing softly behind them, leaving Lucian alone in the quiet, his cheek still stinging from the slap.

For a moment, he sat there, stunned, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Aunt Leora's words echoed in his mind, each one feeling more distant than the last. She hadn’t even asked how he was—hadn’t even shown the slightest bit of concern for him.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips, but it quickly turned into something hollow. “Is that really how you treat your children, Aunt Leora?” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

For a long moment, Lucian just sat there, motionless, staring at the floor. He couldn’t shake the image of his aunt’s cold eyes, the weight of her words pressing down on him like a mountain.

He had let Lucy down. Lucy, the one person he was meant to protect. The thought of her being out there—alone, vulnerable—sent a wave of nausea crashing over him.