Inside Ryuu's study room, rich wooden panels lined the walls, and large, ornate bookshelves filled with leather-bound tomes and scrolls stood on either side. A massive oak desk dominated the center of the room, cluttered with stacks of paperwork, ink pots, and quills. The room was softly illuminated by a large chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over the space.

Ryuu's father sat in Ryuu's chair, a smile on his face, while Ryuu stood with an angry look. The tension was palpable as the two faced off, the room silent except for the faint crackle of the fireplace.

"Why have you come?" Ryuu broke the silence, his voice sharp.

His father looked at him with care. "I just wanted to celebrate my grandson's birthday with my family."

Ryuu banged the desk with his fist angrily. "Stop with the lies!" His emerald eyes glinted with fury, ready to kill.

His father asked calmly, "Why do you despise me so much?"

Ryuu lifted his hands from the desk, his expression twisted with anger. "You should know by now why I hate your guts."

His father sighed. "Hating won't do you much good when you haven't been a good son."

"A good son?" Ryuu shouted angrily. "A good son wouldn't be shouting at his father if his father hadn't left his wife to die and should have just saved her instead of saving some mere beast people."

His father's smile faded. "Is that how you see it?" He stood up from the chair and walked towards a window that looked at the moon shining. "I had to do what I did."

Ryuu clenched his fists. "What about my mom? She needed you."

His father turned to him, his expression stern. "Before coming here, I did a little digging in your so-called nation. I noticed your kingdom doesn't have any beastmen."

"And so what?" Ryuu retorted.

"But it is harboring slave traders, which you know about but choose not to take action towards," his father accused.

Ryuu denied it, but his father finally revealed his mission. "I came here to get Kibo."

"You can't just come back into my life and my family's life and say you want to take my son," Ryuu said with a dead look.

"It's not my wish but your mother's wish," his father replied.

Ryuu was confused but still angry.

His father walked around the room, checking the surroundings. "Kibo has potential, which you know. I just want to fulfill your mother's last wish before I die."

Ryuu's expression calmed as he listened to his father. "When will you bring back my son?"

"When it's time for him to enter the most prestigious Weinstone Academy on his sixteenth birthday," his father replied.

Ryuu was shocked by the time he wouldn't see his son. He lost his balance, resting on the desk. "Why would Mother tell you and not me, her son? Why tell you when you weren’t there for us?"

His father looked at him with a sad, stern face. "I know you hate me so much, and I don't blame you. But I didn't have a choice. But don’t blame the beastmen. They are human too." He paused, seeing his son still not looking at him. "I'll take my grandson tomorrow, and be careful of the king. He has spies in your nation."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Ryuu's father opened the door and left, closing it behind him. Alone, Ryuu looked at the door his father had left from and said out loud, "Get me information about the spies the king sent."

A voice answered from the shadows, "Yes, master," then left.

Ryuu clenched his fists and sat down on his chair, thinking about what his father had said about his mother's wish.

Outside the Satoru nation, a carriage moved silently through the forest under the shining moon. The forest was serene, with tall trees casting long shadows on the ground, and the air was filled with the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional call of nocturnal creatures. The calmness of the forest was in stark contrast to the turmoil within the carriage.

Inside the carriage, the priest sat on the plush seat, his face contorted with anger. In his hand, he held a glowing communication orb. The soft light from the orb illuminated his grim expression as he conversed with an anonymous person.

"How was the celebration, priest?" The voice from the orb asked, tinged with a hint of peak interest.

"Nothing in particular," the priest replied curtly, his tone clipped.

"Oh, I see," the anonymous person said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Don't forget why you are there. If you are proven useless..." The voice trailed off, but the ominous threat was clear in its tone. "You will be cut off."

The transmission ended, and the orb ceased to glow. Enraged, the priest smashed the orb on the carriage floor, its fragments scattering across the wood. "Damn you, Reaper," he muttered through clenched teeth, his mind swirling with thoughts of revenge and frustration.

In Kibo's room, Luna gently placed him down to sleep. She was wearing a delicate, flowing noble nightgown, the fabric shimmering softly in the dim light. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, and her blue eyes, usually so vibrant, now held a hint of sadness. Kibo, with his white hair and blue eyes, was dressed in a simple, comfortable nightshirt.

As Luna put Kibo to bed, she tapped his back gently and said, "Mama is sorry that your birthday wasn't a good one."

Kibo, wide awake, noticed the sad look on his mother's face. In his mind, he thought, I can't blame you or anyone for what happened. Besides, this is the first time I've celebrated my birthday with my family. Seeing his mother still sad, he said, "I love you, Mama and Papa, for celebrating my birthday with me."

Luna, touched by her son's words, hugged him tightly and then released him with a smile. Kibo, seeing his mother's smile, thought, That's the face I want to see on my mom’s face.

Luna, still smiling, said, "I love you too." Kibo, with a curious look, asked, "Is Grandpa going to stay with us?"

Luna shook her head and said, "No, Grandpa is not going to be staying with us." She paused before adding, "Okay, it's time to sleep." She stood up, kissed him on the forehead, and said, "Goodnight, Kibo."

Kibo replied, "Goodnight, Mama," and watched as his mother smiled and left the room, closing the door behind her. He waited for a minute before sitting up straight and recalling what his grandfather did with that incredible speed. Despite the speed, he could see his grandfather in slow motion. In his mind, he thought, What if I use mana to amplify my speed?

Slowly getting out of bed, he stood on the ground and concentrated, closing his eyes. I need to channel mana through the circuits of my body to specific muscles and joints, he thought. As he focused, he began sweating, feeling the mana circulating to specific parts of his body. Once he felt ready, he tried walking. However, because of the mana in his leg joints, he sped up and crashed into the wall.

Jamming against the wall, he muttered, "At least I did it," before falling to the ground unconscious.

On top of the Satoru mansion, the Reaper sat silently, his figure shrouded in a black hooded cloak that draped over his form with a blend of elegance and menace. The cloak, designed for both stealth and mobility, hugged his frame, and its long, flowing tails fluttered gently in the night breeze. The hood obscured most of his face, casting deep shadows, but a few strands of his pure white hair peeked out, catching the moonlight and providing a stark contrast to the darkness of his attire. The Reaper's clothes were adorned with numerous hidden pockets and sheaths, suggesting a readiness for any situation.

As he sat on the rooftop, his posture relaxed yet alert, he held a small picture delicately in his gloved hand. The image on the picture was not visible, but the way he gazed at it with a soft smile hinted at the profound significance it held for him. His emerald eyes, glimmering with a mixture of nostalgia and sorrow, pierced through the shadows of his hood, reflecting the moon's gentle glow.

The Reaper looked up at the moon, its light casting a serene silver glow over the quiet Satoru estate. The tranquility of the moment was palpable, a stark contrast to the turmoil and danger that often accompanied his presence. His smile lingered as he continued to gaze at the picture, lost in memories known only to him.