The silver wolf never took its eyes off Kael.
Its body was almost as large as a horse, with shimmering fur that reflected the moonlight despite it being broad daylight. Golden eyes followed his every movement, and its sharp fangs remained slightly exposed.
Kael slowly raised both hands.
"I come in peace."
The wolf growled.
"That… doesn't sound peaceful."
Lady Elara rested a hand on the wolf's head.
"Easy, Fenrir."
The beast immediately relaxed, though it continued watching Kael with obvious suspicion.
"You've trained it well," Kael said as he climbed onto the shore, water dripping from his soaked clothes.
Elara raised an eyebrow.
"Trained?"
She gently scratched the wolf's ears.
"He raised me."
Kael blinked.
"…I'm sorry, what?"
She smiled.
"When I was abandoned as a child, this wolf pack found me before any human did."
Kael looked from Elara to the wolf.
"So… I'm talking to someone raised by wolves?"
"I prefer 'educated by nature.'"
"…Fair enough."
A faint smile tugged at Elara's lips.
He jokes even after falling from the heavens…
Interesting.
The World Beyond Earth
Elara led Kael deeper into the Emerald Forest.
Ancient trees towered hundreds of feet overhead, their branches woven together into a living ceiling. Sunlight filtered through the emerald leaves in golden streams, illuminating flowers that glowed with magical energy.
Tiny spirits floated through the air like drifting lanterns.
Kael couldn't stop staring.
"This is… incredible."
"You truly aren't from around here."
"No," Kael admitted.
"I'm from another world."
Most people would have laughed.
Elara didn't.
Instead, she quietly asked,
"Another world without magic?"
Kael nodded.
"We had technology instead."
She tilted her head.
"What is technology?"
Kael smiled.
"Imagine thousands of people using intelligence instead of mana."
She considered his answer.
"Interesting."
The System chimed softly.
Relationship Update
Lady Elara
Trust: 5%
Reason: Honest conversation.
"So the system really notices everything…"
Kael muttered.
"What system?"
"…Nothing."
Best not to explain that yet.
Bandits in the Forest
Hours later, they arrived at a narrow mountain road.
Suddenly—
"Stop right there!"
Five armed men emerged from the bushes.
Each wore mismatched leather armor stained with old blood.
One carried a rusted axe.
Another twirled a dagger between his fingers.
The apparent leader grinned.
"Hand over your valuables."
Elara sighed.
"Bandits again."
The leader's eyes drifted toward her.
His grin widened.
"Actually…"
"You can keep the valuables."
"We'll take the woman instead."
Kael's expression darkened.
"That's not happening."
The bandits burst into laughter.
"A skinny kid thinks he's a hero?"
One swung his axe.
Kael instinctively stepped aside.
The blade slammed into the dirt.
Before the bandit could react—
Kael drove his fist into the man's jaw.
CRACK!
The bandit collapsed.
Silence.
Even Kael stared at his own hand.
"…Did I just do that?"
The System appeared.
First Enemy Defeated
+100 Experience
Level Up!
Level 2
Strength +2
Agility +2
Mana +10
New Skill Unlocked:
King's Insight
"So that's how leveling works…"
The remaining bandits charged together.
Elara calmly folded her arms.
"Show me."
Kael dodged another blade.
Earth memories flooded back.
Years of watching martial arts.
Fitness training.
Street survival instincts.
His body moved almost on its own.
One opponent swung low.
Kael jumped.
Another attacked from behind.
He ducked.
A third lunged.
Kael grabbed the man's wrist and used his momentum to throw him over his shoulder.
The bandit crashed into a tree.
The leader froze.
"What are you?"
Kael smiled.
"Someone who's having a really weird first day."
The leader roared and rushed forward.
The System flashed.
Skill Available
King's Insight
Activate?
"Yes."
Time seemed to slow.
Kael could suddenly see every movement of the bandit's body.
His breathing.
His balance.
His weak points.
"So this is…"
"…battle prediction."
He stepped sideways.
The axe missed by inches.
Kael struck the bandit's wrist.
The weapon fell.
One punch.
Then another.
The leader collapsed unconscious.
Silence returned to the forest.
Elara stared at Kael.
"You've never fought before."
"It was my first real fight."
"And yet…"
"You defeated five armed men."
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"I guess adrenaline helps."
She knew that wasn't the whole truth.
But she chose not to press him.
Not yet.
The Hidden Invitation
As they searched the unconscious bandits, Elara found a sealed black envelope bearing a silver crown surrounded by seven stars.
Her expression changed instantly.
"Where did they get this?"
"What is it?"
She handed it to Kael.
The moment his fingers touched the seal—
The envelope glowed.
Only he could open it.
Inside was a single piece of parchment.
It read:
To the Last Heir of Aetherion—
If this letter has reached you, then fate has already begun moving.
The Seven Thrones are awakening.
Find the first throne before the Blood Moon rises.
Trust no king. Trust no church. Trust only those who choose you freely.
The Crown remembers its rightful owner.
At the bottom was a symbol identical to the one that had appeared on Kael's system.
His heart pounded.
"I'm really… the last king."
Far away, in a castle hidden among black mountains, a mysterious figure dressed in crimson robes slowly opened their eyes.
"The King's aura has appeared."
A cold smile spread across their face.
"So… the heir has finally awakened."