Nothing moved.
Even the wind within the hall seemed to stop.
The air grew heavy, pressing against the chest of everyone present.
As if the world itself was holding its breath.
All eyes were fixed on a single point—
a small child standing at the center of a magic circle.
Khan Rodieck.
The magic circle beneath his feet glowed brightly.
Ancient symbols rotated slowly, emitting an unstable light.
Energy pulsed like the heartbeat of a giant that had just awakened.
Gold.
And black.
The two colors swirled around his small body.
Colliding.
Consuming one another.
Yet… not destroying each other.
Instead—
they merged.
Slowly.
Harmoniously.
As if it had always been meant to be.
As if the world had been waiting for this moment all along.
The Head of the Mage Tower stepped back.
The hand gripping his crystal staff trembled violently.
"This is impossible…"
His voice was hoarse.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
He had studied magic for decades.
He had witnessed countless rare phenomena.
But this… surpassed them all.
"Two opposing attributes… cannot possibly coexist…"
Yet the reality stood before him.
And reality… could not be denied.
On the throne, the king was no longer seated.
He stood.
His movement was slow, yet filled with authority.
His gaze was sharp—like a blade ready to cut through truth.
"This aura…"
He murmured softly.
There was no panic in his tone.
Only calculation.
This was not merely power.
Not merely rarity.
This… was something that had never appeared in the history of Almenia.
Beside him, the queen covered her mouth.
Her eyes did not blink.
"That child…"
She did not finish her sentence.
Because even words felt insufficient.
Among the nobles, the atmosphere began to shift.
The awe that once filled the room…
slowly turned into tension.
Some faces grew pale.
Others showed discomfort.
A few stepped back unconsciously.
"This is not normal…"
"Is this a bad omen…?"
"Such energy… is dangerous…"
The whispers grew louder.
Faster.
Darker.
Fear spread like an unseen poison.
Suddenly—
🔥 BOOOOOM!!
The magic circle exploded with light.
The explosion was not only bright—
it was alive.
Wind spiraled violently.
A pressure wave swept across the entire hall.
Flames surged upward, nearly touching the ceiling.
Shadows danced wildly across the stone walls.
Energy burst outward like an unleashed storm.
Some noble children fell.
Some screamed.
Some cried.
The soldiers immediately took position.
Swords drawn.
Shields raised.
"Protect His Majesty!"
But the king did not move.
Not even a single step.
His eyes remained locked on Khan.
As if nothing else in the world mattered.
At the center of the raging energy—
Khan remained standing.
His small body did not sway.
There was no sign of pain.
No fear.
As if all that power…
had no effect on him at all.
As if he was the center of everything.
Slowly—
he lifted his head.
His movement was calm.
Almost too calm.
His eyes opened fully.
Gold.
And black.
The two colors no longer clashed.
Now, they coexisted.
But for a moment—
everyone felt as though they were being stared at
by something not human.
Something older.
Deeper.
More dangerous.
As if another being was peering through those eyes.
The Head of the Mage Tower fell to his knees.
His hands trembled.
His crystal staff nearly slipped away.
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
"This aura…"
His voice was barely audible.
"…this is not merely an awakening…"
He looked at Khan with genuine fear—
a fear he could not hide.
"…this is a legacy."
"A legacy?"
The king finally spoke.
His voice was calm—
yet heavy.
Like a decision that would shape the future.
The Head of the Mage Tower swallowed hard.
"Yes, Your Majesty…"
He bowed deeply.
"This energy does not originate from this generation…"
He paused briefly.
Choosing his words carefully.
"…but from something far older."
Silence returned to the hall.
But this time—
it was not a peaceful silence.
It was suffocating.
At the center—
the energy began to subside.
The flames diminished.
The wind calmed.
The blinding light faded.
Yet the aura… remained.
Invisible—
but undeniable.
Like a shadow that could never be banished.
Khan lowered his gaze.
His expression remained blank.
No confusion.
No exhaustion.
As if everything that had just happened…
was nothing unusual to him.
As if he had always known this power.
A noble suddenly stood.
"Your Majesty!"
His voice cut through the silence.
"Such power must not be allowed to exist!"
Others quickly followed.
"It is too dangerous!"
"If left unchecked—!"
"The kingdom will be at risk!"
The hall grew chaotic once more.
Fear turned into rejection.
Rejection turned into threat.
Eyes filled with suspicion.
The king raised his hand.
And instantly—
silence.
No one dared to continue.
He stepped down from the throne.
One step.
Two steps.
Each step echoed throughout the hall.
Heavy.
Certain.
Until finally…
he stood before the magic circle.
Before Khan.
For a moment—
they stared at each other.
A king.
And a five-year-old child.
Two beings from different worlds—
standing as equals in that moment.
"What is your name?"
"Khan Rodieck."
The answer was calm.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
The king studied his eyes.
Gold.
And black.
Two worlds within a single gaze.
A faint smile appeared.
Not warm—
but not cold either.
The smile of a ruler who had made his decision.
"From this day forward…"
His voice echoed clearly throughout the hall.
"…this child is under the direct protection of the kingdom."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Some nobles were shocked.
Others fell silent.
Some wanted to protest—
but none dared.
The decision was absolute.
The king turned away.
But before leaving—
he paused.
Without looking back, he said softly:
"Train him."
He glanced at the Head of the Mage Tower.
"…no matter what it takes."
The command was simple.
But its meaning was deep.
Not merely training—
but preparation.
For something far greater.
Khan stood silently within the now-faded circle.
No more light.
No more explosion.
Yet the aura remained.
Unseen—
but felt by all.
That day…
would never be forgotten.
Not only because of the power that emerged—
but because of what it carried.
Hope.
Fear.
And the possibility of destruction.
And one thing became clear—
This was not just an awakening.
This was the beginning.
The beginning of something far greater.
Something that could change history.
And perhaps—
destroy it.