The bells of the palace echoed through the city, their deep tones resonating through every street and alleyway, echoing through the hearts of all.
Flowers covered the roads, a vibrant display of red and gold. Royal banners waved proudly above the crowds, the red and gold emblems proudly flying in the midday sun.
Thousands entered the grand plaza—commoners, merchants, and nobles alike—filling the large space until it became a living sea of faces, all voices raised in a single, joyous cry.
The King had come home victorious. Not only had he defeated his foe, but he had also claimed the lands he occupied. An era of growth and expansion had begun.
An era of something greater than ever seen before.
At the center of the celebration, a grand platform rose high, covered in shimmering gold and crimson.
Soldiers in polished armor stood at the edges, spears shining like silver thorns. Kairo stood beside his father, hidden beneath the ceremonial attire, which was far too large for his small frame.
The heavy brocade weighed him down, the gems along the hem glinting in the sunlight. He nervously pulled at the fabric, the soft material brushing against his skin.
"Father… it feels heavy," he muttered, voice barely audible over the crowd.
The King chuckled, the sound low and warm. He placed one massive hand on Kairo's shoulder, and it was as if Kairo was pinned in place by an iron clamp.
"Good. It should feel heavy. A king's robes are meant to remind you of your responsibility."
Kairo gulped hard. He looked up at the crowd of faces below him. Thousands of eyes looked back at him, shining, hopeful, expectant. They cheered his father's name first, a thunderous roar.And then the chanting changed.
"Kairo! Kairo!"
The chanting rolled up at Kairo like a physical force. Kairo was frozen in place, his breath caught in his throat.The King stepped forward, holding up one gauntleted hand. Instantly, the crowd fell silent."People of this kingdom!"
The King's voice rolled across the square, deep and unshakable.
"We gather today to celebrate victory! To celebrate not merely the gaining of more territory, but the gaining of something far greater! For today, we fulfill the prophecy! For today, we know that this boy—"
He gestured at Kairo, drawing him forward gently but firmly by the shoulder.
"This boy here is Kairo! Kairo, the one meant to lead us into a golden age!"
The crowd went wild. Applause thundered against the stone beneath their feet. Flowers cascaded from their outstretched arms. Kairo's face was aflame with crimson
.Me…? I'm just a boy…Yet as he looked at the faces of the people around him—mothers hoisting their children to their shoulders, old men drying their eyes with their sleeves, young men saluting him—he felt a strange warmth spread through his chest.
Hope. Faith. They looked to him as if he were already their king.
The King raised his arm once again, hushing the thunderous applause.
"And as if the very hand of destiny smiled upon me once again, the gods have given me a daughter—Princess Aria! The jewel of the kingdom, and the one to stand beside Kairo in the future!"
A nursemaid stepped forward, the newborn princess held safely in her silk-lined arms. The face of the little princess was serene, almost divine, under the golden light of the sun.
A sigh of wonder escaped the mouths of the noblewomen present, their hands rising to their breasts.Kairo's face turned scarlet red. His mouth opened, closed, and opened again.
"H-husband? I-I'm still young!" Kairo stammered, his voice cracking.
"I—I forgot to tell him to keep it a secret… this is so embarrassing, not in front of all these people!"
The people around Kairo laughed, a warm, affectionate sound. Children snickered; adults applauded with glee.The King, meanwhile, beamed with a warm, pleased smile. His scarred face gleamed with pride. He boomed out his words again, loud enough for the furthest citizens of the city to hear.
"Together, with Kairo and Aria, this kingdom shall rise higher than ever before!" His voice echoed through the city.
"Remember this day, my people, for it marks the beginning of a new era of gold!"
Fireworks exploded in the sky, raining down in great cascades of gold and red. Music played from everywhere, drums, flutes, and strings blending in a triumphant symphony.
The plaza resounded with the roar of the people. And Kairo, amidst the surging tide of people's cheers, felt a faint shiver run down his spine.
In the shadows cast by the towering banners…
Eyes watched.
Envious.
Calculating.
Patient.
For the prophecy had not only blessed the kingdom.
It had given a target to aim at.
Kairo set his small fists into the heavy sleeves and lifted his chin to meet the gaze he couldn't quite see.
Whatever was to come next…
He would face it.
For this world.
For this life.
For this duty…
Was his.
The grand ceremony had been over for a while now, and the palace slowly returned to its usual routine. Scribes scurried through the halls with piles of fresh treaties;
members of the nobility spoke in huddles about fate and conquest;
soldiers trained in the palace courtyards with a fresh intensity. The smell of fireworks and roses lingered in the air.
Kairo sat by himself on a stone bench in one of the less populated inner gardens, his legs dangling slightly above the ground, when heavy footfalls approached.
He raised his gaze to see the King, still partially dressed in armor, his crimson cloak thrown over one shoulder, walking purposefully towards him.
"Kairo," the King said, his deep voice commanding attention as he stopped in front of the bench.
Kairo leaned slightly forward, a spark of curiosity dancing in his eyes.
"Who is it, Father?"
King Ariston waved toward the garden archway. Three men emerged from the archway. Each of the men was broad-shouldered and looked like they had seen their share of battles. Yet they walked with a comfortable air around the King. They appeared to be in their thirties, the same rough age as King Ariston.
"Well, these are my friends. I wanted to introduce them."
Kairo hopped off the bench seat. He bowed his head slightly.
"Alright, Father. Nice to meet you. I'm Kairo. I'm from a different world."
The white-haired man was tall, lean, with sharp eyes. He was dressed in fine clothes, practical clothes. He looked like a man of the field as well as the castle.
"Yes… me too."
Kairo's eyes widened.
"Really?"
The red-haired man next to the white-haired man snorted. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Hey, quit the jokes. Quit the pranks."
A third man stepped forward—blond-haired, with a calm demeanor reminiscent of a scholar, despite the faint scars along his jawline. He smiled slightly.
"Well... do we consider coincidence the fact that we all have kids around your age? By the way, Prince—my name is Lion harth. Nice to meet you."
Kairo blinked, then grinned.
"Woah—that's why you have lion in your robes!"
The red-haired man rolled his eyes, though a reluctant smirk played on his face.
"So my name is Ronan Blaze. I have a kid named Akio." He scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Pretty weird name, huh? Couldn't come up with anything else."
Then the red hair with huge muscles just like King Ariston steps forward and says
" My name is Ronan Kane. And my son's name is Renn Kane. Yeah… he's a very hard-working kid. Hope you two get along he calls himself Renji he said it sounds like a girl."
The wise-looking man, who had dark hair and calm gray eyes that seemed to see everything, was the last one to step forward.
"My name is Rhydian Vale," he said, studying Kairo intently for a long time before nodding slightly.
"It seems you really are from another world," Rhydian said, "You're far too smart to be from around here. But of course, we can't be sure yet. You did come from that forbidden forest, after all. It could have granted you abilities or changed your memories somehow. But either way…" Rhydian smiled wryly. "I hope you get along with my son. He's very lazy. Just like me."
Ronan snorted from the side of the room.
"Yeah, lazy? You're lazy, but you always pass your exams."
Kairo took a long, dramatic breath.
"Ughhh… the most fearful thing in the universe… exams."
Ronan's eyes sparkled. He put a hand to his chest, clutching at it theatrically.
"Yes… yes, you're right…" Ronan's voice cracked in mock despair.
Rhydian chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Get along with my son, alright? he calls himself Daichi weird name because he named it himself "
The three men stood there for a moment longer. Each placed a small, wrapped gift into Kairo's hands. A small, nicely crafted wooden puzzle box from Lionharth, a small leather-bound notebook from Rhydian, and a small, intricately carved flame-shaped pendant from Ronan.
They bowed once to the King, then to Kairo, and then turned to leave.
Kairo stood there, holding the small, nicely crafted gifts, and watched their backs as they walked away. A small, genuine smile began to form on his face.
For the first time since entering this world, he did not feel so alone.
Kairo stands there "Let me remember their name Ronan's son name is Akio and Rhydian son name is Daichi and the last name is Akio ok Akio i hope i don't forget their names i am very bad at remembering their names "
Kairo then realizes then he says no way wait a second what if those guys are inhuman and break my bones accidently these guys are way too strong i got to be careful
Then Kairo sees a maid lifting up giant stones because it made her fall and she had to wash those clothes again she wanted to break that rock but other maid comes and lifts it and throws away she says "Hey don't break those stones if you do you have to clean it again so stop putting extra works"
Kairo exhales and says "Story of my life"
Kairo fell onto his bed the moment he stepped into his chambers. The grand ceremony, the deafening roars of the crowds, the pressure of a thousand eyes calling out to him by name... it all took a toll on him.
He felt like he was completely drained.
His body hurt from the lingering fatigue of training, while his mind whirled with the faces, the cheers, and the strange, oppressive weight that had settled within his chest ever since the King announced that he was to be married to Aria before the entire kingdom.
Too much... too loud... too many things happening at once...
Kairo didn't even take the time to remove the ceremonial robes.
He merely went to his side, wrapped the blankets over his head, and let the exhaustion take over.
Maybe if I sleep... all of these things won't haunt me tomorrow...
Kairo fell into darkness immediately.
Kairo woke up with a start.
He hastily climbed out of bed, still clad in yesterday's clothes, with a tangled mess of hair. His bare feet slapped against the cold marble floor as he hurried through the halls, passing by startled maids and bowing guards.
He burst into the audience chamber as King Ariston was finishing a conversation with a handful of his advisors.
Scrolls and maps had been laid across the long table, but all talk ceased as Kairo entered, disheveled and out of breath.
The King turned to Kairo. His stern face immediately softened at the sight of his son, who looked sweaty, wide-eyed, and utterly panicked.
"So you've finally awakened," King Ariston said, a faint smile playing at the edge of his lips.
"I thought I was pushing you too hard with training... but I see you're not here to plead for easier days. Are you?"
Kairo slumped his shoulders. He rubbed the back of his neck, blushing.
"Father..." Kairo's voice came out barely above a whisper. "Can I... meet other kids? My age?"
The King blinked once; surprise was evident on his face. But then his face spread into a wide, pleased smile.
"Of course. A king must know his people. Go. Meet them. Learn from them. And let them learn from you."
Kairo let out a breath in relief.
In simple tunic and trousers, no royal finery to speak of, no heavy jewels to distract, Kairo slipped out of the palace with only one guard lingering in the distance.
The courtyard was noisy with the sounds of wooden swords clashing, the shouts of laughter, and pounding feet on packed earth. Noble children and trainees at the knights' school played.
Kairo stood at the edge of the courtyard, suddenly feeling shy.
What if they think I'm weird?
A boy with sandy hair and freckles spotted him first.
"Hey! Who're you?"
Kairo nervously scratched his cheek.
"U-Uh, I'm Kairo."
The boy looked at him curiously, then cracked a wide smile.
"Kairo? As in, that Kairo? The one from the prophecy? Well, that means... my name's Akio."
Kairo managed to crack a small smile.
"H-Hey there. So, uh, are you playing with your friends?"
Akio immediately took Kairo's wrist.
"Come with me. I'll introduce you to my friend group before the others see you. I'm your first friend. I want to make sure my friends meet you first."
Akio ran towards a group of children near the fountain.
A girl with the same energy as Akio saw them coming and flailed her arms wildly.
"Hey! Where were you? Did you get lost again—ohhh! You're the King's son!"
She was smiling brightly and taking a step forward.
"My name's Mika. Nice to meet you, Prince Kairo"
Kairo waved both hands in a quick motion.
"Just call me Kairo."
The rest of the group was also approaching.
A boy with red hair and a mischievous face came first.
"Hey Mika, you forgot to scare Akio this time—ohhh, it's Kairo. Hey there. Name's Renji."
A girl with braids looked at Renji discontentedly.
"Hey, he's the King's son. Why are you so casual? I'm sorry, Prince Kairo I'm Hina. Nice to meet you."
A boy with a sturdy build shrugged.
"Prince Kairo is too long. I'll call you Kairo. Name's Daichi. Nice to meet ya, I guess."
A girl with piercing eyes and a slouching back smirked.
"Well, I won't change that you're just as lazy but smart as me—oh, sorry. Kairo-sama. My name's Liana. Noble daughter."
A sweet girl with soft brown hair made a proper curtsy.
"Good morning, Prince Kairo. I have met you before. I'm Ayaka—maid's daughter."
Kairo's mind reeled. He rubbed his temples.
"Wait, wait, wait! I'm not supposed to remember all of your names! I'm really bad at this... What was it again? Lia? Aya? Dai? Hi? Uhhh... I'm not supposed to remember..."
A calm boy with well-groomed hair walked forward, holding a folded piece of paper.
"Don't worry, I have written them down. Take this. And... I'm Leonhart."
The kids looked at each other, their expressions ranging from curiosity, suspicion, and a little jealousy.
Mika crossed her arms, a sly grin spreading across her face.
"So you're supposed to be special, huh? You don't look like much."
Kairo chuckled awkwardly, scratching his cheek.
"Y-yeah... I guess I don't..."
Akio punched the air.
"Huh. Well, who cares? Wanna play tag with us?"
Kairo blinked.
And then his face split into a wide, happy grin.
"…Sure!"
For the first time in this world, Kairo ran not as prince, not as prophesied child—but simply as kid. The ankle weights slowed him at first, but his body adapted almost at once. He leapt high, darted quick. The children gasped.
"Whoa! He's fast!" Akio exclaimed.
"No way! He's cheating or something!" Mika cried out in protest, her face alight with laughter.
"Hahaha—got you!" Kairo tagged Renji and leapt away, his heart feeling lighter than it had in months.
For one golden afternoon, the prophecy, the war, the heavy robes, the watchful eyes… all of it receded.
He was simply Kairo.
A boy among other children.
Kairo stopped mid-game, his breathing slowing as he watched the other children race around the courtyard. His gaze was intent but slightly narrowed.
Wait a minute… they're running at least 20 to 25 kilometers per hour. That's 12 to 15 miles an hour. And they're only seven years old.
In his old world, this was not an easy pace to maintain, even among adults. But among children?
Kairo crossed his arms over his chest, his expression neutral.I need to play it cool. If they see me staring at them in shock, they'll know something's different. This world is another level.
They're in an environment with more oxygen, more physical strength. They're not stuck inside staring at phones and computer screens. They're not wasting their time staring at things that are supposed to bring them joy. They're out here running around, living life, creating memories.
A small smile played on his lips.
Heh. Lucky me—I'm no longer an iPad kid. At least now I have actual friends to spend time with.
Akio skidded to a stop in front of him, hands on hips.
"Hey, Kairo! You're standing there like an old man. Scared of losing?"
Kairo snapped out of his thoughts and grinned.
"Scared? No way. How about this—this time, I'll tag all of you."
A collective gasp was heard from the group.
Mika's eyes widened.
"You're crazy!"
Akio laughed, loud and bright.
"Hah! You can't catch us all!"
Renji cracked his knuckles, smirking.
"Fine! I won't lose to you!"
The children scattered like startled birds. They laughed, shouted, and ran off in all directions. The sound of pounding feet and shouts echoed through the courtyard.
Kairo crouched low to the ground. The familiar weights on his ankles felt like anchors, digging into the ground.
Sweat already beaded at his temples, but a newfound excitement pulsed through him.
It's different. It's...better. Better than any game I ever played online. No lag, no screen, no pause button. Just me, them, and the chase.
Kairo stood up, calling out.
"Ready?"
"Ready!" the children shouted back, their voices shrill with excitement.
Kairo took off like a shot.
The weights slowed him at first, forcing him to run through the ground. But with every step, it felt like the weights were melting away. His muscles began to warm up, to breathe. He moved faster than he expected, sharper, more precise.
The chase was on.
He tagged Renji first, making a low move, feinting to the left, and then striking to the right, slapping the boy on the shoulder with a triumphant cry.
Renji yelped in shock, his eyes wide, and then grinned, spinning around to chase after the others.
Mika shrieked and ran, but Kairo caught up to her with a sudden burst, his fingers brushing against her sleeve.
"Got you!" he exclaimed.
She spun back to him, laughing so hard she almost stumbled.
"No fair, you're too fast!" she exclaimed.
Akio tried to zigzag, but Kairo saw the pattern and caught up to him in the middle of his turn, slapping his back with a gentle push.
"You're next!" he exclaimed.
One by one, they fell, laughing, protesting, and then joining in to chase the others.
The courtyard was a whirlwind of motion, with the children running between flowerbeds, dodging behind stone pillars, leaping over low benches.
Kairo's lungs were burning with pleasure, his cheeks flushed, his face split by a wide, breathless grin.
For the first time since the blinding light took him away from his old life, he wasn't thinking about prophecies, contracts, or kingship.
He was just running.
Just playing.
Just a kid among friends.
And for those moments, the weight on his ankles was nothing at all