The room was silent after Kairo said those words.
His mother looked at him, confused. What did you just say?
Kairo looked straight into her eyes and spoke calmly:
Mother, I am leaving this house. I will return after one year. I want to travel… to see other places.
The moment he said that, his mother's expression changed.
No, she said immediately. You are not going anywhere.
I am going, Kairo replied.
I said you are not going, she said, her voice now cold and firm.
Kairo's eyes slowly became emotionless.
If you don't let me go, he said quietly, I will kill myself.
The room went completely silent.
His mother looked at him for a few seconds — then her expression hardened.
If you want to die, then die, she said. But I will not let you go anywhere.
Even Sofia was slightly shocked hearing that.
Kairo looked at his mother for a long moment, then turned and started walking toward the door.
Let's see who can stop me, he said.
The moment he reached the door—
A transparent barrier suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path.
His mother's voice came from behind him:
Cross this barrier, and I will let you go.
Kairo looked at the barrier quietly.
He raised his hand slightly, as if he was going to touch it.
But he stopped.
Then he slowly lowered his hand and said:
No need.
He turned around and looked at all of them.
You are proud of your cultivation, right?
he said. Fine. I promise — I will never cultivate.
Sofia suddenly stepped forward and slapped him across the face.
SLAP.
Kairo! she said angrily. Talk to Mom with respect!
Kairo slowly turned his face back and looked at her.
Then he said something that made the entire room silent.
If Ketlos were in my place, Kairo said, you wouldn't slap him. You would praise him.
Sofia froze.
Kairo continued:
In this house, I have no respect. No value. Nothing.
His voice was not loud. Not angry.
Just… empty.
I am leaving this house, he said. And I will never come back.
Just then, his father spoke:
Stop. You are not going anywhere.
Kairo looked at him. Why?
His father looked straight into his eyes and said:
If you have cultivation power, I will let you go.
Kairo gave a small, tired smile.
Come on, Dad, he said. I don't have any power. I was born weak. I can't cultivate. Please stop putting pressure on me. Just let me go.
His father replied slowly:
I know this world very well. No one is born without cultivation talent. No one.
Kairo's eyes darkened slightly.
When I was a child, Kairo said quietly, you checked my cultivation, right? You found nothing, right?
No one spoke.
That's why you adopted Ketlos, Kairo continued. As my replacement.
The room fell into complete silence.
No one denied it.
No one explained.
That silence… was the answer.
Kairo nodded slowly.
I understand now, he said. What I am in this house.
He turned and started walking again.
But the barrier was still there.
His mother's voice came again, but this time it was not angry… it was shaking.
No matter what happens… I will not let you go. If you want to leave… then break this barrier and show me.
Kairo looked at the barrier again.
He knew he could break it.
But if he did… everything would be exposed.
So he didn't.
Instead, he turned toward Sofia and said in a normal voice:
Come on, Sofia sister… you're not going to help me either? At least explain to Mom. I want to go for my own development. How long will I stay inside this house? Outside, I will train, I will learn, I will see the world.
He paused, then said:
I don't have cultivation power. At least let me see the world. I promise, I will return after one year. And if I don't… then you can give me any punishment. I will accept it.
Sofia looked at him for a long time.
Then she looked at her mother.
Mom, Sofia said softly, let him go.
His mother didn't reply.
Mom, Sofia said again, sometimes… if you hold someone too tightly… they suffocate.
His mother closed her eyes for a few seconds.
When she opened them again, her eyes were slightly wet.
She waved her hand slowly.
The barrier disappeared.
The room was silent.
Kairo looked at the place where the barrier had been… then he looked at his mother.
For a brief moment, something moved in his eyes.
But the next second, his face became calm again.
Thank you, he said.
Then he turned around…
And walked out of the house.
Without looking back.
The large gates of the Kelric family slowly closed behind him.
And with that—
A boy left his home.
And a monster began his journey.