He had already accepted it.
Everyone in the world had mana.
At least, almost everyone.
Mana was the energy that existed within the human body.
It allowed people to use magic.
Fire.
Water.
Wind.
Earth.
Lightning.
Light.
Even rare and mysterious elements.
Every child eventually underwent a mana awakening.
Kael had undergone his years ago.
The result had been simple.
Nothing.
No mana.
Not even the smallest spark.
The examiner had checked three times.
The answer had remained the same.
Kael Veyron had no mana.
He couldn't use magic.
He couldn't become a magician.
And he certainly couldn't become a great hero.
Kael didn't mind.
"Magic isn't everything."
Mira looked at him.
"That's what people without magic say."
"Probably."
"You really don't care?"
Kael thought about it.
"No."
Then he smiled.
"I have something better."
Mira's eyes widened.
"What?"
Kael flexed his arm.
"These."
Mira stared at his arm.
Then at him.
"Your muscles?"
"Exactly."
She burst out laughing.
Kael frowned.
"What's so funny?"
"You want to become a farmer because you're strong?"
"Yes."
"That's stupid."
"You'll see."
"See what?"
Kael pointed toward the fields.
"One day, I'll have the biggest farm in the entire region."
Mira laughed even harder.
"You're going to grow vegetables?"
"Yes."
"You're going to feed everyone?"
"Yes."
"You're going to become a legendary vegetable farmer?"
Kael thought about it.
"...Maybe."
Mira laughed until she couldn't breathe.
Kael crossed his arms.
"What's wrong with being a farmer?"
"Nothing."
"Then stop laughing."
"I can't!"
Kael sighed.
But he was smiling.
That night, Kael sat outside the orphanage.
The younger children had already gone to sleep.
The older ones were inside.
The stars filled the sky.
Kael leaned against the wooden wall.
He looked up at the night sky.
For a moment, he wondered about the past.
About the person who had abandoned him.
About the four rings.
About the questions he had carried since childhood.
But those thoughts quickly faded.
The orphanage was his home now.
The people inside were his family.
That was enough.
At least...
It should have been.
A distant rumble suddenly echoed through the night.
Kael looked up.
His smile disappeared.
The stars were still there.
The moon was still shining.
Everything looked normal.
But something felt wrong.
Kael stood.
He looked toward the horizon.
Far away...
Something flashed.
A bright light.
Then another.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What was that?"
Another flash.
This time, the ground trembled.
Inside the orphanage, the children began waking up.
"What was that?"
"Did you feel that?"
"What's happening?"
Kael turned toward the building.
"Everyone stay inside!"
His voice echoed through the orphanage.
The children froze.
Kael had never sounded like that before.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The world exploded with light.
A shockwave tore through the settlement.
Kael was thrown backward.
His body crashed through the wooden wall.
Pain exploded through his shoulder.
He hit the ground.
For a moment...
He couldn't hear anything.
Then the screaming began.
Kael's eyes widened.
"No..."
Smoke filled the air.
Fire spread across the rooftops.
People were running through the streets.
Somewhere in the distance, something enormous roared.
Kael immediately stood.
"Everyone!"
He ran.
He ran faster than he had ever run before.
He reached the orphanage.
The building was on fire.
"MISS ELARA!"
No answer.
"MIRA!"
Nothing.
Kael stepped inside.
The building was already burning.
He heard the children screaming.
Kael's heart shattered.
"It's okay!"
He ran forward.
"I'm here!"
He carried one child outside.
Then another.
Then another.
Again.
And again.
The flames grew hotter.
The smoke grew thicker.
The building began to collapse.
But Kael refused to stop.
These weren't strangers.
They were his family.
The little boy who threw buckets.
Mira.
The children who annoyed him every day.
Miss Elara.
Everyone.
They were his world.
And Kael refused to let that world disappear.
"COME ON!"
He lifted another child.
"Almost there!"
He ran.
He stumbled.
He fell.
He stood again.
He carried the child outside.
Then he turned around.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Until finally...
There was no one left to save.
Kael froze.
His chest rose and fell.
His lungs burned.
His entire body screamed at him to stop.
But he couldn't.
He looked around.
"Miss Elara?"
Nothing.
"Mira?"
Silence.
Kael's eyes widened.
"No."
He ran back inside.
The flames roared around him.
"MIRA!"
Nothing.
"MISS ELARA!"
Nothing.
"ANYONE?!"
Silence.
Kael stopped.
His heart was pounding.
"No..."
He ran deeper into the burning building.
The floor collapsed beneath him.
Kael jumped backward.
He stared into the darkness below.
He couldn't get through.
He couldn't reach them.
His strength wasn't enough.
His speed wasn't enough.
His body wasn't enough.
"NO!"
Kael slammed his fist into the wall.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
The wood cracked beneath his hand.
But it didn't matter.
He couldn't save them.
He couldn't save his family.
The building groaned.
Kael ran outside.
The orphanage collapsed behind him.
CRASH!
Kael stood there.
Silent.
The place that had been his home...
Was gone.
Everyone he loved...
Was gone.
All of them.
Every single person.
Kael stared at the burning ruins.
His hands trembled.
He couldn't breathe.
His dream of becoming a farmer was gone.
The fields he had dreamed of farming were burning.
The people he loved were gone.
Everything was gone.
Kael slowly fell to his knees.
Tears fell from his face.
He didn't care who saw.
He didn't care about anything.
His entire world had disappeared in a single night.
Kael stared at the flames.
The boy who had once dreamed of becoming a farmer was gone.
In his place stood someone else.
Someone who had finally realized a painful truth.
Being strong wasn't enough.
Not when it mattered most.
Kael looked down at his hands.
His fists slowly clenched.
For the first time in his life...
Kael Veyron wanted something more than a peaceful life.
He wanted strength.
Real strength.
The kind that could protect the people he loved.
The kind that could stop something like this from ever happening again.
Kael slowly stood.
His tears continued to fall.
But his eyes were different now.
"I'll become stronger."
His voice was barely a whisper.
"Strong enough..."
Kael stared at the burning ruins.
"...so I'll never have to watch someone I love die again."
A cold wind passed through the ruins.