"Uaaah… Uaaah…"
The cries of a newborn filled the room.
A sound that marked a beginning.
The start of a new life.
In the nation of Onix, within the household of the Royal Drifters, that beginning had just taken form.
A child had been born.
The third son of Brome and Glassy.
Brome stood beside the bed, his body frozen for a moment. His eyes trembled as he looked at the child.
"My child…"
His voice carried both disbelief and joy.
But something felt wrong.
The baby wasn't moving.
No sound. No reaction.
Silence.
Brome's expression slowly changed. The joy in his face faded, replaced by unease.
Glassy, who had just regained consciousness, noticed it too.
Her gaze turned toward the child.
Her expression shifted instantly.
Fear.
Sorrow.
The room grew heavy. No one spoke.
Was the child… even alive?
Then—
A cry.
Sudden. Sharp. Real.
The baby began to wail.
Relief swept through the room in an instant. The tension broke, replaced by quiet breaths and faint smiles.
Tears rolled down Glassy's cheeks as she turned toward Brome.
"You should name him," she said softly.
Brome nodded without hesitation.
"Iconic," he replied.
"Someone who will be remembered… a symbol of an era."
Glassy closed her eyes for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Yes… he will create an amazing story."
The people in the room nodded in silence.
A new story had begun.
A Few Days Later
A vast mansion stood across a wide stretch of land, nearly twelve hectares in size.
At its entrance hung an old wooden board:
[Brome's Residence]
Inside were twelve rooms, a large hall, seven maids, and a single butler who maintained the household.
In the main hall—
"Dad! Dad!"
A young boy with bright eyes ran inside.
"The baby has your black eyes… but why is his hair black too?"
Brome smiled slightly.
"Black hair is rare," he said. "It is said to be the will of the Goddess of Knowledge, Elision."
The boy's eyes lit up.
"My brother is unique… he's really unique!"
He began running around the hall, repeating the word with excitement, while a maid hurried behind him trying to stop him.
He only stopped when he noticed Glassy sitting nearby, writing in a diary.
"Mother, what are you writing?"
Glassy looked up and gently lifted him onto her lap.
"You don't need to be so curious," she said calmly. "But I'll show you."
She turned the diary toward him.
"You can read this much, right?"
The boy squinted and slowly read.
"Flare… August… 1834… Sine… May… 1836… Ico… nic… October…"
He looked up proudly.
"I can read it!"
Glassy smiled and patted his head.
"As expected of my child."
Eleven Years Later
September, 1839
Brome's Residence.
"Iconic! Why are you doing this again?"
A boy with violet hair stood in the hallway, his expression annoyed.
"Father told you not to break things here."
Iconic turned toward him with a carefree smile.
"It's fine, Brother Sine… as long as you don't tell him."
Sine sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"You always say that."
His eyes fell on the broken vase nearby.
"This was one of Father's favorites…"
Iconic said nothing. He only stared at Sine with bright, glittering eyes.
Sine immediately looked away.
"…Stop looking at me like that."
A pause.
Then he exhaled.
"There's only one solution."
Ten Minutes Later
Sine stood outside the drawing room, leaning close to the door.
"I'm sorry, Iconic," he muttered. "But this is the best way… and honestly, a little fun."
Inside—
Brome sat calmly on the sofa.
Iconic stood in front of him.
"Well," Brome said, "this is the fifth time you've broken one of my antique vases."
Iconic stayed silent.
"And unfortunately," Brome continued, "that was the last one in the collection."
"…Brother Sine was involved too," Iconic quickly added.
Brome sighed.
"Do you know who told me?"
Iconic shook his head.
Brome placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling faintly—but his tone carried pressure.
"Sine."
Iconic's face stiffened.
"I—I'm sorry, Dad…"
Brome removed his hand and leaned back.
"It's almost time for Flare's academy admission, and I still have to deal with your trouble."
He paused briefly.
"It's good your mother isn't here right now."
Iconic visibly tensed.
"…I understand."
"Be careful," Brome said. "Tomorrow, I won't be home. I'll be attending Flare's admission."
"I'll behave," Iconic replied.
But even as he said it—
his eyes still carried that strange, unreadable glow.
Next chapter "Academy" soon will be published....