Chapter 22
Origin,
Kaisen Alter Aradamentel (5)
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「Tus roh e Shiek kide El bas…….」
The wave of power didn’t disperse into the air. Instead, it began to etch itself into the surface of the stone.
As though inscribing letters of fire upon it.
Wherever the flames flickered and passed, the incantation carved deeply, glowing and fading in a golden hue. The process alone took quite some time.
「This is no ordinary Dragon Spirit Stone. It is a stone containing the very essence of me, Yoshuhar.」
Was he exhausted?
Yoshuhar’s white beard trembled as he held the glowing stone in hand, light pouring from it.
“Why… are you doing this for me?”
「Your question is difficult.」
“I apologize.”
「No matter. Ollier Dun Zeraye, you may leave.」
Only after Ollier bowed and left, with the door closed, did Yoshuhar speak again.
「Humans are strange creatures. They love their children and even their children’s children for no reason. This inherited favoritism is an emotion the gods did not bestow upon dragonkind.」
What was he talking about?
Kaisen tried to read Yoshuhar’s expression, but it was difficult to decipher the face of a dragon.
「To me, your mother, Raminea Alter Aradamentel, was like a daughter. And so, you are like a grandson.」
“…Excuse me?”
「How did your mother meet her end?」
Once again, Kaisen felt a sorrow rise from deep within—a grief that belonged to a boy who had lost something he could never retrieve.
“She saved me… and left with a smile.”
「Cling to that sorrow. A warrior is one who turns will into strength. Your grief shall become unshakable resolve that will guide your path.」
Yoshuhar held out the Dragon Spirit Stone.
Kaisen hesitated, but then received it with both hands. It was so hot it nearly burned, yet so cold it emitted a chilling mist.
「Remember. During the ritual, you must never—under any circumstances—lose consciousness.」
Following Yoshuhar’s command, Kaisen sat in the lotus position at the center of the temple, where the dragon rune [念] was carved into the ground.
Yoshuhar took his seat at the ceremonial platform.
Around the rune, dragonkin priests in human form stood in a circle according to rank. The sound of prayer beads turning and chants grew louder.
「Kest… Jer… Kendov… Nah… Muz… Qo… su… Vulon…….」
Kaisen let out a deep breath.
The Dragon Spirit Stone he had been holding with effort suddenly began to pour into him.
And in the next moment—
“U-uaaaaaaaagh!”
Agony tore through his entire body.
A searing lump of power rampaged, ripping through muscle and bone, spreading everywhere. His veins and arteries lit red beneath his skin.
As he coughed up blood, a bitter thought crossed his mind.
Is the human body truly this frail? Just by accepting a fragment of a dragon’s power, his tendons snapped, joints shattered.
Drip. Drip. Drip-drip-drip…
In the chaotic sound of the beads, the world blurred, split into two, then three, then snapped back into one—over and over. His entire being shivered at the edge of death.
—Remember. You must not lose consciousness.
Even as thick blood poured from his ears, eyes, and nose, Kaisen did not break his posture.
It hurts. It hurts so much…
I’m going to die…
His ears began to ring. His skin tore, and raging veins bulged, spraying a fine red mist.
—You are the most precious treasure in Mommy’s world…
I…
I will claim this power…
I will cut and slash until I have the strength to return to the south—where my ruined home and mother’s grave await…
—Kaisen, let’s go. Let’s lay Camilla to rest beside the commander…
As the stone’s power blazed violently, Kaisen’s body began to twist unnaturally.
His frame lengthened, bones solidified, and dragonic energy danced through his veins.
Amid unspeakable agony, his hair bleached pale white. A storm of power whirled around him, surging violently.
「Kest… Jer… Kendov… Nah… Muz… Qo… su… Vulon……!」
The swirling tempest flung the priests’ robes wildly.
And then, all that power surged into Kaisen’s body—and silence fell.
The boy’s form dimmed. The light that had burned from his eyes flickered out.
「As expected…」
Yoshuhar held his breath.
As Kaisen exhaled and slowly opened his eyes, the white hair floating in the air settled down.
Those eyes did not look at the temple.
They looked far—toward the southern sea where his lost homeland lay.
His irises gleamed with brilliant gold.
Gasps escaped the priests.
「Never have I seen such pure golden eyes.」
「The great essence of Yoshuhar now dwells within that small body…」
「Child of Raminea, how do you feel?」
Is it… over?
The wave of pain and blinding heat had finally vanished. Kaisen tried to speak—
‘Huh?’
But why… was the world tilting?
Why was the world… falling sideways…?
When he opened his eyes again, Kaisen found himself lying on a medical bed. The sunlight pouring through the windows was both bright and heavy.
“…?”
Though his eyes were open, he was so dazed he had to blink several times.
His vision was clear.
Too clear.
He could zoom in on distant objects and pull them close, or push nearby things away to see the full scene.
And that wasn’t all.
His entire body pulsed with an unfamiliar, otherworldly power. The flow of energy was cool and tranquil, like a river.
“You’re awake?”
Ollier Dun Zeraye stood at the bedside.
“Instructor… I can see you…”
“Of course you can.”
Ollier turned a mirror on the nightstand toward him.
What the—?
His reflected eyes trembled.
Bathed in morning sunlight, his irises gleamed gold like a dragon’s. Half his hair had turned silvery white.
Golden eyes and white hair—symbols of a Faeknighter.
His body had also changed. His limbs were far longer and firmer than they were in his boyhood.
“You’ve grown tall. Most Faeknighters end up around six cheok, and the rare one might hit seven. But you’ve far exceeded that. You’re at the height of a high Tarc chieftain.”
Was it because he was a man?
Unlikely.
It must be the difference between the essence of a true dragon and that of a lesser drake. Given the size gap between them, this result made sense.
“Instructor… I… did I… did it work? Did I succeed?”
His breath trembled with emotion.
In his memories, his mother’s eyes sparkled just like this. And Camilla’s hair had been this same pure white.
Perhaps that’s why.
It felt like he had finally, finally caught up to them.
As a shiver traced down his spine, Ollier nodded and smiled softly.
“Yes. Congratulations, Kaisen. The first male Faeknighter… The world’s going to lose its mind.”
“!”
“Now then, go test what your new body can do.”
“You’ve learned everything a Faeknighter must master—swordsmanship, martial arts—whether in one year, two, or even three.”
So said Kelly Dun Zeraye.
This was the final session for Class 997. Of the seventeen original cadets, only three remained.
With Kaisen included, that made four. The other thirteen had perished, unable to withstand the Dragon Spirit Stone.
“Now, only the Faeknighter-exclusive training remains. Actually, it’s less training, and more… shifting your perception.”
“Instructor, dear instructor!”
Isla raised her hand.
She was the disciple of Ryunel Alter Gaumris, who died in the Siege of Terbenople. She too had survived and bore golden eyes.
“If Isla remembers correctly, this training has already been done!”
“Impressive memory.”
“Thank you for the high praise!”
“That was sarcasm. In honor of your foolishness, you’ll go first. To the starting point, Isla.”
This was originally a balance exercise. A deep pit had five bamboo stalks suspended over it.
If one lost focus or balance, the bamboo would snap, and the cadet would fall.
“Isla, are you mocking me? I can do this with my eyes closed now!”
“No need to close your eyes. Just jump across from that side to here.”
“?”
“Your bodies have surpassed human limits. This session is about making you realize that—physically, not mentally. Now go on, jump!”
Kaisen watched as Isla hesitated slightly, then leapt forward with a short run-up.
Wait… what?
It had been a simple jump—but it looked like she had used advanced footwork. She soared cleanly over the pit and landed on the other side—right on her rear.
“Oh…?”
“What was that…?”
Next to Kaisen, the other Class 997 cadets stared with their mouths agape.
“Did you see that?! Did you?! That’s Isla’s POWER!”
Despite her tiny frame, Isla bounced around in glee. Even Kelly Dun Zeraye had to struggle not to laugh.
“Good. For the next three weeks, your job is to grasp what your new bodies are capable of. Seira, you’re next.”
The other two cadets leapt across the pit in one bound, showcasing superhuman ability.
Kaisen was amazed.
Seeing his comrades succeed filled him with confidence that he could do the same. Kelly nodded.
“Last one. Kaisen—let’s see what the only male Faeknighter in history is capable of.”
Isla’s eyes sparkled.
Seira, a disciple of Alesia Alter Solang who also fought at Terbenople, smiled as she turned her gaze to Kaisen.
“Let’s see…”
Kaisen stepped back a few paces, then pushed off the ground with all his might, launching himself over the pit.
“…?!”
“…?!”
“…?!”
The result left Class 997 speechless.
Even Kelly took off her glasses (still worn due to a flaw in her body modification), wiped them with her sleeve, and put them back on.
“Kaisen, are you alright?”
The supposed miracle leaper groaned as he stood from the muddy bottom of the pit.
He hadn’t even cleared half the distance.
This unprecedented situation (well, being a male Faeknighter was already unprecedented) brought all the instructors over.
“Kaisen, try again.”
Ollier Dun Zeraye spoke. He had rushed over after hearing Kelly’s report.
—His physical abilities didn’t enhance?
—No. He jumped like a normal person.
Kaisen’s white hair was now soaked in mud. His training uniform was heavy and wet.
“I’ll go again.”
Kaisen stepped back, took a short run-up, and was just about to jump—
“Stop!”
Ollier shouted.
The Class 997 cadets looked puzzled as their head instructor called out.
Ollier leapt gracefully across the pit and landed beside Kaisen.
“This is strange… The ‘binding chains’ aren’t infused with dragonic power.”
The Binding Chains—ManaChains—were what warriors used to circulate force through their bodies.
Faeknighters took it a step further, imbuing their chains with dragonic language and power.
Normally, when you looked inside their bodies, you would see golden chains coiled tightly around mind and spirit.
“Kaisen, do you remember how it felt to activate your sword aura?”
“Not perfectly… but I remember.”
“Try doing that.”
“Right now?”
“Yes, now.”
It felt ridiculous to try activating a sword aura without holding a weapon.
But the boy focused.
As his body began to glow dimly, Ollier felt a sudden jolt of pressure like his corneas were burning.
‘What is this…?’
It was blinding.
That thought—blinding?—pierced his mind like an unnatural spike.
Blinding light? So bright…?
