Levi smiled as he stood before the gathered crowd and declared, "Well, tomorrow will be Kazuki's final Spiritual test — the Spirit Choosing Ceremony. And all I can say after witnessing this child's previous two tests is that he's going to be a prodigy."
The moment those words left Levi's lips, the audience inside the grand ceremony hall broke into thunderous applause. Whispers spread like wildfire among nobles, soldiers, and visiting envoys of other races. A child possessing both Holy Force and Chaos Force, and a capacity powerful enough to destroy the measuring devices — it was something unheard of in centuries.
Levi gave Kazuki a last, knowing glance before disappearing in a shimmer of divine light.
Kazuki, still a child in appearance but carrying the heavy thoughts of a man reborn, sat silently beside Emperor Shang in the royal carriage as they began their journey back to the royal mansion. The inside of the carriage was luxuriously decorated with crimson and gold velvet, the emblem of Lord Julius engraved on every curtain and cushion.
As the carriage rocked gently over the cobbled roads of the royal city, Shang finally broke the silence.
"You have a lot of potential, Kazuki," he said, his voice unusually heavy for a father speaking to his five-year-old son. "But it depends on the path you choose."
Kazuki turned to look at his father, pretending to be curious and innocent like any normal boy his age. Shang gave a faint smile, but his eyes were filled with concern.
"How much everyone admired your power in that ceremony hall today," Shang continued, "is equal to how much they fear it. That's the nature of this world, my son. Power brings admiration, yes… but it brings danger too. People revere it — and they seek to control it, or destroy it when it threatens the balance."
He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, then added, "You have to be careful with your choices. You must walk the right path, Kazuki… or you'll be devoured by your own strength."
Kazuki gave a childish nod as expected, but deep within, his mind was racing.
"I really didn't imagine this much would happen to me so quickly," Kazuki thought, glancing out of the carriage window at the bustling streets of the capital. Lanterns swayed in the evening breeze, and the aroma of roasted meat and spices filled the air. "But he's right. I can already sense it — the fear in their eyes, even among those who clapped. The whispers. I've been given powers that could shake this world, and if I'm not careful, they'll either turn against me… or my own strength will consume me."
He sighed internally. "Even with all these privileges and comforts, this life won't be easy. I'll have to navigate this carefully. I have to use my powers wisely. And I fear, deep down… that if I don't… if I lose myself to arrogance, hatred, or recklessness — I might fall."
Kazuki clenched his small fists, his expression blank so his father wouldn't notice.
"I have to aim for the path my family wants for me… and honestly, it's the path I want too. Because if I stray, I know what will happen. This journey of mine… it'll be long, it'll be difficult. But I have to endure, adapt, and evolve until the day I reach the heights I was meant for."
As the carriage continued toward the glowing silhouette of the royal mansion, the sun dipped low behind the distant mountains, painting the sky in hues of orange and violet. A quiet, foreboding calm settled over the kingdom — as if the world itself knew a storm was coming.
And at the heart of it would be the boy named Kazuki Ayanami.