The next morning, Rio was jolted awake by a loud knock on his bedroom door. The white light of the magical lamp still hovered in the air, though it had grown fainter now, blending with the sunrise streaming through the window to cast a golden glow across the room. Rio pushed the blanket aside and, still groggy from sleep, opened the door. Elian, his father's trusted soldier, stood there. His black armor gleamed in the morning light like the night itself, and his helmet, which completely concealed his face, revealed only two glowing red eyes. Long red hair spilled out from beneath the helmet, swaying in the morning breeze. His voice was dry and formal.
"Get up, Master Rio.Master William has summoned you to the palace courtyard."
"What? Right now?"
His heart pounded—a strange mix of excitement and unease twisting inside him. He quickly threw on a simple blue coat, ran a hand through his white hair to smooth it, He also put on his boots. As he dashed toward the door, his gaze met Elian's, who stared at him with an enigmatic air beneath his helmet. In the hallway, struggling to match Elian's long strides, Rio asked, "Why? What's happened?"
Elian tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk detectable only in his tone as he replied, "You know better than anyone. Lord William always has a reason."
His voice was calm, but there was a hidden mystery in it that only deepened Rio's curiosity.
Their footsteps echoed on the stone floors of the palace corridors. As Rio passed the tall windows, he felt the morning light warm his face. For a moment, he spotted Maria crossing the hall with a basket of laundry in her hands. He called out eagerly, "Good morning, Mom!"
Maria turned, her warm smile soothing his heart as always. "Good morning, my boy. You seem to be in a hurry!"
A little further on, he saw Setia emerging from the kitchen with a piece of bread in hand. Rio laughed and said, "Good morning, Setia!"
Setia waved the bread at him and replied, "Good morning, little troublemaker! Want some bread?" Rio shook his head and kept running.
When he reached the main corridor, he spotted Adrina leaning against the wall with a book in her hands. Her cool eyes flicked toward him, but before she could say anything, Rio darted forward and hugged her tightly. Adrina stiffened, her book nearly slipping from her grasp. Rio looked up at her with a grin and said, "Thanks, Adrina. If it weren't for you last night, I don't know what would've happened. I love you."
Then he quickly let go and ran toward the courtyard. Adrina stood there, staring after him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she muttered under her breath, "Crazy kid."
When Rio reached the palace courtyard, he was breathless. The courtyard was a vast open space, paved with gray stones and surrounded by tall columns engraved with dragons. In the center stood a stone fountain, water pouring from a dragon's mouth, sparkling like diamonds in the morning light. Willow trees with long, drooping branches cast shadows around the edges, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers through the air. A few soldiers in silver armor stood beside his father, but Rio's eyes locked onto only one person—William.
His father stood by the fountain, his fiery red hair swaying in the wind, his blazing red eyes fixed on Olivia, the tribe's "Seer." Olivia, clad in a long black robe with her own long red hair, was speaking calmly to William. As Rio approached, their conversation stopped. William shot a sharp glance at Olivia, and she stepped back with a mysterious smile. The strange silence piqued Rio's curiosity—what had they been talking about? Why did they stop?
William stepped forward, his lightweight armor glinting in the sunlight, his voice deep and commanding. "You're here, my son."
His presence, as always, carried an almost tangible weight, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. Rio nodded and said, "Yes, Father. Elian said you wanted me."
William stared at him for a moment, as if weighing something within him. Then he gestured toward Olivia and said, "I told her to start today. Reading, writing, and basic magical theory—Olivia will be your teacher. You'll leave the palace with her today, to the tribe. In a month, you'll begin practical training with me and Elian."
Rio froze. The words spun in his mind, and then a wave of joy crashed over him. His eyes widened, and a huge smile spread across his face. Without thinking, he ran forward and threw himself into William's arms.
"Thank you, Father! Thank you!"
His voice brimmed with excitement, and for a moment, William's intimidating aura melted into the warmth of the embrace. William rested a hand gently on Rio's shoulder, though his fiery red eyes remained cold and enigmatic. He said quietly, "This is just the beginning, Rio. What you want comes with great responsibility. Be ready."
Rio looked up into his father's eyes. A shadow of doubt lingered in his own gaze, but in that moment, his happiness overshadowed it. He stepped back, took a deep breath, and said, "I promise, Father. I won't let you down."
Olivia stepped forward with a soft smile and said, "Come, Rio. We're leaving now. It's time for you to see the tribe—and the world."
The two of them headed toward the palace gates. Elian, with his black armor and glowing red eyes beneath his helmet, gave Rio a single glance and said, "See you in a month. Be ready." William watched him go, muttering something under his breath that Rio couldn't hear, his usual air of mystery enveloping him.
Rio left the palace with Olivia, unguarded. As he set foot in the tribe, his breath caught in his chest. The tribe was a small town, its gray cobblestone streets laid out with precision. Houses of white and brown marble stood with arched windows and delicate carvings that gleamed in the morning light. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the air carried the scent of fresh bread and burning wood. People in simple, colorful clothing moved through the streets, but when they saw Rio, everything paused. Some stared in awe at his white hair and silver eyes, while others stepped back in fear. A woman with a basket of fruit pulled her child closer, whispering something under her breath. Rio's heart raced, but he kept his head high and walked beside Olivia.
Olivia said calmly, "Don't worry. They'll get used to you."
They made their way to a larger house at the end of the street—Olivia's home, which doubled as a magic workshop. It looked cozy. When they reached the entrance, a wooden door adorned with strange carvings swung open, and Rio stepped inside, his excitement palpable.
"Alright, it's time to begin."
But high above, in the sky at an altitude no one could see, Nadia hovered in the air, clad in a dark robe. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and her sharp, rage-filled eyes were fixed on Rio. Her face was calm, but a deep anger simmered beneath it. She muttered with a mocking tone, "Well, the little monster's finally out of its cage? Did you think a few books would change you?"
Her voice faded into the wind, unnoticed by Rio or anyone in the tribe below.
Meanwhile, Rio stepped into Olivia's house with a heart full of hope, a small smile on his lips—this was the start of everything he'd always wanted.