The silence after the storm is heavy. I can hear them, but my body isn't responding—I'm here, but not really. I see my form lying on the meadow while I float uncontrollably in an ocean of viscous mana.
I see Mom, who, after stabilizing everyone, sits beside my unconscious body, watching me with a mix of astonishment and deep worry, an expression I'd never seen on her face before. Then, when Dad, Borin, Lyra, and Kael manage to gather enough strength to lift their heads, the truth of what had happened hung in the air—silent yet undeniable. They saw Mom's barrier shatter; they saw her wound; they saw the defeated tiger in a way that didn't align with their own final attacks… and they saw me, unconscious, with that faint aura of Light.
That night, around a far more somber campfire, they have a conversation. Mom doesn't state her suspicions directly, but the way she describes how her mortal wound miraculously closed makes it obvious. Dad listens with a downcast face, his jaw clenched. Borin, Lyra, and Kael exchange looks heavy with concern.
"This kid…" murmurs Borin at last, breaking the silence. "He's not normal. Not even for your son."
"That power…" adds Lyra quietly. "Actively wielding four elements… and healing… is something far beyond our understanding."
Kael nods. "Unlimited potential. For good… or for ill. If anyone were to discover what he can do, what he might become…"
"He'd be hunted," my father finishes in a grave tone. "Used as a weapon, or destroyed out of fear." He looks at Mom, then at my sleeping form. "We cannot allow that."
"Our path as adventurers…" begins Borin.
"…has ended," concludes Lyra. "Our new duty is to protect him. To guide him."
"We'll be his mentors," asserts Kael. "We'll teach him everything we know, so that he learns to control his power—so that he chooses the right path."
Mom nods, silent tears rolling down her cheeks—tears of both relief and determination. "They'll stay. They'll live with us. We'll be his family, his shield."
The decision had been made. The Four Greats—Rank A legends—would retire their adventuring cloaks to become the guardians and mentors of a baby like I am, with a terrifying and unknown power.
As my body lies in a state of total exhaustion, my mind begins to drift away, sliding toward a place where a warm, strangely peaceful darkness envelops me. There is no pain, no fear—only a sensation of… emptiness. But it isn't an unpleasant void. It's like being suspended in nothingness before the beginning.
Then, a voice. Soft, melodious—like distant wind chimes, yet incredibly close. It is feminine, young, filled with ancient wisdom and a spark of mischief.
"Well, well… you sure know how to make an entrance, little reincarnate."
Reincarnate? It knows? I try to answer, but I have no mouth, no body in this nothingness.
"Oh, don't bother. You don't need those things here. Just listen." The voice seems to smile. "You've awakened something… deep. Something that shouldn't stir so soon. Chronos, huh? Ironic, considering the little gift from your uncle." It pauses, as if enjoying the cosmic joke. "A tiny push to set things in motion. Time is… amusing."
The voice grows a bit more serious, though its warmth persists. "I am Eos. Let's say I'm… the voice of the world you now call home. Or one of them, at least." I feel a presence, like a mote of light, drifting closer from the darkness—a sensation of completeness and indescribable warmth. "You have a long and complicated road ahead, Lexo. Many trials, many choices. We expect… well, I expect great things from you. Don't disappoint us."
I feel an incredibly gentle touch on my forehead, like the kiss of a butterfly made of starlight. "Now, wake up. Your parents are worried. And you have much to learn."
The darkness dissolves, replaced by the blurry light of the real world filtering through my eyelids. I smell wood smoke, medicinal herbs, and… Dad. I slowly open my eyes.
The first thing I see is Dad's face, full of anguish that squeezes my heart. His eyes are red, his beard unkempt. But as my gaze meets his, his expression shifts: shock, disbelief, and then a joy so pure and overwhelming it shatters his stoic mask.
"Lexo!" His voice is a hushed whisper. He lunges toward me, yet with infinite gentleness, holding me tightly against his chest. I feel his tears soaking my baby clothes. "Lexo! My champion! You're awake! Oh, thank the gods, you're awake!"
I curl up against him, feeling incredibly weak—like a rag doll—but safe. "Papa…" I whisper, my voice barely a thread.
He hugs me even tighter, now openly weeping, caring little for who sees him. "Yes, I'm Papa! I'm here! Don't ever leave like that again, champ, please!"
Mom comes over, her eyes also brimming with tears but shining with a radiant smile. She caresses my cheek. "Welcome back, my little miracle."
Borin, Lyra, and Kael stand behind, their faces showing palpable relief. Borin even discreetly wipes away a tear.
I'm back. Weak, confused by the encounter with Eos, but back. And my family—my strange and now devoted family—is here.
The following days pass in an almost surreal calm after the storm. Mom cares for me meticulously, ensuring I eat well and rest. My MP recovers slowly, but my physical weakness persists. The others treat me with a new mix of affection and… respect? I think they might be overdoing it.
Dad stays by my side as much as possible. A few days later, when I can walk a little without help, he says, "Come on, champ. I'm going to teach you something important."
He takes me to the nearby river, where the water flows calmly and crystal clear. He pulls out a simple wooden fishing rod. "Today, you'll learn the noble art of patience… and how to catch your own dinner." I sit beside him on the bank as he prepares the hook. In a soft voice, he explains how to feel the current, how to watch the shadows on the water, and how to cast the line gently.
We catch nothing that day—after all, being less than a year old, there's little I can really manage. But it doesn't matter. Sitting there in silence, feeling the sun on my face, hearing the water's murmur, and feeling the solid, reassuring presence of my father by my side… it is the best medicine. It's the calm after the battle—a reminder of why they fought, of what they chose to protect—and I feel incredibly grateful.