The kid spoke calmly, his voice carrying a quiet confidence far beyond his apparent age.

  “Let me introduce myself to you properly, since this is our first meeting.”

  He bowed lightly. Then, slowly, he reached up and pulled back his hood.

  Silver hair spilled into the light like molten moonlight, soft yet radiant. Beneath it, his red eyes gleamed—deep, ancient, and unmistakably familiar.

  Time froze.

  Luca’s breath caught in his throat.

  Aranel’s fingers tightened around her dress.

  Because the face before them… was not merely similar.

  It was identical.

  A younger reflection of the Emperor himself.

  Luca’s lips parted, his voice barely more than a whisper. “It… it can’t be…”

  The kid smiled gently, as if he had expected this reaction all along.

  “Greetings, Uncle Luca. My name is Leo Alen Therald.”

  The name struck like thunder.

  “Leo…” Luca repeated faintly, disbelief still clouding his mind.

  Aranel’s voice followed, trembling with shock. “Therald…?”

  The kid’s smile softened as his gaze shifted toward her. “Oh, Aunty Aranel… you are here as well. I did not expect to see you so soon.”

  He bowed again, politely and gracefully. “Greetings, Aunty Aranel. It is nice to meet you.”

  Aranel stared at him, her heart racing.

  “Are you… Leo Eva told me about?” she asked carefully. “The one she met inside her dreams…?”

  Leo nodded. “Yes, Aunty. That was me.”

  The moment the words left his lips, Aranel rushed forward without hesitation and pulled him into a tight embrace.

  “Oh, my nephew…” she whispered emotionally. “I had only just learned about your existence… and now you are standing here in front of me.”

  Leo smiled quietly within her arms, allowing her warmth.

  Aranel slowly released him from the embrace, but her hands remained on his shoulders as her eyes studied his face carefully—every line, every feature, every small resemblance.

  Her brows lifted in amazement.

  “How is this even possible…” she murmured softly. “None of Eva’s features appeared in you. Her gentle eyes, her soft expressions… none of them carried over. Brother-in-law’s blood completely dominated.”

  She turned her head toward Luca, still visibly stunned. “Right, Lord Luca? Leo looks exactly like His Majesty. It is as if someone took the Emperor and simply made him smaller.”

  Luca let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “Yes… there is no denying it,” he said. “Anyone could tell at first glance. He carries the Therald blood proudly. He is unmistakably Eyan’s son.”

  Aranel smiled warmly again and turned back to Leo, her curiosity now overflowing. “Leo… how old are you?”

  Leo answered calmly, without hesitation. “I am eight years old.”

  Aranel blinked in surprise.

  “Eight…” she repeated gently, as if trying to grasp the meaning of it. “You are only eight, yet you stand here speaking with such calmness. It feels strange… like I am speaking to someone much older.”

  Before she could say more, Luca stepped forward, his expression turning serious.

  “Leo,” he said carefully, “why are you here? I was certain you could not cross between different timelines and worlds so freely. That kind of movement should not be possible.”

  Leo turned toward him, his red eyes steady.

  “It possible,” he explained. “But only under a specific condition. For the crossing to work, I must already exist in that timeline… and I must possess the power of Zeradros within me. That power acts as the bridge.”

  Understanding slowly formed in Luca’s mind.

  “So… you came here the moment your existence began in this timeline,” he said quietly. “The moment your mother conceived you.”

  Leo nodded. “Yes. The very moment Zeradros freed himself from the black marble… the connection was established, and I was able to cross over.”

  Then his expression shifted slightly, becoming more focused.

  He looked directly at Luca. “Uncle… tell me where Mother is. I went to the royal palace first, believing she would be there… but she was not. That is why I came to you instead.”

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  Luca’s eyes widened immediately.

  “You went to the palace?” he asked, alarm flashing across his face. “Leo, do you understand how dangerous that was? What if someone had seen you? What if someone recognized you?”

  Leo remained calm.

  “Do not worry,” he said reassuringly. “I made sure no one saw me. I concealed my presence completely.”

  Luca exhaled slowly, though the tension in his chest remained.

  He hesitated before answering the question Leo truly cared about.

  “Your mother…” he began quietly. “She suddenly fainted. She has not regained consciousness since.”

  Leo did not panic. Instead, his eyes softened with something close to relief.

  “So it has started…I am glad I made it in time.” he whispered.

  Luca frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

  Leo shook his head slightly. “I will explain everything later,” he said calmly. “For now, take me to Mother. Only I can wake her.”

  Luca hesitated again, his jaw tightening.

  “I cannot take you there so easily,” he said. “Your father is with her. And your mother… she has not told him anything. Not about her return to the past. Not about the wishes. Not about you.”

  Leo listened carefully, then nodded. “In that case, I will use a disguise spell,” he said. “He will not recognize me. There will be no risk.”

  He stepped forward. “Now, please. Take me to her.”

  But Luca did not move. Instead, he spoke in a low, serious voice.

  “Leo… there is something you must promise me....Do not tell your father about your mother’s pregnancy. He does not know yet. I chose not to tell him. You must not let him find out.”

  Leo tilted his head slightly. “But why?”

  Luca opened his mouth to answer.

  “Because—”

  He stopped.

  Because the truth felt too heavy to say aloud.

  But Leo already knew. A small, calm smile appeared on his face.

  “…because he said he did not want to have a child.”

  Luca froze.

  His eyes widened in shock. “How… do you know that?”

  Leo’s voice remained steady.

  “My father said the same words in my timeline,” he said. “He told my mother he never wanted a child. He said he intended to end the Therald bloodline with himself.”

  Luca looked at him with quiet pain.

  “Aren’t you hurt by that?” he asked quietly. “Hearing your own father say he never wanted a child… that he wished to end his bloodline with himself.”

  Leo laughed. It was calm—gentle, even.

  “Hurt?” he repeated. “Why would I be hurt?”

  He lifted his gaze, his red eyes steady and clear.

  “My father had a reason for saying words. He said them because of Zeradros… and the punishment bound to our bloodline. He was never rejecting me as his son. He was trying to protect me from a fate he himself could not escape.”

  He paused briefly before continuing.

  “My father never hated me. On the contrary… he was happy when he first learned about my existence. So even if he finds out … there will be no problem.”

  Luca smiled faintly at those words.

  “Yes,” he said. “He was happy. Very happy. I still remember his face the day he learned about you last time.”

  But then Luca’s expression turned serious again.

  “Still… let us not tell him yet,” he said carefully. “Once your mother regains consciousness, the decision should be hers. She deserves the right to tell him herself.”

  Leo nodded without resistance. “Alright,” he agreed.

  Then, without another word, Leo raised his hand.

  Mana gathered instantly around his fingers, swirling like invisible wind. The air trembled—and a large, intricate teleportation circle began to form beneath their feet.

  Silver symbols expanded outward in perfect symmetry, glowing with immense power.

  Luca’s eyes widened in shock.

  He stared at the circle, then at Leo.

  “…Leo,” he said slowly, almost unable to believe what he was seeing. “You can create a teleportation circle of this size… so effortlessly?”

  Leo answered calmly. “Yes. This much is easy.”

  Luca swallowed. “How many people can you teleport at once? Including yourself.”

  Leo thought for a moment. “At least fifty people,” he replied. “With my current strength.”

  Luca’s jaw dropped completely. “…Fifty?”

  His voice cracked slightly. “I can barely teleport two people at once… and one of them has to be me.”

  Aranel placed a comforting hand on Luca’s shoulder.

  “Lord Luca, please do not feel discouraged,” she said gently. “Leo is not an ordinary kid. He carries the power of Zeradros. It is only natural that he would surpass normal limits.”

  Luca looked at her flatly. “Lady Aranel… that did not make me feel any better.”

  Aranel smiled innocently. “I am simply stating the truth,” she replied. “Now please stop comparing yourself to an eight-year-old and step onto the circle. Eva needs him.”

  Luca let out a quiet sigh, accepting defeat. “…Fine.”

  He and Aranel stepped onto the glowing circle beside Leo.

  The symbols beneath them brightened.

  The air distorted.

  And in the next instant—

  They vanished.

  __________________________________

  (Eva and Eyan’s House)

  Eva lay motionless on the bed, her body still and fragile against the white sheets. Her breathing was faint—so faint that it made the silence in the room unbearable.

  Kyel stood beside her.

  He paced back and forth, his boots striking the floor in restless rhythm. Every few seconds, his eyes returned to her face—searching, hoping, fearing.

  Her skin was pale. Too pale.

  “…What’s taking Luca so long?” he muttered, his voice tight with growing anxiety. “He should have been here by now.”

  Just then—

  A faint glow flickered from the living room below. Mana.

  Kyel's head snapped toward the door. “He’s here.”

  Without wasting another second, he rushed out of the bedroom and moved toward the upper railing, looking down into the living room.

  A teleportation circle shimmered on the floor. Luca stood at its center. Aranel stood beside him.

  And with them— A kid. Black hair. Blue eyes. Small. Unfamiliar.

  “Luca!” Kyel called sharply. “Come here. Eva is in the bedroom.”

  Luca nodded immediately and hurried up the stairs. Leo and Aranel followed close behind.

  Within moments, they entered the room.

  Kyel turned to Luca urgently.

  “Where is your disciple?” he demanded. “You said you would bring someone capable.”

  Luca did not answer immediately.

  Instead, he glanced at Leo standing beside him. “It’s him.”

  Silence fell.

  Kyel stared at Leo.

  Then his expression hardened in disbelief. “…That kid is your disciple?”

  Luca smiled calmly.

  “Yes,” he said. “He is.”

  Kyel’s face darkened with anger.

  “Luca, have you lost your mind?” he snapped. “You should have brought someone with real experience. Someone qualified. Someone who actually knows what they’re doing.”

  “That ‘Kid’ is more experienced than you think,” Luca replied.

  Kyel let out a cold, mocking laugh.

  “Oh really?” he said bitterly. “And how many years of experience does he have? Nine months?”

  Luca suddenly laughed.

  He tried to suppress it—but failed.

  The absurdity of the situation, the irony of Eyan doubting his own son, overwhelmed him.

  Kyel’s anger flared instantly.

  “You’re laughing?” he said sharply. “You think this is funny? Eva is lying unconscious and you bring a kid and dare to laugh in front of me?”

  “I apologize,” Luca said, trying to compose himself. “But this kid—”

  “Enough.”

  Leo’s voice cut through the tension.

  Both men fell silent.

  Leo stepped forward without hesitation, his small figure moving with quiet authority.

  “Let me handle this.”

  Without waiting for permission, Leo stepped closer to the bed.

  He raised his hand gently toward Eva’s forehead.

  Kyel’s eyes widened. He grabbed Leo’s wrist, firm and unyielding.

  “Kid,” he said low and sharp, “don’t touch her. I don’t care how ‘experienced’ you are—you’re still a child.”

  Leo looked up at him, eyes blazing—not afraid, not intimidated, but quietly offended.

  .

  .

  To be continued—