Chapter 13 — Unexpected Guests
Kael Grenfort
It was an ordinary day.
I had just finished training. Since early morning, I had been practicing magic in the courtyard—trying to fly a few times and playing around with gravity magic. My body trembled slightly from exhaustion, but I was fine. My mana core pulsed steadily, and the power inside me was full and stable.
Now it was time to go inside and eat.
The day was hot. The first days of summer, and the sun had been burning since morning. Even inside the house, the heat lingered. Opening the windows barely helped. The walls were warm from the sunlight, and everything felt as if the house itself was breathing heat.
Well… time to go inside, I muttered, wiping the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve.
Just as I was closing the courtyard gate, strange noises began echoing through the town.
At first it was only a few shouts. Then more followed. People were talking—voices filled with surprise, fear, and curiosity mixed together. I could hear children running and adults calling out to one another.
I stopped.
Curious, I headed inside.
After washing my face and hands, I immediately went up to my room and walked to the window. From the second floor, I could see a fair portion of the town.
The main street stretched far into the distance. People had gathered there, forming small crowds and staring toward something approaching.
I leaned closer to the window.
Then I saw them.
Beautiful white carriages were slowly moving along the street toward our house.
Not one.
Not two.
Five.
Large, decorated, shining in the sunlight. The horses pulling them were pure white, their manes swaying softly in the wind.
Around the carriages marched armed guards. Their armor glimmered brightly under the sun.
The carriages moved slowly and calmly. The townspeople stepped aside, making way for them. Some bowed, while others simply stared in amazement.
I froze for a moment.
Carriages like that… guards like that…
These were not ordinary people.
Who were they?
But after thinking about it for a moment, I shrugged. It probably had nothing to do with me or my family. People come and go in a town all the time. Father wasn't home, Mother was inside, and I was still just a child.
So I went to eat.
---
The kitchen was hot, though a little cooler than outside. Mother had opened the windows, allowing a light breeze to drift through the room. She was setting the table when I walked in.
"Good afternoon, Mother. How is your day going?" I said cheerfully as I sat down.
Mother looked at me and smiled gently. "It's going well, my child. Sit."
We began eating. Mother's soup, fresh bread, some greens. Everything tasted good… but my thoughts kept drifting back to those carriages. The white horses. The guards. Who were they?
While we were eating, the gate outside suddenly knocked.
Hard. Sharp. Demanding.
I froze.
Mother froze as well. For a moment she didn't move. Then she continued eating, but something in her expression had changed. Her hand trembled slightly.
"I'll check!" I said, standing up.
"Kael…" Mother called. Her voice was calm, but there was something hidden in it. A warning. Fear.
"It's fine, Mother. I'll be right back," I said and ran toward the door.
I opened it.
A guard stood in front of me. Well over two meters tall—with a sword at his side. His armor was different from the others: polished and engraved with strange symbols. His face was serious and emotionless.
I looked past him.
And saw them.
The large carriages. The noble-looking visitors. They had stopped right in front of our house. Exactly in front of our gate.
Behind him stood the five carriages and dozens of guards.
My father wasn't home. Mother was inside. Why had they come here? Could it be because of what that hooded man had said? Or maybe Mother's family? Or Father's?
My heart began to beat faster.
There was a strange aura surrounding the carriages. It was enormous. I could sense mana, but this was something completely different. The air itself felt heavy. Breathing became slightly difficult, as if an invisible pressure weighed down on everything.
The horses stood perfectly still. Even they seemed unusual—their eyes looked intelligent.
A strange flag hung above one of the carriages. White and green. A symbol was drawn on it—perhaps a tree… or maybe a bird. It wasn't the imperial flag.
Then who were they?
One of the carriage doors slowly opened.
An old elf stepped out. His hair and beard were white, but his posture remained straight and dignified. He wore white and green robes that seemed to embody purity and nature. With each step he took, the heavy aura around us seemed to lighten slightly. His eyes were green. Deep. Ancient. Looking into them felt like staring into centuries of wisdom.
Another elf stepped out behind him. Younger. Yet his gaze held the same depth. He looked around calmly, as if analyzing everything in a single glance. His eyes moved from the house to the surroundings, then settled on me.
I stood there in shock, unable to move or speak.
The older elf approached me. His footsteps made no sound.
"Hello, young one," he said gently. "What is your name?"
His voice was calm and soft, yet there was an undeniable power behind it. It felt impossible not to answer.
"K—"
Suddenly Mother appeared in front of me. She moved so quickly it was as if she had appeared from thin air. She stepped between us and raised her arm, shielding me.
"Inside!" she shouted without looking back.
I hesitated. Mother's eyes were filled with fear. My mother—who never seemed afraid—was afraid.
"Inside, now!" she shouted again.
This time I stepped back and ran into the house. But I didn't go far. Instead, I ran upstairs to my room and watched through the window.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest.
---
Mother stood firmly before them.
"What do you want? Sedric isn't home!" she shouted.
The older elf smiled. It wasn't a warm smile. It was calm. Confident.
"I wish to speak with the boy," he said.
"That's none of your business," Mother replied coldly.
The younger elf finally stepped forward. His movements were sharp and decisive. Predatory. He looked at the house… then at me… then back at Mother. He was evaluating everything.
Then he spoke.
"Why so cautious?" he said calmly. "I didn't come here as an enemy. Where is Sedric?"
"Sedric left," Mother said.
"Where?"
"To the trading company. He'll return later."
A lie. I could tell. The younger elf could tell as well. A cold smile appeared on his lips.
Then—
In the blink of an eye—
He was behind me.
I hadn't seen him move.
"Hey there, kid," he said behind me. "Can we stay here until your father returns?"
My breath caught. I had no choice. "No" wasn't an option.
"…Yes," I said quietly.
Suddenly—
The window shattered.
Mother burst into the room through the broken glass and attacked him.
Everything exploded in white light.
Then silence.
I opened my eyes. Mother was lying on the ground.
Motionless.
For a moment I couldn't breathe. The world went still.
"Mother!" I shouted, my voice cracking.
The younger elf looked down at her, then back at me.
"Relax," he said calmly. "I'm not your enemy."
He smiled faintly. "Let's go downstairs."
I turned back. Mother slowly moved.
"I'm fine… my child," she whispered weakly.
Then another elf entered the room.
A woman.
Green light surrounded her hands as she began healing Mother. The mana around her felt powerful… yet gentle. After a few minutes, Mother's wounds closed. Her breathing steadied.
I stood beside the healer, watching, waiting. When she finished, Mother simply fell into a peaceful sleep.
The healer looked at me. Her eyes were kind.
"She'll be fine," she said softly.
I nodded. "Thank you," I said.
She looked surprised for a moment, then smiled. "You're not stupid. Good."
A few moments later we walked downstairs.
At the entrance of the guest room stood the older elf. Beside him, the younger elf waited—no longer evaluating, only watching with quiet curiosity.
The older elf looked at me deeply.
"Kael Grenfort," he said. "We should talk."
I stepped forward.
"Alright."