[Flashback: 8 Years Ago - The Imperial Delivery Room]
The air in the Imperial medical chambers was thick with a heavy, suffocating sorrow.
Empress Elara lay on the grand bed, her breathing terribly shallow.
She was dying. A rare, incurable mana-disease was completely draining her life force, and the Imperial doctors had told her that the baby would not survive the birth.
But Elara refused to accept that.
Using the very last drop of her life force, the Empress cast an ancient, forbidden Celestial-level Spell.
She reached across space and time, connecting the soul of her unborn child to a dormant, legendary stone hidden deep within the western borders of the Capital.
"I offer my life in exchange," Elara whispered, tears falling from her eyes as she stroked her stomach.
"Protect my son. Become his absolute shield."
The spell worked.
A legendary contract was forged before the boy even took his first breath. But the sheer power required to bind a human to a Sovereign-Grade Magical Beast instantly shattered the Empress's remaining mana core.
Baby Elian was born healthy, crying loudly into the world.
But his mother closed her eyes, passing away with a peaceful smile on her face. Elian hadn't killed his mother—she had sacrificed herself to give him the ultimate protector.
[Present Day - The Western Cave]
The three assassins didn't even have time to scream.
The Fire Phoenix of the Lava simply blinked its glowing, golden eyes. A wave of pure,
concentrated heat swept through the cave, instantly vaporizing the assassins into ash.
The massive, terrifying Sovereign beast slowly lowered its burning head until it was at eye level with the trembling eight-year-old boy.
"You came to awaken me earlier than I expected, little one," the Phoenix's voice echoed like a rumbling volcano in Elian's mind.
"If you are here, it means the Royal Family is in grave danger. You are the only child in the Imperial bloodline worthy to call me master. Please... give me your next order." Elian was completely terrified. He backed up against the wall, shaking violently.
"P-Please... Sir Knight! The bad men are hurting the knight outside! Can you save him?!"
The Phoenix tilted its massive head.
The flames around its body instantly softened, turning from a terrifying blinding white into a warm, comforting gold.
"Why are you scared of me, Master?" the Phoenix asked gently.
"I would never hurt you. And you should know... your Royal Family members do not hate you either. Your mother loved you enough to give her life for this contract. Let us go save your loyal knight."
[The Forest - The Last Stand]
Back in the dark forest, the loyal Imperial Knight was on his last legs. His armor was shattered, and he was bleeding heavily.
The three remaining assassins laughed, stepping closer. The leader raised his hands and slammed them onto the dirt, casting an advanced summoning spell.
A massive, High-Level Magical Beast—a Shadow Manticore—burst from the ground, roaring ferociously.
"Tear the knight apart!" the assassin commanded.
But before the Manticore could leap, the entire forest lit up like it was broad daylight. A blinding wave of golden fire crashed through the trees, blasting the three assassins off their feet.
"What the hell was that?!" the lead assassin yelled, pointing into the burning trees.
"Manticore! Attack whatever is in those flames!"
The Shadow Manticore turned toward the fire and opened its jaws to roar—but the sound died instantly in its throat.
The Fire Phoenix of the Lava stepped out of the burning trees. The absolute, god-tier pressure of the Sovereign Beast crashed down on the forest.
The High-Level Manticore let out a pathetic whimper, completely collapsed onto its stomach, and bowed its head to the dirt in pure submission to its God.
The Phoenix didn't even look at the Manticore. It simply flapped its wings once. A shockwave of heavy, blunt heat slammed into the assassins, instantly knocking all three of them completely unconscious.
The knight dropped his sword, staring at the legendary beast in absolute awe.
Suddenly, a terrifying, chaotic red aura exploded from the other side of the forest.
I burst through the trees, my 3-Aditya mana flaring wildly.
The pressure of the Sovereign Beast hit me like a physical wall, but I pushed straight through it. My eyes locked onto the tiny boy standing behind the flames.
"Elian!" I yelled.
I sprinted forward, dropping to my knees and pulling my little brother into a desperate, crushing hug.
"You absolute idiot!" I scolded him, my voice cracking with emotion.
"Why didn't you tell us?! Why would you listen to the bad words of a corrupted maid instead of just asking your own brother?! I thought I lost you!"
Elian's eyes widened. The realization that I had rushed into a deadly forest just to find him finally broke through the maid's lies. He buried his face into my chest, gripping my shirt tightly, and started crying loudly.
"I'm sorry! Big Brother, I'm so sorry!"
"A touching reunion," the Phoenix's deep voice echoed.
"But we are exposed."
I looked up, finally processing the massive, burning bird standing in front of me. The realization hit me like a lightning bolt. I knew exactly what this was from the ancient Royal history books.
I instantly let go of Elian, placed my right hand over my heart, and bowed my head respectfully to the beast.
"You are Aethelgard, the Sovereign of the Scorched Earth," I said, speaking its honorable, ancient name.
"Thank you for protecting my brother."
"He is my master, Second Prince," Aethelgard replied proudly.
"Then I must ask you a favor," I said quickly, looking around the forest.
"Aethelgard, can you transform your body into a smaller bird? If the corrupt Dukes and nobles find out that an eight-year-old has contracted a Sovereign Beast, they will do everything in their power to kidnap him and use him as a weapon. We must hide your identity until he is old enough to protect himself."
The Phoenix closed its eyes, understanding the politics perfectly.
"Very well. But the boy must give me a modern name to complete the final seal of the contract."
Elian wiped his tears, looking up at the massive bird. He thought for a moment, his little sniffles stopping.
"Cinder," Elian said softly.
"I'll call you Cinder."
With a flash of bright light, the massive Sovereign Beast shrank down, transforming into a beautiful, small red bird that fluttered over and landed gently on Elian's shoulder.
"Let's go home," I smiled, picking my little brother up.
[The Outer Capital Estate]
When the three of us—me, Elian, and Cinder—walked through the front doors of the estate, Seraphina was pacing nervously in the hallway.
The moment she saw Elian, she sprinted forward.
The cold, terrifying Crown Princess dropped to her knees on the marble floor and pulled Elian into her arms, burying her face in his shoulder as she cried silently.
For the first time in his life, Elian hugged his big sister back. The three Royal siblings were finally together, the misunderstandings between us completely shattered.
After a few moments of happy tears, Elian looked around the grand hallway, his big eyes blinking in confusion.
"Big Brother Zion?" Elian asked quietly.
"Where is Sister-in-Law? Did you get angry at her? Or... does she not like me?"
Before I could answer, a soft, warm voice echoed from the top of the stairs.
"Why would I not like you?"
We all looked up. Lyra was walking down the staircase, holding a small plate of warm pastries she had prepared herself.
She offered a gentle, incredibly kind smile—a smile completely devoid of the fear she usually carried.
Lyra walked right up to Elian, kneeling down to his eye level and offering him a pastry.
"You are much cuter and far more adorable than your big brother," Lyra smiled warmly, wiping a speck of dirt from Elian's cheek.
"Welcome Back, Prince Elian."