It was mid-afternoon by the time Kael finally awoke. Sitting up, he found the bed empty; his mother had already risen to attend to their daily tasks, leaving him to the quiet of the house.

Stepping out of the bedroom, he heard the murmur of conversation in the main room and realized that his mother was entertaining guests.

"Kael, come here and meet your grandmother!" Amber called out, her voice bright and filled with pride.

Kael stood in the doorway, stark naked.

His first instinct was to retreat and find some clothing, but he caught his mother’s gaze—she was looking at him with an urgent, excited intensity that demanded his immediate presence.

He paused for a fleeting second before deciding against hiding.

I’m sure they won’t mind, he reasoned, his ego surging to match his newfound sense of importance. Besides, what is there to be ashamed of?

With that thought, he stepped fully into the main room, completely exposed and entirely unbothered by the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Next to Amber sat a woman dressed in an elegant white gown that draped from her neck to the floor.

Her hair was a striking, ethereal white, yet Kael sensed it wasn’t a symptom of aging; it possessed a luster that suggested it was her natural hue.

With piercing black eyes, a sharp, aristocratic nose, and an imposing stature, she was the picture of elegance. Kael pegged her as a woman of immense, cold pride.

Beside the older woman sat a petite girl, clearly younger than Kael, dressed in a simple blue frock.

This was his sister, Mira. She had inherited Amber’s striking red eyes, but her hair was a deep, midnight black. Despite her youth and currently non-existent chest, Mira already possessed a delicate, captivating beauty, clearly a testament to Amber’s exceptional genes.

Kael walked toward them, his lack of clothing stark against the room’s formal atmosphere.

He felt the weight of his grandmother’s gaze—a look that was unexpectedly loving and doting.

Kael didn’t flinch, maintaining his composure as he stood before them, his confidence radiating even without a stitch of fabric to his name.

"Hey there, Grandma. I hope you’re doing well," Kael said, his voice casual.

"Come, sit beside me, Kael, and let me have a closer look at you," his grandmother replied, her voice warming with affection.

Kael did as he was told, settling into the space between his grandmother and Mira.

"And hello there, kiddo," he added, casting a smirk toward his sister.

Kael knew well that he and Mira shared a volatile, love-hate relationship. They were prone to constant bickering when together, yet they always seemed to miss each other when apart.

"Who are you calling a kid, you stupid brother? Huh?" Mira snapped, though there was a lack of real bite in her tone.

She quickly turned her head away from him, feigning disinterest to hide the slight flush of her cheeks.

Kael only chuckled, leaning back and enjoying the familiar cadence of their petty rivalry.

"Mira, how many times have I told you not to talk to Kael like that?" Amber tried to reprimand her, though she knew the effort was futile; if her scolding had been enough to change their behavior, it would have worked years ago.

"Haha, their banter continues even though they have grown up so much," Emily laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

She turned her attention back to Kael, her expression shifting to one of focused intensity.

"So, Kael, how do you feel? Have you experienced any discomfort during the three days since you woke up?"

Kael felt an instinctive pressure to be honest; it was as if her experienced eyes had seen enough of the world to cut through even the most carefully constructed deception.

Fortunately, he had no reason to hide the truth. "I am feeling perfectly alright, Grandma."

Emily studied him for a long moment, confirming the sincerity in his tone before she finally relaxed.

"Good." She beckoned him forward with a slight gesture of her hand. "Child, come closer and turn your back to me. Let me check your physical constitution."

Amber watched with bated breath, her face lighting up with excitement at seeing Emily personally offer to assess Kael’s potential.

It was a rare honor, one that signaled how much importance his grandmother placed on his development.

Not many people in town knew the truth, but Amber’s parents had been remarkably powerful in their youth.

They were once drafted into the Imperial military, where they fought and emerged victorious against the Beastmen Alliance and the Orcs.

Unfortunately, Amber’s father lost his life in the heat of that war. Since then, although Emily maintained a permanent residence in Korua, she had lived a nomadic existence, moving from one place to another like a hermit.

Her life had been marked by misfortune: her first child, who had inherited their family’s formidable magical prowess, suffered irreparable damage to his mana meridians at an early age, while her next child—Amber—had been born with no innate magical inheritance at all.

Such a tragic life she has led, Amber thought, a wave of deep sympathy washing over her as she looked at her mother.

She had always felt a pang of guilt for failing to live up to the magical potential her mother had once hoped for, a sentiment that only deepened the bond between them.

Kael did as he was told. Emily placed her delicate hands against his back, and Kael felt a cool, probing sensation as she began to circulate her mana through his meridians.

Amber watched closely and caught a momentary glint of surprise in Emily’s eyes—a flicker so brief and expertly suppressed that it left Amber entirely confused.

"Very good," Emily murmured, pulling her hands away. "It seems you may awaken some powerful magical capabilities. When the time comes, ensure you concentrate with every ounce of your focus."

"Concentrate on what, Grandma?" Kael asked, turning slightly to look at her.

"You will realize it when the time comes," she replied with a cryptic smile.

Yeah, and that’s exactly why I don’t like old people, Kael thought, his inner monologue sharp with irritation. Always speaking in riddles.

Despite his mounting frustration, he kept his expression neutral, offering only a polite, acknowledging nod. He had learned quickly that in this world, discretion was just as important as the power he was beginning to cultivate.

"I will take my leave now, Amber," Emily said, rising from her seat.

"Okay, Mother. Please take care," Amber replied.

"You too, take care of yourself and your children. We will meet again soon." With that, she departed.

Once Emily had traveled a safe distance from the house, she paused, a look of deep contemplation crossing her face.

She whispered to the wind, "That was clearly a dragon’s aura clinging to Kael. But how is that possible? He is human, and he is still just a child. Are my old bones finally playing tricks on me?"

*****

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