As Rodius gazed into the sky, his golden fur fluttering in the breeze, he occasionally turned his head to glance at his sleeping master—and smiled.
Tokito was dreaming.
In his dream… he was no longer in this world.
He was back home.
In his old world.
He sat alone in his room, a book in hand, surrounded by the familiar, quiet walls of his childhood.
Knock knock.
A gentle knock at the door.
Mother (softly): "Dinner's ready, sweetie. Come down."
Tokito placed a bookmark between the pages and reached for his glasses. Sliding them on, he stood up, straightened his desk, and opened the door.
The hallway stretched before him like a memory frozen in time. He stepped out, making his way down the stairs one by one.
His father sat on the couch, watching TV in the living room.
Tokito walked over and quietly took a seat beside him, looking up at the man's face.
His father turned toward him, eyes soft with concern. He placed a hand on Tokito's shoulder.
Father: "What's wrong, son? You look sad."
Tokito rubbed his hands together nervously.
Tokito: "I… I think I miss you both."
His father let out a loud chuckle, clapping him on the back.
Father: "Miss us? Hahaha! But we're always here, aren't we?"
Tokito smiled, and both of them burst into laughter.
From the kitchen, his mother's voice rang out:
Mother: "Come on, boys! Food's getting cold!"
They sat across from each other at the dinner table. As they began to eat, Tokito found himself staring—at their faces, at every movement.
Mother (teasingly): "You okay, sweetheart? You've been zoning out."
Snapped out of it, Tokito set down his spoon. He looked directly at his parents.
His voice trembled as he said:
Tokito: "Mom… Dad… I love you. Let's stay together forever, okay?"
But then—he felt it.
Something watching him.
From behind the door.
He turned toward it… but nothing was there.
His father frowned, lowering his fork.
Father: "Son… are you alright? You're acting strange."
Tokito: "I don't know. I just feel like… like I don't belong here."
Father: "That's because you're not our son anymore."
Tokito's heart stopped.
His eyes widened.
Tokito: "W-What…?"
Father (calmly): "You're our former son. You died… long after we did."
Tokito slammed his hand on the table.
Tokito: "What are you saying?!"
Father: "I'm saying you died, Tokito. And now you're somewhere else. This world? It's not real."
The dream began to fade.
The dining room blurred, like paint washing off in rain.
Tokito's connection to the memory unraveled.
And when he opened his eyes…
…a clear blue sky greeted him.
He turned his head. Rodius sat quietly beside him.
Realization returned.
The dream was over.
This world—this strange, dangerous world—was now his reality.
He sat up straight, wiping his face with water from the lake.
Rodius stood as well and handed him a towel.
Rodius: "You look better, my lord. Your training is going well."
Tokito dried his face, then handed the towel back.
Rodius hung it on a branch to dry.
Tokito stared at his reflection in the lake.
He took a deep breath—and accepted it.
This was his life now.
He turned and began walking.
Rodius followed behind.
Rodius (smiling): "Off to train again, my lord?"
Tokito glanced back, a small smile on his face.
Tokito: "Yes. I have to finish this."
Rodius grinned and swiftly lifted Tokito onto his back.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, they raced once more toward the volcano.
Perhaps… for the final lesson.
They arrived.
Rodius slowed and gently lowered his master to the ground.
Tokito brushed off his clothes and approached the volcano's edge with silent determination.
Rodius leapt, as always, to a distant peak, where he could watch from afar.
From the moment they had first arrived, Rodius's aura had blanketed the forest, forming an unseen shield.
But as Tokito reached the tenth minute of his meditation, something shifted.
Rodius's fur stood on end.
His aura… had encountered something.
An unfamiliar mana source.
Rodius narrowed his eyes and jumped down the mountain, sprinting silently through the trees.
He wrapped himself in his aura—completely silent.
Soon, he heard the clink of armor… marching.
He crept closer.
Soldiers.
Not just any soldiers—they bore Viscount Guter's crest.
Rodius cursed under his breath. But instead of engaging, he turned and ran.
He needed to get back to Tokito.
He'd tell him—when the time was right.
When he returned, Tokito was still there—sitting calmly. His aura burned brighter than ever, pressing back the lava with remarkable strength.
Rodius watched from the summit again, concern flickering in his gaze.
Tokito had passed the first hour. His mana was holding steady.
He stood slowly, pushing more aura outward to reinforce the barrier.
From afar, Rodius paled.
Rodius (whispering): "No… don't do that, my lord. You mustn't release too much aura…"
WARNING: Seismic activity detected. Aura suppression has triggered volcanic instability.
The volcano began to tremble.
The lava hissed, bubbled, and glowed brighter.
Smoke curled up into the sky, painting it black.
Tokito lowered himself to the ground, trying to maintain balance as the earth quaked beneath him.
But he didn't retreat.
He continued to push back the lava with his aura.
Even as the volcano—furious—began to awaken.
Tokito still needed time to fully repel the lava—but the molten flow had already surged past the volcano's edge, swallowing his legs whole.
He didn't flinch.
Even as the lava scorched his flesh, he sat calmly, focusing on shaping his aura.
Rather than suppressing the lava, his aura had formed a tunnel—a glowing conduit reaching deep into the earth, straight down to the source of the eruption.
At the other end… was a girl.
A girl completely submerged in lava—resting near the planet's core.
She stirred.
Sensing the intruding aura, she opened her eyes.
???: "So this is the Demon King's power… I didn't expect anyone to find me here. Interesting."
Tokito's aura should've failed—but the girl found it amusing.
And so, with a simple flick of her will, she commanded the lava to retreat.
The molten tides calmed, hissing as they cooled. The tremors faded.
Tokito, unaware of what had truly transpired, assumed it was his aura that had succeeded. When the volcano fell silent, he thought he had won.
High above, Rodius, who had been watching closely, saw it too—and roared with joy.
Rodius: "Now this is a true Demon King!"
Tokito turned around, smiling brightly at his mentor's cry.
Rodius crouched and leapt—soaring through the sky like a hawk. Tokito watched in awe.
Tokito (thinking): "He's… amazing. One day, I'll fly like that too!"
Landing gracefully with the help of a water barrier, Rodius rushed forward and embraced his master.
Rodius: "You did it, my lord!"
Tears welled in Tokito's eyes. He wrapped his arms around Rodius, overwhelmed by the sense of victory.
After a long, silent moment, Rodius knelt down and spoke solemnly.
Rodius: "My lord… there's something you must know."
Tokito (smiling): "I'm in a good mood, Rodius. What is it?"
Rodius: "We must return to Veldoria. Immediately. Before your second lesson."
Tokito: "What's wrong?"
Rodius: "General Guter is marching there with his forces. If we don't act, he might harm Commander Nanagi."
Tokito's eyes sharpened.
Tokito: "Can you summon the dragon?"
Rodius: "Of course, my lord. Let's fly."
Rodius called forth the massive beast, and they soared across the sky like a shadow in flight. Clouds split before them, the wind howling as they dove toward the capital.
When the inner fortress of Veldoria came into view, Rodius leapt down with his weapon drawn. The dragon gently set Tokito on the ground.
The moment Rodius landed—Nanagi was on the verge of death.
Dropping his weapon, Rodius caught Guter's blade mid-swing with his clawed hand.
Rodius (coldly): "Take one more step, and I'll execute you before your own men."
Tokito arrived just behind him, aura flaring like a crimson storm.
Tokito (roaring): "What the hell do you think you're doing, you pig-faced disgrace?! Do you even know where you are?!"
Guter froze, overwhelmed by Tokito's killing intent.
He dropped his sword and fell to his knees.
The soldiers around him were quickly restrained.
Chains clinked as Tokito stepped forward and motioned for the guards to release Guter into his custody.
Tokito (quietly): "Your punishment… I'll deliver it myself, Viscount Guter."
Guter spat blood on the ground, defiant to the end.
Tokito ignored him and rushed to Nanagi's side, finding a deep cut across his neck.
Had they arrived a moment later… Nanagi would've been dead.
From the grand gate, Kortus appeared, shocked by the aftermath.
He spotted Tokito kneeling, hand pressed to Nanagi's wound, and Rodius delivering unrelenting blows to Guter—without even using his claws.
Tokito tried to channel healing mana—but he had little left.
Panicked, he slapped Nanagi's face.
Tokito (shouting): "Don't you dare die, you idiot! I never gave you permission to die! If you do, it'll be a betrayal!"
He embraced him tightly.
Healers arrived, pulling Tokito back. Nanagi was quickly stabilized and carried to his quarters.
Meanwhile, the guards shackled Rodius with a mana seal—a magical restraint that saps energy and prevents escape.
Before leaving, Rodius turned once more to Guter.
Rodius: "We're not finished, Guter. Not by a long shot."
Then he walked away.
Tokito stormed into the throne room, fury radiating off him in waves.
Even the guards near the doors nearly collapsed under the weight of his aura.
He walked with his hands behind his back, sat on the throne, and crossed his legs in silence.
Kortus stood beside him. Rodius remained in front, head lowered.
Tokito: "Why would Guter do this? Why attack while Koloton is gone?"
Rodius: "I believe he was targeting Nanagi for information, my lord. When Nanagi refused… he tried to kill him."
Tokito (growling): "I'll never forgive him. When I'm king, I'll strip him of every title he holds."
Rodius: "That may only make things worse, my lord. It'll provoke his allies."
Tokito: "So I'm just supposed to let them murder the weak?! Don't be ridiculous, Rodius!"
Kortus (gently): "My lord, you look exhausted. Please, rest. Rodius and I will ensure the capital remains safe."
Tokito (coldly): "Shut your mouth, Kortus."
The sharpness of his voice stunned the room. Even Tokito didn't realize how deeply his rage had cut.
Compared to the trial at the volcano, this betrayal had torn something from him.
His heart had grown… colder.
But Kortus knew.
He said nothing.
And remained by his side.