“In the beginning the Emperor created the heaven and the earth.

  The earth was round and elongated, and as the void crashed in,

  the Emperor joined the ends of the world.”

  — The Arpa Scripture, 1:1

  To Kane, the castella cake that evening tasted just as delicious as it always did, but his mom’s expression looked as if she were chewing on bread made of stone. Sion, wearing his usual stiff expression, simply ate his bread in silence. In a basin off to the side, two carp Sion had caught were splashing about; it was the only sound in the kitchen. Kane cleared his throat.

  “Ahem, Dad, why did you catch those carp anyway?”

  “Your mom said she wanted some, so I got them.”

  “Wow, Mom, what are you going to make with those?”

  “Oh, steamed carp. Granny Mason said steamed carp is incredibly delicious and taught me how to make it.”

  Carol smiled brightly, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “Ew... steamed carp sounds yuck...”

  “...”

  Despite Kane’s best attempt at acting cute, Carol and Sion’s expressions didn't change at all. Walking on eggshells, Kane swallowed the rest of his castella in one big bite and gulped down some milk.

  “...I think I’m going to go to bed first. I’m just so sleepy today...”

  Reading the room, Kane quietly slipped out of his chair. He put his all into faking a yawn and sneaked a glance back; his parents were exchanging meaningful looks across the table. Washing his face, Kane thought to himself.

  I guess I have no choice but to use a little magic tonight.

  Sure enough, once Kane was in his room, his parents began a heated conversation. Of course, they were whispering quietly so as not to wake him, so it only sounded like faint mumbling. But Kane had magic. Following Baron Panain’s teachings, he folded his fingers one by one, focusing his mind little by little on the thought of wanting to hear his mom and dad’s voices. Suddenly, their conversation rang out loudly in his ears. Kane unfolded a finger, easing his focus slightly to lower the volume.

  “You seemed so happy when I left this morning. Did something happen?”

  “Hmm... sigh.” His mom’s sigh.

  “Did my love already hear the news?”

  Barf. “My love”? Coming from Dad, who’s always so gruff with me? Kane thought to himself.

  “Huh? What news?”

  A brief silence.

  “...Around evening, I saw an airplane heading toward Tersha Castle.”

  “An airplane?!”

  An airplane? Where have I heard that before...? Ah! The flying carriage that mages ride in. Kane recalled the small model he had seen in Baron Panain’s room.

  “Shh! Keep your voice down.”

  “No... ah... you don’t think...”

  “Why, do you have a guess?”

  Scrape. Thump.

  Kane was certain his mom had just collapsed into a chair.

  “Kane... used magic today.”

  “What? How?”

  “I don’t know the details. The Baron’s butler brought him back unconscious, just like last time.”

  “Did he make a mistake during a lesson or something?”

  “No, it sounded like something big happened. Baron Panain wouldn’t tell me exactly what, he just told me to take care of him at home for now. He said he’d explain later.”

  “I see. Sigh, that kid.”

  “But aren’t you worried? Worried that the Sky Isle might have sent investigators because of the magic Kane used?”

  “Ah, surely not.”

  “...You said you saw an airplane today. There’s no way something that precious would come all the way out here for no reason. I’m sure they came to investigate our Kenny’s magic. If he passed out, he must have cast another massive spell like last time.”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  His mom’s trembling voice sounded so clear it was as if she were right next to him.

  “That’s not necessarily true. How would they even know?”

  His dad spoke as if trying to comfort her, but his voice cracked slightly, betraying his own uncertainty.

  “It’s been almost ten years since we’ve been here, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen one, right?”

  “Well, I suppose that’s true.”

  “Honey, by any chance... if something happens... can you protect our Kenny well?”

  “...You are my priority. Especially since you’re not alone in your body right now.”

  Huh? Not alone in her body? What does that mean? As Kane sat there bewildered, a deep sigh drifted into his ears.

  “Sigh. I know.”

  “Phew... I’ll make Kane my second priority.”

  Second to Mom. Kane had always suspected as much, but a small part of his heart crumbled anyway, making him feel like sinking deep into his bed. Hmph. I like Mom more than Dad anyway.

  “Alright, thank you regardless. First of all, we need to focus on this airplane situation.”

  “Well, I think we should keep Kane strictly indoors until that airplane leaves.”

  “What about his lessons with the Baron?”

  “I’ll go ask Baron Panain about that. It’s probably best for him to lay low while the airplane is here, too.”

  “Thank you for caring so much. Once Kane learns the truth someday, he’ll be truly grateful to you.”

  Learn the truth? What truth?

  “I just pray the boy takes after your personality. He has absolutely nothing to gain from taking after his real father—that man isn’t even human.”

  Real... father?

  Kane felt a chilling sensation, as if a massive block of ice had just swept through his entire body. His dad was a bit gruff and clearly favored his mom, but he had always thought he was his dad. At least until tonight.

  In his shock, Kane’s concentration shattered, and the voices faded away. He tried to focus his mind again, but for some reason, the magic wouldn't work. To be honest, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to hear any more.

  Then... who is my dad? Is Mom... no, Mom has to be my real mom.

  Engulfed in curiosity, fear, and shock, he suffered through strange dreams all night long. On a pitch-black, rainy night, Max and Jessie were flying in an airplane when it was struck by lightning and plummeted from the sky. The lightning, it turned out, was magic Kane had cast. Startled, Kane tried to use magic to hold up the falling airplane, but his mom shouted at him not to use magic. While he hesitated, the airplane smashed helplessly into the ground. He tried to run toward the crash site, where thick black smoke billowed upward, but he tripped over something and thrashed around on the ground.

  Waking up covered in a cold sweat, he realized his blanket had been tightly tangled around one of his legs.

  Crackle, crackle.

  The roaring fire in the fireplace did nothing to soften the frigid atmosphere in the room.

  “Baron Panain. Is this really everything?”

  A significantly overweight man sitting at the desk rummaged through some documents, glaring up fiercely at the standing Baron. The Baron kept his head bowed, his hands politely clasped together.

  “Yes, Count Minuk. That is everything we have ascertained so far.”

  “So, a massive accident occurs out here in the middle of nowhere, heavily damaging a precious asset of the Empire, and all you’ve scrawled in this report is the testimony of a few brats? And there’s absolutely no record of the previous incident?”

  As his voice rose, the Baron stole a glance at the escort knight standing beside the Count.

  “...I apologize.”

  “Noo~” Count Minuk flopped back against his chair and tossed the documents aside. “This is~ not something~ you can just fix~ by saying sorry~ sir!! That asset~ you ruined~ under your jurisdiction~ won’t be~ restored~ just because you’re sorry~!”

  He dragged out every single word in a bizarre, mocking drawl as he glared holes into Baron Panain.

  “Baron! If you’re going to work like this, ha, this is just too rude. You lack basic manners.”

  Baron Panain kept his head deeply bowed, his body trembling intermittently. The escort knight watched him closely.

  “Ha, whatever. Let’s go check the accident site for now.”

  “Right now? It’s far too late...”

  Count Minuk scowled fiercely as he struggled to squeeze himself into his small coat, shooting the Baron a dirty look.

  “You really can’t read the room, can you?”

  “Ah, yes. I will prepare immediately.”

  “Seriously, ha... just hurry up and get ready. Risto, you,” the Count stopped the escort knight who was about to follow him. “Go take a look around the village and see if there’s anything suspicious.”

  “But...”

  “Ah, just check the village for anything unusual, and if there’s nothing, head back to the airplane and sleep. I need to spend some quality time with the Baron.”

  When the two men had walked far enough from the castle—far enough that no one would see them—the Count suddenly stopped in his tracks.

  “Master, what on earth is going on?” The Count snapped sharply, glaring at the Baron, who had also stopped.

  Unbothered by his tone, the Baron smiled.

  “Ho ho, your acting back there was no joke. You must have been holding a lot of grudges against me. Are you really doing all this just because I gave it to you one day late?”

  The Baron pulled a small pouch from his robes and tossed it to the Count.

  “Ah, well... you’re the one who taught me the importance of acting, Master!”

  The Count quickly pulled out something resembling a round pill and swallowed it whole.

  “And... do you know how anxious I get when it’s even one day late? It feels like my hands and feet are shaking.”

  “Oh, come on, it can’t be that bad. Well, I’ve never tried it, so I wouldn’t know.”

  “That’s not what’s important right now... What happened to the barrier in the restricted area?”

  Instead of answering, the Baron asked a question of his own.

  “Why on earth did Duke Raja Mahdi come here? Is it the ‘Harvest’?”

  “Phew—” The Count sighed instead of answering. “I thought it was the Harvest too, but he told me to capture some ten-year-old brat. That’s the main goal. It seems they’re just doing the Harvest while they’re at it.”

  The Baron closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

  A ten-year-old brat... that would obviously be Kane, but why? Just because he coveted his mana, the commander of the Ganymede Templars made a move? It’s been strictly forbidden for Patronians to move to the outer sectors for the past ten years. Is it a coincidence that they’re looking for a ten-year-old boy?

  “A ten-year-old brat... If that’s the case, I can’t just let him be taken.” The Baron finally spoke, though it was little more than a murmur to himself.

  “What? What can’t you let be taken? Master, please, explain...”

  But the Baron simply remained lost in thought, staring at the moonlight illuminating the Sky Isle in the distance. Just as the anxious Count opened his mouth to speak again, the Baron whipped his head around.

  “Can you install a magic-dampening device?”

  “What? Yes, given my department, of course I carry one around.”

  “Good. Let’s talk while we walk to the accident site. I recently brought an incredible talent into our Society, but it seems things are getting complicated. It’s a terrible shame, but I might just have to pull you out of there.”

  The Baron clasped his hands behind his back and strode forward.

  “You’re pulling me out? Really?”

  The Count frantically worked his short legs, scurrying to catch up with him.