Kairo barely felt it when the guards chained him.
Cold iron dug into his wrists and neck, but his body was numb.Every breath was hollow.Every heartbeat trembled like it was afraid to continue.
The child he'd saved cried as the guards dragged Kairo away.
"Don't take him! He saved me! He's not a monster!"
The Priest-Knight placed a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder.
A gentle hand.A lying hand.
"Your parents died because of his power, child. Do not confuse fear with gratitude."
The boy's cries cracked into sobs.
Kairo flinched so hard his chains rattled.
"I… I didn't mean to… I was trying to help…"
The Priest-Knight didn't spare him a glance.
"Intentions do not absolve consequences. Remember that, anomaly."
The word hit deeper than any blade.
The Walk to the Heart of Eidrus
As guards marched him through the stone streets, people slowly backed away.
Mothers hid their children behind them.
Workers dropped what they were holding.
Whispers followed him like ghosts:
"Is that him…?""The boy who killed a Beast alone.""No… the one who killed two citizens.""Prime-signed… cursed…"
Each word struck harder than the last.
Kairo's steps dragged.His mind spiraled.
His brother's voice echoed through him—
"Kairo, you're too soft. You blame yourself for everything."
He had always been that way.
And now… he wished Noah was here.He wished anyone was here.
But he walked alone.
Again.
The Cathedral of Judgment
The guards pushed him into a towering cathedral—its pillars carved with gods, its walls lined with candles that flickered like watching eyes.
At the far end sat the High Council, five robed figures wearing white-gold garments and masks carved with serene divine expressions.
Behind them towered a stone statue of the faceless god they worshipped.
Priest-Knight Rhelos—the one who captured him—stepped forward and knelt.
"High Priests, I present Kairo Vale. A Prime anomaly."
A masked figure spoke, their voice magically layered, echoing through the hall:
"Step forward, anomaly."
Kairo obeyed.
His chains clinked with every trembling step.
Another priest spoke, colder:
"You arrived without divine registration. You wield forbidden power. And you caused civilian casualties."
Kairo's fists curled.
"I-It was an accident—"
"You destroyed half a district while 'saving' a child," the priest cut in. "There is nothing accidental about that. That is recklessness. That is lack of control."
Rhelos bowed his head.
"With proper molding, he can serve Eidrus. He would make a fine weapon—"
"Silence," the central priest ordered.
Rhelos lowered his gaze.
The council whispered among themselves.
Kairo stood shaking, staring at the stone floor, feeling smaller with every second.
He saw the dead couple's faces every time he blinked.He heard the child screaming for his parents.He felt the blood on his hands.
His voice cracked.
"I… didn't want to hurt anyone… I swear…"
The council answered coldly:
"Every monster says the same."
Those words broke something inside him.
The Verdict
The central High Priest stood.
"Kairo Vale—by decree of the Divine Order, your existence is classified as—"
A pause.A single heartbeat of suffocating silence.
"—A WORLD-THREAT CLASS ENTITY."
Kairo went still.
Rhelos stiffened.The guards backed away from him in fear.
"What…?" Kairo breathed. "Why…?"
The priest's voice was steady.
"Rift Beasts react to you. Divine detectors malfunction in your presence. Your signature destabilizes the region simply by existing."
His mind blanked.
"We cannot kill you. Your death may trigger a catastrophic surge."
Kairo's blood froze.
"So… what happens to me…?"
The High Priest raised a silver decree tablet.
"You will be bound to the Holy Oath."
The guards dragged him forward as a glowing ritual circle appeared beneath him.Chains of blinding light rose like serpents, wrapping around his wrists and chest.
Kairo's instinct screamed.
"What are you doing—?! Stop—!"
"The Holy Oath," the priest declared,"is a divine contract of obedience. You will serve Eidrus. You will fight for Eidrus. You will die for Eidrus."
The chains tightened.
"STOP—PLEASE—"
"Your wants," the priest said, "are irrelevant."
The circle flared white.
Pain tore through Kairo's veins—burning, searing, unbearable.
He screamed as lightning burst from him, only to be consumed by the ritual.
He collapsed, hardly able to breathe.
"You belong to us now," the council intoned.
The Betrayal
Guards pushed a girl forward.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"Astra…? What are you—why are you here?"
Her expression was unreadable.
The High Priest gestured to her.
"This girl witnessed the anomaly first. She will give testimony."
Kairo stared at her.
Astra swallowed, then spoke loud enough for the hall to hear:
"I… saw him kill those people… without hesitation."
Kairo's breath vanished.
"What…?"
Her eyes wavered for a moment—but only for a moment.
"He didn't even look shocked," she continued. "He just stood there. It was like he… enjoyed it."
Kairo felt his heart drop into a pit.
"Astra… that's not true. Why are you lying…?"
Astra looked away.
Her whisper trembled too softly for anyone except him:
"I can't risk my life… for someone like you."
The High Priest recorded her words.
"Testimony accepted."
The final fracture in Kairo's heart split open.
The one person who hadn't treated him like a monster—the one he saved—
had chosen survival over truth.
Kairo lowered his head.
"…I thought you were different."
Her expression didn't change.
"I can't afford to be," she whispered back.
The Binding
The ritual circle flared.
Chains of divine light tightened around Kairo's heart.
A system message bled into his vision:
Kairo collapsed, gasping for air.
His vision shook.His chest burned.His spirit felt carved apart.
A High Priest raised their hand.
"Rise, anomaly."
Kairo slowly pushed himself up, trembling.
"You belong to the gods now," the priest declared.
Kairo's voice was barely audible—but filled with something sharp and breaking.
"…I belong to no one."
Behind the mask, the priest smiled.
"We shall see."