Dawn.
Kaelen stood at the breach in the wall, staring out at the wasteland.
He hadn't slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Aria's broken face. Heard her apologies. Felt the weight of her goodbye.
But wallowing wouldn't help anyone.
Action would.
He pulled up the quest notification again.
[Quest: Seek the Commander's Legacy]
[Location: 8.7 kilometers northeast]
[Reward: ???]
"Eight kilometers," he muttered. "Fenrir, you ready?"
[Summon: Fenrir]
The Thunder Wolf materialized beside him, massive and alert. He'd grown significantly over the past seven months of training—now easily the size of a large horse, his silver fur gleaming, electricity crackling constantly across his body.
"Master didn't sleep. Master smells sad."
"I'm fine."
"Master is lying."
Kaelen sighed. "Yeah. I am. But we have work to do. There's someone I need to meet."
"Fenrir will come. Always."
"Good boy." Kaelen climbed onto the wolf's back. "Let's go. Fast as you can."
Fenrir howled—a sound that echoed across the wasteland like thunder—and ran.
They covered eight kilometers in less than twenty minutes.
Fenrir was fast. Faster than any vehicle Kaelen had ever seen, maybe even faster than Aria's flying car. The world blurred around them, ruins and twisted metal streaking past.
Finally, the waypoint marker pulsed brightly in Kaelen's vision.
Here.
Fenrir slowed to a stop.
Before them stood the ruins of what had once been a massive structure—walls of white stone, now crumbled and moss-covered. Pillars lay broken across the ground, carved with divine script that still glowed faintly after millions of years.
But this wasn't just any ruin.
Kaelen could feel it. The weight of this place. The history. The power.
"This was a military stronghold," Crust said quietly. "One of your father's fortresses. Where his generals trained armies. Where warriors were forged."
"You remember this place?"
"Fragments. Echoes. I destroyed much of it during my rampage. But yes... I remember."
Kaelen dismounted and walked forward slowly. Divine Sense pushed outward, scanning—
And immediately recoiled.
Something was here.
Something powerful.
Not hostile. But... watching.
"Hello?" Kaelen called out. "I received a quest to come here. To seek the Commander's Legacy."
Silence.
Then—
A voice.
Deep. Commanding. Ancient.
"So. Zephrion's son finally arrives."
Kaelen spun around.
A figure stood atop one of the broken pillars—a man, tall and broad-shouldered, wearing ancient armor that gleamed like starlight. His face was stern, weathered, with a scar running from his left eye to his jaw. His hair was gray, tied back in a warrior's topknot.
And he was translucent. Ethereal.
A soul.
"You're the Commander," Kaelen said.
"I am General Arcturus. Commander of Zephrion's armies. Leader of ten thousand warriors. The Shield of the Divine Kingdom." The soul's eyes—sharp, analytical—studied Kaelen. "And you are Aelion. Reborn in flesh. Bearing the curse of your father. And the stain of your greatest mistake."
Kaelen's jaw tightened. "You know who I am."
"I know what you were. A foolish boy who unleashed hell upon the world. A child playing with power he couldn't comprehend." Arcturus's expression didn't change. "But I also know what you are. A second chance. A possibility. The question is—are you worthy of it?"
"That's why I'm here. To learn. To become stronger."
"Words." Arcturus jumped down from the pillar, landing with impossible grace for someone wearing full armor. "I don't care about words, boy. I care about action. Show me what you can do."
Kaelen barely had time to react.
The Commander moved—fast—closing the distance in an instant. His fist shot toward Kaelen's face—
Kaelen raised his hand. "Divine Shield!"
The golden barrier materialized just in time. The Commander's fist slammed into it, and the shield shattered like glass.
Kaelen was thrown backward, tumbling across the ground.
"Pathetic," Arcturus said flatly. "You rely too much on your divine gifts. Where is your footwork? Your balance? Your awareness?"
Kaelen scrambled to his feet, raising both hands. "Divine Burst!"
Golden light exploded toward the Commander—
Who simply stepped aside.
The blast sailed past him harmlessly.
"Predictable. Wasteful. You telegraph your attacks like a novice." Arcturus was in front of him again, moving impossibly fast. "Again."
This time, Kaelen tried to dodge—
The Commander's palm struck his chest.
Not hard. Just a tap.
But Kaelen felt his entire body lock up. His legs gave out. He collapsed, gasping.
"Pressure point," Arcturus explained calmly. "Your divine body makes you resilient. But you still have weaknesses. And you don't even know where they are." He crouched beside Kaelen. "You have power, boy. Raw, overwhelming power. But you have no discipline. No technique. You fight like a wild animal, throwing energy around and hoping it works."
Kaelen tried to speak, but his lungs wouldn't cooperate.
"Breathe through it. The paralysis will fade in thirty seconds."
Sure enough, thirty seconds later, feeling returned to Kaelen's limbs. He sat up slowly, glaring at the Commander.
"You could've warned me."
"Life doesn't warn you." Arcturus stood. "Enemies don't warn you. If you want to survive—truly survive—you need more than divine power. You need skill."
"That's why I'm here."
"Yes. It is." The Commander studied him for a long moment. "I watched you arrive. Watched the way you moved. The way you fight. You've learned some things on your own. That's good. Shows initiative. But you're still a child playing soldier."
"I'm five years old."
"Your body is five years old. Your soul is ancient." Arcturus crossed his arms. "I can train you. Teach you everything I taught the warriors of the Divine Kingdom. Combat techniques refined over millennia. Strategy. Tactics. Discipline. But it will take time. Dedication. Sacrifice."
"How much time?"
"Normally? Twenty years to transform a novice into a master warrior." Arcturus paused. "But you have advantages. Your divine body. Your natural talent. Your connection to Zephrion's bloodline. With hard work... twelve years."
Kaelen's breath caught. "Twelve years?"
"Yes. Twelve years of training. Every day. No breaks. No shortcuts. Twelve years to forge you into something worthy of your father's legacy." The Commander's gaze was steady. "Are you willing to pay that price?"
Kaelen looked down at his hands. Twelve years. He was five years old. That would make him...
Seventeen.
By the time he emerged, Ryker would be eighteen or nineteen. Lira would be seventeen or eighteen. The world would have moved on without him.
Aria would have grown up.
If she was even still alive.
"It's a lot to ask," Crust said quietly. "Twelve years of isolation. Twelve years away from everything you know."
"What do you think?" Kaelen asked silently. "Is it worth it?"
"Absolutely. The Commander speaks truth—you have power, but no skill. You win fights through brute force. Against weak enemies, that works. But against someone like Magnus? Against trained warriors with advanced technology? You'll lose. And everyone you care about will die."
Crust paused.
"This training will give you what you need. Top-tier combat techniques that are lost to the world. Knowledge that only the ancient generals possessed. And here's the practical benefit—while you're in his realm, you'll disappear completely. Aria's father won't be able to find you. By the time you return, you'll be strong enough that Magnus Vael won't be able to touch you. Or anyone you care about."
Kaelen took a deep breath.
Twelve years.
It was a long time.
But Crust was right. He couldn't protect anyone the way he was now.
"I'll do it," Kaelen said, looking up at Arcturus. "Twelve years. I'm ready."
The Commander's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. Approval, maybe.
"Good. But first—you have affairs to settle. Goodbyes to say. Preparations to make." Arcturus gestured toward the ruins. "Return tomorrow at dawn. And bring whatever you need. Once training begins, you won't leave until it's complete."
"Understood."
Kaelen stood and called Fenrir over. As he climbed onto the wolf's back, Arcturus spoke again.
"One more thing, boy."
Kaelen looked back.
"Your father was the greatest man I ever knew. Wise. Powerful. Compassionate. And you broke his heart." The Commander's voice was hard. "Prove to me you're more than the mistake that destroyed the world. Prove you're worthy of Zephrion's legacy."
"I will."
"We'll see."
Kaelen returned to the shelter.
The morning was half-gone, and people were starting their daily routines. He found Ryker helping his father repair a water pump, covered in grease and swearing creatively.
"Kaelen!" Ryker's face lit up. "Where've you been? I knocked on your pod earlier, but—" He stopped, seeing Kaelen's expression. "What's wrong?"
"I need to talk to you. All of you. Privately."
Ten minutes later, Kaelen sat with Ryker, Lira, Mira, and Dane in their cramped apartment.
He told them everything.
The quest. The Commander. The twelve-year training.
When he finished, silence filled the room.
Finally, Ryker spoke.
"Twelve years," he said slowly. "You'll be gone for twelve years."
"Yes."
"And we'll just... what? Wait?"
"Live your lives. Survive. Get stronger." Kaelen looked at his friend. "I'm doing this so I can protect you. All of you. Aria's father is hunting me. And eventually, he'll find this place. When that happens, I need to be strong enough to stop him."
Mira's eyes were wet. "Kaelen... you're five years old. You should be playing. Learning. Being a child. Not training for war."
"I was never meant to be a child. Not in this life."
"That doesn't make it right."
"No. But it's necessary." Kaelen reached into his Storage Void and pulled out a bag—heavy, clinking. He set it on the table. "I've been saving money from our hunts. There's enough here to last you years. Enough that Ryker and his father don't have to risk the wasteland. Enough to move somewhere safer, if you want."
Dane opened the bag, and his eyes widened. "Kaelen... this is..."
"Use it. Please. I can't protect you if I'm not here. But I can give you this."
Lira was unusually quiet. Finally, she spoke. "Are you coming back?"
"Yes."
"Promise?"
Kaelen met her eyes. "I promise. Twelve years. And then I'll return. Stronger than anyone in this city. Strong enough to change things."
She nodded slowly. "Okay. I believe you."
Ryker stood abruptly and grabbed Kaelen in a crushing hug. "You'd better come back, you idiot. I'm not losing my brother."
Kaelen hugged him back, his throat tight. "You won't."
They held each other for a long moment.
Finally, Ryker pulled back, wiping his eyes roughly. "If... if Aria comes back. What do I tell her?"
"Tell her where I went. Tell her I'm training to become strong enough to protect everyone." Kaelen paused. "Tell her I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye."
"I will."
Mira stood and wrapped Kaelen in her arms. She didn't say anything. Just held him, the way a mother holds a child.
When she finally let go, her face was wet with tears.
"Come home safe," she whispered.
"I will."
That evening, Kaelen stood on the roof one last time.
He looked out at The Undercroft—the crumbling buildings, the rust, the smog. The place that had been his home for this entire life.
And above, Avalon Prime floated in the sky. Gleaming. Untouchable.
Somewhere up there, Aria is suffering, he thought. Locked away. Punished for wanting to be free.
His fists clenched.
Twelve years. And when I come back, things are going to change.
"Bold words," Crust said. "Can you back them up?"
"Watch me."
"I will, little god. I will."
Dawn the next day.
Kaelen stood before the ruins once more, Fenrir at his side.
He'd stored everything he needed in his Storage Void—clothes, supplies, mementos. The few possessions he had.
Arcturus was waiting.
"You came," the Commander said.
"I said I would."
"Many say that. Few follow through." Arcturus gestured. "Come. It's time."
He led Kaelen deeper into the ruins, to a spot where the divine script glowed brightest. The Commander raised his hand, and golden light erupted from the ground, forming a doorway—a shimmering portal of pure energy.
"This is the entrance to my Realm," Arcturus explained. "A space I created within my own soul. Within it, time flows normally. Twelve years inside equals twelve years outside. No shortcuts. No tricks." He looked at Kaelen. "Last chance to change your mind."
"I'm not changing my mind."
"Then step through."
Kaelen took a deep breath.
And walked into the light.
The world shifted.
For a moment, there was only brightness. Pure, overwhelming light.
And then—
Kaelen stumbled onto grass.
Real grass. Green and soft beneath his feet.
He looked up, and his breath caught.
He stood at the base of a mountain—tall, majestic, its peak wreathed in clouds. A waterfall cascaded down its side, the water crystal-clear, sparkling in the sunlight. And everywhere—everywhere—cherry blossom trees bloomed, their petals drifting through the air like pink snow.
It was the most beautiful place Kaelen had ever seen.
"Welcome to my Realm," Arcturus said, appearing beside him. "This mountain, this waterfall, the trees—I shaped all of it. Created it within my soul as a sanctuary. A place of peace and discipline."
"It's... incredible."
"Come. The house is at the summit."
They climbed.
It took an hour, following a winding path through cherry blossom groves. Fenrir bounded ahead, his tail wagging, clearly delighted by the natural beauty.
Finally, they reached the peak.
And there, overlooking the entire realm, sat a traditional Japanese-style house.
It was simple but elegant—dark wood, sliding paper doors, a sloped roof covered in moss. And in the center of the structure was an open courtyard, roofless, exposing the sky above.
Cherry blossom petals drifted down constantly, covering the courtyard floor.
"This is where you'll train," Arcturus said, gesturing to the courtyard. "And where you'll live. The house has quarters for sleeping, meditation, study. Everything you need."
Kaelen walked to the edge of the courtyard and looked out.
The view was breathtaking. He could see the entire realm from here—the forests, the waterfall, the endless sky.
"Commander," he said quietly. "What exactly is this place? It feels like my Storage Void, but... different. More real."
Arcturus nodded, as if expecting the question. "You have a Storage Void, yes? A pocket space where you can store objects and living beings?"
"Yes."
"This is similar, but far more advanced. Your void is a warehouse—a simple space for holding things. My Realm is a world. I didn't just create storage space. I shaped an entire dimension within my soul. The mountain. The waterfall. The trees. The sky. All of it exists because I willed it into being."
The Commander walked to the center of the courtyard, cherry blossoms swirling around him.
"Think of it as the evolution of your ability. Right now, you can store and retrieve. One day, if you master your powers, you could do what I've done—create your own realm. Shape it however you wish. Make it a fortress, a paradise, a training ground. Whatever you need."
"And the time?" Kaelen asked. "You said it flows normally?"
"Correct. Twelve years here equals twelve years in the real world. No time dilation. No tricks. Just honest work." Arcturus's expression grew stern. "Some warriors dream of shortcuts. Of realms where time moves faster, allowing decades of training in mere days. But those are illusions. Power gained too quickly is unstable. Fragile. Real mastery requires real time."
Kaelen nodded slowly, processing. "Can anyone enter this realm?"
"No. Only those I permit. This is my domain. My sanctuary. No one can enter without my consent. No one can leave without my consent." The Commander's eyes glinted. "For the next twelve years, boy, this realm is your entire world. Your prison and your salvation."
"I understand."
"Good." Arcturus gestured toward the house. "There are rooms inside. Choose one. Rest. Eat. Prepare yourself." He looked at the sky, where the sun was beginning to set. "Your training begins at dawn tomorrow. And when it does..."
He looked back at Kaelen, and for the first time, something almost like sympathy crossed his face.
"You'll wish you'd never been born."
Kaelen met his gaze steadily. "I've already felt that way once. Can't be worse than destroying the world."
Arcturus stared at him for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he smiled.
"Perhaps you are Zephrion's son after all."
That night, Kaelen lay in his room—a simple space with a futon, a desk, and a window overlooking the waterfall.
Fenrir curled up beside him, already asleep.
Crust was quiet, for once. Respectful of the moment.
Kaelen stared at the ceiling, watching cherry blossom petals drift past the window.
Twelve years, he thought. When I leave here, I'll be seventeen. Everything will have changed. Everyone will have grown up without me.
But I'll be ready.
Ready to face Magnus. Ready to protect my friends. Ready to change this broken world.
He closed his eyes.
I'm coming back, Aria. And when I do, no one will ever hurt you again.
Outside, in the courtyard, Arcturus stood alone.
He looked up at the stars—artificial, created by his will, but beautiful nonetheless.
"Zephrion," he murmured. "Your son has come to me. Broken. Lost. But determined." He smiled faintly. "I'll forge him into something worthy. Something you would have been proud of."
The cherry blossoms swirled around him.
"Rest easy, old friend. Your legacy is in good hands."
[Quest Updated: Seek the Commander's Legacy]
[Status: In Progress]
[Training Duration: 0 / 12 Years]
[Return to this quest when training is complete.]
[SYSTEM WISHES HAPPY NEW YEAR ]