The vast divine court lay silent.
Celestial pillars shimmered beneath an endless sky of shifting light, yet not a single spirit, angel, or attendant dared enter. The god of South Ryehem, Julius, sat alone upon his throne — not in triumph, but in quiet unrest.
His gaze drifted toward the great crystal sphere at the center of the chamber, now lying cracked and useless.
For the first time in centuries, a presence had denied him foresight.
A mere child.
A child… or something else entirely.
Julius leaned back, the weight of what had transpired pressing upon him.
'Anyone who comes to that dimension of mine… the moment they realize they're standing in my presence, their hearts tremble. It's instinct — a soul recognizing divinity. Some deny it, claiming it's a dream. Others break down, believing it's the end of their mortal path.'
He exhaled slowly.
'I've seen great warriors, seers, and heirs of ancient bloodlines weep in fear. Even the bravest struggle to hold their composure. And yet…'
His golden eyes narrowed.
'That boy… Kazuki.'
Julius's fingers tightened around the armrest of his throne.
'No surprise. No awe. Not even curiosity. He looked around like he had been there before. Like he knew exactly why I summoned him. As if… as if he'd already predicted that I would fail to see his future, and planned his words in advance.'
He rose from his throne, walking toward the shattered crystal sphere. Shards of translucent light reflected his troubled face.
'I've encountered prodigies before. Child geniuses born under fated stars, wielders of rare spirits, wielders of ancient blood. I've seen them rise, fall, and sometimes defy even gods.'
He knelt, picking up a piece of the broken crystal.
'But this wasn't a prodigy.'
A long silence followed, the air heavy with unspoken dread.
Then, Julius's voice echoed softly in the empty hall.
"This was an encounter with a being beyond my understanding."
He stood, gazing out over the realm from his court balcony, the horizon of his godly dominion stretching endlessly.
'Is he the child of the Fate's Chosen Path? The one the prophecy spoke of… the reincarnated one? It feels too perfect. Yet, even reincarnations take time to bloom, to recover their past brilliance. But him… even as a newborn, his mind was too sharp. His gaze too calculating. It's as if the world itself shaped him for this.'
The god sighed.
'I don't know what future he'll bring. Whether he will be salvation… or catastrophe. What I do know is, I cannot predict him.'
His grip tightened on the balcony rail.
'He is a storm. Waiting. A storm no god can predict — whether it will bring gentle rains… or burn the world to ash.'
A tense silence settled over the court as Julius closed his eyes.
'And no one… not even me… knows what he's waiting for.'