Chapter 3: The Boy with Red Eyes
Three days after awakening, Aerith left his chambers.
The court was in an uproar. He'd asked for no council, no priest, no court physician — only military reports and training schedules. Whispers swirled like smoke: Had the illness ruined his mind? Was he planning another coup?
He didn't care.
He walked straight into the knights' training field.
Dust flew, metal clanged. Boys in armor sparred under the eyes of gruff mentors. Aerith moved through them silently, a ghost in royal black. He stopped near a lean young man with brown skin and wild red hair, who was wiping blood from his lip.
> "Calix."
The boy froze. He turned slowly. His red eyes narrowed.
"Your Highness."
Aerith studied him. The knight in the making. In the original story, Aerith had tormented him. Mocked his origins. Sabotaged his training.
But this time—
"You passed your trial," Aerith said. "Good. I'm assigning you a private instructor and a better sword."
Calix blinked. "...What?"
"You'll serve me, if you choose."
The field had gone silent. All eyes on them.
Aerith leaned closer.
> "I know what you want. You want to rise. Let me give you the wings, Calix. And maybe one day, I'll ask you to protect someone important to me."
Calix stared. And then, slowly, he nodded.