After the brief exchange in the main family hall, they dispersed toward their residence within the Ancestral Estate. Kaito's branch made their way up a gently winding path lined with carefully pruned pine trees and smooth stone lanterns, the road eventually opening to reveal their designated villa.
It was a medium-sized residence—modest by comparison to their Ren family villa in Silvercrest City—but still impressive in its own right. The outer walls were built from smooth, pale stone with traditional sloped roofs of dark grey tiles. Ornate wooden beams framed the veranda, carved with subtle cloud and dragon motifs. Though the architecture leaned heavily toward the ancient style favored by the Ancestral Estate, the faint hum of modern energy panels hidden beneath the roof tiles and the soft glow of recessed lighting along the walkway hinted at the understated presence of advanced technology.
Inside, the contrast became more apparent. A climate-controlled interior kept the air at a perfect temperature, holographic displays were neatly integrated into the lacquered wooden walls, and automated housekeeping drones moved quietly in the background. The furniture was crafted from dark sandalwood, polished to a sheen, yet the surfaces discreetly housed touch-sensitive panels for controlling various systems. The blend of old-world elegance and futuristic convenience created a seamless harmony—luxury without ostentation, exactly in line with the Ancestral Estate's principles.
While the servants busied themselves unloading luggage and arranging belongings in each assigned room, Kaito carried a small case of his own and stepped into the familiar confines of his private quarters. The room was much like he remembered—simple but comfortable, with a large window that opened to a sweeping view of the terraced slopes below.
He had just begun to consider whether to join the others, who had apparently all decided to return to the RV to continue playing Glory, when a sudden shout rang out from behind him.
"Brother Kaito!"
The familiar voice was brimming with excitement. Turning toward the sound, Kaito saw a group of boys—three, no, four of them—running toward him from across the courtyard. The one in front, a tall youth with bright, eager eyes, was the one calling out. His steps were quick, his grin wide, and there was a glimmer of recognition in his gaze that spoke of long familiarity.
Kaito paused, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he watched the group approach. The one in the lead was Ren Marcus, a broad-shouldered, bear-like young man whose boundless energy and straightforward nature made him impossible to miss. Marcus had been one of Kaito's closest childhood companions during the many trips he had made to the Ancestral Estate for worship ceremonies. He was the sort who could turn any quiet afternoon into a whirlwind of mischief, and Kaito could still remember countless occasions when Marcus had dragged him into harmless trouble—often leaving the elders shaking their heads in exasperation.
Behind Marcus came three more familiar figures—Ren Elias, quick-witted and always ready with a teasing remark; Ren Calvin, steady and dependable, often acting as the voice of reason when Marcus's ideas became too wild; and Ren Lucas, the youngest of the bunch, who still tried his best to keep up with the older boys despite being slightly shorter in stature.
The four of them closed the distance quickly, Marcus's booming voice carrying ahead of the rest. "Brother Kaito!" he shouted, the excitement in his tone making it clear that the years hadn't dulled his enthusiasm in the slightest.
The moment they reached him, Marcus wrapped Kaito in a crushing bear hug, lifting him slightly off the ground before setting him back down. "Still solid as ever," Marcus laughed, thumping Kaito's back in approval.
These were his playmates—the ones who had roamed every corner of the Ancestral Estate's grounds with him, climbing trees, sneaking into forbidden halls, and daring one another into reckless dares. In those days, Kaito had been the undisputed ringleader, and with his absence over the years, Marcus had naturally stepped into the role of second-in-command. The younger children who played alongside them had treated Marcus with the same respect they gave Kaito, though all of them still looked to Kaito as their true "boss."
Seeing them now, older but still carrying the same spark of camaraderie, stirred something warm in Kaito's chest. These were bonds forged in childhood—unchanged by time, distance, or the paths life had taken them.
Kaito's smile deepened as Marcus, Elias, Calvin, and Lucas stood before him, their faces flushed from the run across the courtyard. It had been years since he'd last seen them, yet their presence stirred a familiarity so strong it was almost tangible—like the warm scent of home after a long absence.
For a brief moment, all Kaito wanted to do was stand there and enjoy this reunion. He patted Marcus's broad shoulder, giving it a firm pat, before reaching out to clasp Elias's hand, pulling him into a half-embrace. Calvin received a firm nod and a slap on the back, while Lucas—grinning ear to ear—received a ruffle of the hair that left the younger boy laughing.
It was a simple greeting, but for Kaito, it was more than that. It was a reminder of bonds forged in the simplicity of youth, when their greatest concerns were whose turn it was to lead a game, or which orchard in the estate they'd sneak into next.
Yet beneath that warmth, an ache twisted in his chest. The sight of them brought back memories not only of his childhood, but of the bitter years that had followed in his previous life.
In that life, the Ren family's ancestral branch—these very people—had been caught in the web of obligation spun by the Soelerin family, a Silver-ranked powerhouse under whose jurisdiction their branch had quietly lived for generations. To the outside world, the Ren ancestral branch was simply another low-key, respectable family within the Soelerin sphere of influence. But power recognized power, and the Soelerin family had always known the truth: despite their preference for remaining out of political games, the Rens had depth, skill, and numbers.
That truth had cost them dearly.
Kaito's mind wandered back to the moment it had all begun to unravel. Two years after the discovery of the ancient ruins—the so-called "library ruins" that had shifted the entire balance of martial progression—the world had entered its first great crisis. Monsters began to evolve, their strength escalating at a terrifying pace. Within months, the Federation had been forced into an emergency state. Attacks became more coordinated, more destructive. Entire border cities were wiped out in a single night.
And then, in the wake of that chaos, came the call-up orders.
Every Silver-ranked family in the Federation was commanded to muster an army from the households under their control. It didn't matter if the subordinates were Bronze-ranked, unranked, or mere civilian organizations. All were ordered to contribute "in the name of defending humanity." But Kaito, even back then, had seen the truth for what it was. The orders were nothing more than a convenient way to gather cannon fodder.
The Soelerin family, cold and efficient, had gone further than most. They demanded half the fighting-age population from every subordinate household—men and women, civilians and martial artists alike. There was no negotiating, no deferring, no refusal. Any who resisted were branded traitors to the Federation, stripped of all protections, and left to fend for themselves against both political enemies and the growing tide of monsters.
At that time, the Ren family's ancestral branch, possessing only the martial strength of a Bronze-ranked household, had been utterly powerless to resist. Bound by duty and lacking the influence to defy the order, they were forced to comply—surrendering half their number to the summons.
Kaito remembered the day they departed. The courtyard of the ancestral hall had been crowded with faces—some grim, others pale with fear, a few trying to put on brave smiles for the sake of their children. And among that departing crowd had been the four young men now standing before him, their expressions alight with youthful eagerness, entirely unaware of the fate awaiting them.
Marcus had stood at the front, grinning confidently, a spear slung over his back. "We'll be back before the spring," he'd promised. Elias had smirked, joking about how the monsters wouldn't know what hit them. Calvin had clasped Kaito's hand before leaving, telling him to keep an eye on the younger cousins while they were gone. And Lucas, still barely an adult at the time, had tried to hide his nerves behind a cocky tilt of his chin.