The road that Juluis and Sora followed that day was old.
So old that grass had begun growing through the cracks of the stone path.
The land around them was quiet. The kind of quiet that belonged to places people had stopped visiting long ago.
Ahead of them, broken walls slowly rose above the horizon.
Sora squinted.
"Juluis."
"Yes?"
"Is that another ruined place?"
Juluis looked toward the distant structures.
Blackened towers.
Collapsed gates.
Half-standing walls swallowed by vines.
"Yes," he said calmly.
Sora tilted his head.
"Why are there so many ruined kingdoms?"
Juluis continued walking.
"Because kingdoms fall."
Sora thought about that answer for a moment.
Then he asked another question.
"Do they always fall?"
Juluis did not answer.
The wind moved softly across the empty fields as they approached the broken gates.
The massive wooden doors had long since rotted away, leaving only their rusted hinges attached to cracked stone.
Juluis stepped inside.
Sora followed closely behind.
The courtyard was wide and silent.
Old banners hung from shattered pillars,
their colors faded beyond recognition.
Grass had claimed most of the ground.
Pieces of armor and broken weapons were scattered like forgotten bones.
Sora slowly turned in a circle.
"…People used to live here."
"Yes."
"What happened to them?"
"War."
Sora looked down at the cracked stone beneath his feet.
War.
He didn't fully understand the word yet.
Just as he was about to ask another question—
a faint sound reached them.
Scrape.
Juluis stopped walking.
Sora blinked.
"…Did you hear that?"
The sound came again.
From the far side of the courtyard.
Near a collapsed tower.
A figure slowly stood up from behind a pile of broken stone.
A boy.
About the same age as Sora.
Dark hair fell across his eyes, and his clothes were worn as if he had been living alone for some time.
But his gaze was sharp.
Too sharp.
Like someone who had already seen too much of the world.
The three of them stared at each other in silence.
Sora whispered,
"Oh."
The boy narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
Sora immediately pointed to himself.
"I'm Sora."
The boy didn't react.
Instead, his attention shifted to Juluis.
His eyes stopped on the sword hanging at Juluis's side.
"You're not travelers," the boy said quietly.
Sora blinked.
"We are."
Juluis said nothing.
The boy's gaze remained cautious.
"…This place is dangerous."
Sora tilted his head.
"But you're here."
The boy didn't answer.
Instead, Juluis stepped forward slightly.
"What is your name?"
The boy hesitated.
For a moment, it looked like he might not answer.
Then he said,
"…Johan."
Sora smiled.
"Nice to meet you."
Johan did not smile back.
Instead, he slowly raised his hand.
Water from a nearby puddle began to tremble.
Then—
it lifted into the air.
Sora's eyes widened.
"…Woah."
The floating water twisted like a ribbon, circling Johan's hand.
Johan's gaze stayed locked on Juluis.
"If you came here for trouble…"
The water sharpened into a thin spear.
"I won't run."
Sora stared in amazement.
"You can control water?!"
Juluis watched the floating magic calmly.
Then he spoke.
"You're talented."
Johan blinked slightly.
"You noticed that already?"
Juluis nodded.
"Your control is precise."
The water slowly returned to the ground.
Johan looked at the ruined courtyard.
"…I've been practicing."
Sora walked closer, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"That was amazing!"
Johan frowned slightly.
"…You've never seen magic before?"
Sora shook his head.
"No."
Johan stared at him like he had just said something unbelievable.
"You've never seen Aether?"
Sora blinked.
"Aether?"
Johan looked confused.
"You really don't know anything."
Sora scratched his head.
"I was… kind of new to the world."
Juluis cleared his throat slightly.
Both boys looked at him.
Juluis studied Johan quietly.
Then he asked a simple question.
"Do you have somewhere to go?"
Johan looked toward the broken tower behind him.
Wind passed through the empty ruins.
"…No."
Juluis nodded once.
"Then come with us."
Both boys blinked.
Sora pointed at Johan excitedly.
"Really?!"
Johan looked surprised.
"…Why?"
Juluis answered calmly.
"Because you have talent."
Johan's hands slowly tightened.
"Talent doesn't mean anything."
"It means potential."
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Johan looked away.
"…Fine."
Sora immediately grinned.
"Great!"
Johan glanced at him.
"Why are you excited?"
Sora shrugged.
"Because Juluis is too strong."
He pointed at Johan.
"So maybe I can beat you instead."
Johan's eyebrow twitched.
"…You?"
Sora nodded confidently.
"Yeah!"
Johan turned toward Juluis.
"…Can I hit him?"
Juluis sighed softly.
"Training begins tomorrow."
The next morning—
the ruined kingdom echoed with shouting.
Sora charged forward with a wooden sword.
"Take this!"
Johan stepped aside easily.
"You're slow."
Sora spun around wildly.
"Stop dodging!"
A splash of water suddenly slammed into his chest.
Sora fell flat on the ground.
Johan stood calmly nearby, water swirling around his hand.
"You leave too many openings."
Sora sat up.
"You cheated!"
"That wasn't cheating."
"That was magic!"
Johan crossed his arms.
"Learn it then."
Sora frowned.
"…I don't think I can."
Juluis watched quietly from a broken pillar.
For the first time—
a faint smile appeared on his face.
Because the silence of the ruins had finally been replaced.
With chaos.