After the audience with the king, Kenneth and Salem were escorted to the Fireon estate, a mansion nestled within the palace grounds.

  Nero excused himself, offering a brief farewell before heading back to the academy.

  Salem clung tightly to Kenneth's hand, his face pale, his grip tense and unsteady. Kenneth could feel the slight tremor in his hand, and he gave Salem's hand a reassuring squeeze. "We're safe here," he said, keeping his voice calm, though his own uncertainty simmered just below the surface.

  From what he remembered in the novel, the Fireon family had once been deeply respected, a house that not only wielded the ancient magic but also upheld the value of fairness and protection, extending their goodwill to Commoners and Elementless alike.

  But that had been a year before the disaster, and the story had left so much unexplained.

  How much of that legacy remained now, in a weakened family clinging to faded memories within the palace walls?

  Would the Fireon family still uphold those values now that their power had waned?

  When they arrived at the estate, they were greeted by a young man about the same age as Kenneth. He had sharp features and a curious look in his eyes.

  "Mother, how did it go?" the young man asked, then glanced at Kenneth and Salem. "Who are they?"

  Fintan hesitated, her eyes flicking between the two boys as if debating whether to reveal something or keep it hidden for now.

  Finally, she spoke, choosing her words carefully. "The king has tasked us with taking care of them. They've come from the mortal world."

  "Mortal world?" The young man's eyes lit up with curiosity, and he stepped closer to Kenneth, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I've always wanted to hear about that place!"

  Fintan, however, was already issuing orders. "Maid, prepare the guest rooms. Joash, call Dr. Mir to check on the boy's condition."

  Joash, the young man, nodded eagerly.

  Then Fintan turned her sharp gaze toward Kenneth. "And you," she said, looking directly at him, "to my office."

  Kenneth hesitated for a moment, glancing at Salem. "Take care of him," he said softly to Joash, before following Fintan down the long hallway of the Fireon estate.

  As he followed her down the corridors, something caught his eye—a large portrait hanging on the wall. He stopped, unable to look away. It was a portrait of a man with a strong, resolute expression, eyes blazing with intensity.

  The nameplate read, Bernard Fireon.

  Kenneth's heart pounded. It was the same face he had visualized countless times while reading the novel—the legendary Fire Guardian himself, depicted just as he imagined. Seeing the image here, in this place, made everything feel more real—and yet, somehow even surreal.

  Fintan noticed his pause. She watched him with an assessing gaze, perhaps catching the flickering of recognition in his eyes. "He was the pillar of strength in our family, a fierce Guardian. His legacy shaped us, and that legacy..." she trailed off, as if choosing her words carefully, "remains essential to us."

  Once inside Fireon's head office, she turned to him, her tone shifting, "You mentioned something earlier," she began, her eyes sharp. "You asked if this was Anterthon. How is it that you, a mortal from another world, know about ours?"

  Kenneth shifted in his seat, a wave of uncertainty washing over him. The truth danced on the tip of his tongue—the novel he'd been reading, the uncanny resemblance of this world to the fictional one on its pages.

  But how could he explain it? What if it sounded ridiculous?

  He clenched his hands briefly, deciding it was safer to keep certain details to himself.

  "I've heard... stories," he said vaguely, his voice steady but guarded. "Legends and myths, things I never really believed. But I never imagined they could be real."

  Fintan's brow furrowed slightly, and she looked at him for a moment longer than was comfortable. "Stories, you say?" she mused, clearly skeptical but not pressing further. "Strange, but then again, we've seen stranger things in this world."

  Kenneth remained silent, relieved she didn't push him further. He could sense Fintan's wariness, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the full truth—not yet. After all, how could he explain the surreal connection between his life and this realm without sounding mad?

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  Fintan exhaled quietly, her tone softening as she continued, "You may not fully understand your place here yet, Kenneth, but the king and Headmaster Nero believe you have a role to play in our future"

  Kenneth swallowed hard, a weight settling more heavily on him now.

  She leaned forward, her expression softening slightly. "The Fireon family has been in decline since the loss of the Ultimate Fire. We were once one of the most powerful families in Anterthon," she paused. "The king believes that you might hold the key to reviving our legacy. You may be our family's only hope."

  Kenneth's heart pounded. The weight of her words sank deep into him.

  Me, someone from the mortal world, their hope?

  Fintan's eyes hardened, her voice firm. "You may not understand your power yet, but that's why you will attend Magiea Academy. It's where all Wizards go to master their abilities, and where you will learn to control the fire magic."

  "Magiea Academy?" Kenneth echoed, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He remembered the academy's mention in the novel—a place of powerful Wizards and grueling training, a place where destinies were forged.

  "Yes. It's not just any school. It's the most prestigious academy in Anterthon, known for training the strongest Wizards in the kingdom" Fintan said. "Headmaster Nero will personally oversee your progress."

  Kenneth sat in silence, absorbing her words. The world he had only read about in fiction was now his reality, and the weight of it pressed down on him. He wasn't just a bystander anymore—he was being thrust into the heart of the Fireon's future.

  Fintan stood, signaling the conversation was over. "You'll need to prepare yourself. The academy is no easy place, especially for someone like you who's new to magic. But for now, get some rest."

  Kenneth nodded and stood to leave, but before he reached the door, Fintan added, "Remember this, Kenneth. You may feel like a nobody, but here in Anterthon, you're our last hope."

  As he walked down the long corridors of the Fireon estate, Fintan's words echoed in his mind, mingling with the weight of all that lay ahead. The family's expectations, his barely awakened power, the reality of his new life—it was all too much to hold at once.

  As Kenneth walked down the corridor, he noticed the young man from earlier heading towards him, his face lighting up with enthusiasm.

  "Ah, you're the one from the mortal world," the boy said eagerly, stepping closer. "I've always wanted to meet someone from there. I'm Joash." He extended his hand with a warm smile.

  Kenneth returned the handshake with a smile. "Kenneth. Nice to meet you."

  Joash's excitement was contagious. "The mortal world... I've always wanted to see it for myself," he said, a hint of wonder in his voice.

  As Kenneth listened, he couldn't help but notice how Joash's fascination with the mortal world reminded him of something familiar. It echoed the stories he'd read about Joash's father—a man who, as the Fire Guardian, had been captivated by the mortal realm.

  He couldn't mention that his knowledge came from a novel, but he felt a quiet connection to Joash through their shared glimpse into his father's life.

  "You know," Kenneth said softly, "you remind me of your father."

  Joash blinked in surprise. "You... know my father?"

  Kenneth hesitated, searching for the right words. "I've... heard stories about him," he replied, choosing his words carefully.

  Joash's expression softened. "I was only a kid when my father went off to war." he said, his tone tinged with both pride and sadness. "People tell me stories about him, but after he sacrificed himself and the Ultimate Fire—it changed everything."

  There was a pause, a flicker of determination crossing Joash's face. "Since then, I've done everything I can to bring the Ultimate Fire back," he continued. "I may be Elementless, but I've studied Elemental Revival at Mageia Academy. Even if I'll never be like my father, I still want to help in whatever I can."

  Kenneth could see the passion behind Joash's words. He admired the effort Joash had put in despite the circumstances.

  "Well, if you ever need help adjusting to this world", Joash added, a slight grin returning in his face, "just let me know."

  Kenneth nodded, feeling grateful for the offer. "Thanks, Joash. I'll take you up on that."

  As Joash walked away, Kenneth stood there for a moment, watching him disappear down the hallway.

  ＊＊＊

  Kenneth slipped quietly into the guest room, his gaze immediately finding Salem by the window. The boy sat with his shoulder slumped, staring out as if the world outside might somehow make sense of everything swirling in his mind.

  The silence in the room felt thick, weighted with questions neither of them could answer.

  "Hey," Kenneth said softly, taking a step closer. "How're you holding up?"

  Salem didn't respond right away, his hand resting in his lap, trembling just enough for Kenneth to notice. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper. "Is...is this a dream?"

  Kenneth's chest tightened. Salem looked better now, his face no longer as drained and pale as it had been, thanks to the doctor's care. But the fear in his eyes was unmistakable.

  Kenneth reached out, gently resting his hand on Salem's head, offering a quiet reassurance.

  "I don't think it's a dream," he said, his voice steady. "Feels like it should be, though, doesn't it?" He glanced over at the book lying on the table—the same fantasy novel that, somehow, had crossed into their lives. "This whole thing... it's exactly like the story I was reading."

  Kenneth tried to laugh, to lighten the weight hanging over them, but the attempt fell flat.

  He couldn't shake the heaviness pressing on his own heart, or the endless questions crowding his mind.

  He looked back at Salem, meeting the boy's wide, uncertain eyes, filled with confusion and fear.

  Kenneth's tone softened. "I know it's a lot. More than a lot. But we'll figure it out, okay? Together. You're not on your own in this."

  Salem blinked, the words slowly settling in as he processed Kenneth's reassurance. For a moment, the two of them sat in silence, the reality of it all sinking in around them. Neither knew what would happen next, or how they'd navigate this world that was meant to be fiction.

  But as Kenneth looked at Salem, he knew one thing: whatever this place threw at them, they would face it together.