Chapter 2 – The Eyes That Burn Blue
The castle halls of Visal Kai were alive with golden lights and enchanted whispers. Magical curtains shifted colors as if they were breathing. Floating runes drifted lazily along the ceiling. The entire kingdom felt like it was built inside a dream.
Kael leaned on a balcony railing, staring out at the magical city below. The stars reflected in his eyes… but something else did too — a faint flicker of blue.
He closed his eyes, pressing his fingers to his temples.
Not again…
That strange sensation had returned. It always came when his emotions flared — anger, fear, frustration — like something inside him woke up… but it never stayed long.
He opened his eyes again.
And the world changed.
Suddenly, everything became transparent.
Not physically — but magically. His vision now saw streams of energy flowing through people's bodies. Auras. Circuits. Mana channels. Each person was like a living map of magic. Some had thin blue lines pulsing gently. Others, especially nobles and knights, had thick, swirling mana rushing through them like rivers.
Kael looked at one noble knight nearby and gasped.
His heart had a blockage — a strange twist in his mana flow. And near his left arm, the magic was unstable.
Kael could see it all.
The kingdom's greatest mages trained for years to master mana perception. Kael… had it naturally. But only when he was angry.
And only briefly.
As his vision returned to normal, a wave of dizziness struck him.
He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
"Ugh… what's the point?" he muttered. "So I can see magic. Then what? I can't use it."
This power — these Eyes of Blue — felt like a curse. Every time it activated, it left him feeling like he ran a marathon uphill… backward… with Rayden on his back.
Speaking of which—
"You okay, Blue Eyes?" came a familiar voice behind him.
Rayden stood there, arms crossed, holding a meat bun in one hand.
Kael forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just thinking about the Princess Contest."
Rayden laughed. "Yeah, whole kingdom's on fire about it. People from all over the world lining up to impress her."
Kael squinted. "You're not entering, right?"
Rayden rolled his eyes. "Pfft. Please. That kind of drama's not my thing. I've got missions to do, contracts to fulfill—"
Just then, a shiny poster floated down from a window above and smacked him in the face.
Princess Contest: First Prize – 1,000,000 Gold, Royal Title, and Lifetime Luxury.
Rayden froze.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"
Rayden peeled the poster from his face. "…One million?"
Kael smirked. "Here we go."
Rayden stared at the prize, then slowly looked at his little brother.
Then at the prize again.
Then back to his little brother.
"Kael," he said seriously, "how do you feel about having your own private library? Magic tutors? Real meals? Maybe even a bed made of clouds?"
Kael blinked. "You were literally mocking the contest five seconds ago."
"I know. But now I'm inspired. Enlightened. Awakened."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "You want to do this… for me?"
Rayden didn't answer. He just smiled.
Kael looked down. His chest tightened. Ever since they lost their home years ago, Rayden had done everything — fighting monsters, escorting nobles, doing sketchy missions — just so Kael could have clean clothes and food. And now this.
"You're insane," Kael muttered.
"Maybe," Rayden said, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "But I'm your big bro. That's my job."
---
[INT. CASTLE DINING HALL – NIGHT]
Later that evening, the brothers sat at one of the guest tables. It was a massive feast — roasted phoenix, floating fruit platters, bottomless mead barrels. But Kael wasn't touching his food. He was distracted.
All around the room were adventurers, nobles, warriors… and magical prodigies.
And they were glowing. Literally.
Kael saw their magic again. Their energy moved through their bodies like rivers of light.
He clenched his fists. He wanted to be like them. Not because of pride. But because he was tired of being a burden.
Rayden, across the table, was shoving cake into his mouth.
"You okay?" he mumbled, mouth full of cream.
Kael hesitated. "I… think I have magic."
Rayden nearly choked. "Whuh—cough cough—Wait, what?!"
Kael lowered his voice. "It's in my eyes. When I get mad… or overwhelmed… something activates. I see mana inside people. Their distribution. Their weaknesses. Even their injuries."
Rayden leaned in, now serious. "That's huge, Kael."
"No, it's not." Kael looked away. "It lasts only a minute. And then I get dizzy. Useless."
Rayden frowned. "That's not useless, idiot. That's tactical perception. If you can see someone's mana flow in battle, that's god-tier."
Kael looked up. "Really?"
Rayden smiled. "Of course! That kind of power could save lives. You just need to train it. Hone it."
Kael whispered, "But I don't even know how I got it."
Rayden reached across the table and ruffled his hair. "Then we figure it out. Together."
---
[INT. CASTLE – LATER THAT NIGHT]
As the festivities ended and guests began heading to their rooms, Kael found himself alone again on the balcony. The night breeze was cool. The stars danced.
He looked at his hands.
"I'm not normal… but I'm not strong either."
His reflection in the glass window showed his face — but his eyes faintly glowed blue again.
Just for a second.
Then a whisper behind him.
"You look like someone with secrets."
Kael spun.
A girl in a white cloak stood behind him. Her face mostly hidden. But her presence… divine.
Kael stepped back. "Who are you?"
The girl smiled faintly. "Someone who sees more than people think."
She looked into his eyes. Her expression didn't change — but her tone softened.
"You carry something rare. But dangerous. Be careful who you show it to."
Kael blinked. "Wait… how do you—?"
But she was gone. Just vanished.
Kael's heart pounded. He didn't even know why.
---
[INT. RAYDEN'S ROOM – SAME TIME]
Rayden sat alone, looking at the Princess Contest poster. He stared at the gold reward.
Then at the little photo he carried — a torn old picture of him and Kael as kids, laughing under a tree.
Rayden's expression hardened.
"I'll win this. Not for glory. But for you, Kael."
[FADE TO BLACK]
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