You have always known that you were different.

Not just because of your strange abilities, or the divine powers that sometimes manifest themselves in ways you cannot fully explain.

No. Deep down, you have always known that something about your very existence was different.

You grew up in Longport, one of the great cities of Elysara, on a prosperous family farm renowned for producing some of the finest refined wines in the Seven Kingdoms.

Your family has done remarkably well for itself. Over the years, your vineyards have brought considerable wealth, with your wines being sold to wealthy merchants, aristocrats, and noble households across the great capitals.

You have never wanted for anything. And, more importantly, you have always been loved.

Your father, your mother, your eldest brother, and the twins have always been there for you. Together, you have worked the vineyards, managed the family business, and enjoyed the peaceful life that so many people in the Seven Kingdoms can only dream of.

But there has always been something unusual about your family.

You do not look like your siblings.

Of course, brothers and sisters do not always resemble one another. But in your case, the differences are striking. And then there are your powers.

Those inexplicable, almost miraculous abilities that have accompanied you for as long as you can remember.

You have never truly believed they were ordinary. Nor have you ever entirely believed that the man you call Father was your biological father. You love him, of course. He raised you, cared for you, and treated you as his own child. But somewhere in your heart, you have always suspected that your blood came from somewhere else.And recently, those suspicions have begun to haunt you.

Your eldest brother has been away for quite some time. At first, there was nothing particularly unusual about it. He often travelled across the Seven Kingdoms to negotiate contracts, deliver shipments of wine, and establish new commercial partnerships.

But this time was different. The days passed. Then the weeks. No letters. No messages. No news.

Your parents assured you that everything was fine, that your brother was simply busy with business and would return when his work was finished. You wanted to believe them. Until one night. You were lying in bed when you heard something coming from another room.

Someone was crying. Your mother. You got up quietly and followed the sound. You found her sitting alone, her face buried in her hands, her shoulders trembling.

For a moment, you simply stood there. Then you spoke.

"Mother?"

She looked up, startled, and hurriedly wiped her tears.

"Oh, darling… What are you doing awake? It's terribly late."

You approached her.

"I know he's gone missing."

Her expression changed.

"You… you know?"

"I'm not a child anymore, Mother. You can tell me the truth."

She looked at you for a long moment. Then she reached for your hand.

"Oh, my sweet child. You've always been so kind… so protective of this family."

She pulled you into her arms and held you tightly. When she finally released you, she managed a faint smile. But you were not finished. There was something else you needed to say. Something you had carried within you for years.

"Mother… I know something else."

She tilted her head.

"Something else? What do you mean, darling?"

You hesitated. Then you looked directly into her eyes.

"Father isn't my biological father."

Silence.

"Although he loves me," you added softly.

Your mother stared at you.

"Don't be silly, sweetheart. Whatever gave you such an idea?"

"I know it, Mother."

And then you saw it. **Terror.**Not surprise. Not embarrassment. Fear. Pure, unmistakable fear.Her face went pale, and for a moment she seemed unable to breathe.

Why? What could possibly frighten her so much? You had expected her to deny it, perhaps to become upset, perhaps even to tell you the truth. But this?

You knew your mother too well. She had never been particularly good at hiding her feelings from you.

And right now, every expression on her face was telling you that you were right.Your father was not your biological father. But why was she so afraid? Was she frightened of him? Had he abandoned her?

Had he threatened her? Had he hurt her? The thought made your blood run cold.

What kind of man would leave a mother and her child behind?And why had he abandoned you?

You wanted to ask a thousand questions. But your mother said nothing. She simply looked away.

Finally, she whispered:

"It's late, my sweet child. You need to get some rest… and so do I."

"Mother…"

"Please, darling. Not tonight."

You could see that she was struggling to hold back her tears. So you said nothing more.You kissed her goodnight and returned to your room.But sleep did not come easily.

For the first time in your life, you understood that your family was hiding something far greater than your brother's disappearance.

---

The following morning, you joined your family for breakfast. Everything seemed almost normal. The familiar smell of freshly baked bread, the morning light streaming through the windows, the distant sounds of workers beginning their day in the vineyards. But you had already made your decision.

When breakfast was over, you turned to your mother.

"Mother, I'm leaving."

She froze.

"Leaving? What do you mean, darling?"

"I'm going to find him."

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Oh, sweetheart, please…"

"If my brother has gone missing, I can't just sit here and wait for someone to bring him home. I have to find him."

"But it's dangerous! You don't understand! You don't know what Kael can do…"

She stopped.

Too late.You stared at her.

"Kael?"

Your mother went pale.You knew that name. Everyone in the Seven Kingdoms knew that name. Kael Merhadi. The Grand Arbiter. The mysterious and immensely powerful figure whose disappearance had become the subject of countless rumours. And lately, there had been darker stories. People vanishing without a trace. Families torn apart. Whispers that Kael and his followers were responsible for abductions across the Seven Kingdoms.

Why hadn't you thought of it before? Your brother had vanished. Your mother was terrified.And now she had mentioned Kael. It suddenly seemed so obvious.

"Kael took him… didn't he?"

Your mother said nothing. But her silence was answer enough.

"Mother, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was trying to protect you!"

Her voice broke.

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into. Please, don't do this."

You took her hands.

"I know you're frightened. But I can't stay here knowing he's out there somewhere. He's my brother. I have to find him."

"You could be killed…"

"I'll be careful."

"You don't understand how powerful Kael is!"

"Then I'll find people who can help me."

She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Please…"

You embraced her.

"I'm sorry, Mother. But I'm not a child anymore. I promise I'll be fine."

She held you tightly. For a long time, neither of you spoke.

Then she whispered:

"I suppose I can't stop you."

"No, Mother. You can't."

You smiled gently.

"But don't worry. Nothing is going to happen to me. The gods forbid."

Your mother managed a sad smile.

"The gods forbid… May Moonara protect you, my child."

"May she protect me… and you."

You kissed her forehead.And for a brief moment, you wished you could believe those words.

---

The truth is, you no longer believe in the gods. Not as you once did. You know that divine beings exist. How could you deny it when their power flows through your own veins?

Your biological father was a celestial. You have always felt it. You have always known that the strange powers within you came from something beyond the mortal world. But knowing that the divine exists is not the same as believing in its goodness.

For years, you were taught that celestial beings were noble, benevolent, and just. That they protected the innocent. That they guided mortals. That they stood above the cruelty and selfishness of ordinary people.

And yet…

Your own father abandoned you. He left your mother to raise you without him. He left you to grow up wondering why you were different, why you possessed powers you could not explain, and why the man whose blood ran through your veins had never once come looking for you.

Was that divine goodness? Was that justice? What kind of father could do such a thing?

Perhaps he had his reasons. Perhaps there was some grand celestial purpose behind his absence.

But what purpose could justify leaving a child behind?

You had begun to understand something that the priests rarely spoke of. Not every celestial is good. And not every god deserves to be worshipped. Still, you were careful never to say such things aloud.

After all, who knew what the gods could hear?

Perhaps somewhere above the clouds, some divine being was listening to every word you spoke.

And you had no intention of inviting their wrath. Not yet, anyway. But one question remained.

Who was your real father? And why had he left you?

You wanted answers. You deserved answers.

---

Over the following days, you began preparing for your departure.

You packed your belongings, gathered what money you could take, and made sure your mother and the twins would have everything they needed while you were away.

Leaving the farm was harder than you expected.

You had spent your entire life here.

The vineyards, the familiar paths, the workers, the smell of wine barrels in the cellars… This was your home. But your brother was missing.

And somewhere out there was a celestial father who had never explained why he had abandoned you.

You needed to find them both. Then, almost by chance, you heard about an organisation recruiting new members in Prima.

The New Moon. A mysterious thieves' guild, apparently wealthy and influential, whose members claimed to possess information about the whereabouts of Kael Merhadi. You read the announcement twice.

A thieves' guild?

Really?

You had been raised in a respectable family of wine merchants. You knew how to work, how to negotiate, how to protect those you loved. But stealing? That was hardly your calling.

"I'm not a thief…" you muttered to yourself.

Then you looked at the announcement again. They knew how to find Kael. And Kael might know where your brother was. Perhaps he even knew something about your biological father. You sighed.

"Well… who cares if they're thieves? If they can help me find my brother, that's all that matters."

You folded the announcement and slipped it into your bag.

The decision was made. You would travel to Prima. You would join the New Moon.

You would find Kael Merhadi. And you would bring your brother home.