About a year ago...
The Heaven Emperor stood at the edge of the Celestial Court, his radiant robes billowing like living flame, his gaze fixed upon the cosmic horizon where mortal destiny and divine will collided.
"Kieran," he called.
A blinding light flashed. A figure descended with elegance the white heavenly dragon in human form. Pale-haired, cloaked in ethereal robes, his presence demanded reverence, not fear.
> "You summoned me, Emperor."
The Heaven Emperor's voice echoed like a celestial storm. "You know the green dragon."
Kieran's eyes narrowed slightly, betraying emotion that had long grown dormant. "I do."
"Then you know the danger of its return. That boy—Jade—is more than a vessel. He is the tipping point."
Kieran bowed deeply, but within him stirred old memories: battles fought in ancient skies, green fire against white lightning, rivalries that once scorched entire realms.
> "You will watch him. Guide him if possible. End him if necessary."
Kieran said nothing, but in his heart, he already knew the answer.
---
It had been nearly a year since Kieran, in his human guise, first stepped into the Infernal Star Academy to fulfill his secret mission.
In that time, he had become something more than a guardian. He had become Jade's closest friend.
And now, that journey—at least this chapter of it—had come to a close.
---
The Grand Hall brimmed with light and life. Banners of crimson and gold hung from the high stone arches, glowing with enchantments. Teachers, staff, and students were dressed in their finest ceremonial attire.
Today marked the graduation of the first-years, and the pride was unmistakable.
Jade stood among them—taller, stronger, more focused than the wide-eyed boy who had once set foot into the academy halls. His emerald green hair glinted under the glowing crystal chandeliers.
Beside him, Kieran stood silent, composed, but his heart stirred beneath the surface.
> He's come far... too far. Almost ready.
Principal Master Leander gave a stirring speech, invoking legacy, honor, and the responsibilities of those who bore the mark of greatness. Applause echoed through the hall, and one by one, students were called up.
When it came time for Jade, the hall erupted in cheers. Even the senior students—many of whom had once scoffed at a first-year achieving S-rank—now stood and clapped. Jade climbed the steps, bowed, and accepted his diploma with quiet pride.
As he returned, he whispered to Kieran, "Thank you. For everything."
Kieran offered a small smile. "It's been my honor, Jade. But your journey's only beginning."
Jade blinked. Something in Kieran's tone felt final—like a farewell.
---
When the ceremony ended and students spilled out into the sunlit courtyard, the festive atmosphere was thick with laughter and chatter. Friends embraced, plans for the future exchanged, promises made.
But Jade and Kieran stood apart beneath an ancient cherry blossom tree at the edge of the grounds.
Kieran broke the silence first.
> "I'll be leaving."
Jade's smile faded. "Now? After everything?"
"I've fulfilled my purpose," Kieran said softly. "At least for now. I've watched you grow. You've shown restraint when others would've burned the world. You've earned my trust."
A pause.
"And my friendship."
Jade's throat tightened. "Will I see you again?"
Kieran's answer was a whisper.
> "Sooner than you think."
Then, with a single clap of thunder, he vanished.
And Jade was alone.
---
The journey back to the Ryan estate was long, but peaceful.
The scent of pine and earth greeted him as he neared the old estate. The towering gates opened without a word, and the path lit up as though the land itself recognized his presence.
His home hadn't changed much—elegant marble walls, ivy-covered balconies, rose gardens that bloomed in the twilight. But he had changed.
As he stepped into the foyer, a cry rang out. "Jade!"
His younger sister, Maelyn, ran to him and threw her arms around him. His mother followed, radiant as always, tears shining in her eyes.
> "Welcome home, my son."
His father—stately and proud—nodded in approval. "The jade of our bloodline returns."
Dinner was a celebration. Long tables were filled with food and laughter. Music from a live lute performance filled the halls. Cousins, distant uncles, even the old swordmaster who trained Jade as a child, came to pay respects.
For a moment, it felt like nothing had ever gone wrong. No demons, no prophecy, no dragon inside his soul waiting to wake.
Just home.
---
That night, long after the guests had gone, Jade sat alone in the ancestral shrine beneath the house—a chamber of stone and silence. Etched on the walls were the names of Ryan warriors from generations past.
He lit incense and knelt.
> "Ancestors… I don't know where this path leads. I don't even know if I'm walking it right."
He placed a hand over his heart, feeling the pulse of the green dragon inside.
> "But I'll carry this power… and whatever it brings. For our family. For the world."
Suddenly, the flame of the incense flickered.
A wind, though no doors were open.
And then—a whisper.
> "You're not alone."
He turned, half-expecting Kieran to be standing there.
But no one was.
---
Kieran stood before the Heaven Emperor once again.
"You watched him," the Emperor said. "And?"
"He is not what I feared," Kieran replied, folding his arms. "He has the heart of a protector. Not a conqueror."
The Heaven Emperor's expression didn't change.
"And yet, the dragon sleeps. What happens when it wakes?"
Kieran hesitated. "Then we'll all have to make a choice. Including Jade."
The Emperor nodded slowly.
> "Then your duty changes."
Kieran looked up sharply.
"You are to remain in the mortal world. But no longer as his shadow. From now on… you are his sword."
Kieran's eyes widened. "You want me to serve him?"
"To fight beside him. When the flame ignites fully… no one else will be able to match him."
Kieran lowered his head. "I accept."
---
Back in the mortal world, the winds shifted.
Far away from the Ryan estate, in a dark forest where moonlight rarely touched the soil, a pair of red eyes blinked open.
A demon scout. Watching.
From the shadows, a second figure emerged taller, draped in layered obsidian silk, with a single green scale embedded into its chest.
> "He's returned," the figure hissed. "The jade flame walks freely again."
A third voice, from above, spoke coldly.
> "Then the hunt begins."