Fiore, Heartfilia Estate. Year X762
Layla Heartfilia stood on the balcony of her mansion, gazing up at the stars. The night was calm, the air cool and still. She had always felt a deep connection to the celestial bodies, their light guiding her through life's trials. Tonight, however, something felt different. Something was coming. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach, a sensation of change that demanded her attention.
Without warning, a bright flash of light appeared in the sky, followed by the unmistakable sound of something or someone crashing into the nearby woods.
Layla gasped, clutching the railing as the light faded, leaving only the dark silhouette of the forest. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of fear and curiosity driving her forward.
She didn't hesitate. Grabbing her cloak, she dashed down the stairs and out into the night, her feet carrying her swiftly to the source of the disturbance.
As she reached the clearing, Layla's breath caught in her throat. There, lying on the forest floor, was a boy no older than herself. His blond hair was matted with dirt, his clothes torn and bloodied. Yet, despite the injuries and the strangeness of his arrival, there was something undeniably powerful about him.
Layla knelt beside him, her hand gently brushing against his cheek. "Are you alright?" she whispered, though she knew he was unconscious. There was no response, only the faint rise and fall of his chest.
She couldn't leave him here. This boy, whoever he was, needed help.
Summoning what strength she had, Layla carefully lifted the boy into her arms. He was lighter than she expected, though the weight of his mysterious arrival pressed heavily on her mind. She made her way back to the estate, every step filled with questions she couldn't yet answer.
Who was he? Where had he come from? And why did she feel such a strange connection to him, as if their fates were somehow intertwined?