System: Daily login!!, jackpot on the first day!!!

- Saranjana Kingdom, Thirteen Years Later

Golden sunlight spilled through the wide glass windows, painting the chamber in warmth. It fell across the face of a boy still tangled in his sheets, lost in sleep.

*Knock Knock*

The sound roused him. Slowly, the boy opened his eyes. They were nothing alike, one, a deep blue like the endless ocean, calm yet carrying unfathomable depths; the other, crimson as fresh blood, glowing faintly in the morning light.

"…Prince Askara, are you awake?"

The boy, Askara D'Archy Hidayat, groaned softly, pulling himself upright.

He pressed his fingers to his temple, as if warding off the stubborn fog of dreams.

"…I am," Askara murmured, pushing himself to his feet. "What is it? I thought there was no agenda today"

His gaze wandered, unfocused, until it fell upon the painting that dominated the far wall. A tall man stood in its center, six women at his side. The man's long hair framed sharp, proud features that mirrored Askara's own, except for the eyes, which carried something both endless and terrifying.

Askara's lips pressed thin.

"…Father," he whispered, voice low. "Thirteen years, and you still haven't returned. Where are you? What war are you still fighting?"

The door creaked open. An elderly maid, silver hair bound neatly, entered with a sigh that spoke of years tending to the young prince.

"My Prince," she said gently, "do you recall what day it is today?"

"…Monday?" Askara tilted his head, genuine confusion in his mismatched eyes.

"And?" she prompted.

"…And?" he echoed blankly.

The maid brought a hand to her forehead, shaking her head. "Oh, my lord… Prince, today is your entrance ceremony. Everyone else is ready. Only you remain unprepared"

Askara blinked. Then the realization hit. His eyes widened.

"…Entrance ceremony?" His voice cracked in panic before he shouted, "... Oh, shit! The Academy!"

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- A moment later.

In the royal garden of Saranjana, a small group had already gathered. The morning sun gilded the marble paths, and the sound of rustling leaves framed their impatience. Most of the gathering was young nobles, except that these weren't ordinary nobles. They were the children of the Man who disappeared thirteen years ago.

"*Sigh*… where's Askara?" muttered a girl with dark blue hair cascading like a river, her bright ocean eyes narrowing with annoyance. This was Kiara D'Archy Hidayat, daughter of Taufik and Anugerah.

"He's probably still sleeping. Should I go wake him?" said another, her golden hair catching the sun, the same bright eyes as Kiara's burning with irritation. Litani D'Archy Hidayat, daughter of Taufik and Rani, clenched her fists as if already preparing to punch her brother awake.

"Late on the first day of the Academy… what a drag~," sighed a boy lounging lazily on the fountain's edge. His deep green hair and equally bright blue eyes made him stand out among his siblings. This was Anggana D'Archy Hidayat, son of Taufik and Kaela.

"…Don't be like that, Angga." A softer voice came from the girl at his side, her features almost identical to his, his twin. Anindha D'Archy Hidayat. Her eyes softened with sympathy. "Aska is probably dreaming about Father again. Let's wait a little longer"

Then, footsteps.

All four turned.

There he was. Askara D'Archy Hidayat, walking casually, hands in his pockets as though he carried no weight at all. His mismatched eyes, ocean blue and blood-crimson drew immediate attention.

"... Yo. Sorry. I'm a bit late," Askara said while raising one of his hands, waving casually at his Siblings.

"A bit late?!" Litani roared, stepping forward with her fist raised.

But before her punch could fly, a low *ukhum* silenced them.

"Prince and Princesses… please behave," came a cool, commanding voice. A woman in a black maid's uniform stepped forward, her long raven hair flowing like a river of night, her crimson eyes burning like smoldering embers. She was no ordinary maid, everyone in Saranjana knew her true name.

Erelythe. The Titaness of Death.

Unofficially, she was more than that. She was Aksara's, his queen-to-be… and yet, the wedding between her and Aksara had never come. Everyone knew the reason. No one dared to say it aloud.

"…Big Sis Erelythe-" Kiara began, but the words died in her throat.

"Everyone," another voice interjected. This time it was calm, mechanical yet warm. A second maid stood beside Erelythe, sleek black hair framing her face, her amber eyes glowing faintly. Shasha, the android crafted by Taufik himself, long ago. "Please prepare. Lord Nāgāntaka approaches"

All eyes turned skyward.

At first, there was nothing but blue. Then, a dot. A speck against the heavens.

It grew. Larger. Brighter. Wings stretched wide, eclipsing the sun.

And then it descended.

A bird vast as the sky itself, feathers shimmering like a living flame, eyes like molten gold. Each beat of its wings made the earth tremble, as though reality itself bowed in reverence.

A legend. A god's mount. Guardian of Saranjana.

But above all, it was known as the companion of their father, Taufik D'Archy Hidayat.

Nāgāntaka had returned.

"Uncle Nāgāntaka!" Litani shouted as she ran forward, wrapping her arms around the colossal bird's feathered chest.

The enormous creature shifted, golden eyes narrowing in irritation.

"Don't call me Uncle! I am not that old!" His booming voice carried the weight of thunder, yet beneath it, there was no true malice, only pride mixed with exasperation.

"Pfft~" Kiara chuckled behind her hand, her blue eyes glinting with mischief. "But 'Uncle' isn't wrong. You've been with Father since the beginning. Calling you Uncle is perfectly fitting… right, UNCLE Nāgāntaka?"

The great bird ruffled his feathers, glaring at her with a look that could have crushed armies. "…You- *sigh* …whatever. Just get on. Quickly"

"Alright, alright~," Kiara teased, still giggling as she climbed up.

One by one, the children of D'Archy mounted the legendary bird. Kiara, Litani, Anggana, Anindha, and lastly Askara, who settled himself near the front. Even Erelythe and Shasha, silent as shadows, took their places with practiced ease.

The air around them shimmered with anticipation.

"…Hold tight," Nāgāntaka rumbled at last, his massive wings flexing. And with a single, mighty flap, the earth trembled and then fell away.

The skies opened to them.

Wind roared past. The world below shrank into rivers of silver and forests of green. Higher and higher they soared, breaking through clouds that scattered like mist before fire.

The descendants of Taufik D'Archy Hidayat rode upon a living legend, carried toward their destiny.

Not far from the commotion, in one of the gazebos nestled deep within Saranjana's royal gardens, several women sat together. The soft fragrance of blooming flowers drifted in the air as they sipped tea, their eyes fixed on the fading silhouette of Nāgāntaka soaring into the heavens with their children on his back.

"…They grow fast," Jenn, Taufik's first wife, murmured softly. Her gentle eyes lingered on the shrinking figures.

"Too fast," Anugerah replied, a small smile tugging at her lips though her gaze carried longing.

"…And once again, he wasn't here to witness their growth," Rani whispered, her voice carrying the faintest tremor. The mention of 'him,' made the air still. One by one, silence fell upon the six women, their hearts bound by the same absence.

"…He's alive." Gaia's voice broke the quiet, firm, and resolute. Her green eyes glimmered with certainty. "Knowing that much is enough. All of us know, if he's alive, he will come back to us again"

"... He always did," Tina added, her tone a mixture of fondness and weariness.

"He always liked to leave whenever he pleased," Kaela said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "And he always made us wait"

"Ahaha~ you're right," Rani chuckled lightly, though her laughter carried a trace of bitterness. "But tell me… was it really necessary to send our children to an academy outside Saranjana? Isn't Saranjana Academy enough?"

Kaela leaned back, folding her arms beneath her chest. Her deep green eyes narrowed slightly. "…They're too much. Every one of them. They dominate every subject, magic, sword techniques, hand-to-hand combat, and even knowledge. They're always at the top. Even the mentors here have given up on teaching them"

She sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile. "If their talent will destroy the confidence of children their age and even their mentors… wouldn't it be better for it to happen outside of Saranjana?"

The gazebo fell quiet again. But this time, the silence wasn't heavy, it was contemplative. Each of them knew Kaela was right. Their children weren't ordinary heirs. They were the children of Taufik D'Archy Hidayat.

And the world beyond Saranjana… would soon learn that truth.

"…But isn't Lavanya still in the Junior Academy?" Jenn suddenly said, tilting her head. "That little devil, honestly, I don't know who she takes after. Isn't she too much?"

At the mention of Lavanya, Taufik's youngest daughter, the other five women all turned their gazes toward Tina, her mother.

"…Hehe~ it can't be helped," Tina said with a mischievous smile, waving her hand casually. "She's the one who grew up with the least of Taufik's presence, so of course I ended up spoiling her a little. But…" She raised her eyebrow knowingly, "…aren't you all guilty of spoiling her too?"

The air froze. One by one, the wives averted their gazes, pretending to admire the flowers, sip their tea, or adjust their hair. Because Tina was right. Of all the children, Lavanya had the least time with their father, and so, each of them, in their own way had indulged her more than the others. Perhaps too much.

*Clap*

Gaia clapped her hands once, a graceful smile breaking the awkward air. "Enough about Lavanya. Let's change the topic." Her emerald eyes gleamed. "I heard the fiftieth floor of the Infinite Tower was breached not long ago…"

At once, the mood shifted. Their soft voices rose again, weaving into casual chatter about towers, rumors, and distant politics. The laughter of six extraordinary women drifted with the garden breeze, unbothered, for now, by what their children were destined to face.

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