Early morning settled over Fallhaven Capital as the current group of trainees swung their weapons in practiced rhythm. They stood in rows of five, channeling mana into each strike. At the far end, facing them, was a brown-haired youth, Stephen.

  In the months since Lucius and Nerva had left, Stephen had taken charge of the trainees. Two months ago, he himself had reached Knight level and was just beginning to grasp the essence of aura.

  The group continued their drills when a blond-haired youth appeared, still wearing yesterday’s clothes.

  “Morning,” Lucius said, his face cold as stone.

  “Well, well, look what the Mountain Cat dragged back. If it isn’t our pretty boy!” one trainee shouted, sending the group into laughter.

  “Shut the hell up!” Stephen thundered, silencing them instantly.

  He strode toward Lucius, sensing something different. The boy’s body radiated dense mana, and his eyes held a depth they hadn’t before.

  “Welcome back.” Stephen extended his hand, and Lucius clasped it without hesitation.

  “Not bad to be back. Can’t say I missed you guys.” For the first time ever, Lucius cracked a smile in front of the group.

  I’ll be damned, Stephen thought. “Who are you?” He narrowed his eyes, hand drifting to the hilt of his sheathed sword. The men behind him raised their guard, suspicion flashing in their eyes.

  “It’s a Shapeshifter!” one shouted.

  Lucius lowered his brow and summoned his weapons. “Let me show you who the Shapeshifter is, you peasants!” he roared.

  The group burst into laughter. “Now that’s more like it!”

  “Hahaha.” Stephen chuckled. “Sorry, that was sudden. You never smiled like that. The trip went well, I bet?” He asked, eager to squeeze any information from the blond youth.

  “Look, I know I was a poor excuse for a comrade before. I’ll try to do better, but you all need to stop teasing me, alright?” Lucius shouted.

  “Yes, your majesty!” a scrawny man replied with a mocking salute.

  “You know how they are,” Stephen said. “We all cope with this place in different ways. But I’m glad to see you a little more relaxed.”

  “I’ll do my best to improve.” Lucius scanned the group, his eyes widening in disbelief.

  Stephen chuckled. “We didn’t slack off, just like we promised. I reached Knight, and they’re all Peak Apprentices now. A few more salaries’ worth of crystals, and we’ll be a proper unit.”

  “You seem different yourself. How strong are you now?” Stephen asked.

  “Still early, Knight,” Lucius replied, “but I’ve learned a lot and found the path I should walk. Come, let’s sit. I’ll tell you what happened while we wait for Master to come check on you.”

  Lucius sat at the large table outside the arena, and the group rushed to follow.

  He really changed. This is a brand-new Lucius, Stephen thought, smiling as he joined them.

  ***

  The group listened in awe as Lucius recounted the events of his journey. He spoke of the draconic human Kai and his companions, of the Soul Forger and his monstrous creations, and of his time in Frontier, a place he remembered with a rare fondness.

  “A Peak Knight forced Sir Nerva to use his strongest attack? What kind of madness is that? And he managed to push an eight-circle mage to the brink? How is that even possible?” one bold soldier asked, his voice trembling with disbelief.

  “He’s someone beyond our comprehension,” Lucius said with a sigh. “An exception to every rule we know.”

  “So… you fought a Chimaera. How was that?” Stephen asked, his palms slick with sweat. He understood now, if he had been there, he would have died. He finally grasped why Nerva had chosen Lucius and not him.

  “I supported a Chimaera of our own as she battled a ten-meter Mamba,” Lucius replied, his gaze hardening. “It was close. Honestly, I barely managed to do anything.” Regret flickered in his eyes.

  “At least you survived,” the scrawny man from before said, his voice full of admiration. “Did you get wounded at all?”

  Lucius hesitated. “Not in that fight,” he admitted.

  “Yeah, not in that fight, but before, against an old Apprentice from the tribes,” Nerva’s voice cut in as he appeared from around the corner.

  Lucius cleared his throat. “He had an enhanced Unique axe. I didn’t expect that,” he muttered, earning laughter from the group.

  “I see you’re all doing well, resting like this early in the morning,” Nerva mocked, his sharp gaze sweeping over them.

  The men scrambled to their feet and lined up, saluting. “Morning, sir! Good to see you, sir!”

  “Not bad,” Nerva said with a smile, clearly approving of their progress. “Stephen, thank you for looking after them. I know Traus can be soft, so your push really paid off. Forgive me for being gone so long. I’ll make it up to you.” He placed a firm hand on Stephen’s shoulder.

  “I’ll reward all of you for your hard work. Ten mid-grade mana crystals each!” he announced.

  The men erupted in cheers. That was double their usual monthly pay.

  Then Nerva’s expression hardened. “Today, you’ll be needed at the royal necropolis. The king’s brother has died. You’ll take the place of the Ember Guard; they’re on a mission. I expect you in full official armor, clean and polished. Understood?”

  The group paled, their excitement vanishing. “Understood, sir!”

  “Finish your morning training, then take the rest of the day off. Be at the royal palace before sundown.” With that, Nerva turned and left, leaving the group in a somber mood.

  ***

  Kai woke early and stepped outside with Scry. Today, they had planned to keep Lisa occupied. Earlier that morning, Nerva had contacted them with news of the funeral. Their task was simple: bring Lisa to Theodor’s office and let him explain his plans.

  On their way to Lisa’s room, they picked up Umbra and stopped to check on Liliya.

  Kai knocked on her door. A loud snore was followed by a thump.

  ? “Aaargh, who is it this early?” Liliya shouted, groggy and confused.

  “It’s us! Open up, we’ve got a meeting with the king. Chop, chop!” Scry called, snickering.

  The sound of rushing and furniture crashing filled the room before the door swung open. Liliya stood there, hair a tangled mess.

  Kai chuckled. “Hello, sleeping beauty.”

  Umbra smirked. “Beauty indeed. Let’s go, mage girl.”

  Liliya yawned and trudged behind them, rubbing her eyes.

  When they arrived at Lisa’s room, she was already dressed. Matilde greeted Kai with a warm smile before excusing herself.

  Kai knelt beside Lisa and gently patted her head. “Lisa, we need to talk, okay?”

  Lisa’s expression turned serious. “It’s something bad, isn’t it?”

  Kai didn’t hesitate. “We found your father’s body. Today, the king will hold the funeral.”

  Lisa nodded slowly. “I understand. What about Mother?” Her voice carried fragile hope.

  Kai shook his head. “No clues yet. Nerva and your uncle searched everywhere, but nothing so far.” He explained what Nerva had told him earlier that morning, after leaving the king’s chambers.

  “I see. Okay.” She said nothing more as her spirits hovered close, gently patting her head.

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  “Come on,” Kai said softly. “Let’s go talk to the king. He might have more news.” He lifted Lisa into his arms and turned to Matilde, who was standing outside, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please guide us to the king’s office.”

  Matilde nodded, wiping her eyes, and led them toward the royal chambers.

  ***

  In front of the king’s office stood Xarion, Nerva, and Zara.

  “Oh, you’re finally here,” Zara said with a warm smile.

  “I didn’t expect to see all three of you here,” Kai replied, grinning.

  “And who’s this sleepy monster behind you?” Zara teased, eyeing Liliya, who barely registered the comment.

  With a chuckle, Nerva pushed the doors open. “Let’s go in. We have a lot to discuss.”

  ***

  Theodor sat behind his desk, eyes lost in thought, when Nerva opened the doors. He immediately raised his head and forced a smile. “Welcome, everyone. Come in.”

  Lisa ran forward and climbed into his lap. “Morning, Uncle Theo,” she said, hugging him tightly.

  Theodor embraced her and nodded.

  “Sit, everyone. There’s plenty of space; we have much to discuss.” He gestured toward the chairs and couches. Kai and Nerva took the seats in front of him, while the others settled on the couch behind. Liliya already dozing off.

  “Lisa, do you know why everyone is here?” Theo asked gently.

  She nodded. “Brother Kai already explained everything. Lisa is fine,” she said with a serious tone.

  Theodor’s heart clenched at her brave face. Brother, huh? Looks like Nerva was right, she’s really grown attached to the boy, he thought.

  “Good girl.” He patted her head softly. “Today, we’ll hold the funeral for your father, my brother. The ones responsible are dead. As for your mother… I couldn’t find her, but I believe she might still be alive somewhere. I hope one day you two can reunite.” His voice carried a fragile hope, and Lisa’s eyes shimmered with a faint glimmer.

  “Now, I hear you have some talent in Spirit Magic?” he asked, smiling as his gaze shifted to the spirits floating beside her.

  Lisa brightened. “These are my new friends, Shelly, Max, and Ruffy.” The spirits bowed respectfully; even for them, a Grand Master was an existence they couldn't ignore.

  “Even I can sense their potential,” Theodor said warmly. “If you grow properly, they’ll become formidable. I’m relieved, my dear, you’ve found a path of your own. A path that can keep you safe.”

  “Liliya, I hear you wanted to discuss Lisa’s future and the Tower’s involvement?” he asked, but the only response was a loud snore.

  A vein popped on his forehead as he roared, “Liliya, you damn lazy bum, wake up!”

  Lisa burst into laughter. “Sister had a lot of fun last night, so she’s sleepy!”

  Xarion slapped the back of Liliya’s head, jolting her awake. “Where’s the fire?!”

  Kai shook his head while Zara nearly fell over laughing.

  Liliya blinked around, saw Theo’s glare, and grinned playfully. “Morning, Theo!”

  “I swear, you never change!” Her antics made him chuckle despite himself. “As I asked, what are your plans for my Lisa?”

  Liliya sobered and stepped forward. “Yes. I’d like her to enter the Sixth Tower and learn under Archon Seraine.”

  “What?!” Theodor shot up, stunned. The rest of the group rose as well. Kai stared in shock; he had to fight in a tournament just for a chance at such an opportunity. The difference of being born a genius… He chuckled inwardly, knowing he couldn’t complain. His own growth rate was monstrous after all.

  “You never mentioned an Archon. I thought you wanted her to join you under your master?” Nerva said, disbelief clear in his voice.

  “Well, I spoke with my master,” Liliya explained calmly. “She’s willing to come and evaluate Lisa. If she agrees with me, she’ll have her sister, the Archon, test Lisa to see if she’s worthy of being taught personally. So, nothing is set in stone yet.”

  “I see…” Theodor leaned back, his expression tightening. “Still, that’s a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. What do you think, Lisa? This is your life after all.”

  Lisa tilted her head, confused. “What’s an Archon?”

  “The strongest mage on the continent,” Theo said gently. “If she accepts you, she’ll teach you how to master your spirits, and maybe even summon more.”

  Lisa’s eyes widened. “Would Lisa become as strong as Brother? Could I help him then?” Her voice brimmed with excitement.

  “Probably,” Theo said with a faint smile.

  “Lisa, even if you did get that strong, I can’t promise you’ll be allowed to follow me into danger,” Kai cut in.

  “Well, if Lisa gets that strong, you won’t be able to say no!” She stuck her tongue out in mock defiance, and Kai couldn’t help but smile.

  “You know you’d have to leave us, and your new brother, and move away?” Theo added, his tone softening.

  Lisa quieted, her excitement dimming. “I see… Could I not learn here?” she asked, turning to Liliya.

  “Maybe,” Liliya shrugged. “We’ll talk to my master when she arrives in a few days.”

  “Alright,” Theo said gently. “Let’s wait before making any decisions.”

  ***

  He clapped his hands, breaking the tension. “Now, it’s time for your rewards. You all did an amazing job.” Storage rings appeared from thin air, dropping into everyone’s hands, except Kai’s and Umbra’s.

  “Check if you’re satisfied. You two will get something else,” he turned to the two and added with a wink.

  Zara scanned her ring and gasped. “Is this… three hundred thousand high-grade mana crystals?!”

  “Rond is glad to pay for your deeds,” Theodor chuckled. He had stripped nearly all their riches, leaving only what was necessary.

  “Thank you, brother. This will help us with what’s coming,” Xarion said, bowing deeply. Liliya said nothing, simply tossing the ring into her other storage artifact.

  “What’s coming?” Theo asked, his brow furrowing.

  “Oh, you’d better brace yourself,” Nerva said with a grin.

  Xarion cleared his throat. “Zara and I… we’re together now. And we’re expecting a child. A boy.”

  Theodor froze, dumbfounded. “And you’re okay with this?” He turned to Nerva.

  “I’ve gone through all the stages already,” Nerva said calmly. “I’m fine. He truly cares for her. Also, did you say boy?” His eyes lit up.

  Zara nodded, and Nerva rushed forward to hug her. “Congratulations! I’ll teach him well!”

  Zara paled. “Poor son of mine… not even born and already cursed.”

  The group erupted in laughter while Nerva frowned. “That hurts, you know,” he scoffed.

  Zara patted his back with a smirk. “There, there.”

  Theodor shook his head and turned toward Kai, Umbra, and Scry.

  ? “You three have done more for this kingdom, and for the Sorgaz family, than you will ever know.”

  He rose from his chair, voice firm.

  ? “For saving Lisa and bringing her home to me, and for killing the Soul Forger and ending the legacy of Soultek, I grant you the title of Viscount and pronounce your house a noble one. You will receive an estate wherever you wish, along with servants and a personal guard.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t need any of that,” Kai cut him off.

  Nerva stared, mouth agape, while Theo frowned.

  ? “What do you mean you don’t need it? This would give you a proper name and land in this world, a place you can rule as you wish.”

  “Don’t need it,” Kai said with a chuckle. “I already have the whole Beastworld Jungle and a home in Frontier. And as for money, I’ve got enough Ultra Crystals to cover our needs.”

  “Beastworld Jungle? Ultra Crystals?” Theo grasped his head, then burst out laughing.

  ? “You’re richer than me!”

  “Alright then,” he said, slapping his hand on the table. “Tell me what you want, three wishes, each of you. I’ll allow it, for all your deeds.”

  “I want supplies of ingredients for a whole year, access to your royal library, and a moment with your weapon spirit to discuss the fire element,” Scry announced.

  “Can I join in on the last two wishes?” Liliya asked shamelessly.

  “Hahaha! Fine, simple enough. Approved.” Theo clapped, relieved to hear requests he could actually fulfill.

  “I’ll take you up on that offer,” Umbra said with a smile. “I’d like us to have a proper family name. I also need someone to help me choose a weapon and craft one. And, as promised, our spar, and you finding me a teacher.”

  “No problem,” Theo said. “In a few days, the best crafters in the land will be here. Now, what should your family name be?”

  “How about Argent ?” Scry suggested. “It means silver, like your old name, but it’ll be something new for us.” He smiled towards Kai.

  Umbra’s eyes lit up. “Yes! I like it. Good job, tiger.”

  Kai sighed. “Alright, if you insist. I like it too.” He didn’t mind being officially a family with these two. Kai Argent, huh? Sounds cool.

  “Deal!” Theo grinned. “Now then, what about you, Kai?”?