(Noah's POV)
Warmth.
That was the only thing I felt during my sleep.
The soft rise and fall of Layla's breathing beside me. Her arm still draped over my waist. My head rested gently against her chest, the quiet beat of her heart lulling me like a fading dream.
She hadn't let go of me all night.
And in the depths of my sleep, the nightmares hadn't returned.
Maybe it was her presence.
Or maybe…
It was the promise that I wasn't alone.
(Later, at night)
Scarlett pushed open the door quietly, Lyra just behind her.
"Noah, Layla—dinner's rea—" She stopped mid-sentence.
There they were. Entwined in a peaceful slumber. Layla's arms around him, Noah's expression unusually calm.
"They look… cute," Lyra whispered.
Scarlett nodded. "Let's not wake them."
And I didn't wake until the morning sun broke past the curtains, brushing across my eyelids.
I stirred.
The bed felt lighter.
Layla was gone.
Her side of the blanket had been folded neatly. A faint fragrance of lavender still lingered in the air, but the warmth had faded.
I sat up and stretched, my joints popping from a night of strange tension.
I felt better—lighter somehow. But the fire inside me still burned.
There was no time to waste.
After a quick bath, I made my way to the dining hall.
The smell of toasted bread and cardamom-scented tea filled the air.
The long table was already full.
Scarlett waved, seated to the left. Layla was beside her, sipping from a tea cup with her usual feline grace. Lyra sat at the edge, quietly slicing an apple.
My father looked up from a newspaper enchanted to shift pages on its own. My mother smiled warmly when she saw me.
"Good morning, Noah," she greeted. "Feeling any better?"
"I am," I replied honestly, taking a seat beside Scarlett.
She gave me a small plate of yogurt without a word but with a tiny smile.
Lyra passed a bowl of fruit.
Layla simply leaned forward and murmured, "Eat well, dear husband?"
I nearly choked on my tea.
Scarlett gave Layla a side glare.
My father raised a brow. "Well, if your body is recovered, then it's good but don't go around causing trouble."
"I won't," I replied quickly. "I hope so."
"Seriously?" Lyra questioned softly. "You're planning something."
"Noah," my mother said, "if you're feeling pressure, you can talk to us."
"I know," I said, offering a small smile. "I just… need to follow something through."
They didn't ask further. Maybe they sensed it—this wasn't just about me.
This was about the world.
***
Now in his room he sat on the bed. His mind was clear so then he recall the vision again to find anything that he missed.
There were many things that didn't sit right.
Hero association may have been corrupted but there's no way they would just go and kill civilians mercilessly.
Then those masked guys who were those?
Why were heroes working with them?
Only church was defending the civilians to some extent.
Then came that harp women and the black robe man.
Did I miss something important?
Let me see hmm...hm...wait...He...where is he?
Why was he not shown in the vision?
Headmaster Rein Shroud is the strongest in the empire, after him came the Church Pope and then Emperor and some high ranking Heroes.
Pope must be protecting the church.
Emperor would be in his palace giving orders to deal with the situation.
Heroes, well they were busy killing civilians.
Now only Rein Shroud remained. Where is he now? I should contact him.
If he was not present there it means he was either already dead or fighting someone far stronger to keep him away from capital.
So currently I have to do few things first.
First contact Rein Shroud and ask him to investigate the Hero Association for any suspicions.
I should also ask Olivia to do the same.
Maybe I can even ask Charlotte help if I get into some problem.
But first I have to improve my strength. The vision I saw and that women. Olivia couldn't even get close to her even when she has a high mental resistance.
I don't think even i can get close to her.
Hmm, If I create a mana barrier around me and attack with distance using high level spell then I can kill her.
I can use clones to confuse her as well.
But then that black robed man. How strong he is? I didn't even saw him fight but I have a feeling that he is not any weaker than her maybe even stronger.
I think I will have to sneak into capital myself and then to hero association to spy on them.
Maybe I can get some clue about how much time exactly I have?
But how am I supposed to go capital when they are not even letting me off.
I wish I could just open a portal like "Doctor Strange" woosh and then go wherever I like.
It was really a great skill.
Hmm, wait...I have both Time and Space elements and my elemental mastery is in perfection. I have primal mana and my mana reserve in not small.
Can't I learn that as well?
And even if that is not possible my system will make it possible?
I have not used it for a while looks like it's about time for you to shine as well.
Yeah I should try to learn it.
There must be something in the mansion library that can help me.
***
I stood abruptly and made my way to the Augustus Library—a place I had rarely visited since awakening my powers.
The library was vast, stretching two floors, with ancient tomes and enchanted scrolls resting under soft starlight crystals.
I moved to the restricted section—cleared by family authority.
My fingers brushed over titles, feeling the hum of mana across old bindings.
Then I saw it.
"Spatial Manipulation and Advanced Teleportation Theory"
I opened the tome.
Dust scattered.
Golden ink shimmered.
And I began to read.
[Understanding Advanced Spatial manipulation and Portal Magic]
Portal Magic, the crown jewel of spatial manipulation, allows the caster to bend two locations together—creating a passage through reality itself.
But mastering it is no small feat. Why?
Mana Requirements: The spell demands vast, stable, and precise mana flow. Even a slight imbalance can cause dislocation, spatial implosion, or collapse.
Mental Mapping: The caster must visualize both origin and destination perfectly. The more familiar the location, the more stable the portal.
Elemental Compatibility: Most mages lack the space element. Without it, portal magic is a death sentence.
Reinforcement Layering: A successful portal must have layered boundaries to protect the caster's body from distortion during the jump.
But if mastered, Portal Magic becomes a force of ultimate mobility and escape. No fortress can bind you. No prison can hold you. No war zone can stop you.
Very few in history have ever used it freely.
Even fewer lived to master it.
I closed the book slowly.
High risk.
But even higher reward.
And I… had everything required.
Perfection in space.
Primal mana.
A body that could handle overload.
And most importantly—a reason to risk everything.
I had the will.
I went to training room to practice it.
I cleared space in the center of the training room. My hands moved slowly, fingers tracing the threads of mana in the air.
I focused.
A dark alley near the capital—where I'd last fought a corrupted beast. I remembered the smell of the sewer grate, the markings on the wall, the flickering lamp post.
I visualized the mana lines bending… stretching…
Tear a rift…
I poured mana into the space ahead.
Air warped.
A spark crackled.
A thin shimmer—like glass being peeled back from the world.
A sliver of another place peeked through—
—and the portal began to form.
A hum of power flooded the room.
A step away from success.
One wrong move and it collapses.
Sweat trickled down my brow as I whispered—
"Just a little more..."
To be continued...