The celebratory mood in Lithian Hold faded with the setting sun. The clatter of armor, the murmur of the household, the joyous chaos of his return—all gave way to the quiet, oppressive weight of Lord Baren's study. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and the unspoken burdens of power. Liam, still in his formal clothes, stood before his father's immense oak desk, with Sir Lucas, a silent sentinel, at his side.
Baren Lithian, Lord of the North, did not look at his son. He was a man accustomed to seeing threats long before they appeared on the horizon, and he was currently staring at a map of the Razakian Kingdom, as if trying to divine the path of a coming storm.
"You fought well, Liam," Baren began, his voice flat. "Captain Torvin speaks of it with a kind of awe I've not heard in a long time. You have brought great honor to our House."
"Thank you, Father."
"But you also brought something else," Baren continued, his gaze finally lifting to meet Liam's. His steel-gray eyes were cold, penetrating. "You brought the ire of Prince Arthur Razakia. Publicly. And now, the Crown will have eyes on us. Every move we make, every word we speak will be scrutinized."
Liam met his father's gaze without flinching. "He cheated, Father. He used Aura. He shouldn't have been there."
"Indeed," Baren said, a hint of steel in his own voice. "But you exposed him. A prince, a man whose entire existence is a carefully constructed façade, was humiliated by a fifteen-year-old boy. His pride is wounded. That makes him volatile. He will not forget this, nor will the King, whose heir he is."
Sir Lucas stepped forward, his voice low and firm. "My lord, what Liam did, he did for the honor of our House. He didn't just beat a cheater; he proved our strength. He secured the Vangoria alliance, exposed Vorian's plot, and now he has the eye of titans."
"And that," Baren said, turning his gaze on his Knight Commander, "is the other matter. Tell me, Lucas, do you truly believe that Sword Sovereign Eldrin, a man who has not taken an apprentice in thirty years, is interested in our boy?"
"I have never been more certain of anything in my life, my lord," Lucas replied, his voice a low rumble. "Liam's abilities are… unique. The raw power, the control… he has a gift that surpasses all mortal understanding. Eldrin sees it. And Grandmaster Orin knows this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our House. To have a Sword Sovereign as a protector, as a benefactor—it would make our family untouchable."
Baren was silent for a long moment. He paced the room, his hands clasped behind his back, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation. The silence was heavy, filled with the weight of his decision. Finally, he stopped and looked at Liam.
"The path of a champion is never easy. And the path of a Sword Sovereign's apprentice is a path of thorns and fire. Many will try to exploit this. Many will seek to use you. And I fear, with every fiber of my being, that this will make you a target. The greatest target of all."
He returned to his desk and sat heavily. He took a deep breath. "But the potential rewards… they are too great to ignore. We will send a formal acceptance to House Oulbeck. You will return in one month to begin your training. But hear me, Liam. You will be accompanied by Sir Lucas and the Black Knights at all times. You will not leave their sight. Not for a moment. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father."
Baren offered a small, weary smile. "Go now. I have much to discuss with Sir Lucas. And perhaps… you should get some rest. A bath. You smell of sweat and victory."
With a nod, Liam left the study. He walked down the silent corridor, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. He had his father's permission. He was on his way to his destiny. But he was also being watched. The path ahead was treacherous.
Meanwhile, in his own separate keep, Vorian Lithian sat in his study, a glass of fine wine trembling in his hand. A messenger, dripping with rainwater from a sudden storm, stood before him, his head bowed.
"So the whelp won," Vorian snarled, his voice a low growl of pure, unadulterated fury. "He has brought shame upon our family, made an enemy of a Prince, and now he has caught the eye of a Sword Sovereign. The little rat is getting bolder every day."
He slammed his glass down, its contents sloshing onto the table. "He is a problem. A growing threat. We cannot let him continue his pathetic quest for vengeance." He looked at his servant. "Send a coded message to the Whisper Guild. I want a new plan of action. Something more… subtle. He has proven to be an adept fighter. We will not use brute force this time. We will use his emotions against him. Find his weakness." Vorian's eyes gleamed with a chilling malice. "Find something… or someone… he holds dear."
Liam's days became a blur of relentless, solitary training. He rose before dawn, meditating with the Ring of Azure Depths upon his finger. Its cool, silent presence was a revelation. Mana, which once felt like a finite well, now regenerated with a steady, soothing hum. He could feel it, a constant flow, replenishing his spent reserves far faster than he had ever thought possible.
He trained on his own, using a secluded yard that had been cordoned off for his use. Under the watchful, though distant, eye of Sir Lucas, he pushed his body to its limits. He practiced with Crimson Fang, its edge so sharp it sang in the air, its Blooddrinker effect a constant, exhilarating surge of temporary power. He practiced with the Draconic Manifestations, pushing mana through his body, willing the Obsidian Scales to coat his limbs, feeling the incredible, but temporary, resilience they provided. He practiced with his Adamantine Claws, the raw, tearing power of them both exhilarating and terrifying.
His true focus, however, was on Aura. He followed Orin's instructions, channeling his mana, but Aura eluded him. He saw it in his mind, a golden, ethereal force, but he could not grasp it. It was like trying to hold smoke in his hands. He pushed, he strained, he roared in frustration. His mana would spike, his skin would burn, but nothing. He felt the latent power of his Dragonheart Vigor, but he could not harness it.
One evening, exhausted and frustrated, he stumbled back to his chambers. He was covered in sweat. His muscles ached. He was on the verge of collapsing. He found Sarah waiting for him, a warm bath already drawn. She took one look at his face and her expression softened with concern.
"My lord," she said, her voice soft. "You look exhausted."
"I am, Sarah," he admitted, his voice raw. "Aura… it's a difficult thing to master."
She nodded in understanding. She moved with a gentle, silent grace. She helped him out of his training tunic. Her hands, nimble and sure, cleaned his minor cuts and scrapes. As she worked, Liam watched her. He used Dragon's Gaze.
[Status Window]
Name: Sarah Evens
Age: 14
Race: Human
Class: Maid
Stars: None
Affiliation: House Lithia (Fiercely Loyal)
Potential: C
Emotional State: Deeply Concerned (for Liam), Resolute, Protective
Intent: Heal Liam, Serve the House
Attributes: Strength: 4, Stamina: 4, Agility: 5, Vitality: 10, Endurance: 15, Mana: 10
Talents: Cleaning (A), Cooking (B), Empathy (A+)
Skills: Empathic Healing (Active, Rank A)
Liam watched. Her hands hovered over a particularly deep cut. A faint, pale blue light emanated from her palms. It was not just light. It was a tangible presence. It was a manifestation of her skill. It soothed his pain. The wound closed. He saw it with his own eyes. A thin, white scar formed on his skin. It was a miracle.
"Your skill… it's incredible, Sarah," he said softly.
She looked at her hands, a shy, almost scared look in her eyes. "I don't know what it is, my lord. It just… happens."
"It's a gift," Liam insisted. "A very powerful one. And you are getting better at controlling it. I can feel it."
She smiled faintly. "I'm glad I can help, my lord."
He nodded. "You have no idea."
He returned to his Aura training with renewed determination. He pushed himself. He ran. He sparred. He used his Adamantine Claws and his Obsidian Scales. One evening, after a particularly grueling session, he was meditating with the Ring of Azure Depths. He was exhausted. He closed his eyes. He didn't try to force Aura. He simply let go. He let his mana flow. It moved naturally. He felt the mana inside him. He felt it moving. He directed it to his core. He focused. He breathed. And then, it happened. A faint, shimmering, golden light appeared. He opened his eyes. It was there. A faint, glowing aura surrounded him. He had done it.
He stood up. He walked towards Sir Lucas. Lucas was standing nearby, watching him. Lucas's eyes were wide. He was speechless.
"You… you did it, boy," Lucas murmured. "You manifested Aura."
Liam nodded. "I think so." He had done it. A month. He had a month. And he had Aura. He looked at his status.
[Liam's Status]
Name: Liam Lithian
Age: 15
Race: Human
Title: The Regressed, Protector of the Innocent, Oulbeck Champion
Stars: ★★★★ (Elite Knight)
Affiliation: House Lithia
Potential: A
Attributes:
• Strength: 21
• Stamina: 12
• Agility: 17
• Vitality: 26
• Endurance: 46
• Mana: 355/355 (Regenerates at +10 per minute)
Talents:
• Swordsmanship (C)
• Close Combat (E)
• Archery (F)
• Hunting (E)
Skills:
• Dragonheart Vigor (Passive - Rank SS+)
• Vision (Active - Rank A)
• Draconic Manifestation (Latent - SSS Rank)
• Aura Manifestation (Latent - B Rank)
EXP: 300/2000 to next Star
Remaining Stat Points: 0