The massive black gates of House Valen creaked open under the watch of two sentries, their faces blank at first — until their eyes landed on the approaching figure.
Tattered robes clung to Serena's frame, streaked with dirt and torn from bramble. Her long black hair was knotted, her lips pale, and her boots half-gone. Yet she stood upright. Her back was straight. Her eyes — no longer lifeless — burned with quiet defiance.
Whispers broke out at once among passing servants.
"Isn't that…?"
"The First Daughter—Serena Valen?"
"Did she crawl out of a grave?"
As she stepped past the gate, the soldiers guarding it straightened. They might have once scoffed at her broken veins, but by House law and bloodline, she was still the firstborn of the Patriarch. Until otherwise declared, they had no right to disrespect her.
A familiar face approached at a run.
"Lady Serena!" Maris's voice broke with emotion as she rushed into the courtyard, skirts flying. "You're alive!"
Serena gave a small nod, exhausted but standing. "I'm back, Maris. Has Father returned from the summit?"
Maris teared up, grabbing her mistress's arm, her eyes widening at the sight of Serena's injuries. "The Patriarch and Lady Camira are in the west wing. Come—I'll send for the physician at once."
"No need." Serena coughed once, holding her side. "Just help me to my quarters."
As Maris led her inside, servants cleared the path. No one dared speak now. Something about her aura had changed. Though her robes were in tatters and her face pale, her presence was heavier—unfamiliar and strangely calm.
West Wing – Hours Later
"My daughter…"
Lord Caelan Valen, Patriarch of House Valen, stood by her bedside with clenched fists. His sharp jaw tightened, black-and-silver robes rippling faintly with spiritual pressure. At Core Bloom Stage 3, his cultivation gave him an edge over most nobles in the region—but it did not protect him from heartbreak.
Serena, resting against the headboard, met his gaze calmly. "I survived, Father. I was returning from the northern ridge when I collapsed near Shadowpine Forest."
"You shouldn't have gone alone," her mother, Camira Valen, said gently but firmly. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but her aura of calm at Core Bloom Stage 1 never faltered. "You were in no state to travel, Serena."
"I know. But…" Serena paused, letting weariness veil her eyes. "I saw a strange light deep in the forest. It was a glowing fruit, pulsing softly. I was too curious. I ate it, blacked out for three days, and woke up… with my veins healed."
"You're saying a single fruit restored your Essence Veins?" Caelan asked, stunned.
"I don't understand it myself." She held her father's gaze. "But I can cultivate now. I even fought some low-tier beasts on the way back—Thornhide Jackals, a Duskmire Lizard, and a Ravencrow Fiend."
Camira's breath caught. "Those beasts may be weak, but for someone freshly healed—!"
"I'm alive," Serena replied simply.
Maris whispered to the side, "It's a miracle…"
Later That Night – Serena's Room
DING.
[System Inventory Advance. Basic--Low Tier Storage Space: 100 items max.]
Items stored: [1] Scythe of Silent Dusk [2] 3x Recovery Pills [3] 2x Qi Nourishing Pills.
Serena's lips curled faintly.
She glanced at her side. Her internal injuries still pulsed with pain, but they were no longer worsening. With the stolen pills now accessible through the inventory, she had a way to heal without drawing suspicion.
For now.
Silent Core: 43 Points
[Passive: Points can be used to enhance skill mastery or aid in healing.]
Serena opened the interface again, still unfamiliar with the glowing grid behind her eyes.
Healing Boost (Minor): 10 Points per use.
Apply?
She confirmed it. The cool sensation of power surged through her dantian, beginning to soothe the lingering damage Cassian left.
House Grounds – The Next Day
In a shaded courtyard where morning light trickled through flowering trees, a group of youths sparred and joked beneath the watching eyes of House elders.
Alina Valen, now at Essence Vein Stage 6, sparred gracefully with a spear—her movements precise and arrogant.
At the sidelines stood ten other young Valens:
• Renlor – Son of the Steward, Essence Vein Stage 4
• Erona – Daughter of Fifth Uncle, Essence Vein Stage 4
• Tyven – Son of First Uncle, Essence Vein Stage 5 (Peak)
• Selis, Damon, Rhysa, Kielan, Vorren, Maela, and Jarven – All between Stage 3–5
"She's already passed the Fifth Stage," Renlor muttered, impressed.
"She's been personally trained by the Patriarch," Erona sighed. "No one here can beat her."
"Except Serena, if she still had her father's favor," Tyven said dryly. "Not that she could even cultivate."
"That cripple?" Selis laughed. "She's probably dead in a ditch by now."
"Enough," Rhysa said with a frown. "House rules. She's still the First Daughter. Mind your mouths."
They turned as a servant sprinted toward them from the inner compound.
"Lady Serena… has returned."