The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
Selis blinked. "What do you mean, 'Serena has returned'?"
The servant boy panted, eyes wide as he bowed hastily. "She came back last night—tattered, injured, but alive. Lord Caelan himself confirmed it. She's resting now."
Tyven scoffed. "After disappearing for nearly two weeks? And now she just waltzes back into the estate with a convenient story?"
Erona murmured, "She was supposed to be crippled…"
"But now she's alive and healed." Renlor crossed his arms, watching Alina's expression carefully. "Coincidence?"
Alina's hand tightened around her spear.
She hadn't said a word since the announcement.
Her lips parted. "What did she say happened?"
The servant hesitated. "Lady Serena claims she found a glowing fruit in the Shadowpine Forest. She ate it and collapsed for three days. When she woke, her veins were restored… and she fought off several low-tier beasts on her way home."
"Glowing fruit," Maela muttered. "How convenient."
"That's impossible," Selis hissed. "The Shadowpine Forest isn't deep enough to grow mystical fruits, much less something that can fix broken veins!"
Alina's voice was soft but sharp. "You're wrong."
They all turned to her.
"There are places even within shallow forest paths where natural energy pools," she said calmly, eyes distant. "Rare spirit herbs and fruits can occasionally mutate from leftover energy after ancient beast fights."
"Then she's just lucky?" Tyven frowned.
Alina's gaze sharpened. "Or she was never as weak as we thought."
A chill ran through the group.
Serena's Courtyard – Later That Evening
Maris entered quietly, holding a warm bowl of herbal porridge.
"You barely ate today, my lady. The Patriarch's physician said you must strengthen your blood flow."
Serena sat cross-legged on the floor, her hair loose, and sleeves rolled up as she examined her palms. Her qi had stabilized—but her foundation was still fragile.
"I will," she replied softly. "Later."
Maris placed the bowl down. "You've been awake for hours. Are you… cultivating again?"
Serena nodded.
"Then… did you really fight those beasts on your way back? What were they like?"
Serena smirked faintly. "The Thornhide Jackal had a good nose but poor defense. The Duskmire Lizard ambushed me from a mossy tree. Took two kicks to the skull to kill it."
Maris gasped. "Those are real spirit beasts! I thought they were just low-level fictions in storybooks!"
"They're low-tier, yes. But they still bite." Serena gently touched the faint bruise on her left arm. "Most of them haven't developed beast cores yet. I could still handle them even in a weakened state."
"…You're different now, my lady."
"I have to be."
System Interface – Late Night
You have consumed 3x Recovery Pills.
Internal injuries: 90% healed.
You may now begin basic movement and light training.
Silent Core Points: 43
Use 10 Points to increase skill mastery of 'Essence Control'?
"Yes."
Skill Mastery: Essence Control – Entry Level → Master Level.
A rush of clarity surged through her dantian. Serena could feel the threads of energy weaving more smoothly now, the once-unsteady pull of qi now steady and responsive.
A relieved breath left her lips.
So now, the stolen pills and scythe no longer burdened her physically. Hidden in her system's invisible inventory space, no one in the estate would suspect anything.
Serena Valen was crippled no more.
And she was no longer at anyone's mercy.
Announcement – Two Days Later
News rang out across the estate:
A private combat competition was to be held for the younger generation of House Valen.
The reward?
A storage ring—a mark of recognition for emerging talents of the family. Even among nobles, a storage ring was a precious item, often reserved for elders or battlefield-ready youths.
And more importantly… it would be presented directly by Lord Caelan himself.