Kaelen sat there for a moment, speechless… She had agreed without resistance, and that was… unsettling.
They didn't speak much after that. Soon, the aroma of roasted herbs and warm soup filled the dining room, and the two of them ate together in comfortable silence.
When Kaelen finally stood and wished her good night, he had every intention of heading straight to his room.
But before he could leave, Elira's hand caught his wrist.
Without a word, she led him down the hall to her room. The soft click of the lock echoed faintly as she closed the door behind them. Kaelen opened his mouth to speak, but she was already pulling him toward the bed.
She slipped beneath the blanket, her pink-silver hair spilling over the pillow, and patted the space beside her. "Come quickly."
Kaelen hesitated for only a moment before lying down next to her. She immediately pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest.
"Baby," she murmured, her voice low and warm, "you're going away for an adventure… even if it's only for a while, I'll miss you. So stay safe, and come back to me soon."
Her fingers traced slow, deliberate circles over his chest. Then her tone softened further, almost playful but carrying an undercurrent of something sharper.
"You're only mine… remember that. Don't let any girls get close to you. Otherwise…"
She smiled gently, but her emerald eyes glinted in the dim light.
Kaelen swallowed, feeling heat creep up his neck. "This is… not the kind of pressure I expected." Still, he forced a smile. "I already told myself I'd stay a background character."
He tightened his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Okay, Mom. I understand."
The steady rhythm of rain began tapping against the windows. Outside, the moon vanished behind thick clouds, and the room dimmed into an intimate, muted shadow.
Before long, the two drifted into sleep, her arms never loosening around him.
Hours later, Elira's eyes opened. She lay still for a moment, gazing at her son's sleeping face. In the faint light, his features seemed softer and younger, but her eyes were filled with something fierce and unyielding.
She brushed a kiss against his cheek and whispered so quietly that even the rain could barely hear her, "No one in this world can take you from me… not even the gods."
Carefully, she slipped from the bed, adjusting her red nightgown and tying her long hair into a neat bun. She left the bedroom in silence, her footsteps soundless on the floorboards.
In the living room, she opened a drawer and took out a fine bottle of wine. Pouring a small amount into a crystal glass, she settled onto the sofa and took a slow sip.
The air shifted.
Five figures in black cloaks emerged from the shadows, kneeling on one knee with their right fists pressed to their chests. Each bore the insignia of a half-moon eclipse over their hearts.
The leader spoke first, his tone deep and respectful. "Madam, we have concluded the investigation into the Sebastian Royal Family of the Cheezen Empire. We have found evidence… the king may have formed an alliance with the Demon King."
Elira took another sip, her expression unreadable. She let several heartbeats pass before setting the glass down on the table.
"Let them play their game for now. Wait for my instructions before making any move."
Her gaze shifted to the leader. "Acquire a villa in the Crimson Empire, close to the Crimson Vale Institute. And make it sooner rather than later."
A cold stillness settled over the room, as if time itself had paused. An unseen energy pulsed from her presence, sharp, commanding, and utterly uncompromising.
Every eye was drawn to her, not just in respect, but in silent fear of what might lie beneath that calm exterior.
For a moment, the room was still, until a female operative at the back hesitated and spoke.
"Madam… with your strength and status, it is a waste to stay in this small town. We could leave enough wealth for Young Master Kaelen and you could—"
Her words cut off mid-sentence. A sudden, chilling silence fell before a dull thud echoed… the head rolled across the floor, the body collapsing soundlessly.
The room seemed to grow colder, shadows deepening as if recoiling from unseen power.
Elira's voice was calm, almost lazy. "Any more opinions?"
The other four operatives shook their heads, eyes wide and bodies tense with silent fear.
She lifted her glass again, swirling the wine before taking another measured sip. "Clean it up before you leave. And unless it is truly urgent… do not disturb my peace."
Without sparing another glance, she rose and glided back to her bedroom. The door closed softly behind her and moments later, she was lying beside Kaelen again, drawing him into her arms as though nothing had happened.
In the living room, the operatives worked quickly. One used a precise blend of water and wind magic to erase every trace of blood, while the others disposed of what was left of their fallen comrade.
As they finished, one of the younger members exhaled in awe. "…I didn't even see her move. The head was just… gone."
The leader shot him a sharp glare, and the words died instantly. "We're leaving," he said quietly.
One by one, the figures slipped back into the darkness, vanishing as if they had never been there at all.
In the bedroom, Kaelen Arden slept soundly, completely unaware of what had just transpired in the living room. His arms shifted slightly in his sleep, pulling Elira's head more snugly against his chest.
She didn't resist. Instead, she allowed herself to sink into his warmth, wrapping her arms tighter around him. A faint smile curved her lips.
By the time the first light of dawn spilled through the curtains, the rain had stopped. The air smelled fresh, and the gentle trill of birdsong floated in from outside.
Kaelen stirred. His lashes fluttered open, and his gaze fell downward. A soft weight rested against him—his mom still asleep, her breath slow and even.
The strands of her pink-silver hair framed her face in loose waves, and in the morning light, she looked almost unreal.
Without thinking, he leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss against her cheek. His fingers moved to her hair, smoothing it back as he thought, "She really does look cute when she's sleeping."
Carefully, he slipped out from under the blanket and padded toward the washroom to freshen up.
The moment the door closed behind him, Elira's eyes opened. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and her emerald eyes sparkled with something unspoken.
"Kaelen… you're getting bolder. Does he really believe I'm unaware?"
Her lips curved into a small, knowing smirk before she rose from the bed. With practiced ease, she tied her hair back and left the room. After washing up, she moved into the kitchen, the quiet clink of dishes and the aroma of cooking filling the air.
By the time Kaelen returned, dressed and with his hair still damp from his bath, the dining table was set. They ate together, the meal warm and unhurried, though neither spoke much, each lost in their own thoughts.
When the last bite was gone, Kaelen rose from his seat and took a deep breath. "Mom… I'm leaving now."
Elira set down her fork and met his gaze. "I've already packed your bag. Be safe on your journey… and come back soon."
She paused, her tone softening but her eyes sharpening ever so slightly. "And… don't forget what I told you last night."
Kaelen's throat tightened, and he gave a small, nervous laugh. "Y-yeah… I remember. Don't worry about it."
Her expression relaxed into a smile, but for reasons he couldn't read, it made his heartbeat quicken.
He dressed in a black shirt and matching formal trousers, polished leather shoes completing the look. A black leather backpack rested snugly against his shoulders, and at his waist hidden beneath the folds of his shirt was a dagger, its weight a silent reassurance.
At the door, Kaelen turned back. "Take care, Mom. See you soon."
Elira stood there in the doorway, her gaze following him until his figure was swallowed by the winding street. Only when he was completely out of sight did she close the door, the faint click echoing in the quiet house.
She returned to the living room, settled into the sofa, and slipped on her glasses. The pages of her book turned slowly, though her mind was far from the words.
Kaelen's boots tapped softly against the cobblestone streets as he made his way to Wonder Town's transportation hub. The air here smelled faintly of hay and oil, the clamor of voices mixing with the whinny of horses and the creak of wooden wheels.
He paid two silver coins to the ticket agent and was shown to a horse-drawn carriage bound for Silvermere Town, the nearest place to rent a flying boat.
The moment the carriage began to roll, Kaelen leaned back into the cushioned seat, one arm resting lazily against the side.
"It'll take a full day to reach Silvermere…" he thought, eyes half-lidded. "If I remember the novel's plot right, the secret dungeon should be in the central region of the Frosthaven Rainforest."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "My elemental talent — Shadow. Probably a D-Class tier. Not amazing, not terrible. Good enough for Crimson Vale Institute's entry requirements, but nothing flashy. Perfect for a background character like me."
He could almost see the future he wanted, modest but stable small post within the Empire, a comfortable life for himself and most importantly, everything his Mom could ever want.
In this world, elemental talents were ranked from the lowest E-tier, then E, D, C, B, A, and at the pinnacle—S-tier.
"In the original story, there were two male protagonists. Both have A-tier talent." He recalled the details clearly. "One from the Crimson Empire's royal family, the very heart of power. "
"The other from a prestigious Duke's household. And the female protagonist… an orphan raised in the humble Willow Grove Town orphanage. A commoner's origin, but destined for greatness."
Kaelen exhaled softly, shutting his eyes and letting mana course through his veins. Dark threads of energy pulsed faintly under his skin, invisible to anyone else, wrapping around his body like a second layer.
Day faded into evening, and eventually, the carriage pulled off the road near a riverside clearing. The driver set up two tents beside a crackling bonfire and approached him respectfully. "Sir, we'll be resting here for the night."
Kaelen ended his mana circulation and stepped out into the crisp night air. "Alright"
And from his backpack he retrieved a lacquered food box, a gift from his mother. The meal inside was still fragrant, each bite warming his chest as much as his stomach.
After eating, he entered the tent and lay down, sleep coming easily under the steady hum of the river.
By the next morning, the carriage rolled into Silvermere Town. The gates stood tall and weathered, guards collecting a modest toll from travelers.
Inside, the streets bustled with merchants calling out wares, adventurers in mismatched armor, and the occasional noble carriage cutting through the crowd.
Kaelen asked for directions and followed them to a large, well-kept building that reeked of wealth—the flying boat rental office. After some negotiation with the clerk, he secured a modest model for a full month.
"One hundred gold coins in total," the clerk confirmed, tallying the fee. "Three gold per day, refundable deposit included."
Kaelen counted out the coins without flinching. "A little expensive, but worth it. Better to move fast and avoid trouble than waste days on the road."
Kaelen counted out the coins without a flicker of hesitation. "A little expensive," he murmured under his breath, "but worth it. Better to move fast and avoid trouble than waste days on the road."
The clerk rang the coins into a heavy chest, then gestured to a uniformed agent. "Show the customer to his vessel."
A middle-aged man stepped forward with a polite bow. "This way, sir."
Kaelen followed him through a wide, open yard. The air here hummed faintly with mana currents, the faint scent of oil and enchanted wood mixing with the crisp wind. Ahead, a dozen flying boats floated at their moorings, tethered to thick chains that swayed gently.
Kaelen's eyes swept over them. "Simple models… sturdy, but nothing compared to the advanced crafts in the Crimson Empire."
The agent led him to a mid-sized vessel with a polished hull and reinforced runes etched along its frame. Kaelen stepped aboard, his boots clicking on the wooden deck.
Without asking for instructions, he moved straight to the control console, his hand pressing the green activation crystal. The runes along the hull pulsed with life, and the boat rose smoothly, the ground falling away beneath him.
Gripping the steering lever, Kaelen adjusted the heading toward the west, his movements steady and practiced.
Below, the middle-aged agent shaded his eyes against the glare. "Not a beginner… interesting."
The flying boat ascended past the rooftops of Silvermere, then pierced the clouds, the town shrinking into a patchwork of color below. The wind whipped against Kaelen's hair, cool and invigorating.
He smirked faintly. "At this pace, five days to reach the target zone, assuming nothing gets in my way."
Leaning back slightly, his gaze sharpened. Under his breath, he spoke the name of his prize as if claiming it already.
"Aetherium Artifcat… I'm coming to make you mine."