Vane woke up to a silence so profound it actually felt strange. For months, his mornings had been dictated by the constant, low-frequency thrum of Zenith Academy. Here, in the heart of the Sol Estate, the world felt like it had been wrapped in velvet.
He sat up and stretched, feeling his joints pop in a way that felt oddly satisfying. His body didn't just feel rested; it felt different. The breakthrough to the Sentinel rank had smoothed out the jagged edges of his mana circulation. The silver energy wasn't hammering against his ribs like a trapped animal anymore. Instead, it flowed with the steady, unyielding pressure of a deep-sea current. He felt more alert, more present, and dangerously calm.
A soft knock at the door preceded Elena's entrance. The young maid stepped in with a tray, but the second she crossed the threshold, she nearly fumbled it. Vane hadn't even flared his mana, but his new rank made his mere presence feel like a physical weight in the room.
