The courtyard of the Dawn barony was alive that evening. Laughter mingled with the crackle of fire as the scent of roasted boarox drifted through the air — rich, smoky, and mouthwatering. The great beast the hunted earlier that day now turned slowly over the flames, its golden skin glistening beneath the lantern light. Workers, guards, and servants filled the tables, their cups overflowing with wine and smiles born of relief. Eli sat among them, his usual composure softened by the rare scene, with people throwing quiet jokes with the cooks while Dawn helped distribute bread and stew. For once, the barony breathed as one, as a single family sharing the spoils of victory. Even for a brief night, the worries of Barony were lost in the air, replaced by warmth, laughter, and the comforting promise of a bright future.
The dawn over the Starborne lands came pale and heavy, streaked with clouds that drifted like ghosts over the horizon. Within the grand spires of the Starborne Manor, the silence was disturbed only by hurried footsteps echoing against the marble floors.
Two figures — twins, bound by both blood and burden — moved through the long corridors like shadows. Christian Starborne, known across the empire as the Blaze Knight, walked with deliberate calm, though his eyes burned with quiet urgency. Beside him was Delphine Starborne, her silver hair catching the early light like threads of moonlight, her expression a fragile blend of resolve and worry.
Neither spoke a word.
They had packed lightly — a few supplies, their weapons, and the weight of memories neither dared speak aloud. Behind them, the mansion still slept. Their father, Veldora Starborne, remained unaware.
This journey was neither sanctioned nor political. It was personal.
Christian adjusted the sword strapped across his back and glanced toward the open gate. "Del," he said quietly, his voice low but steady. "Once we cross the field, there's no turning back until we find him."
Delphine nodded. "I know. I've already decided. I won't lose him again, brother."
For a brief moment, the mask Christian always wore — the stoic, unshakable warrior's mask — cracked. Beneath it lay something raw and painfully human: guilt.
"Fourteen years," he murmured, his gaze distant. "He was just a boy when Father exiled him. A boy who smiled even when we turned our faces away."
Delphine looked down. "We were powerless, Chris. You know that."
"Perhaps." His jaw tightened. "But that doesn't change what I saw in his eyes that day. He hated us."
He exhaled, the memory still lingering in his chest. Eli's cold look as the guards took him away — it haunted him even now. The youngest Starborne, kind as a saint, gentle in character, had been branded "useless" in a family of monsters and prodigies.
"I thought I was protecting him by staying silent," Christian said bitterly. "But silence was the same as betrayal."
Delphine reached out, gently touching his arm. "Then we'll correct the mistake we made now."
Christian looked up, and for the first time in years, the steel in his eyes faltered. "Yes," he said softly. "We will."
And with that, the twins mounted their horses and rode into the open plains — silver hair whipping in the wind, hearts burning with a single prayer.
Let him be safe.
Over and over, Christian repeated it beneath his breath, a silent mantra echoing against the wind. Let him be safe.
Meanwhile, in the lands far to the west, dawn broke over the barony that bore the name of its fallen lord — Dawn Barony.
The reconstruction efforts were underway. Workers toiled under the golden light that was just beginning to fall on the Barony, repairing wells and carrying timber for the new waterwheel Eli had ordered built. The air smelled of sawdust and fresh earth — the scent of change, of hope beginning to take root.
From atop a small hill overlooking the valley, Cyrus Dawn swung his longsword — again and again. Sweat trickled down his brow, but his eyes were alive with focus.
The longsword felt foreign at first, heavier than the rapier his family favored. But the more he trained, the more it felt right — as though his body had been waiting for this very weapon.
Each swing grew cleaner, sharper. The rhythm of movement and the sound of everything was intoxicating.
When he paused to catch his breath, he couldn't help but smirk faintly. "That crazy noble…" he muttered. "He was right."
He remembered Eli standing there — soot-covered, calm in the face of a rampaging boarox— and for the first time since the Elias arrived, Cyrus felt something stir inside him. Respect.
Not for rank. Not for birthright. But for conviction.
He looked down at the longsword again. "Lord Elias Starborne…" he said quietly, the words firm despite the exhaustion. "You truly are the Lord for Dawn."
At the same time, Eli himself was pacing through the half-constructed town square, the faint hum of the Shop skill flickering in his mind.
[INFINITE SHOP SKILL ACTIVATED][Search: Mana Cultivation Techniques][Results: None Found]
He frowned slightly. "Still nothing for Cryella…"
Cryella Dawn, the barony's steward and his loyal aide, had immense latent power — Space Magic (A-Rank) unawakened — yet the shop skill of his provided him no proper means to nurture the talent in Cryella. He'd hoped the shop could help. It seemed, however, that the shop was still limited because of the rank.
He closed the interface with a sigh and turned toward the construction site. The waterwheel was taking form — its great wooden arms half-built, glistening with resin and the sweat of thirty laborers. Ten trees' worth of timber had gone into it already.
"Another 2 days," Eli murmured. "Then clean water for everyone."
The workers, seeing their young lord inspecting the site, straightened up with smiles. He smiled back — genuine, soft. For once, the people of Dawn had a leader who saw them.
By afternoon, he returned to his study, parchment spread before him — lists of supplies, expenditures, and a growing vision of restoration. But as night fell and the moon climbed up in the sky, Eli's eyelids slowly closed.
And he dreamed.
In the dream, he stood again before the great hall of the Starborne estate. The banners of his family hung high — silver dragons on fields of blue. His father, Veldora Starborne, sat upon his high seat like a god passing judgment.
"Kneel," Veldora's voice thundered.
Eli obeyed. Around him stood the court nobles, knights, and his siblings, Christian and Delphine, silent at their father's side.
"You have no talent for combat, no fire for magic," Veldora said coldly. "The Starborne name does not suffer weakness."
"I understand, Father," Eli said softly, though his hands trembled. "Then… what should I do?"
Veldora's gaze hardened. "You will leave at once."
The word struck like a blade. The crowd murmured — whispers of disgrace, pity, mockery. Eli lifted his head, searching — and found his siblings.
Delphine's eyes glistened with tears, though she said nothing. Christian's jaw clenched, his hands trembling at his sides.
Eli said coldly while staring at them — small, cold, and enraged. "As you wish, Lord Starborne," he whispered. "I'll be leaving."
The memory blurred, turning to mist. But the pain remained.
He woke up startled, drenched in a stream of sweat running down his face, his heart pounding like a drumbeat. The moonlight cut through the room's window, pale and cold.
For a long while, Eli sat in silence, remembering the ghost of a family and his siblings who exiled him.
"So you two watched me fall ... but you will watch me rise again," he murmured, staring at the night sky.
Then, as if to shake off the bitter memory, Eli opened his [Shop] interface.
[INFINITE SHOP SKILL — ACTIVE]
[Category: Weapons]
Five items shimmered before him:
Steelbreaker Longsword
COST: 200 SC
Rusted Shortsword
COST: 50 SC
Novice Mage Wand
COST: 100 SC
Iron Spear
COST: 150 SC
Steel Dagger
COST: 100 SC
Eli's lips curved into a faint smile. "A longsword for a stubborn knight, huh?"
Without hesitation, he selected the first item.
[Purchased Item(s): 1 Steelbreaker Longsword]
[Total Cost: 200 SC]
[Remaining Balance: 7,725 SC]
A flash of blue light filled the room, and the blade materialized atop his desk — a sleek weapon of silver steel, engraved with faint runes. It radiated quiet strength.
Eli lifted it carefully. "Cyrus will make better use of this than I ever will."
He placed the sword down and pulled out a parchment, beginning to write lists of what the barony still needed: tools, fabrics, livestock, grain, medicine, weapons for the guards. Each line was neat and deliberate, his handwriting calm even as his mind raced with plans.
When he finally leaned back, he exhaled slowly. "Tomorrow, I'll head to Koven Barony," he said aloud, as though reassuring himself. "They'll have what the shop doesn't a merchant street."
He looked once more at the sword, then at the faint glow of the [Shop] icon fading from view.
"Step by step," he whispered. "We'll rebuild everything."
Outside, the winds shifted. Somewhere far to the east, two figures rode under the same moon, crossing fields and valleys toward him — drawn not by duty, but by love.
And in that silent night, three siblings, separated by pride and fate, dreamed the same dream — of reunion, of rage, and of a family once torn apart.