Her words hung in the air like smoke.
Rowan Merovan, who had been leaning lazily against the desk, straightened ever so slightly. His expression didn't change, but the faint crease at his brow betrayed the thoughts turning behind his composed exterior.
A child they had long dismissed as unimportant… suddenly awakened with knowledge and precision that made no sense.
Caldre Merovan's sharp eyes flicked toward his son before returning to Elara. His voice came low and measured, yet every syllable carried the weight of command.
"What was Count Cedric's reaction to this?"
Without a pause, Elara replied, "Count Cedric appeared shocked and delighted about young master Kael's awakening, my lord. But he was angry that he did not come to inform the family after awakening. But… Count gave no order to bring him back. Instead, he said Kael could do whatever he pleased. His exact words were that he 'no longer cared.'"
Caldre's expression didn't shift much, but his eyes narrowed — twin shards of cold gold behind the gleam of his monocle. A long moment of silence followed as he leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping the table softly.
Rowan's gaze flickered toward his father. It was brief — a silent exchange between two men who had long mastered the art of unspoken communication.
Then, Caldre exhaled slowly through his nose and spoke."…Interesting."
The faintest hint of amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth, though his tone remained cool and controlled.
"So the Count allows his own blood to walk freely after awakening with an ability of unknown nature..."
Caldre's gaze turned back to Elara.
"You've done well this time. Return and continue your watch. I'll have Tyrel arrange an additional reward for your diligence."
Elara bowed deeply, her voice calm and obedient.
"Yes, my lord."
She turned and exited quietly, the sound of her fading footsteps echoing down the marble corridor.
When the door clicked shut behind her, silence settled over the office once more. The lamplight flickered softly, casting long shadows across the walls.
"…A boy who acts with certainty the moment he awakens," Rowan murmured. "And a Count who doesn't even try to restrain him. That doesn't sit right with me."
Caldre didn't respond immediately. He simply watched the dancing flame in the lamp before speaking, his tone carrying quiet steel.
"It doesn't sit well with me either, Rowan. Keep an eye on him," Caldre said at last, his tone low but carrying the weight of authority that silenced even the candle's flicker.
Rowan inclined his head respectfully. "Yes, Father... sigh That brat only awakened a Tier-1 ability, while our Dorian holds a Tier-3 — Aegis Resonance. Normally, we wouldn't have to concern ourselves with that boy at all. The Veynes family has always been a military house that values strength above all else, but..."
He trailed off, the hesitation clear in his voice.
Caldre's sharp gaze cut through the pause, finishing the thought that lingered unspoken. "But your nephew is an idiot — an arrogant fool who believes himself untouchable. He flaunts his ability instead of mastering it, disrespects his seniors, and craves admiration rather than discipline. It's no wonder Count Cedric has grown disappointed in him."
The air in the room grew heavy with unspoken tension. Both men fell into silence, the only sound being the faint rustle of parchment under the desk.
Just as they said, Dorian Veyne — Kael's half-brother — was notorious across the Veynes estate. Despite his exceptional potential and the rare Tier-3 ability Aegis Resonance, his reckless attitude and disdain for authority had earned him more enemies than admirers among the family's senior knights.
His arrogance made him believe that the ability he awakened alone entitled him to greatness.
The Veynes, who valued loyalty and discipline above raw talent, had begun to lose faith in his future as the next heir.
For the Merovan family — powerful merchants with deep ties to the Veynes — this situation was delicate.
And now, Kael's sudden awakening — a quiet, unpredictable anomaly — was an unexpected turn of fate.
"Who would've thought," Rowan muttered with a faint sneer, breaking the silence, "that a boy with such a defective body — one that couldn't even contain Essentia properly — could awaken at all? The very notion still sounds absurd."
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a glint of irritation in his eyes.
"I just hope he doesn't get in the way of my nephew's succession. Dorian will become the next heir of the Veynes family. That position belongs to him, not to some crippled child who suddenly got lucky with an awakening."
***
The next morning, I woke up after a surprisingly peaceful sleep — something I hadn't enjoyed in years. But my brief comfort was interrupted by a sudden clang!
It sounded like metal being tossed roughly against the door.
Blinking away the drowsiness, I lifted my head and saw a young man crouched near the doorway, hurriedly picking up a worn-out sword that had slipped from his grasp.
The blade was chipped and dull, its handle wrapped in old leather that looked ready to tear at any moment.
The young man looked about my age — maybe a bit leaner — with reddish-brown hair tied into a short ponytail, dark brown skin, and sharp brown eyes that carried both exhaustion and determination. He was thin, perhaps even frail at first glance, but the rough patches on his palms told a different story. His hands were lined with fresh cuts and blisters, the kind that come from relentless sword training — the kind done by someone who refuses to stop even when his body protests.
Realizing he had woken me, he looked up apologetically.
"I—I'm sorry," he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't mean to wake you. The sword slipped from my hand..."
I glanced at his hands again and immediately understood — the calluses and small wounds spoke louder than his words. He must have started training recently, still unaccustomed to the sword's weight.
For a moment, I just looked at him with a puzzled expression, wondering if this was my new roommate. Before I could even ask, he flashed a grin that instantly answered my question.
"Hi! I'm Lucien — like you, a new trainee. Well, not that new. I joined two months ago, in the previous batch," he said, his voice friendly and open.
So, he was my roommate after all.
Stretching my stiff arms and back, I gave him a small smile.
"I'm Kael. Nice to meet you, Lucien. I look forward to getting along with you," I replied, before glancing toward the window.
The faint glow of dawn had only just begun to peek through the curtains — the sky was still a hazy shade of gray-blue. It was far too early for standard training hours.
Looking around the room, I noticed his neatly folded clothes placed on the chair and a damp towel spread across the bedpost — clear signs he had already taken a bath and was preparing to head out.
His discipline at such an early hour was impressive.
Curious, I asked, "If you don't mind me asking, where are you going this early? Training doesn't start for at least another hour, right?"
It was still barely dawn — the faint light creeping through the small window was tinged with the pale gray of early morning.
Most trainees would still be asleep at this hour. Judging from his appearance, he hadn't gone to bed early yesterday either. Yet, unlike what I expected, he looked strangely energetic — his eyes were bright, his posture steady, and there wasn't a trace of fatigue on him.
Lucien turned toward me, his grin widening.
"I just got the grasp of a new sword technique my instructor taught me yesterday," he said, excitement practically spilling out of his voice.
"So, I'm itching to test it out before training starts."
He picked up his worn sword, gave it a light spin in his hand — clearly proud of how it felt — and then slung it over his shoulder.
"I'll head out now. You can sleep a bit more if you want. We'll talk properly in the evening. See you later!"
With a bright smile and that unrestrained enthusiasm that only the truly passionate possess, he waved once and dashed out of the room — leaving the door swinging slightly behind him.
I sat there for a moment, staring at the doorway he had just exited through, listening to the fading sound of his boots echoing down the hallway.
It's really nice to be young and all.... wait a second... Yes I am also young now....