The first rays of sunlight broke through the mist that hung over the Reinhart estate, spilling into Kelvin's room. The soft light touched his face, and his crimson eyes slowly fluttered open.
For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling. His muscles no longer ached, and his breathing was smooth and deep. It felt… unnatural. Almost too perfect.
He slowly sat up, stretching his arms. The faint gleam of power shimmered under his skin for a brief moment before fading.
"...So this is the Divine Body, huh," Kelvin muttered, his voice quiet and thoughtful. "Honestly, it's not as impressive as I remember."
He looked down at his hands, flexing them. There was strength there — strength that pulsed quietly, steady and absolute — but it wasn't the overwhelming power of a god. It was restrained, subtle, human.
"It only strengthens the body beyond human limits," he continued, half speaking to himself. "But I suppose that's already enough. I'm human again… so this much will do."
He stood up, his movement smooth and fluid like flowing water. Every muscle responded perfectly, without a hint of stiffness or resistance. He could feel the air pressure, the subtle rhythm of his heartbeat, even the mana drifting faintly in the atmosphere.
"Still," he murmured, brushing a hand through his short black hair, "I can't just rely on this body. I need mana. Without it, I'll be stuck fighting like a beast rather than a mage."
He recalled Cain's words from yesterday."Didn't my brother say he wanted to show me something this morning?" Kelvin muttered, raising an eyebrow. "I wonder what he's up to now."
The aroma of warm bread, roasted meat, and freshly brewed tea filled the dining hall. Morning sunlight streamed through tall glass windows, lighting up the long table where the Reinhart family was already seated.
Kelvin entered quietly, his footsteps soft on the marble floor. His parents sat at the head of the table, dressed elegantly as always. Beside them sat Cain, his golden hair shining almost too brightly in the morning light. Across from him was a girl — Lucy — calmly sipping tea with an unreadable expression.
Kelvin blinked. "Huh, everyone's already here."
Cain waved him over. "Kelvin! There you are, I thought you were still sleeping."
Kelvin took a seat beside him, nodding politely to his parents. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Kelvin," his mother replied with a warm smile. "You're up early again. Have you been training?"
"Something like that," Kelvin replied vaguely. "Just testing something."
His father chuckled. "That's a good habit. You'll need it once you enter the Academy."
As the maids began serving breakfast, Kelvin turned slightly toward Cain. "So, Brother Cain, did you talk to Lucy last night?"
Cain froze mid-bite, his fork stopping halfway to his mouth."Ah… well… yes. I tried to."
"And?" Kelvin tilted his head. "How did it go?"
Cain sighed dramatically. "She ignored me completely. I even followed her around for a bit, but she didn't respond. Not even a glance. It was heartbreaking."
Kelvin blinked in mild disbelief. "You… followed her?"
"Just a little!" Cain protested, raising his hands. "I thought she might recognize me if I stayed nearby!"
Kelvin couldn't help but smirk. "I didn't expect her to go that far. You must've really annoyed her."
"Wait," Cain frowned. "You think it's my fault?"
Kelvin leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Did you even introduce yourself?"
Cain froze again."I… may have forgotten that part."
Kelvin stared at him blankly. "…You forgot to introduce yourself to your own sister? After seven years?"
Cain gave an awkward laugh and scratched the back of his neck. "Well, I assumed she'd recognize me right away! I mean, who could forget a face like mine?"
Kelvin sighed deeply. "You're hopeless."
Across the table, their father cleared his throat, his eyes shifting toward Lucy. "Lucy," he said gently. "Do you know who the young man sitting beside Kelvin is?"
Lucy, who had been quietly eating, paused and looked up. Her emerald-blue eyes flicked toward Cain, then away again."No," she said simply. "Last night, he followed me around and talked about strange things. I thought he was just some guest."
Cain visibly flinched, hand over his heart as if struck by an arrow. "Ouch… that hurts."
Kelvin patted his brother's shoulder sympathetically. "There, there. I understand your pain."
Their mother tried not to laugh, hiding her smile behind her teacup. Their father, however, was less amused.
"Lucy," he said firmly. "That man is your older brother, Cain Reinhart."
Lucy's fork clattered against her plate. "W-What?"
Cain straightened his posture immediately, trying to look as dignified as possible despite his earlier embarrassment. "That's right. It's me — your big brother, Cain. The one and only."
Lucy blinked rapidly, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You're… really Cain? The same Cain who graduated top of his class from the Arcane Blade Academy? The one Mother always talks about?"
Her mother smiled fondly. "Yes, dear. The same one."
Lucy's eyes widened further, sparkling with surprise and admiration. "I—I didn't know! I've always admired you, Brother! Mother told me so many stories about how brave and talented you were!"
Cain immediately puffed out his chest, grinning from ear to ear. "Well, I can't say she's wrong. I am quite amazing."
Kelvin rolled his eyes. "You were crying inside a minute ago."
Cain shot him a glare. "Shut up, Kelvin."
Their father chuckled under his breath while their mother shook her head with amusement. The tension that had lingered earlier began to fade, replaced by a comfortable warmth that filled the dining hall.
As breakfast continued, conversation flowed more easily. Lucy, who had been quiet before, now eagerly asked Cain questions about the Academy, about his travels, and about his experiences as a knight apprentice. Cain, naturally, was in his element — exaggerating every story just enough to make it sound grand but believable.
"And then," Cain said proudly, gesturing dramatically, "the wyvern swooped down, right? Everyone panicked, but not me. I just drew my sword and—"
"You ran away," Kelvin interrupted casually.
"I strategically retreated," Cain corrected quickly, glaring at his younger brother. "There's a difference!"
Lucy laughed softly, covering her mouth. "You two really are brothers."
"Unfortunately," Kelvin muttered with a faint smile.
Their mother's eyes softened as she watched them. "It's been so long since the house felt this lively," she said gently. "It's good to have both my sons and daughter together again."
Their father nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Perhaps this is a good omen for what's to come."
Kelvin looked down at his plate for a moment, lost in thought. A good omen, huh… he thought silently. If only they knew what I've discovered.
He could still feel the faint hum of power under his skin, the remnants of the Divine Body awakening. It was like a quiet fire burning beneath the surface — warm, stable, yet waiting to ignite.
He clenched his fist beneath the table.I can't tell them yet. Not until I understand these seals completely.
Once the meal ended, Cain stretched and stood up. "Alright, everyone! I promised to show something today, didn't I?"
Kelvin tilted his head. "Right, you did. What is it?"
Cain grinned mischievously. "It's a surprise. Follow me to the training grounds. You'll love it."
Lucy's eyes lit up. "Can I come too?"
"Of course! The more the merrier!" Cain said, his voice full of enthusiasm. "This will be good practice for all of us."
Kelvin sighed, standing from his chair. "Fine. But this better not be one of your weird 'lessons' again."
"Oh, trust me," Cain said, winking. "This time, you might actually learn something useful."
As the three siblings made their way toward the training field, their parents watched from the dining hall, smiling quietly. The golden morning light followed them, illuminating the start of a new bond between brothers and sister — and the beginning of a day that would change Kelvin's path even more.
Reinhart estate's training field was sharp and cool, the kind that carried the scent of dew and steel. The ground stretched wide and flat, ringed by stone pillars and training dummies scarred from countless strikes. Beyond the fences, the sunlight spilled over the hills, painting everything in shades of gold.
Kelvin, Cain, Lucy, and their parents stood together at the edge of the field.
Kelvin adjusted the strap of his sword and glanced at his brother. "So, what exactly did you want to show us, Brother Cain?"
Cain, grinning with his usual confidence, unsheathed the blade at his side. The steel gleamed faintly in the light — elegant, slender, and deadly.
"Watch carefully," he said, raising it slowly. "I'll show you something every swordsman dreams of mastering."
He closed his eyes, steadying his breath. The confident smile on his face faded, replaced by absolute focus. The wind seemed to still around him.
Kelvin felt it almost immediately — the faint ripple in the air, the subtle vibration that came from Cain's body.
He's gathering mana, Kelvin realized. The flow was rough, inconsistent, but powerful. It moved like a stream of energy through Cain's veins, concentrating at the core, then flowing toward his arm.
Cain exhaled sharply, and a faint shimmer of light began to dance along the edge of his blade. The air itself seemed to hum in resonance with the energy.
Then, in a burst of light, the sword glowed — faint, but undeniably infused with power.
Cain opened his eyes and smiled proudly. "There. That's what I wanted to show you."
Kelvin tilted his head, observing the phenomenon with analytical eyes. "So that's… a Mana Sword?"
"Exactly," Cain said, lowering the blade slightly so they could see the faint glow. "By channeling mana through the blade, you can sharpen its edge, strengthen its structure, and increase its cutting power several times over."
Their father, Raon, nodded approvingly. "Your control has improved, Cain. The mana flow is stable."
Their mother, Maria, smiled warmly. "You've grown stronger again, my son."
Even Lucy's eyes sparkled in awe. "It's so bright… it looks almost alive."
Cain grinned wider. "It's one of the fundamentals of mana-based swordsmanship. Most knights spend years learning to stabilize the mana flow before even forming a blade like this."
Kelvin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is it the same as Sword Aura?"
Cain's expression changed at that — a mix of respect and seriousness. "No. Sword Aura is on another level entirely. While the Mana Sword uses mana to enhance the blade, Sword Aura transcends it — a manifestation of one's very soul through their weapon. Only a handful of warriors in the entire continent have achieved it."
"I see…" Kelvin murmured softly. His crimson eyes glimmered faintly. "Then this is just the foundation."
"Exactly," Cain said proudly. "For now, this is the best you can do—"
Kelvin suddenly stepped forward, cutting him off mid-sentence.He reached for the wooden training sword resting on the rack.
Cain blinked. "Uh, Kelvin? What are you doing?"
Kelvin answered calmly. "Trying it."
Raon raised an eyebrow. "You've never practiced mana flow before, Kelvin. It's dangerous to force it."
Maria nodded in agreement. "Yes, mana can backfire if the flow isn't stable. You could injure yourself."
Kelvin gave a small smile — confident, yet quiet. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
He closed his eyes, gripping the hilt with both hands. The others exchanged nervous looks, unsure if they should stop him.
Cain started, "Wait, you—"
But then he felt it.The air shifted again.A pulse of mana — not wild, not unstable — but perfectly smooth, calm, and balanced.
Kelvin's breathing slowed. He could feel it — the same rhythm as before, when he trained alone at night. The faint flow of mana that existed within all living things. His Divine Body made it easier; it guided the flow naturally, stabilizing every movement.
He let the energy sink into his arms… then into the blade.
A faint glow began to emerge — soft at first, then sharper, cleaner, purer. The wooden training sword shimmered with the faint outline of a glowing edge.
Cain's eyes widened. "What—? That's impossible!"
The glow grew steadier, brighter, until the air around the blade began to hum. Kelvin opened his eyes slowly, crimson irises reflecting the faint mana light.
He exhaled quietly. "...So this is Mana Sword."
The mana vanished the moment he relaxed his grip, but the silence that followed was deafening.
For a few seconds, no one spoke. Then Cain finally broke it with a disbelieving laugh."Impossible… Even I needed a full year to form a stable Mana Sword. How—how did you just—?!"
Kelvin tilted his head. "It didn't feel that hard. The flow just… connected."
"Connected?!" Cain nearly shouted. "That's not how it works! It takes months just to sense your mana core properly!"
Raon's expression was unreadable — a mix of shock and quiet pride. "So, he can already form a Mana Sword on his first try…"
Maria placed a hand over her mouth, smiling faintly in disbelief. "Kelvin… that's incredible."
Lucy, who had been standing slightly behind their mother, froze. Her bright blue eyes widened. For the first time, she saw her brother in a different light — not as the quiet, weak sibling she once pitied, but as someone… different.
Kelvin sheathed the sword quietly and looked down at his hand. The faint warmth of mana still pulsed through his veins."I can't say it's strong," he murmured. "My mana pool is still small. But this much… is enough for now."
He turned away, brushing a hand through his short black hair as he gazed toward the distant hills.
It's still not enough, he thought silently. This is just the beginning. If one seal gave me my body back… then the others must hold my true strength.
Cain finally exhaled, lowering his sword. His earlier frustration faded, replaced by genuine admiration.He walked toward Kelvin and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You really are something else, little brother."
Kelvin gave a small smile. "I'm just catching up."
"Catching up?" Cain laughed softly. "If this keeps up, you'll surpass me before I even notice."
Raon stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Don't let it get to your head, Kelvin. Talent is nothing without discipline. Continue training, and perhaps you'll discover just how far that gift can take you."
"Yes, Father," Kelvin replied respectfully.
Maria approached next, brushing her fingers gently through Kelvin's hair. "I'm proud of you, my son. But please… be careful when you train. Mana is powerful, and even a small mistake can cause great harm."
Kelvin nodded, smiling softly. "I will, Mother."
Behind them, Lucy still stood frozen in place. Her mind replayed the image of the glowing sword over and over.
That was… Kelvin? she thought. The same brother who couldn't even run fifty laps a week ago?
Cain noticed her expression and smirked. "Looks like someone's shocked."
Lucy looked away quickly, cheeks puffing slightly. "I-I wasn't shocked! I just didn't expect… that."
Cain chuckled. "It's fine to admit it, you know."
"I said I wasn't!" Lucy insisted, her face turning redder.
Kelvin turned toward her for a brief moment. Their eyes met — his calm, scarlet gaze against her flustered blue one. For some reason, she couldn't hold his stare for long. She quickly turned away.
"…Whatever," she muttered.
Kelvin just smiled faintly and looked up at the sky. "That's enough for today."
The family stayed in the field for a while longer, chatting and laughing — something rare in their usually quiet mornings. Cain swung his sword around a few more times, trying to regain his pride by showing off some advanced techniques, though Kelvin seemed unimpressed.
At one point, Raon called for the servants to bring refreshments, and they all sat beneath the shade of a nearby tree.
Cain leaned back against the trunk and sighed. "Man, it feels good to be home. The city's so noisy, I almost forgot what peace felt like."
Kelvin glanced at him. "You should visit more often, then."
"Ha! If only. You have no idea how many nobles want me to train their sons." He smirked. "I'm practically a legend out there."
"More like a flirt," Kelvin muttered.
Cain gasped dramatically. "You wound me, brother!"
Their mother chuckled softly. "You two never change."
Lucy watched them from the side, a small smile tugging at her lips. Maybe… Kelvin isn't as weak as I thought, she admitted to herself. Maybe I misjudged him.
For the first time, she felt a small spark of curiosity — and something else she couldn't quite name — toward her quiet brother.
As the wind blew gently through the field, Kelvin closed his eyes again, feeling the pulse of mana within him. He could sense it now — stronger, steadier, more alive.
He knew this was only the beginning.