The night was quiet.A thin beam of moonlight slipped through the tall windows of the Reinhart mansion, brushing against the silver curtains that swayed gently in the breeze. The faint scent of herbs and medicine lingered in the air — evidence that many healers had come and gone.
On the large bed in the eastern chamber, Kelvin Reinhart slowly opened his eyes.The first thing he saw was the carved ceiling above him, decorated with the emblem of his family — a crowned dragon surrounded by spears of light. Outside, the night insects chirped faintly, and for a moment, everything was still.
Kelvin exhaled softly."…So I'm still alive," he murmured under his breath.
Beside the bed were damp towels, small jars of healing salve, and a basin of water now cold to the touch. But the pain that had once wracked his body was gone. The wounds that should have taken weeks to close had already vanished without a trace.
He raised his right hand and clenched it slowly. A faint glow of violet energy flickered between his fingers.(No ordinary healing spell could do this…)
Sitting upright, Kelvin stretched his arms slightly, feeling the steady thrum of mana flowing through his veins. His entire body hummed with power.
"It seems plenty of healers came to treat me," he muttered. "But none of their spells would've worked anyway. My body heals on its own."
His gaze drifted toward the window. The moon hung full and radiant — the same as the night he fought the Warrior Ogre.
"It's been five days already," he said softly. "Only seven days left before the Academy entrance ceremony…"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck."I can't waste any more time. I need to unlock the Second Seal before then."
Into His Inner World
Kelvin closed his eyes, crossing his legs on the bed.He slowed his breathing — deep in, steady out — until his heartbeat synced perfectly with the rhythm of his mana flow. This was an ancient breathing art once used by divine warriors.
Gradually, his consciousness began to sink inward.The world faded, replaced by a vast, soundless void.
And then came the stars — countless motes of light floating in the darkness.Each one represented a fragment of his true strength, fragments sealed long ago when the God of War fell from divinity.
He stood in that emptiness, wearing the same dark robe that belonged to his past self. His eyes glowed faint crimson. Before him rose two enormous pillars of light wrapped in chains — the First Seal, already shattered, and the Second Seal, still intact… or so it should have been.
Kelvin froze.The second pillar was cracked.
He stepped closer, his heart pounding as he saw thin lines of light spiderwebbing across its surface. The air around it trembled with divine energy.
"What…?" he whispered. "It's already open?"
Memories flashed through his mind — the Ogre's crushing blow, the surge of rage, the violent explosion of mana that had saved his life.(So it broke… when I fought that creature.)
He took a long breath."Then I only need to stabilize it."
Kelvin sat cross-legged once more in the void. Circles of runes appeared beneath him — luminous and intricate — as he began the breathing technique known as Mana Reflow. Violet energy streamed into him like rivers merging into an ocean.
It was overwhelming — the pressure alone could crush an ordinary man — but Kelvin's divine body absorbed it smoothly. His veins burned; his heart raced.And then, all at once, calm.
When he opened his eyes again, his inner world shone brighter than ever.He flexed his fingers, feeling the energy pulsing within.
"Twenty times stronger than a normal human," he murmured. "Not bad."
But before he could say more, a sharp sound broke the silence —
Lucy's Tears
Crash!
The shattering of glass startled him out of his meditation. His eyes snapped open, returning to the physical world.
Standing at the doorway was a young girl with silver hair and pale violet eyes — his sister, Lucy. She was holding a tray with a teapot and cup, both now scattered across the floor. Her hands trembled.
"Lucy?" Kelvin called softly.
Her lips quivered as tears welled in her eyes."B–Brother…"
Before he could react, she dropped everything and rushed toward him. The next thing he knew, Lucy threw her arms around him tightly, sobbing into his chest.
"I'm sorry, brother!" she cried. "I'm so sorry! I've hated you all this time!"
Kelvin blinked in surprise. The girl's small frame shook against him; he could feel her tears soaking into his shirt.
"Lucy…"
He hesitated, then placed a gentle hand on her head, stroking her hair softly."It's all right," he said quietly. "You don't need to apologize."
"But I…" she choked. "I left you alone when you needed me most… I thought you were weak. I was so stupid!"
Kelvin smiled faintly. "Then we're both at fault, aren't we?"
Lucy looked up through her tears, eyes shimmering. Then she nodded silently and held him even tighter.
For a long moment, they stayed like that — brother and sister, separated by pride, now reunited by guilt and relief.
Finally, Kelvin asked gently,"How long was I unconscious?"
Lucy sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Five days…"
"Five days!?" Kelvin's eyes widened."Huh!? Five days!?" he shouted, startling her again.
"That means there are only two days left before the Academy entrance!"
Lucy blinked. "But brother… aren't you already prepared?"
Kelvin sighed. "Yes, I am. But I didn't expect to be asleep that long. I need to re-adjust my body."
He stood up, stretching slightly. The motion was smooth — too smooth for someone who had nearly died. Lucy watched, amazed.
"You've… healed completely," she whispered.
"Of course," Kelvin said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "My body isn't quite ordinary anymore."
Cain's Entrance
The door swung open.Footsteps echoed, followed by a familiar, teasing voice.
"I thought I heard shouting," said Cain Reinhart, leaning casually against the doorway.
Kelvin turned. "Cain. I thought you'd already gone back to the capital."
Cain shrugged as he stepped in, his golden hair gleaming under the lamplight. "I was going to, but Mother begged me to stay until you woke up."
He stopped beside the bed, looking Kelvin up and down. "You look far better than expected. Maybe a little too well."
Kelvin frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Cain chuckled. "You look nervous. Don't tell me you're getting cold feet because of all the pretty girls at the Academy?"
Kelvin groaned. "Ah, not this again. I thought you were busy, yet here you are just to tease me."
"Hey, that's what big brothers are for," Cain said with a grin, taking a seat on the nearby chair. "Anyway, I wanted to make sure you hadn't forgotten something important."
Kelvin tilted his head. "Important?"
Cain leaned closer, smirking. "You're planning to find yourself a girlfriend, right?"
Kelvin blinked. "…What?"
Lucy's face turned bright red.
"I'm serious!" Cain continued. "You've got the face, the charm, and that mysterious air. Girls love that. You'd be unstoppable!"
Kelvin sighed deeply. "I'll pass. I'm not exactly… experienced with women."
Lucy let out a tiny laugh, still embarrassed. "Brother…"
Cain burst out laughing. "Hah! You're too honest, Kelvin! But who knows — you might change your mind tomorrow."
Kelvin raised an eyebrow. "Tomorrow?"
Cain's eyes gleamed mischievously. "You haven't heard? The Arclight Princess is visiting tomorrow."
"Arclight… Princess?" Kelvin repeated.
"Yup," Cain said, grinning. "The heir of the Arclight family — one of the oldest noble houses and a major sponsor of the Academy. She's apparently coming to meet Father about the entrance ceremony."
Kelvin looked thoughtful. "I see… I didn't know that."(Arclight… I've heard that name before. The Arclight family once forged pacts with gods… including me.)
Cain stood up, stretching. "Well, get ready. Maybe she'll fall in love with you at first sight."
Kelvin gave a half-smile, turning toward the window again. "Love isn't something I'm looking for, Cain."
"Then what are you looking for?" Cain asked.
Kelvin's expression darkened slightly. "The truth."
Cain paused, his grin fading. For a moment, he saw something in Kelvin's eyes — something ancient, deep, and heavy. Not the gaze of a young noble… but of someone who had seen countless wars and deaths.
"…Right," Cain finally said, forcing a smile. "Then I'll leave you to rest. Tomorrow might be more interesting than you think."
With that, he walked out, closing the door behind him.
The Quiet Night
Silence returned. Lucy was still sitting beside the bed, her small hands folded in her lap.
"Brother," she whispered. "Promise me… don't go off on your own again like you did in the forest."
Kelvin glanced at her and smiled softly. "I promise."
She stood, hesitating before saying, "Good night, brother."
"Good night, Lucy."
When she left, Kelvin lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The moonlight fell across his face, painting it in pale silver.
(The second seal has opened… My strength is returning. But why do I feel… something else stirring beneath the third one?)
He closed his eyes.Faint violet light rippled across his skin — subtle patterns like divine runes.
Outside, the night deepened, and the moon glowed brighter.And within the quiet room, the reborn God of War prepared himself for the next chapter of his life — the world of the Academy, where both destiny and his forgotten past awaited him.
Morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows of the Reinhart estate, painting golden streaks across the marble floor. The air was filled with the quiet rustle of servants preparing for the arrival of an important guest — the princess of the Arclight family.
Maria Reinhart gently pushed open the door to her son's room. "Kelvin, wake up. You need to prepare—"But the bed was empty. The sheets were perfectly folded, and the room was silent.
Maria blinked in surprise. "He's gone? At this hour?"
She sighed softly, shaking her head with both pride and worry. "That boy… always doing things his own way."
Meanwhile, outside, in the wide courtyard behind the mansion, Kelvin had already begun his morning routine. His body was covered in sweat, steam rising lightly from his skin in the cool dawn air. He wore a fitted training shirt, every muscle of his torso outlined clearly — the result of his relentless training over the past month.
The guards who patrolled the area froze for a moment when they saw him."L-Lord Kelvin?" one of them stammered, almost dropping his spear.Kelvin turned, wiping the sweat from his chin. "Hm? Oh, good morning."
The guard saluted. "Y-Young master, what are you doing here? The princess from the Arclight family will be arriving any moment now!"
Kelvin shrugged, rolling his shoulders to loosen them. "Yeah, I heard. But that's not my business."
The guard blinked, speechless for a moment. The younger Reinhart was polite but strangely calm — his aura sharper, heavier than before. He's nothing like his brothers, the guard thought silently. He's… different.
Kelvin picked up his katana and faced the open field. The blade gleamed faintly in the morning light."Training is more important right now," he muttered.
The guard, still unsure what to do, suddenly remembered something. "Ah—Lord Kelvin, perhaps this could help."He hurried to the storage shed nearby and returned holding an old, dust-covered book. Its leather cover was cracked with age, and strange runes were carved along its spine.
Kelvin tilted his head. "What's this?"
"It's a sword manual," the guard explained, bowing slightly. "No one knows who wrote it, but records say it's been here since the time of the first Reinhart ancestor. I found it years ago and kept it safe… no one ever seemed to care about it."
Kelvin raised a brow. "The first ancestor's sword manual, and it's just lying here?"
"Yes, my lord. Most people assumed it was useless. No one could decipher the techniques within."
Kelvin smiled faintly and took the book. "Then let's see if it's really useless."
He opened it carefully. The pages were fragile, filled with intricate sketches of sword movements — flowing, powerful, and almost divine in nature. As his eyes scanned each stroke, something in his body reacted. His mana stirred. His hand trembled slightly as he traced one of the lines.
"This feeling…" he whispered.
Without hesitation, Kelvin stepped forward and mimicked the motion illustrated in the book.
Whoosh!
The air split apart. The grass around him swayed violently as if a sudden wind had passed through. Each swing was precise yet filled with crushing weight. His breathing grew heavy, sweat dripping down his temples as he continued the pattern. The movements demanded more than just strength — they required balance, instinct, and complete unity of mind and body.
The guard watching from a distance could hardly believe his eyes. The young lord was learning movements that no one in the Reinhart family had ever mastered — in mere minutes.
Kelvin lowered his blade and exhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling. "So this is the path of the first ancestor… I see."
He sheathed his katana and looked up toward the sky. "Not bad. I might use this one."
At that same time, the front gates of the Reinhart mansion opened with a creak.
A long, elegant carriage rolled to a stop, pulled by four white stallions. The carriage was adorned with silver patterns and the glowing crest of the Arclight family — a radiant sun surrounded by blades of light.
From the mansion steps, Reinhart family members gathered to welcome their guest. Cain straightened his coat and smirked slightly. Lucy stood beside Maria, her eyes curious yet nervous. The servants lined up neatly on both sides of the courtyard.
Then, the carriage door opened.
A delicate foot, wrapped in soft white silk, touched the ground first. Then, a young woman stepped out — Alicia Arclight, daughter of one of the three great noble families. Her silver hair shimmered under the sunlight, her expression calm and poised. A faint breeze lifted a few strands of her hair, revealing eyes that glowed like polished amethyst.
Everyone bowed as she walked forward with regal grace.
Maria smiled warmly. "Welcome, Lady Alicia. We're honored to have you."
Alicia nodded politely, her gaze scanning the area — curious, almost searching for something.
And somewhere, not far from there, Kelvin was walking back from the training field, wiping the sweat off his neck.
As he turned the corner toward the mansion courtyard, a light breeze passed between them — and at that instant, their paths were about to cross.
But before their eyes met… the wind carried away the moment.