The moon hung high above the Lyoner Forest, its pale light spilling gently over the treetops. The mist rolled like silent waves between the roots, and every sound—every whisper of wind, every shift of a branch—felt alive. Somewhere in that silver stillness, the rhythmic sound of a blade cutting through air echoed softly.
Shhhk… shhhk… shhhk.
Kelvin's sword traced arcs of light as it moved. His every swing was precise, steady, and deliberate. The glow from his katana shimmered faintly each time it sliced through the air, leaving streaks of pale blue aura that faded like ghostly trails.
Alicia sat quietly a few steps behind him, her knees drawn close, her hands resting on her lap. She had been there for hours, watching. At first, she told herself she only followed him because she was worried. But as time passed, she realized that wasn't the truth anymore.
The truth was… she couldn't look away.
Kelvin moved like no one she had ever seen—graceful yet powerful, calm yet burning with something fierce beneath his expressionless face. The way his body flowed with the sword felt natural, like he was born to wield it. Each motion sent ripples of awe through her chest.
He wasn't just training. He was evolving.
And every time the light of the moon touched his face, Alicia's heart skipped a beat.
"…He's amazing," she whispered under her breath, almost afraid the forest would hear her.
Kelvin stopped his movement for a moment, breathing out slowly. His breath came out as a faint mist, showing how cold the night had become. Sweat glistened on his forehead, but his eyes were still sharp—focused, unwavering.
He sheathed his katana, resting it against his shoulder, then turned slightly to look at the night sky.The stars reflected in his eyes, and for a brief moment, he looked less like a warrior and more like someone far away—someone burdened by something she couldn't yet understand.
Alicia wanted to speak, but her throat tightened. Her voice would only disturb the calm that surrounded him. Still, the silence between them began to weigh on her chest.
Finally, she stood up, brushing the dirt from her dress. "You've been training for hours," she said softly. "Aren't you… tired?"
Kelvin didn't turn around. "No. My body's fine."
His tone was short but not cold—just matter-of-fact.
"But… you should rest," she said again, taking a cautious step closer. "Tomorrow's the entrance exam, remember? You'll need your energy."
There was a pause. The forest seemed to listen.
"…I haven't forgotten," he said finally, his voice quieter now. "That's exactly why I'm here. If I can't push myself tonight, then I don't deserve to enter tomorrow."
Alicia frowned. "You've already pushed yourself too much. I saw you fight those white tigers, Kelvin. No one else could have done that."
He glanced at her over his shoulder, his eyes reflecting the faint light of his sword. "You saw me because you followed me here."
Her breath caught. "I—uh… I just… wanted to make sure you were okay."
"You didn't have to," he said simply, turning his gaze back toward the forest. "This place isn't safe for you."
"I know," she muttered, lowering her eyes. "But still… I wanted to."
The wind rustled through the leaves, carrying the faint scent of moss and rain. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched—awkward, yet oddly comforting.
Alicia watched him again, the way the moonlight touched his face, the slight movements of his fingers along the sword hilt. Her heart thumped faster.
She had known him for only a short time. But somehow, he already filled her thoughts in a way no one else ever had.
Her lips trembled slightly. "Kelvin," she said, trying to sound casual. "Tomorrow's the academy entrance exam… right?"
He nodded slightly. "Yeah."
"Are you nervous?"
He shook his head. "No."
"…Of course you're not," she said with a small laugh. "You're too calm for that."
He didn't answer, only stared at the horizon where the forest began to fade into mist.
Alicia tilted her head. "You don't look excited either."
"I'm not," he replied bluntly.
She blinked. "Why not? Don't you want to join Arcane Blade Academy?"
"I do," he said quietly. "But excitement doesn't make me stronger."
That line hit her like a quiet storm. He always spoke like that—simple, unshakable, as if every word carried the weight of experience far beyond his years.
Alicia wanted to tease him, but instead, she found herself asking, "Then… why do you train so hard?"
Kelvin didn't answer right away. He drew his sword again, letting the moonlight reflect off its edge. "Because strength is the only thing that doesn't betray you."
Alicia's eyes widened. "That's… a lonely way to live."
He smiled faintly—not mockingly, just distant. "Maybe. But it's the only way I know."
Her heart ached at his words. She wanted to say something, to tell him that he wasn't alone—that there were people who cared about him—but the words refused to come.
So instead, she whispered to herself, "I care…"
He looked back at her, eyebrow slightly raised. "Did you say something?"
"N-No! Nothing!" she stammered, waving her hands quickly. "Just… talking to myself."
Kelvin studied her for a moment, then turned away again. "…You're strange."
She puffed her cheeks. "You're not exactly normal either!"
A faint chuckle escaped his lips. It was small, but it made Alicia's heart flutter wildly. He laughed…
For a moment, the forest didn't feel so cold anymore.
The moon still lingered above the Reinhart estate, its pale light spilling over the rooftops and casting long shadows across the silent gardens. The air was heavy with night dew and the faint scent of lilies. Most of the mansion was asleep—except one.
Roxane ran through the dim corridors, her breath quick and uneven, the heels of her shoes clattering against the marble floor.Her heart pounded louder with every step. "My lady… Lady Alicia… where are you…?"
She threw open door after door, but each room was empty. Alicia's bed was untouched, her curtains fluttering gently from an open window that faced the courtyard.
"No…" Roxane whispered, her hands trembling. "Don't tell me… she went after him."
Without another thought, she turned and sprinted down the hall, almost colliding with a maid who was carrying a tray. "Move!" she snapped, her voice trembling. "This is urgent!"
The maid stumbled back, startled, and Roxane burst through the great doors that led to the east wing—the guest chambers of the Arclight family.
Two guards were stationed outside, but before they could stop her, Roxane slammed the door open. "Lord Zen! Forgive me for intruding—!"
Zen Arclight was already awake. He stood beside the window, his silver hair glinting faintly beneath the moonlight. His eyes were cold, sharp, and filled with unspoken worry.Behind him, Raon Reinhart leaned against a table, arms crossed, his expression grave.
"You're late," Raon said quietly, his tone like steel. "We already know."
Roxane froze. "You… you know?"
Zen's voice came out low, but his composure was cracking. "The forest's barrier stirred half an hour ago. The only ones reckless enough to cause that disturbance are our children."
Roxane's lips quivered. "Then… Lady Alicia—"
"She followed him," Raon said. "Kelvin left around midnight. My guards saw him enter the Lyoner Forest."His gaze hardened. "She must have followed."
Roxane's breath caught in her throat. "The Lyoner Forest…? That cursed place—!"
Zen's fist clenched tightly at his side. "No one enters it and leaves unscathed. The mana storms twist direction, space, and even time itself."
"We'll retrieve them," Raon said firmly. "Prepare the knights. No one enters until I give the order."
Roxane lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes. "Yes… my lord."
As she turned to leave, Zen's voice followed behind her, softer, strained with a father's fear. "Bring my daughter back… no matter the cost."
The Forest of Lyoner
The night was deep inside the forest, where the canopy was so thick that moonlight barely reached the ground. Mist swirled between the roots of towering trees. Faint glimmers of mana floated like drifting embers — remnants of ancient enchantments cast by the Reinhart ancestors to guard their domain.
At the center of this labyrinth, two figures sat near a dying campfire.
Alicia Arclight, her silver hair glinting under the faint blue flame, sat with her knees pulled close to her chest. Her eyes, violet and deep as dusk, watched the man sitting a short distance away.
Kelvin Reinhart was silent as ever. His katana rested beside him, its blade faintly reflecting the fire's glow. He was sharpening it slowly, each motion deliberate, calm — the rhythm of someone who had long been used to silence.
Alicia bit her lip softly. The quiet between them was unbearable. They'd been in the forest for hours — fighting monsters, moving through mana fog, and finally stopping to rest. And yet, he hadn't looked at her. Not once.
"Hey…" she began, her voice faint, almost hesitant.
Kelvin didn't answer immediately. The sound of steel scraping against the whetstone continued. Finally, he spoke without looking up. "What is it?"
She hesitated, then finally whispered, "Do you… hate me?"
The sound stopped.
Kelvin froze mid-motion. He looked up, his eyes reflecting the faint light. "What?"
Alicia turned away slightly, hugging her knees tighter. "You never look at me. Not once since the banquet… or even before that. You talk to everyone else — even your sister — but never me. And…"Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I know I have a bad personality. I can be arrogant. Rude. Maybe you just can't stand someone like me."
Her words hung in the air, trembling, fragile.
For a moment, Kelvin said nothing. The forest wind rustled through the trees, scattering petals across the ground.
Then, finally, he spoke — softly. "What makes you think that?"
Alicia blinked, surprised. "Huh?"
Kelvin set the whetstone down and looked at her directly for the first time. His eyes were steady — not cold, not distant — but clear, like the calm surface of a lake.
"If you did something bad," he said, "then fix it. If your personality's bad, then change it."He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on his knees. "Everyone has their own path to walk. You just haven't found yours yet."
Alicia stared at him, stunned. The words weren't gentle — but they weren't cruel either. They were… grounding. Real.
Her heart gave a small, inexplicable flutter. He's not scolding me… he's trying to tell me something real.
She lowered her gaze, her cheeks burning faintly. "You make it sound easy."
"It's not," Kelvin said. "But that's what makes it worth doing."
Alicia's lips curved faintly into a shy smile, though she quickly hid it. He does care… in his own strange way.
She stared at him again, her violet eyes catching the faint light from the fire. His hair was messy from battle, strands sticking to his forehead, and the small cuts on his arms glowed faintly where mana had brushed his skin. Even in silence, he radiated calm strength — the kind that didn't need to be shown off.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The wind carried the scent of iron and flowers, faint remnants of the beasts they had slain. Twenty white tigers — powerful mana beasts that guarded the forest's heart — now lay motionless among the trees.
Kelvin had fought them all, using a technique so clean and fluid that Alicia could barely follow his movements. He hadn't drawn on wild mana — just pure, refined control. Every swing of his blade was precise, like a dance he'd practiced a thousand times.
And all the while, she had just watched — her heart pounding, her chest tightening for reasons she couldn't explain.
Now, as the last embers of the fire faded, the forest began to stir again. The faint hum of mana grew thicker.
Alicia glanced toward the treetops. "It's almost morning," she murmured.
Kelvin looked up too. The horizon was beginning to brighten — a faint thread of light weaving through the mist.
"Yeah," he said. "We should leave."
Alicia blinked, confused. "Leave? But… you said no one can get out of this forest. That people get trapped forever."
Kelvin stood, dusting off his cloak. "They get trapped because they rely on mana."
"What do you mean?" she asked, standing as well.
Kelvin turned toward the faint glow where the forest ended — a shimmering wall of distorted air. "The forest isn't cursed. It's alive. It feeds on mana. The more you use it, the more lost you become."
Alicia's eyes widened. "Then how—?"
Kelvin's hand went to his katana's hilt. "You don't break mana with mana."He drew in a slow breath. "You break it with will."
Without another word, he drew his sword.
The moment the blade left its sheath, the air itself seemed to shudder. Not because of mana — but because of the raw precision behind his movement. His stance was perfect, his grip unwavering.
He stepped forward.
And swung.
The sound was not a slash — it was a fracture.
The entire forest quaked as a blinding light tore through the air, splitting the mana barrier like glass. The distorted fog cracked open, the pressure of countless enchantments dissolving into dust.
Wind exploded outward, scattering petals and light in all directions.
Alicia gasped, shielding her face with her arm. When she looked up again, she saw it — the exit. The forest's endless mist had vanished, replaced by the pale glow of dawn.
Kelvin lowered his blade, his breath even, his expression calm. "Let's go."
Alicia's lips parted slightly. For a moment, she couldn't move. Then she nodded quickly, following close behind him as they stepped through the fading barrier.
The Return
The forest opened into the estate's outskirts. The golden light of sunrise spilled across the field, and there — waiting just ahead — were Raon, Zen, and Roxane.
Alicia froze when she saw them. Roxane's eyes were red from crying, her hands clutching her apron tightly.
"Lady Alicia!" Roxane ran forward, her voice shaking with a mix of relief and fury. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Alicia winced. "R-Roxane—"
"You vanished in the middle of the night! Into the Lyoner Forest!" Roxane's voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. "Do you know how worried I was?!"
Alicia lowered her gaze, guilt flooding her chest. "I… I'm sorry."
Zen stepped forward, his expression both stern and soft. "Alicia." His voice carried the weight of both authority and worry. "You should know better than to wander into that place."
She swallowed hard. "Yes, Father."
Kelvin remained silent, standing slightly behind her. The moment Zen's eyes turned toward him, the older man's expression shifted — from anger to quiet awe.
"You brought her back," Zen said slowly.
Kelvin met his gaze. "She followed me. I couldn't leave her there."
Raon exhaled softly beside Zen, his arms crossed. "You handled it well, Kelvin." His eyes held quiet pride. "You've grown stronger than I imagined."
Kelvin gave a small bow. "I still have a long way to go."
Roxane sighed shakily, still gripping Alicia's hand. "Please, don't do something like that again, my lady. You scared me half to death."
Alicia smiled faintly, her voice gentle. "I promise, Roxane."
But as she turned her head, her gaze found Kelvin again. The rising sun lit his figure — tall, calm, his katana resting at his side. For a brief moment, she saw him not just as a noble or a warrior… but as someone unreachable yet strangely comforting.
He's different, she thought. He doesn't speak much, but every word he says feels… real.
Kelvin noticed her gaze and simply gave a faint nod — the smallest acknowledgment, but one that made her chest tighten unexpectedly.
Roxane noticed the blush that crept across Alicia's cheeks and frowned, suspicious. "My lady? Are you feeling feverish?"
Alicia quickly turned away. "N-No! I'm fine!"
Zen sighed, rubbing his temples. "Let's return to the estate before the whole household panics."
Raon gave a small chuckle. "Agreed. And next time, Kelvin—try not to destroy the forest barrier again. Those spells took generations to weave."
Kelvin scratched his neck awkwardly. "Sorry about that."
As the group walked back toward the mansion, Alicia trailed just a little behind, her thoughts spinning.
Every time Kelvin walked ahead of her, the sunlight seemed to catch on the edge of his blade — glimmering faintly, like it carried the dawn itself.
Maybe he doesn't hate me after all, she thought quietly, smiling to herself.Maybe… he's just waiting for me to find my path too.