Several days had passed since Aton Lyn woke from his coma.
For the first time in weeks, the gates of the Lyn family's mansion finally opened.
The heavy metal gates, which had remained shut like a silent wall of mourning, slowly parted under the morning light. The sound of their movement echoed across the quiet street outside, immediately drawing the attention of several passersby who had grown used to seeing them sealed. Behind the gates, a family carriage rolled forward, its dark green body polished until it reflected the sunlight in muted glimmers. The Lyn family's bronze crest was engraved on both sides, marking the carriage as belonging to one of Abarrus's ruling families.
Several guards followed alongside it on foot, while a few servants walked behind at a respectful distance. Their movements were disciplined. After all, everyone already knew who was inside.
The young master of the Lyn family had survived.
Inside the carriage, Relict sat quietly near the window.
He wore a dark green long coat embroidered with faint bronze patterns along the cuffs and collar. Beneath it was a plain white inner shirt, fastened neatly at the throat, paired with black trousers and soft leather boots. The attire was noble, but not overly extravagant. It suited Aton's current condition, dignified enough for public appearance, yet restrained enough not to appear arrogant.
Across from him sat Seila, wearing her usual black and white maid uniform. Her posture was proper, her hands resting carefully over her lap, though her eyes kept drifting toward him every few moments.
Relict noticed this easily.
However, he said nothing about it.
Instead, he looked at the small bundle of letters resting beside her and asked in a calm tone, "Those are the letters from Frisca Hall?"
Seila blinked, then quickly lowered her gaze toward the bundle.
"Yes, young master. These are the letters Lady Frisca sent during the past few months."
She carefully picked them up with both hands and passed them to him.
Relict accepted the letters and began checking them one by one. The paper was smooth and properly preserved, sealed with soft-colored wax bearing the Hall family's mark. Some of the seals had already been opened, likely by Aton before his condition had worsened, while the more recent ones remained untouched.
"She continued sending letters even when I stopped replying?" Relict asked.
Seila nodded softly.
"Yes, young master. Lady Frisca never stopped. Even when your condition worsened, she still sent them regularly."
Relict's fingers paused over one of the unopened letters. His expression remained calm, but his thoughts moved quickly.
Frisca Hall.
Aton's fiancée.
A useful connection.
A future variable.
And perhaps, if his information was incomplete, someone worth observing carefully.
Seeing him silently read, Seila hesitated for a while before speaking.
"Young master… are you really sure about going outside today? The patriarch already said that you should remain inside the mansion until your condition fully stabilizes."
Relict slowly lowered the letter and looked at her.
"You are worried again."
"Of course I am worried," Seila replied almost immediately. "You only woke up several days ago. Even Physician Wang said your recovery is miraculous, but that does not mean you can push yourself recklessly."
Relict studied her face for a brief moment. The concern in her expression was genuine. Her eyes had faint shadows beneath them, and her complexion looked slightly tired. She had clearly not rested properly even after his condition improved.
After a moment, Relict smiled faintly.
Before Seila could react, he lifted his hand and gently poked her cheek.
"You worry too much."
Seila froze.
Her eyes widened slightly as his finger pressed against her cheek for a brief second before withdrawing. Then, almost immediately, a faint blush appeared on her face.
"Y-young master…"
Her voice came out quieter than intended.
Relict returned his attention to the letter as if nothing unusual had happened.
To him, the action had been simple. Based on Aton's memories, Seila reacted well to mild teasing, especially when the intention was to calm her down. Her current response confirmed that the behavior was effective.
Seila, however, was not nearly as calm.
Her young master had become strangely touchy after waking up. He smiled more often. He teased her more directly. He spoke in a calmer, steadier manner than before. It was irritating, confusing, and embarrassing.
Yet, at the same time, seeing him act this way made her chest feel lighter.
At least he was alive.
At least he was improving.
With that thought, Seila lowered her head slightly and stopped arguing.
The carriage continued moving through the streets of Abarrus.
After a short silence, Seila asked again, "Young master, why are we going to the city library?"
Relict raised his gaze from the letter.
"Is there something strange about me visiting the library?"
"It is not strange, but…" Seila hesitated. "You already stopped going there more than a year ago. Back then, you said that you had already read everything worth reading inside."
Relict stared at her for a second.
Then he rolled his eyes.
Seila immediately realized something was wrong.
Before she could move back, Relict flicked her forehead with his finger.
"Ah!"
She held her forehead with both hands and looked at him with a pout.
"Young master!"
Relict leaned back against the carriage seat.
"You actually believed those words?"
Seila opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Back then, Aton had indeed said something like that. Since he had always been a quiet and studious person, she naturally believed him. But now, seeing his reaction, she suddenly felt that he had only said those words because he no longer wished to visit the library at the time.
"Then why are we going there?" she asked carefully.
Relict picked up another letter and unfolded it.
"There are things I want to confirm."
Seila waited for him to continue.
He did not.
Seeing this, she understood that he had no intention of explaining further. Although curiosity remained in her heart, she knew better than to keep pressing him. Her young master had always been like this when he wanted to keep something to himself.
So she only sighed quietly and sat back properly.
The carriage eventually arrived at the main library of Abarrus.
The building stood near the center of the city, broad and dignified, constructed from pale stone and polished brick. Its front was supported by thick square pillars, while tall glass windows lined the upper floors, reflecting the morning light. Unlike the mansions of noble families, the library was not built to display wealth. Its design was practical, sturdy, and spacious, meant to hold generations of records rather than impress visitors.
When the Lyn family carriage stopped before the entrance, several people nearby immediately turned their heads.
The moment Relict stepped out with Seila's support, whispers began spreading.
"Is that Young Master Aton?"
"I heard he was dying."
"No, they said he survived."
"How can someone survive the curse?"
"Maybe the Lyn family found some secret medicine."
Relict heard all of them clearly.
His expression did not change.
Seila, on the other hand, tightened her grip slightly as she supported his arm. Her brows furrowed, and for a moment, she looked as though she wanted to turn toward the crowd and say something.
Relict glanced at her.
His calm expression alone was enough to stop her.
Seila took a deep breath and lowered her gaze.
"Let us go inside," Relict said.
"Yes, young master."
With Seila supporting him, Relict walked slowly toward the library entrance. Behind them, the servants and guards followed in an orderly manner.
A clerk was already waiting near the entrance. He appeared to have been informed of their arrival ahead of time. As soon as they approached, he bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, Young Master Lyn. It is an honor to receive you again. Which floor would you like to visit today?"
"The third floor," Relict answered without pause. "I need records related to cultivation, body tempering, and bloodline recovery."
The clerk immediately nodded.
"Of course, young master. The third floor is available. Please follow me."
He turned and led them inside.
The interior of the library was quiet and cool compared to the streets outside. Rows of shelves stretched across the first floor, while stairs and mechanical lifts led upward to the higher sections. The faint scent of old paper, ink, and polished stone filled the air.
After reaching the third floor, the clerk guided them to an open section filled with shelves containing cultivation manuals, body refinement texts, medical records, and theories concerning bloodline development.
Relict looked across the shelves with calm interest.
Then he turned to the servants behind him.
"Gather books related to body tempering, bloodline weakness, curse recovery, Dragon Essence circulation, and World Essence absorption. Include older editions if available."
The servants immediately bowed.
"Yes, young master."
They spread out at once, moving between the shelves with practiced care.
Relict then looked at Seila.
"Find us a seat."
"Yes, young master."
Seila quickly searched the area and found a quiet table near the far side of the third floor. It was close enough to the windows to receive natural light, but far enough from the main path to avoid disturbing other visitors.
Once seated, Relict began reading.
The first book explained the basic circulation of Dragon Essence within the body. The second discussed the relationship between bloodline awakening and physical growth. The third contained an old theory about the Curse of the Surface and its effect on young draconians with weak bloodlines.
Relict turned each page with steady focus.
Most of the content was primitive.
Some explanations were completely wrong.
Others, however, contained fragments of practical observation buried beneath superstition.
World Essence was the local term for ambient Yuan Energy.
Dragon Essence referred to Yuan Energy stored and circulated inside the body.
The Inner World was their name for the Substrate.
Bloodline Power was their cultural interpretation of Substrate Engineering.
Relict read silently, comparing each term to the scientific knowledge preserved in his memories. The current civilization lacked the proper framework, but their empirical knowledge was not useless. They had studied effects without understanding causes.
That made their records valuable.
Not as instruction.
But as data.
Hours passed quietly.
By early noon, the servants had already gathered several stacks of books. Some were borrowed records, while others were copied references permitted for noble family study. Seila sat nearby, occasionally pouring water for him or quietly watching his expression as he read.
Nothing unusual happened.
No one disturbed them.
No suspicious figure appeared.
Eventually, Relict closed the final book in front of him.
"That is enough for today."
Seila immediately stood.
The servants gathered the books, stacking them carefully in cloth-wrapped bundles. Several guards took responsibility for carrying the heavier piles.
When the group returned to the ground floor, the same clerk was waiting.
"I hope the library has been useful, Young Master Lyn," the clerk said politely.
"It has," Relict replied.
The clerk bowed again.
"We look forward to your next visit."
Relict gave a slight nod and exited the library with Seila's support.
Outside, the carriage was already waiting.
Soon, the Lyn family group began returning home.
Inside the carriage, Relict opened one of the borrowed books and resumed reading as if the outing had merely shifted locations. Seila sat across from him, silently watching his face.
His complexion was still pale.
His body still looked weak.
Yet something about him had changed.
Before, Aton always looked like someone enduring life.
Now, despite his frailty, there was a calmness in him that made him feel strangely distant.
Seila could not properly explain it.
She only knew that her young master had survived.
That was enough.
A while later, the carriage slowed slightly.
From outside, the driver's voice sounded through the small front window.
"Young master, there is a faster route ahead. If we pass through it, we should return to the mansion sooner. May I change course?"
Relict did not immediately answer.
His eyes remained on the book.
Then he casually turned a page.
"Do as you see fit."
"Understood, young master."
The carriage changed direction.
At first, nothing seemed wrong.
The wheels continued rolling over the stone road, and the guards outside maintained formation. However, after several minutes, the surrounding noise gradually decreased.
The chatter of pedestrians faded.
The sound of merchants calling from the roadside disappeared.
Even the steady movement of carts became scarce.
Relict noticed the change immediately.
He continued reading.
His expression remained calm, his posture unchanged.
Seila, however, began to feel uneasy only after the silence deepened. She slowly turned toward the window and lifted the curtain slightly.
The street outside was almost empty.
No pedestrians.
No merchants.
No children running between alleys.
No carts moving in either direction.
Only the carriage and the guards remained.
Her fingers tightened around the curtain.
"Young master…"
Relict finally closed the book in his hand.
The soft sound of the cover shutting felt strangely loud inside the carriage.
Seila turned toward him, her face tense.
Relict looked toward the window with the same calm expression he had worn since morning.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"This route is not normal."