When I came back to myself, I pulled my hands out of the bucket at once and looked into the mirror.
Just as I expected, my eyes shimmered with a silvery light. It was the natural manifestation of [Mirror of the Heart], the ability I had gained when I broke the first chain of my soul—one of the hereditary spiritual abilities of the Imperial Bloodline.
I didn't dwell on it for long. Reaching for a towel, I wiped my face and turned toward the bed.
"Fuck it… I just want to sleep."
For a brief moment, I considered how unbecoming both my words and my behavior were for a noble. But my thoughts had already drifted back to the events at the Wall.
How could a barbarian tribe possibly kill a Grand Commander?Was Father hiding something from us?
Since the Wall's construction, the number of Grand Commanders who had died in battle had always been unsettling. Yet what truly disturbed me wasn't my uncle's death itself—but the fear and doubt I had sensed in Father's heart through [Mirror of the Heart] while we were in his study.
The thought only tightened my chest. I rose from the bed and headed for the door.
I wasn't going to sleep anyway. So why shouldn't I wander the palace one last time, on my final night in the place where I was born?
I opened the door and stepped into the corridor. The servants were still in a state of restless motion, hurrying back and forth. When they noticed me, they bowed quickly before resuming their duties. I paid them little mind and continued walking. I wanted to see the palace one last time before night fully fell.
As I moved forward with slow but steady steps, my gaze lingered again and again on the family relics lining the halls. Growing up in this palace, I had heard countless stories about House Castus—along with several legends whose truth I had always questioned.
I quickened my pace.I wanted to see my favorite painting.
And at last, it stood before me.
The magnificent artwork towered nearly four meters high, completely covering the wall. It depicted one of the first and greatest legends of House Castus—the only legend I truly believed to be real:
The Great Wall War.
Painted by the most renowned artist of its era after years of labor, it portrayed the tragic yet heroic death of Baelor Castus, the founding lord of our house.
Under a storm-torn sky, hundreds of warriors clashed in battle. At the forefront stood a legendary figure clad in resplendent black steel armor. One hand gripped Ahun, the Great Chieftain of the barbarians, while the other raised the mythical sword Arlan high.
Yet what captivated me was neither Baelor nor Ahun.
It was the Black Dragon, painted soaring above the raging storm.
Since childhood, Alexander and I had been fascinated by dragons. After all, they were the only beings in this world whose souls bore no chains. Alexander dreamed of hunting one someday. I, on the other hand, was drawn to Black Dragon Castus—the companion of our ancestor and the being whose name our dynasty carried.
Black Castus—the legendary guardian of the North. The one who built the Great Wall and wove the enchantments that kept the mythical creatures of the Armstrong Mountains from descending south.
I tore my gaze away from the painting and let out a deep breath.
Perhaps this cursed piece of art was the only thing I would miss in this lonely palace.
I continued down the corridor, assuming Alexander would be in the training hall, and adjusted my path accordingly. After several turns and countless more grand works of art, I finally arrived.
The dull thuds echoing from within confirmed my assumption. An unconscious smile formed on my face. After lingering outside the door for a moment, I stepped inside.
Alexander stood at the center of the vast hall.
As I approached, [Mirror of the Heart] allowed me to sense his tension more clearly. When he noticed me, he put on that familiar, mocking grin.
"Guess you're tense too, Luci?"
My smile widened."Tense? Can't you see? I'm perfectly relaxed, Al."
His grin faded slightly."Yeah, yeah. If you say so."
He tossed the wooden sword in his hand toward me. I caught it cleanly by the hilt and swung it once. By then, he had already picked up another training blade.
I weighed the sword briefly—then lunged forward.
Normally, I preferred to wait for my opponent to make the first move. But today… today, I was impatient.
The spiritual ability I had gained after breaking my first chain—[Mirror of the Heart]—was already exerting its passive effect. I could sense the true intentions and emotions of others. I had been only six years old when I broke my first chain; since then, both my body and soul had grown noticeably stronger than those of ordinary people.
When a being broke the first chain binding their soul through sheer will, they awakened a Spiritual Ability. But that wasn't all. From that moment on, they could also wield spiritual energy known as Soul Force—using it to enhance their abilities, strengthen their bodies, or even develop unique martial paths, as many noble lineages had done.
Seeing that I was the one attacking, a flicker of surprise crossed Alexander's face. But he immediately assumed a defensive stance.
Through [Mirror of the Heart], I could feel which side he intended to guard, what he was thinking. Even so, Alexander had always been the perfect match for me.
I drew my blade from the left, then abruptly shifted it to the right, aiming to strike from that side. A classic feint—everything depended on timing.
Alexander reacted faster than any normal human could, adjusting his defense instantly. Like me, he had broken his first chain and awakened his own ability: [Present World].
That power allowed his perception and reaction speed to surpass human limits, making him an ideal duel partner for me.
The blades clashed. Alexander stepped back, trying to create distance.
I didn't allow it.
As he retreated, I advanced. I knew him too well—someone as impatient as Alexander couldn't remain on the defensive for long. After several exchanges, our roles reversed. He attacked; I defended.
We could have continued until dawn. But my goal wasn't training—it was releasing tension. So I decided to make the duel a bit more entertaining.
I loosened my grip on the sword and raised my hands.
Alexander stopped mid-attack, puffing out his chest like a victorious rooster. The sight made me burst into laughter. Seeing me laugh, he couldn't help but join in.
"Why do you never finish a duel, Luci?" he said. "Afraid I might beat you?"
My smile only grew wider.
"Beat me? You must be spending too much time in your fantasy world these days, Al."