Several days passed quietly.
Early morning mist still covered the training field behind Thornheart Castle.
In the center of the field—
A lone figure practiced his sword.
Ivan.
His blade traced steady arcs through the air.
Each movement followed the rhythm of controlled breathing.
With Nova's assistance, the injuries from the previous battle had almost completely healed.
But Ivan had not spent these days resting.
Instead, he devoted his time to practicing knight techniques.
Such techniques could only be cultivated after stepping into the Lower Knight realm, because they required the activation of a chi circuit within the body.
Now that Ivan had already become a Lower Knight, he finally met the conditions to practice them.
Among the knight techniques recorded in the Thornheart family's secret library, one in particular caught his attention.
Its name was—
Flaming Sword
A sword technique that infused the blade with elemental heat.
When executed correctly, the knight's internal chi would ignite along the sword's edge, coating it in a thin layer of flame.
Those flames were not merely decoration.
They burned.
They clung.
And they inflicted continuous damage upon the opponent.
For knights whose breathing methods were aligned with fire—
It was the perfect technique.
Ivan swung his sword again.
His breathing slowed.
Focused.
The rhythm of his Crimson Heart Breathing Method circulated through his body.
Heat gathered slowly within his chest.
Then—
Slash!
The sword cut through the air.
For a brief moment—
A faint spark flickered along the blade.
Tiny specks of flame scattered outward before fading into the air.
A few landed on Ivan's training clothes, leaving small scorch marks.
Ivan lowered his sword slightly.
"Still unstable…"
He murmured softly.
Yet there was no frustration in his voice.
Only calm analysis.
At that moment—
Footsteps approached from the edge of the training field.
A servant hurried forward before stopping several steps away.
He bowed respectfully.
"Young Master Ivan."
Ivan lowered the sword.
"Yes?"
"The Baron has sent a message."
"The Baroness and the Eldest Young Master will arrive at the castle around noon."
Ivan paused slightly.
"at noon?"
"Yes, Young Master."
"The Baron has instructed that all members of the household wear proper noble attire and gather at the castle gate to welcome them."
Ivan wiped the sweat from his forehead with a cloth.
"I understand."
"Tell Father I will be there."
"Yes, Young Master."
The servant bowed again before leaving quickly.
Ivan remained standing in the training field.
His gaze drifted toward the distant castle walls.
Allen Thornheart.
His elder brother.
The heir of the Thornheart family.
Three years ago, Allen had left for the Knight Academy in the capital of the Blackwater Kingdom.
Now—
He was finally returning.
Ivan exhaled slowly.
Then sheathed his sword.
Training was over.
After bathing and changing into proper noble attire, Ivan walked toward the castle entrance.
By the time he arrived, a crowd had already gathered there.
Several knights stood in formation, their armor polished to a mirror sheen. Beside them were the younger knight apprentices, standing straight with disciplined expressions.
Not far away, the castle maids had also assembled, their uniforms neat and orderly as they whispered quietly among themselves.
Even the old castle butler stood near the front, posture upright and dignified, carefully overseeing the arrangements.
The air carried the faint scent of polished steel and the warm smell of horses waiting beneath the afternoon sun.
Everyone was waiting.
Standing at the front was a tall, broad-shouldered man.
Baron Joseph Thornheart.
Ivan approached calmly.
"Father."
The Baron glanced at him briefly.
Then nodded.
The two stood side by side, silently waiting.
Half an hour later—
The distant sound of hooves echoed along the road leading toward the castle.
A group of armored knights soon appeared.
In the center of the formation—
A carriage.
On its door was the Thornheart family emblem.
A heart wrapped tightly in thorns.
Two crossed swords behind it.
The carriage slowly stopped before the castle gate.
The door opened.
The first person to step out was a young man.
Around eighteen years old.
Sharp eyes.
Dark hair.
His appearance carried obvious similarities to Ivan.
Allen Thornheart.
After him—
Another figure descended from the carriage.
A woman in her early thirties.
Elegant.
Graceful.
Time had not diminished her beauty.
Eleanor Thornheart.
Originally the second daughter of a nearby viscount family.
Her marriage to Baron Joseph had been arranged for political alliance.
Such marriages were common among nobles.
Love rarely mattered.
Interests did.
Connections did.
Allen and Eleanor stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Father."
"We have returned."
Baron Joseph's stern expression softened immediately.
He stepped forward and embraced them both.
"Good."
"Good!"
"I'm glad you returned safely."
After the greetings ended—
Allen finally noticed Ivan standing beside the Baron.
Eleanor simply nodded lightly toward him.
Their relationship had always been distant.
Not hostile.
But never close.
Allen, however—
Was completely different.
"Brother!"
He stepped forward and pulled Ivan into a strong embrace.
"You've grown taller!"
Ivan smiled faintly.
"Welcome back."
Seeing the two brothers together, Baron Joseph seemed satisfied.
"Enough."
"You can talk later."
"Go inside."
Allen nodded.
The Baron and Baroness entered the castle first.
Most likely they had matters to discuss.
Meanwhile—
The two brothers walked toward the garden behind the castle.
It was a place filled with childhood memories.
They had often played there when they were younger.
For a while—
Neither of them spoke.
Three years was not a short time.
Finally—
Allen broke the silence.
"So…"
"How have you been these past few years?"
Ivan smiled faintly.
"Quite well."
"No major problems."
Allen studied him carefully.
Then suddenly asked—
"You broke through to Lower Knight, didn't you?"
Ivan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You noticed?"
Allen laughed.
"Of course."
"You can't hide that kind of aura from me."
Ivan nodded.
"Yes."
"I broke through a few days ago."
Allen grinned.
"Congratulations."
Then he shrugged.
"I broke through about half a year ago."
Ivan looked slightly surprised.
"You did?"
Allen scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah."
"But honestly…"
"Your talent is better than mine."
Ivan simply smiled without answering.
While the brothers chatted—
Ivan quietly spoke within his mind.
"NOVA."
"Scan Allen."
A faint hum echoed in his consciousness.
A translucent panel appeared before his eyes.
Name: Allen Thornheart
Age: 18
Race: Human
Physique: 4.6
Agility: 4.7
Constitution: 4.3
Mental Energy: 1.6
Ivan's eyes flickered slightly.
Their attributes were almost identical.
Which meant something interesting.
Most knights required three to five years after breakthrough to reach such physical levels.
Yet Allen had done it in mere months.
"Looks like my brother is quite talented too…"
Time passed quietly.
Eventually—
The sun began to descend.
Golden light spread across the castle walls.
Ivan looked up.
"You should rest."
"You've been traveling for days."
Allen nodded.
"Alright."
"Let's talk more tomorrow."
The two brothers parted ways.
Ivan returned slowly to his room.
After entering, he closed the door.
"NOVA."
"Report my physical condition."
A moment later—
"All injuries have completely healed."
Ivan nodded.
Good.
"NOVA. Activate mental energy."
A cool sensation spread through his body. The ring on his finger glowed faintly. With a thought, a small glass bottle appeared in his hand.
Golden liquid shimmered faintly within it.
The Golden Dew Potion.
Ivan sat cross-legged on the bed.
He adjusted his breathing.
Then drank the potion in one motion.
Warmth spread through his body immediately.
Not violent.
Not explosive.
But gentle.
Comfortable.
His muscles gradually relaxed.
His bones seemed to realign.
Every part of his body was subtly refined.
Ivan circulated his breathing method.
One cycle.
Then another.
Gradually—
A strange lightness filled his body.
His movements became smoother.
More natural.
"NOVA."
"Show my stats."
The panel appeared again.
Physique: 4.7
Agility: 4.8
Constitution: 4.6
Mental Energy: 3.9
Ivan's eyes widened slightly.
"The potion increased each physical attribute by about 0.1."
That was extremely impressive.
But his mental energy remained unchanged.
Ivan shook his head.
"Looks like increasing mental energy is still difficult."
He stood and tested his movements.
Satisfied—
He asked another question.
"NOVA."
"Can the Golden Dew Potion be replicated?"
After a brief pause—
"Yes."
"It is classified as a Class-1 Mid-Level Material."
"Replication cost: 25 energy units."
Ivan nodded calmly.
The price made sense.
The potion's effect far surpassed the Blood Tempering Elixir.
"Can it be used for knight training?"
"Yes."
"Efficiency is significantly higher than previous medicines."
Ivan smiled slightly.
"If other knights knew I was using a potion like this for training…"
"They would probably go mad."
Such a potion was usually reserved for life-and-death situations.
Or critical breakthroughs.
Yet Ivan planned to use it regularly.
To him—
Power was far more important than wealth.
Just as Ivan prepared to begin another breathing cycle—
Knock. Knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
A servant entered and bowed.
"Young Master."
"The Baron requests your presence in his study."
"He said the matter is urgent."
Ivan stood immediately.
"I understand."
After changing into fresh clothes, he headed toward his father's study.
Knock.
"Come in."
The familiar deep voice echoed from inside.
Ivan entered the room.
Baron Joseph sat behind a large oak desk, reviewing documents.
Without looking up, he said calmly—
"Sit."
Ivan sat quietly.
The room fell silent.
Only the scratching of a quill against parchment could be heard.
Finally—
The Baron finished writing.
He looked up.
Sharp eyes fixed on Ivan.
"You are nearly sixteen."
"And you have already become a Lower Knight."
"It's time."
Ivan frowned slightly.
"Time?"
The Baron leaned back in his chair.
"You must choose your future path."
"There are three options."
"First."
"You remain here as a family knight."
"You train future knight apprentices and assist your brother when he inherits the barony."
"Second."
"You travel to the capital and join one of the Knight Legions of the Blackwater Kingdom."
"Third…"
The Baron's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You obtain a Pioneer Order."
"And go beyond the kingdom's borders."
"To establish a new territory."
Ivan fell silent.
If this conversation had happened a month ago—
He might have chosen one of those paths.
But now…
Everything was different.
Ivan slowly raised his head.
"Father."
"Do you know anything about…"
"…wizards?"
The moment the word left his mouth—
Baron Joseph's pupils shrank.
Shock flashed in his eyes.
"How do you know about them?"
Ivan remained calm.
But inside—
He already had his answer.
Father knew.
Silence filled the study.
After a long time—
The Baron finally spoke.
"Do you know how your mother died?"
Ivan froze.
His mother.
Rosalind.
A beautiful woman from a merchant family.
She had died while giving birth to him.
At least—
That was the story everyone believed.
Ivan remained silent.
Baron Joseph looked at him quietly.
Then spoke words that shattered the silence.
"Your mother did not die from childbirth."
Ivan's heart skipped a beat.
The Baron's voice grew heavy.
"She died…"
"…because she possessed wizard aptitude."
Silence descended upon the study.
Like a thunderbolt from a clear sky—
The truth struck Ivan.