Morning arrived with a hush, the first rays of dawn piercing the frost on the windows like fragile spears of light. The house breathed softly around Rainhart—distant sounds of his family stirring, the creak of floorboards under careful feet, the faint aroma of fresh bread wafting from the kitchen. He lay in his small bed, blankets tucked up to his chin, staring at the wooden beams above. To the outside world, he was just a two-year-old boy, sleepy and innocent, perhaps dreaming of simple joys like chasing butterflies or clinging to Mother's skirts.
But inside, a storm brewed.
The system had ignited last night—a verdant starlight interface etching itself into his mind, granting skills that pulsed with untamed power. Eyes of Nature. Life and Death. Smithing knowledge downloaded like an ancient scroll unfurled in his soul. It wasn't just gifts; it was a revelation, a key to secrets buried in his very blood. He couldn't let it show. Not yet. The seal on his divine mana already made Mother tremble with worry; Father watched him like a blade waiting to be drawn. If they knew about this… no. Hide. Act normal. Be the child they saw.
With a soft yawn—feigned for any listening ears—he closed his eyes and whispered inwardly: Status.
The interface bloomed, fully activated now, green script glowing with crisp clarity, as if the system had waited for this moment to unveil its depths.
[Rainhart Arcboard – Status]
Name: Rainhart Arcboard
Age: 2 years, 3 months
Race: Human (Divine Bloodline – Sealed)
Title: None
Level: 1 (System Fully Activated)
Mana Core: Divine-rank (Heavily Suppressed – 0.3% Output)
Physical Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Endurance: 6
Vitality: 7
Intelligence: 22
Wisdom: 18
Perception: 15
Luck: ??? (Hidden)
Bloodline Inheritances:
→ Inversia Lineage: Abyss Sovereign's Grace (Inherited from Mother – Latent; Grants access to Abyss mana, spatial manipulation, and enhanced healing. Activation requires blessing at age 10.)
→ Arcboard Lineage: Ancient Dragon's Blessing (Inherited from Father – Latent; Grants draconic resilience, shadow affinity, and steel-like mana reinforcement. Activation tied to sword mastery milestones.)
Unique Skills:
→ Eyes of Nature (Lv.1) – Active (Personal Power – Allows perception of hidden truths, mana flows, statuses, and natural essences. Upgradable through use.)
→ Life and Death (Lv.1) – Dormant (Personal Power – Authority over cycles of growth/decay, healing/entropy. Requires activation trigger: a true sacrifice.)
Additional:
→ Complete Foundation Smithing Arts (Implanted – Mastery of forging techniques, mana infusion, and rune etching.)
Status Ailments: None
Blessings Received: None (Bloodline potentials dormant until triggered)
Rainhart's small heart pounded as he read the lines. The system was fully activated—no longer incomplete, as if sensing his resolve to wield it in secret. But the bloodlines… they leaped out like revelations. Abyss from Mother— that explained her red-black lightning, the way space bent to her will. And from Father… Ancient Dragon's Blessing? Draconic power? It stirred memories of the ancient stories: heroes blessed by gods, but dragons were mythical guardians, their essences woven into bloodlines like the Arcboards. These weren't system gifts; they were his heritage, waiting to bloom.
Yet Eyes of Nature and Life and Death… they felt different. Personal. Not tied to bloodlines, but innate to his soul—perhaps from the rebirth, the goddess's voice calling him "brave little one." They pulsed like extensions of himself, not inheritances.
He dismissed the interface with a thought, exhaling slowly. No outward sign. Just a toddler stirring in bed.
But temptation gnawed. Eyes of Nature—Lv.1, active. It had shown him glimpses before, but now, with the system fully online, what could it reveal? Everything, perhaps. Mana flows in the air, hidden truths in objects, full statuses of those around him. He had to test it. Carefully. Invisibly.
"Mama?" he called, voice pitched high and sleepy, rubbing his eyes for effect.
Luna Arcboard appeared at the door moments later, her silver hair glowing in the dawn light, ruby eyes soft with morning tenderness. "Awake already, my sweet? Come, let's get you up."
She scooped him into her arms, warm and safe. As she carried him downstairs, Rainhart nestled closer—perfect camouflage. Inwardly, he focused: Eyes of Nature.
The world transformed.
Colors deepened, edges sharpened to crystalline clarity. Mana threads became visible—subtle rivers of energy weaving through the air, pulsing in harmony with the house's wards. Mother's aura bloomed around her like a crimson-black storm, shot through with silver veins of spatial distortion. Green script overlaid everything, revealing everything.
Her status expanded fully now, no surface scan— the skill delving deep, as if hungry to show its potential.
[Luna Arcboard (née Inversia) – Full Status]
Age: 26
Title: Abyss-touched Archmage (Retired), Guardian of the Seal
Mana Affinity: Extreme (Abyss Primary; Spatial, Healing Secondary)
Magic Circle: 8th Circle (Capable of 9th; Restricted by Mother's Oath)
Physical Strength: 45
Agility: 60
Endurance: 55
Vitality: 70
Intelligence: 95
Wisdom: 88
Perception: 82
Unique Traits:
Abyss Sovereign's Grace (Goddess-blessed: Immunity to corruption; Can summon abyssal lightning for offense/defense.)
Mother's Oath (Self-imposed: Mana output limited to 50% while children are young; Breaks only in dire threat.)
Bloodline Transmitter: Inversia Abyss (Passed to children: Lina shows strong affinity; Rainhart latent but amplified by divine core.)
Potential: SS (Capped voluntarily; Could ascend to transcendent with full release.)
Hidden: Seal Keeper (Maintains suppression on Rainhart's divine mana; Strain increasing.)
Rainhart's eyes widened fractionally, but he buried his face in her shoulder, babbling "Mama warm" to hide it. The skill showed everything—even her hidden role in his seal. No wonder her voice trembled when speaking of his mana.
In the kitchen, the family assembled. Father at the stove, black hair tied back, blue eyes calm. Amura yawning over his bowl. The twins giggling over shared secrets.
Rainhart let Mother set him down, acting fussy with his spoon while scanning each in turn.
Father first.
[Dane Arcboard – Full Status]
Age: 32
Title: Swordmaster of the Northern Blade, Dragonblood Heir
Mana Affinity: High (Shadow Primary; Steel Reinforcement, Draconic Resilience Secondary)
Sword Realm: Swordmaster (Youngest in 100,000 years; One step from Grandmaster.)
Physical Strength: 120
Agility: 110
Endurance: 130
Vitality: 115
Intelligence: 75
Wisdom: 80
Perception: 90
Unique Traits:
Ancient Dragon's Blessing (Arcboard Lineage: Draconic scales manifest under skin for defense; Shadow manipulation for stealth strikes; Mana reinforces body like dragonhide.)
Family Sentinel (Innate: Senses threats to blood kin within 1km; Amplifies strength 2x in protection mode.)
Bloodline Transmitter: Arcboard Dragon (Passed to children: Amura shows sword talent; Rainhart latent but synergizes with divine mana.)
Potential: S+ (Peaked in current realm; Could transcend with dragon relic activation.)
Hidden: Relic Seeker (Searches for ancient dragon artifacts to fully awaken blessing.)
Ancient Dragon's Blessing—there it was, Father's hidden power. Rainhart mashed his oatmeal, cooing happily to mask his racing thoughts.
Amura.
[Amura Arcboard – Full Status]
Age: 9
Mana Affinity: Moderate (Fire Primary; Reinforcement Secondary)
Physical Strength: 18
Agility: 16
Endurance: 20
Unique Trait: Iron Resolve (Pain tolerance +50%; Resists mental attacks.)
Swordsmanship: Advanced Novice (Arcboard Bonus: Accelerates learning.)
Bloodline: Arcboard Dragon (Latent: Minor resilience; Full activation at 10.)
Potential: A++
Hidden: Protective Instinct (Overprotects siblings; Mana surges in their defense.)
The twins.
[Luna Arcboard – Full Status]
Age: 7
Mana Affinity: High (Spirit Primary; Light Secondary)
Physical Strength: 8
Agility: 12
Endurance: 9
Unique Trait: Moonlit Grace (Agility +30% under moonlight.)
Bloodline: Inversia Abyss (Latent: Minor spatial tricks.)
Potential: A+
Hidden: Twin Bond (Shares mana with Lina; Amplifies joint spells.)
[Lina Arcboard – Full Status]
Age: 7
Mana Affinity: High (Abyss Primary; Healing Secondary)
Physical Strength: 6
Agility: 9
Endurance: 11
Unique Trait: Silent Bloom (Healing +50% on resting targets.)
Bloodline: Inversia Abyss (Strong Latent: Early signs of abyssal whispers.)
Potential: S-
Hidden: Empathic Healer (Senses family pain; Auto-heals minor wounds.)
Everything laid bare. Their strengths, secrets, potentials. Eyes of Nature didn't just peek—it pierced, revealing the web of bloodlines tying them together. His own powers—Eyes and Life/Death—stood apart, marked as "Personal," not bloodline-derived. They were his alone, from the rebirth.
He dismissed the skill, giggling as Lina passed him a berry. Normal. Cute. Unassuming.
Breakfast flowed—laughter, plans for the day. Rainhart played along, spilling milk "by accident," clapping at stories.
But as Father ruffled his hair, saying "Eat up, little one," Rainhart's mind fixed on one detail: Ancient Dragon's Blessing.
What was it, truly? The stories mentioned heroes, but dragons?
He waited until the meal ended, toddling after Father to the yard where Dane sharpened blades.
"Papa?" Rainhart tugged his pant leg, eyes wide and curious—perfect toddler innocence.
Dane knelt, blue eyes meeting ruby. "What is it, son?"
"Wha' is… an-shent dwagon?"
Father's expression flickered—surprise, then a soft smile. "Ancient dragon? Where'd you hear that, Rain?"
"Stowy. Fwom Mama."
Dane chuckled. "Ah, the old tales. Ancient dragons were guardians of Aether—massive, wise, with scales like night and breath of shadow. Our Arcboard blood carries their blessing: strength like theirs, shadows to hide in, resilience that bends but never breaks. Why ask?"
"Jus' cuwious." Rainhart beamed, hiding the deeper hunger.
Father nodded. "One day, you'll feel it too. But for now—play."
Rainhart nodded, toddling off.
Inside, plans formed. Hide. Train in secret. Unlock it all.
Normal on the outside.
Storm within.