Nightfall draped the Everhart estate in a hush of silence. The cool breeze whispered against the marble pillars, carrying the faint scent of moonflowers blooming in the gardens below.
Rin stood on the balcony, his hands resting lightly on the ornate railing, his eyes fixed on the endless canvas of stars above. The night sky stretched vast and unyielding, mirroring the turmoil swirling within him.
“…Two days, huh?”
His voice barely broke the stillness, yet the weight of those words echoed in his heart.
Two days.
Two days since the chaos at Willowshade had been reduced to ashes. Two days since the blood-soaked nightmare ended.
But the memories refused to fade.
His mind drifted back to earlier, when he had first opened his eyes—greeted by his mother’s worried face and the lingering scent of herbs in the air. His body had been too weak to move, but his voice had emerged, hoarse yet firm.
“What about the village?”
“Lucien? Elysia? The six knights?”
“…The child I saved?”
Even in the haze of pain, those names had come to his lips first. Not himself. Never himself.
His mother had answered with quiet reassurance, her words a balm to his battered heart.
- The village had received ample relief funds and was placed under Cain’s vigilant supervision.
- The child—a fragile two-year-old—was safe now, cared for in a nearby orphanage.
- Lucien, Elysia, and the injured knights had been treated with potent Elixirs and were well on their way to recovery.
Rin’s breath had left him in a shaky exhale. Relief had washed over him like a wave, but it was fleeting—like a ripple in a vast, unsettled ocean.
Even now, standing beneath the stars, a question continued to gnaw at the edges of his mind.
“How am I… still alive?”
His hand clenched the balcony’s edge as he recalled the moment he’d asked that question.
The answer had come not from his mother—but from Elysia.
Her usually composed voice had been laced with an unfamiliar softness.
“Countess Seraphina used an Epic-grade Elixir on you,” she had said.
“Life Nourishment Elixir.”
Rin’s jaw clenched.
An Epic-grade Elixir.
Weapon, Elixir & Accessary Rankings:
Common
Rare
Epic
Legendary
Even a basic Boost Elixir took months to make and was always in high demand.
An Epic-grade Elixir… was beyond valuable.
That’s how I recovered without pain.
Awakening Resolve
Rin clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
Weak.
That was the only word that echoed in his mind.
I was too weak.
The memories of the day played on repeat—the blood, the chaos, the helplessness. But what haunted him most was the sight of people crying over him. Their tears weren’t for a hero. They were for a boy who had almost died because he wasn’t strong enough.
If I had been stronger… no one would’ve had to save me.
His jaw tightened, and his gaze sharpened.
I can’t let that happen again.
Then, his mind shifted to the power he had unleashed in that desperate moment—Arcane Adaptability. But now… it was sealed.
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Sealed… but I know it has potential. If I can master, it…
But his thoughts drifted elsewhere—to him.
During dinner, his mother had finally revealed the truth. The man who saved him was no ordinary warrior.
Leonard von Solmerg.
The name alone carried weight like a storm.
—Leonard von Solmerg.
—First son of Duke Alexander von Solmerg.
—Heir to the Solmerg Duchy.
—A 3rd Awakening warrior—invincible below the 4th Awakening.
And the most frightening part?
He was only 25 years old.
“The knights said he barely broke a sweat while wiping out the bandits.” His mother’s words echoed in his mind.
“But what unsettled them most… was his smile. As if battle was nothing more than a routine task.”
Rin felt a chill crawl down his spine.
What kind of man treats slaughter as routine?
A single man.
Five minutes.
Every bandit… gone.
Rin’s eyes burned with new resolve. His heart pounded with a fierce determination.
That kind of strength…
“I won’t just admire it.” His voice was barely a whisper, but his conviction was unwavering.
“I’ll reach it.”
Yet… something tugged at the edge of his mind. A faint memory.
What did he say to me before I passed out?
Rin tried to grasp it—
But it was like chasing shadows in the dark.
“…Tch.” He clicked his tongue in frustration and shook his head.
Forget it.
For now, there was something more important.
A faint chime echoed in his mind.
[Quest Completed.]
[Rewards have been stored in Storage.]
A small smile tugged at the corner of Rin’s lips.
Tomorrow… I’ll ask Father for skill scrolls, armor, and Elixirs.
Because the path ahead wouldn’t be kind.
And this time—
He would be ready.
The Path to Strength Begins
The Next Day, Rin stood before his father.
His mother was beside him, still watching him like he might collapse any second.
His father crossed his arms. “What do you need?”
Rin bowed his head slightly. “I want to learn a footwork technique. And I need some defensive armor and recovery Elixirs.”
His father studied him for a moment before nodding.
“If you’re serious about training, then I won’t hold back.”
He handed Rin a Skill Scroll.
Skill: Void Serpent Step (Epic+ Grade)
- A highly advanced movement technique.
- Used by Count Asher von Everhart himself.
- Increases speed, agility, and dodging ability.
“This is our Everhart family footwork skill,” his father said. “It’ll take you years to master it.”
Then, he placed a dark-colored armor in front of Rin.
Armor: Aegis of the Abyss Turtle (Epic Grade)
- One of the best defensive armors for young warriors.
- Increase physical defense and reduce man consumption for defensive spells.
- Lightweight but durable, made from the shell of a Mana-infused Abyss Turtle. Rin's eyes widened. This was more than he expected.
Finally, his father handed him Elixirs.
- 5x Health Recovery Elixirs (Common Grade)
- 5x Mana Recovery Elixirs (Common Grade)
- 1x Life Nourishment Elixir (Epic Grade)
Rin held the items firmly, their weight grounding him.
Not again… I won’t be powerless.
He looked up, meeting his father’s sharp gaze.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
His father’s smirk was brief. “Prove you deserve them.”
His mother’s soft smile followed. “Stay safe, Rin.”
With a steady breath, Rin tightened his grip on the scroll and armor.
This time… I’ll be ready.
The Serpent's Mark
Just as Rin was about to step out, his father’s firm voice stopped him.
“Rin.”
Rin turned, noticing the unusual weight in his father’s tone. “Do you need something, Dad?”
Edwin’s expression was grim, his usual composed demeanor replaced by a deep sense of urgency. “Last night… we interrogated the personal assistant of the bandit leader. The one Cain captured when he tried to escape.”
Rin’s brows furrowed. “And?”
Edwin’s gaze sharpened. “What he revealed… was serious enough for His Majesty to call an emergency Noble Council meeting. I’m leaving for the capital immediately.”
Rin’s mind raced. An emergency meeting? What could possibly warrant such immediate action?
“What did he say?” Rin’s voice was steady, but a knot formed in his stomach.
Edwin’s jaw tightened. “The assistant claimed… a mysterious man approached the bandit leader one night. He gave them information about a hidden mana vein.”
“Mana vein?” Rin’s eyes narrowed.
“Not just that,” Edwin continued. “The man instructed the bandits to guard a demon sword embedded deep within the core of the mana vein. Every night, the sword would surge mana directly into their vessels… enhancing their strength unnaturally.”
Rin’s mind clicked the pieces together. "So that’s how they siphoned power from the mana vein and grew unnaturally strong. "His voice trailed off, but another question burned in his mind. “Who was this man? Do we have any clues?”
A shadow crossed Edwin’s face. “The assistant mentioned… one thing.”
He reached into his coat and pulled out a piece of parchment, unrolling it carefully.
“This.”
Rin’s eyes widened as he took in the unsettling symbol etched onto the paper:
A serpentine eye, its iris slashed by two crossed fangs forming an X. One fang dripped with a thick, black liquid while the other released a faint, toxic green mist. The entire design was encased within a jagged, chaotic circle—an eerie emblem of corruption and chaos.
Rin’s skin crawled. “Ugh… that’s… creepy.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “What is this, Dad?”