For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Lucien relaxed.
The Arkanveil mansion brimmed with warmth: laughter, the clatter of plates, the wild chaos of the family's youngest members. Golden light spilled through tall windows, casting long shadows across marble floors as evening descended. Servants moved with practiced efficiency, yet tonight their formality was tinged with genuine smiles.
At the grand oak dining table, Lucien calmly endured the twin storms — his youngest sister and Elric's sister — as they gleefully played tricks on him. From hiding desserts in his cloak to braiding his golden hair into hilarious shapes, the chaotic duo kept the mood light. Their small fingers worked with surprising dexterity, weaving intricate patterns into locks of his hair while he pretended not to notice.
"El" Elric murmured, standing at perfect attention nearby despite the mirth dancing in his eyes. "Perhaps I should intervene?" The butler's immaculate uniform contrasted with the barely suppressed laughter in his voice.
"Let them have their fun," Lucien replied, wincing slightly as a particularly enthusiastic tug pulled at his scalp. "Soon enough, there will be little time for such things."
Even Elric, the ever-stoic butler, struggled to suppress his laughter when the girls finished their masterpiece — Lucien's golden hair now twisted into what appeared to be a misshapen bird's nest with three distinct peaks.
This peace, however, was but a fleeting moment. The savored meal, the shared jokes, the warm embraces — all treasures to be stored away for darker days.
After dinner, standing before his family with calm determination in the grand sitting room, Lucien announced: "I will enter seclusion for three months... to prepare."
No one objected.
They all understood: true strength demanded solitude, time, and unrelenting effort. The weight of his words hung in the air, acknowledged with solemn nods.
"Elric will attend to your needs," his father said simply, clasping Lucien's shoulder with firm pride.
"I shall ensure your training regime is maintained with the utmost precision, young master," Elric added with a formal bow that couldn't quite hide his devotion. The butler's eyes reflected unwavering loyalty — the kind forged through shared hardship rather than mere obligation.
That night, before beginning his isolation, Lucien stood at his bedroom window, gazing at the stars scattered across the velvet sky. The vast emptiness above mirrored the expansive journey ahead.
"The Academy awaits," he whispered to himself, "and I must be ready."
---
Three Months Later —
---
[SYSTEM INTERFACE – ACCESS GRANTED]
> Name: Lucien Arkanveil
Race: Human (Primordial Bloodline – Arkanveil Core)
Age: 15 Years, 6 Months → 16 Years, 0 Months
Level: 26 → 30
Rank: D-Rank → Quasi C-Rank
---
> Traits:
• [Devour – EX Grade]
• [Adaptation – SSS Grade] (Evolved: Flow of Adaptation)
• [Eye of Data – SSS Grade] (Devoured)
• [Rubberman – A Grade] (Devoured)
• [Shadow Soldier – SS+ Grade → Shadow General – SSS Grade]
---
> Skills:
• Flow of Adaptation – A Rank → S Rank (Perfected Flow Achieved)
• Reactive Sword Style – Lv. 1 → Lv. 3 (287/500)
• Mana Resonance – Lv. 5 → Lv. 9 (812/1000)
• Spatial Awareness – Lv. 8 → Spatial Instinct – Lv. 2 (123/800)
• Combat Footwork – Phantom Steps – Lv. 1 → Lv. 3 (312/600)
• Meditation – Lv. 9 → Mastered (Passive – Divine Mind Stability)
• Advanced Light Weaving – Lv. 2 → Lv. 6 (430/1000)
• Divine Warding Magic – Lv. 8 → Lv. 10 → Awakened: Divine Bastion (Minor)
• Radiant Mana Control – Mastered (Integrated into Core Control)
• Solar Flame Resistance – Passive Trait: Inner Furnace (Minor)
• Affinity with Light Magic: Increased significantly
• Internal Mana Circuit Control: Refined by 68.5%
---
> [Shadow Soldier Trait – Upgraded: Shadow General (SSS Grade)]
• Current Limit: 30 → 100 Shadows
• Current Shadows: 2 (General Class)
• Resurrection Requirement: Killed target must be F-Rank or above
---
> Storage Capacity:
• 50 Cubic Meters → 65 Cubic Meters → Expanded to 100 Cubic Meters
> Bound Items:
• Soulforge Catalyst
• Azrien's Flame Pendant
• Adaptive Combat Notes
• Forged Blade of Resonance
• Beast Cores x7
• Shadow Core x1 (New)
---
Dawn broke over the Arkanveil estate as Lucien emerged from his meditation chamber. Three months of seclusion had transformed him. His frame, once slender and boyish, now carried a hardened edge. His golden hair had grown longer, framing features that had lost their childish softness. But the most profound change was in his eyes — deep red that now held the calm certainty of someone who had faced his inner demons and emerged victorious.
Elric waited outside the chamber, a tray of refreshments prepared with meticulous care. The butler had faithfully delivered meals, training materials, and occasional news throughout Lucien's seclusion.
"You've changed" Elric observed, eyes widening slightly at the transformation.
Lucien smiled faintly. "Change was the intention." He accepted a cup of steaming tea, savoring its bitter complexity. "What news of the world beyond these walls?"
"Preparations for the Academy are well underway. The Nalanda Academy has announced this year's admission ceremony will be particularly grand," Elric replied, falling into step beside Lucien as they traversed the corridor. "Many notable families are sending their heirs."
"Including the Vaelthorns, I presume?" Lucien asked, his voice betraying no emotion.
"Indeed. Their heir, Ignis, is said to have completed special training of his own."
Lucien nodded thoughtfully. The rivalry between their families stretched back generations, a tangle of old slights and competing ambitions.
Later that day, Lucien stood atop the cliff overlooking his family's training grounds. The wind tugged at his cloak, but his heart was steady — clear. Sunlight glinted off the distant training dummies, many bearing scars from his previous efforts.
A kingly calm before the gathering storm.
He drew his blade, feeling its perfect balance. With each movement, mana flowed through his circuits with newfound precision, responding to his will like an extension of himself. The sword left trails of light as he moved through forms that would have been impossible for him three months ago.
The Academy would be the first true battleground. He could feel it in his bones.
Elric watched from a respectful distance, pride evident in his bearing. His master had surpassed all expectations. As the butler observed Lucien's flawless execution of increasingly complex maneuvers, he couldn't help but recall their first meeting.
"The Nalanda Academy will not know what hit them," Elric murmured to himself.
---
Meanwhile —
In the distant lands of the Vaelthorn territory, within the dark marble halls of the Vaelthorn ancestral estate, a meeting unfolded. Crimson tapestries hung from high ceilings, depicting ancient battles and conquests. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense that failed to mask the underlying tension.
Ignis Vaelthorn knelt before his grandfather — the imposing patriarch of the family.
"The Arkanveil heir... Lucien," the old man spoke, voice like cold iron. "He is no longer weak and useless. He is a threat. A monster in the making."
Ignis remained silent, but his hands clenched tightly. His red hair, crimson as freshly spilled blood, fell across his face, momentarily hiding the flash of anticipation in his purple eyes. At sixteen, he already carried himself with the lethal grace of a natural predator.
"Destroy him," the patriarch commanded. "At the Academy... crush him. Break his spirit. Prove that the Vaelthorn bloodline stands above all others."
The old man's eyes burned with ruthless ambition. He had full confidence in his grandson — the prodigy who had awakened two traits: [Sword God – SSS+ Grade] and [Combat Genius – SS+ Grade].
Ignis bowed his head, eyes gleaming with dangerous light. "It will be done, Grandfather."
Rising to his feet, Ignis moved with fluid precision to the private training chamber. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword — a legendary weapon passed down through generations of Vaelthorn warriors. With a single thought, his mana flared, and the blade sang as it cut through the air.
"Lucien Arkanveil," he whispered, purple eyes narrowing as he executed a perfect strike that shattered a stone pillar. "I've waited for this moment."
Thus, two future titans prepared themselves for inevitable collision.
---
Lucien, unaware of the specific plots being woven against him, turned toward the horizon with a calm smile. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of amber and crimson, nature's own declaration of the coming conflict.
"Let them come," he said softly, Elric a silent sentinel behind him.
The butler observed his master with quiet pride. "The Nalanda Academy has never seen one such as you, young master."
"Nor one such as Ignis Vaelthorn," Lucien acknowledged. "Our paths have been drawing together since birth. The Academy will merely be the stage for what has always been inevitable."
Elric stepped forward. "I will serve at your side, as always."
Lucien nodded, grateful for the unspoken loyalty.
The next stage was set.
The Academy awaited.
---
End of Volume 1
_ _ _ _ _
Author's Note
And that's the end of Volume 1!
Honestly, I'm amazed I made it this far without getting kidnapped by my own plot twists.
If you enjoyed the story even a little — please consider dropping a review, a comment, or a Powerstone. It keeps me motivated, slightly sane, and helps me afford my daily dose of caffeine and questionable life choices.
Your support means everything!
Volume 2 is coming soon — bigger, better, and with 200% more chaos.
Thank you for reading!
– Gemini_30_