Her eyes popped. "Master... Your... you can see?"Lucian grinned slightly, leaning against the doorframe. "It's more of a perception.""That's great news, Master." Isabel smiled genuinely.Through his False Sight, her silhouette flushed with a warm, vibrant blue aura the unmistakable color of pure, unadulterated relief."Thanks, Isabel. I would like to be left alone now," Lucian said, his mind already drifting toward the power humming in his core."As you wish, Master," Isabel said, bowing her head respectfully. "I've served your food inside, and... I also prepared something sweet as a personal gift to you."Lucian chuckled, remembering their conversation from a few days ago. "I thought you couldn't cook.""You said that, Master. I didn't say it," Isabel countered playfully, leaning in just a fraction with a soft smile. "But still, I am not very good.""Fine then," Lucian concluded, a faint smile playing on his lips.Isabel stepped away from the door, and Lucian slipped inside his roo

Lucian held the flamberge out, executing a series of slow, deliberate swings. The wavy edge cut through the garden air with a faint hisses. It felt perfectly balanced, its weight distributed closer to the hilt, which relieved the strain on his weak wrists. A sharp chime echoed in his mind. [System Notice: First Sword has been successfully bound to your soul.] [Two Weapon Abilities Unlocked]: 1. Hype Strike Effect: Temporarily increases total attack power by 20% upon activation. 2. Step and Go Strike Effect: Forces a sudden burst of speed during a forward step, automatically bypassing an opponent's outer guard to create an immediate opening for a fatal thrust. Cooldown:30 seconds. 'This will be interesting to test out,' Lucian thought, a flicker of excitement stirring in his chest. For a second, he felt an intense urge to trigger the skills right then and there. But a quick mental glance at his depressing status sheet killed the impulse. His Strength stat of fifteen

Lucian slammed his hands against the heavy oak doors, shoving them open with every ounce of strength he possessed. "Father—!" The warning died instantly in his throat. He had sprinted back down the corridor, his heart hitting violently against his ribs. He was absolutely convinced he was about to watch the Emperor of the Valerian Empire be assassinated by a shadow. A stupid thought. He had expected to see a desperate struggle or chaos. Instead, the scene in front of him froze him completely in his tracks. In the center of the vast chamber, Edgar Everstar stood tall and immovable. The dark knight armor statue that Lucian had spotted earlier—the one that had actually been a living assassin in disguise—was now on its knees. The Emperor's massive, heavy greatsword was driven straight through the center of the figure's chest, pinning the assassin to the polished stone floor. Lucian stood breathless in the doorway. He realized instantly how stupid he had been. The Emperor was an adva

A week went by. The Emperor had departed Starlight Castle, along with the First, Second, and Fourth Princes back to the capital. Only Cassian and Felix remained in the quiet castle alongside Lucian. But Cassian and Felix would be leaving soon, and they remained distant with each other. Lucian paid no attention to this. He was entirely focused on the grind. Today, his assigned tutor was arriving, and he wanted to be ready. Over the past seven days, he had completely overhauled his routine, starting with brutal morning conditioning to force his hidden Fortification class to do its job. Lucian pushed his legs harder, sprinting barefoot across the castle grounds. His chest was bare, slick with sweat in the crisp morning air. His black blindfold was tied securely over his eyes, but his False Sight mapped every pebble, blade of grass, and stone wall with perfect clarity. He pushed until his lungs burned, finally sliding to a halt in the courtyard. He dropped to his knees, gasping for a