'Magnus.'
Lindarion's sharp gaze swept over the man. Ten months had passed, yet Magnus looked exactly the sa—annoyingly composed, infuriatingly unreadable.
"One, Erebus. So, you're finally back?"
Magnus's face remained blank as his eyes flickered between the two n.
"The academy starts soon. Training had to end," Erebus cut in, his voice as cold and emotionless as ever.
"Indeed, just one week left until it begins."
Magnus shook his head as space cracked open beside him. Another familiar presence stepped out.
'Thalorin is here too? That's just great..'
The old elf strode forward, calm as ever. Erebus and Magnus imdiately bowed. Magnus's voice wavered as he asked.
"L-Lord Thalorin?"
"I'm here for the kid. I'm his Master after all."
Thalorin said with a wink as Lindarion shook his head.
'Master my ass..'
Both Magnus and Erebus looked at Lindarion…like the pieces were finally getting put together in their heads.
"P-Prince Lindarion Sunblade?"
Magnus asked as Erebus's face remained completely…the sa as before.
Lindarion nodded as Thalorin continued.
"So, kids, training's over, huh?" Thalorin's voice was warm, his eyes locked onto Lindarion.
'Ah. So he knew I was with Erebus. But how the fuck? Was this old perv watching or sothing?'
Lindarion sighed, then nodded slowly. Magnus was still frozen as he processed the information.
"Then it's about ti you head ho, don't you think?"
Thalorin said as Erebus and Magnus both turned to Lindarion. He hesitated just for a mont, then nodded again.
Thalorin clicked his tongue. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
Lindarion had grown used to Erebus's silence—so much so that actual conversation now felt strange.
"…No. Just a habit."
He was sad as he sneaked a glance at Erebus.
Thalorin humd in amusent. "Then say your goodbyes."
Lindarion turned to Erebus first. The man, unsurprisingly, said nothing. Instead, he extended a hand.
'Wait. He actually knows how to shake hands?'
Lindarion took it. A rare mont. Teacher and student.
As soon as their grip loosened, Erebus bowed to Thalorin and Lindarion then vanished without another word.
Thalorin stroked his long beard, watching with an entertained glint in his eyes.
'He'll never get tired of teleporting, will he?'
Lindarion shook his head and turned to Magnus, who smirked.
"Well, uh..Prince it is ti for you to go. Don't you want to say goodbye to the others—"
"No. Just tell them that we shall et again if that's what fate desires."
Lindarion cut him off before he could finish.
Magnus chuckled and nodded. Thalorin clapped Lindarion's shoulder. "Let's move."
Space cracked again, distorting the air. Magnus watched as they stepped forward.
Just before they disappeared, Lindarion t Magnus's gaze.
"We'll et again, Instructor."
Magnus gave him a small nod.
Then, in a blink, Lindarion was gone.
—
A palace stood before him, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. White stone, surrounded by lush trees and blooming flowers.
'Ho, sweet ho.'
A wave of floral scents filled his lungs. Then, a light touch—a hand on his shoulder.
Thalorin. His voice was characteristically gentle.
"I'll see you at the academy, kid."
A portal cracked open again. Thalorin flashed him a grin.
Lindarion smirked back. "If you live that long, old man."
Thalorin's eyes widened slightly before he burst out laughing. With a wink, he vanished into the portal.
'At least he's still normal.'
Lindarion exhaled, taking a slow step toward the palace.
It had been nearly a year. Nearly a full year since he was last here. It started with Thalorin tossing him into the wilderness, continued with Magnus's training camp, and ended with Erebus being… Well, Erebus.
Even though Thalorin claid he would train Lindarion himself, he had passed him around like an unwanted package.
Except for that bastard Erebus—he kept Lindarion close, not letting him slip away.
As Lindarion approached the entrance, he felt their gazes.
'The guards. At least they're doing their jobs properly.'
Just as he was about to continue—
BANG!
The massive doors burst open like they had been locked for a century.
'What the hell?'
A golden-haired blur shot out like a lightning bolt, hurtling straight for him.
'Oh, fuck no.'
Lindarion instinctively reinforced his legs with mana—just in ti to avoid being sent flying.
A soft, tearful voice reached his ears.
"You're back, Lindarion…"
His mother.
Lindarion sighed, wrapping his arms around her trembling form. "Yeah, I'm back, mom."
She clung to him as if he might disappear at any mont. "Took you long enough to return…!"
Behind her, slow footsteps echoed. Another familiar figure.
"My son."
Lindarion turned, his grin widening.
"Father."
Eldrin's piercing gaze locked onto him. For a second, his eyes widened—then, a slow, knowing smile ford.
'He's reading again like I'm so kind of book..'
Lindarion shook his head as they stepped inside.
"So, tell everything."
His mother clung to his arm as they walked toward the dining hall, unwilling to let go, as if he'd vanish if she did.
"Where do I even start?"
He gave them the short version—how Thalorin had definitely not trained him and how Magnus was a terrifying drill instructor.
At Magnus's na, his father rely nodded.
'So he knows him? Figures.'
Then, he ntioned Erebus.
Eldrin froze. His mother kept nodding along, oblivious.
'Wait. Does he know Erebus too? What the fuck?'
"You trained under Erebus?"
Eldrin's voice wavered slightly, his usual composure cracking.
Lindarion nodded.
Eldrin's sharp eyes swept over him, as if truly seeing him for the first ti since his return. His aura, his presence—everything was different.
'So that's why.'
Eldrin exhaled, shaking his head.
Lindarion ignored it and stepped into the dining hall.
"Surprise, young master!"
A chorus of voices erupted as the maids lined up, beaming.
The table was stacked with food—roasted ats, fresh vegetables, nuts, and fruits, a feast straight out of heaven.
"Welco ho, young master!"
"We've been waiting for you!"
"Finally, you're back!"
The maids bead, their enthusiasm borderline overwhelming.
Lindarion chuckled. "I'm happy to be back."
His mother smiled warmly. His father sighed, shaking his head at the sight.
Then—
From Eldrin's shadow, a figure erged. Cold blue eyes glead as she stepped forward, bowing slightly before Lindarion.
"Welco ho, young prince."
'Seraphine.'
Lindarion narrowed his eyes.
"Glad to see you again, Seraphine."
Lindarion smiled as he stepped closer, his voice softer than usual as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"The honor is mine, my prince. You've grown much stronger, it seems the training was very successful."
Seraphine's voice carried through the room as her sharp gaze asured him from head to toe.
Eldrin cleared his throat, then shifted his attention between Lindarion and lion.
"That's enough reunions for now. It's ti we start our al."
The maids practically bead with joy as they guided Lindarion to his seat. Across the table, Seraphine t his gaze once more, gave a slight nod, and then—just like that—lted back into the shadows.
'She's gone again… figures.'
With that, the al began. For the first ti in nearly a year, the three of them sat at the sa table, eating together in quiet contentnt.
—
After lunch, life in the palace carried on as usual.
Lindarion returned to his room, only to find his travel bag neatly placed on his bed.
'I thought I lost this…'
Everything was still inside, untouched.
'Must've been Thalorin… the old man and his weird habits.'
Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside and made his way to his father's office.
The walk through the halls was… less than enjoyable. The maids kept stopping to greet him, giving him lots of complints, their cheerful smiles never wavering.
'This is getting a little awkward…'
By the ti he reached the familiar doors, he was already questioning his life choices. Pushing them open, he found Eldrin exactly as expected—buried under a mountain of paperwork.
Eldrin sat behind his desk, holding a sheet of paper, his brows furrowed like he was deciphering an ancient prophecy.
Lindarion, standing in front of him, tilted his head.
"What's wrong, Father?"
Eldrin sighed, setting the paper down. "I'm facing a tricky decision."
'Tricky?'
That could an anything from war to deciding which wine to serve at a banquet.
Lindarion crossed his arms. "Do you need my help?"
Eldrin gave him a long look before nodding.
"Two other nations have requested military aid from us. The problem is, we don't have enough capacity to send troops to both. What do you think should be done?"
Eldrin already knew the answer, however he wanted to see how smart and wise Lindarion was currently.
Lindarion tapped his chin thinking for a mont, he then sighed and started.
"So, we don't have enough troops, but rejecting them outright could strain our relationships…"
He paused for a brief mont and then continued.
"Why not send sothing else instead? Equipnt, strategic advisors, maybe even training programs? That way, we support them without weakening ourselves."
Eldrin smiled, leaning back in his chair. "That's exactly what I had in mind."
Lindarion smirked as he looked at his father signing so papers with a smile.
'It's really good to be back.'
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