In the Central District of Regalia City...
On the 100th floor of a high-rise hotel, a white-haired boy with sharp purple eyes sat in a chair by the glass wall.
The open-floor design gave him a perfect view of the bustling city below, lights flickering like stars beneath his feet.
He rested his cheek against his palm, elbow propped on the table.
His fingers brushed against a freshly forged golden earring.
It was Alvin, once again cloaked in his disguise.
As he waited, a figure approached. A red-haired man stepped into view.
Exile.
After wiping the mories of the military personnel, Exile had extracted the group from the camp undetected. He had taken Lesley with him and told Alvin to et here.
Now, he sat across from his disciple, eyes sharp as ever.
He didn’t waste ti.
"Your mana veins mutated into curse veins. You stepped into Half-Step. And you’re already a late-stage Expert?"
"All of that happened in just two weeks?"
"What the hell happened to you?"
Alvin blinked, confused.
’Wait, I’m a mid-stage Expert, aren’t I?’
He quickly checked his sigil progression and froze.
’Late-stage? Since when?!’
A small laugh escaped him as he shook his head.
’Must’ve broken through during those fights...’
Lifting his hand, he showed Exile the golden ring on his finger.
"It’s all thanks to this little granny."
Exile’s gaze lingered on the ring for a few seconds.
"Is it sentient?" he asked.
Alvin nodded.
"Yeah. Fully aware."
Exile leaned back, thoughtful.
"I see. Still, don’t try channeling curse energy through your veins yet. You’ll lose control. I’m guessing your Gift, mana control, has evolved to control curse energy as well?"
Alvin rembered the mont he’d removed the curse energy from the trainees. He nodded.
"Yeah. I can manipulate it now. Guess I can finally start learning the Veiled Tempest battle arts."
But Exile shook his head.
"Idiot. You’ve awakened a primordial aspect. That should be your focus now."
"Tell about your primordial ability."
Alvin sighed, then raised his hand.
A small pulse of golden energy blood to life, dancing between his fingers before vanishing.
Exile studied it closely.
"So? What can it do?"
Alvin frowned.
"Honestly... I don’t know. It takes any shape I will it into. Shields, wings... even absorbs force and rebounds it."
Exile nodded slowly.
"It’s a will-type manifestation. That energy’s called Anima."
Then, as if connecting dots, he asked,
"Which academy are you planning to join?"
Alvin muttered under his breath, "Anima..."
Then he answered,
"Everbright Academy."
Exile smiled faintly.
"It’s about ti my disciple made a public debut as well."
His gaze moved across Alvin’s disguise.
"From now on, this look is your Whisper identity. Next ti, wear a face mask."
"I’ll also send soone to assist you during your stay at the academy."
Just as Alvin opened his mouth to ask about anything.
Exile vanished.
Alvin sat back and let out a long breath.
Alvin ordered a coffee.
Nightfall slowly descended upon Regalia City, painting the skyline in gold and violet hues.
He took a sip as he stared out the window, lost in thought.
Then suddenly,
A hand gently landed on his shoulder.
A soft, shaky voice followed.
"Alvin...?"
His eyes widened. He turned slowly, cautious.
A woman stood behind him, she had green hair, grey eyes.
He blinked.
"Sorry?"
The woman shook her head, flustered.
"N-No. Sorry. I thought you were soone else. My mistake."
Alvin gave her a calm nod.
"It’s okay."
She glanced at the seat across from him.
"May I?"
"Sure. I don’t have company."
She sat down with grace, and Alvin studied her again. It only took a second for realization to hit.
Amanda Vaelcrest.
His mother.
’She never leaves the estate. Why is she here?’
He subtly scanned the lounge.
No one paid her any attention. Not because she was using an artifact—she wasn’t. It was just that none of them recognized her.
But Alvin did.
And so did the guards hiding among the crowd.
’Thirty Specialists. Six Savants...’
He ntally marked their positions.
’And she’s a late-stage Savant herself. Not exactly subtle.’
His eyes returned to Amanda.
’Did she recognize ?’
’There’s no way this is a coincidence. A woman who’s glued to her mansion just happens to show up where I present?
Amanda chuckled softly, as if reading his mind.
"It seems you noticed them. Don’t worry—they’re mine."
Alvin nodded.
"Six Savants? You must be soone important."
Amanda gave a faint smile.
"I suppose I am."
Alvin stood up.
"Anyway, I should take my leave."
He turned and walked away.
Amanda watched him go, her eyes lingering with quiet admiration.
’Such a talented young man...’
’If Alvin was alive, he might be like him’
Alvin headed for the elevator.
The doors opened with a soft chi.
Inside stood a girl, she had green hair and gray eyes.
Alice froze when she saw him.
Their eyes locked.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse . I need to go down—would you mind stepping out?"
Snapped from her daze, the girl quickly nodded and stepped aside.
Alvin entered and pressed the button for the ground floor.
As the doors slid shut, Alice continued staring, silent and wide-eyed.
The elevator began its descent.
Alvin leaned against the wall, a quiet mutter escaping his lips.
"Alice Vaelcrest..."
The lift stopped with a soft ding.
He stepped out and exited the building, the cool night air brushing against his face.
He looked up at the towering hotel.
’Well... my first eting with my family went smoother than I expected.’
A dry chuckle left him.
’Still, I wonder what they’d do if they saw without this disguise.’
He tapped the golden earring on his ear.
’Yeah... I should definitely buy a face mask.’
***
Inside the hotel lounge...
Amanda and Alice now sat across from one another.
Alice’s voice wavered.
"Did you see that...? H-He looked like Alvin."
Amanda nodded slowly.
"He is. But... he wasn’t."
Alice frowned, confused.
"So... why did you call here?"
Amanda was silent for a mont. Then, in a quiet voice, she asked,
"Do you know about the appearance of the Forgotten Ruin?"
Alice nodded.
"Yes. What about it?"
Amanda inhaled deeply.
"Your sister... entered that ruin."
Her voice cracked.
"They say s-she sacrificed herself."
Alice’s eyes widened. Her entire body trembled.
Amanda looked away, unable to et her daughter’s gaze.
"Everyone thought it was just a minor ruin. B-But it wasn’t."
A heavy silence followed.
Amanda’s dull grey eyes flickered with guilt.
"I’m sorry, Alice... I wasn’t a great mother to you, was I?"
Alice didn’t speak.
But her tears answered for her.
Amanda stood up slowly, walked around the table, and wrapped her arms around Alice.
"I-I’m sorry. I truly am."
The two stood there, clinging to each other.
Not as noblewon. Not as Vaelcrests.
But simply as mother and daughter.
Reviews
All reviews (0)