Dawn crawled across the Arkanveil estate, light creeping over rooftops like a hesitant apology. In the secluded courtyard reserved for swordmasters, two men stood in silence.
One, a boy with golden hair and calm crimson eyes.
The other, a man once feared on every battlefield, now leaning heavily on a cane—each step echoing with unfinished purpose.
Uncle Calden Arkanveil.
Lucien said nothing as he held out the vial. SSS-rank healing potion. The color was hard to describe—like moonlight dissolved in starlight, caught in motionless swirl.
It pulsed with the quiet authority of lost miracles.
Calden's hand trembled slightly—not from pain, but from memory.
> "Your father…" he began. Then stopped.
Lucien nodded.
He already knew.
---
There were no grand declarations. No weeping gratitude.
Only silence, as the liquid touched his lips and light threaded through his veins.
Calden's back straightened. The cane fell.
Mana—dense, storm-bound, familiar—flared like a returning flame.
---
And then, the sword moved.
With one smooth motion, Calden summoned his blade—a massive greatsword with a faint curve, its edge kissed by lightning.
The courtyard wind caught fire with pressure as the sword cut the air.
It did not swing.
It sang.
A low hum, like memory being honored.
Lucien watched without blinking.
This wasn't restoration.
This was resurrection.
---
The system shimmered before his crimson gaze.
> [SYSTEM UPDATE: STATUS PANEL – ARKANVEIL, CALDEN]
Name: Calden Arkanveil
Age: 47
Rank: Level 91
Class: Stormblade Strategist
Bloodline: Arkanveil (High Human – Tier 3)
[TRAITS]
– Tactical Insight (SS)
– Storm Edge (SSS)
– Wind Step (S)
[TITLES]
– Shield of Arkanveil
– Blade That Never Broke
– Savior of the Western Front
[MANA CORE]
– State: Reinforced Core
– Quality: Diamond-Tier
– Affinity: 88% Wind / 12% Lightning
– Efficiency: Grandmaster-Grade
[SPECIAL SKILLS]
– Skyflash Sever: Instant execution strike against targets below 80% health
– Thunderline Shift: Blink up to 30 meters in a line of wind
– Warfield Command: Boost allies' physical speed and reflexes by 20%
– Cyclone Guard: Auto-activates a barrier if health drops below 25% (Cooldown: 6 hours)
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: Old injury healed. Full trait resonance restored. Combat potential increased by 300%.]
---
Calden took a deep breath, spinning the blade once before resting it on his shoulder.
Then he looked at Lucien.
Not as a nephew.
As a warlord.
> "When the time comes," Calden said, his voice steady like approaching thunder, "you won't stand alone."
Lucien didn't smile.
He only said, "I know."
---
Later that morning, the mansion buzzed with whispers. Servants claimed the air felt lighter. Guards trained harder. Even the birds perched differently, as though the world itself sensed something had shifted.
Because it had.
---
Lucien passed by the training yard later and paused at the edge.
Inside, Calden sparred with three elite knights—at once.
And he wasn't losing.
He was laughing.
---
A shadow approached—his mother.
"Thank you," she whispered. "You've given him back more than his strength."
Lucien shrugged. "He never really lost it. Just needed a reminder."
---
As they turned to leave, Calden's voice rang out across the courtyard.
> "Goldy! When are you going to show me that sword arm of yours?"
Lucien turned his head slightly, red eyes gleaming.
> "Soon."
But inside?
Very soon.