Lucius had been tracking game for hours, his senses sharp and steady. The forest was a testing ground—not just for survival, but for the slow, grinding work of building strength and resilience. His muscles ached pleasantly from the constant exertion, his once lean frame now thickening with hard-earned muscle. The black hair framing his sharp, angular face had grown longer, falling in uneven strands that made his red eyes stand out even more—like embers burning beneath dark velvet.
His reflection in a shallow stream confirmed the changes: defined jawline, broader shoulders, and a physique honed by months of relentless training. His face had taken on a rugged handsomeness, carved from discipline rather than vanity—a face that could intimidate or captivate, depending on the moment.
Then came the sudden, urgent cry piercing the quiet.
Lucius moved without hesitation.
In a sunlit clearing, he saw it: a wild beast towering over a boy no older than himself. The beast's eyes glinted with malice, claws ready to strike. The boy—thin but agile—held a broken branch as his only defense. His hair was snow-white, stark against the green forest floor, and his piercing blue eyes flashed with a mix of terror and defiance.
Without a word, Lucius stepped between them, his stance steady, voice low but commanding. "Back off."
The beast hesitated, sensing Lucius's unshakable resolve, then retreated.
Lucius turned to the boy. "Are you hurt?"
The boy shook his head, swallowing hard. "Seth."
The name was sharp, almost like a promise.
Lucius nodded. "Come with me. You're safer where I am."
Over the next six months, the forest became their shared world.
Lucius's training intensified. Each day pushed his body further—lifting heavy logs, sprinting through uneven terrain, and sparring with invisible foes. His muscles thickened, his endurance grew, and his mana core steadied, though it still pulsed faintly beneath the surface—less than the original MC's, but enough to make him a quiet force.
Seth changed too.
The boy who had once seemed fragile grew taller, his frame more solid and athletic. White hair fell in neat strands now, and his piercing blue eyes sharpened with focus. Lucius taught him how to hunt quietly, how to move without a sound, how to read the forest like a book.
But beyond survival, Seth learned the nuances of service: how to cook simple meals over a fire, how to clean and maintain their sparse living quarters, and most importantly, how to anticipate needs without being asked.
Lucius was harsh but fair.
"Cooking isn't just about food. It's about care," he said one evening, watching Seth carefully season a stew. "You'll need to serve others if you want to survive alongside them."
Seth nodded silently, absorbing every lesson with a hunger that went beyond mere necessity.
Their bond grew—quiet, unspoken, built on shared struggle rather than words.
Lucius taught Seth to defend himself, not just with weapons but with wit and awareness. Seth listened and learned, but Lucius noticed something deeper: the boy carried shadows in his gaze, a darkness that whispered of futures best avoided.
The boy who might become a villain.
Lucius didn't flinch. "I won't let that happen," he told himself.
At the end of those six months, the clearing where Lucius had saved Seth felt like home.
Lucius stood tall, muscles taut beneath his worn clothes, his black hair loose and wild, framing a face that had grown sharper, more commanding. His red eyes, once dull, now burned with quiet intensity—the look of a man who had survived, endured, and prepared for the battles ahead.
Seth, no longer a frightened child, matched him stride for stride.
The white-haired boy with blue eyes had become lean and strong, his movements precise and calculated. His hands—once trembling—were now steady, capable of both delicate tasks and deadly strikes.
But beneath the strength and skill lay something else: loyalty. Not blind obedience, but a steadfast devotion born of respect and a shared will to survive.
Lucius looked at him and said, "You're ready."
Seth's eyes flickered, and for the first time, a hint of a smile crossed his lips.
"Then let's keep moving forward."
The quiet clearing was now their sanctuary—Lucius's training ground and Seth's new home.
One crisp morning, after a rigorous dawn training session, Lucius sat by the fire, wiping sweat from his brow. Seth approached, carrying a neatly folded bundle of clothes and a small tray with freshly baked bread and herbs.
Lucius glanced up, a faint smirk touching his lips. "You're improving," he said, voice low but approving.
Seth nodded, setting down the tray. "Thank you, Master Lucius. I want to serve you well."
That word—Master—felt strange yet fitting. Seth wasn't just a boy anymore. He was becoming the assistant to a man who had once ruled a kingdom. His posture straightened, eyes sharp with determination.
Lucius's mana core was still modest, less potent than the original MC's, but that was only one aspect of strength.
His true power lay in his body and mind.
Months of relentless training had transformed him into a warrior of exceptional caliber. His swordsmanship was precise, fluid—a dance born of both instinct and experience. Survival in the wild was second nature; he could track, hunt, and endure where others would falter.
"Your mana will catch up in time," Lucius told Seth one evening, polishing his sword by firelight. "But strength isn't just about magic. It's about endurance, skill, and willpower."
Seth listened intently, absorbing the lesson beneath the words.
The boy was learning, but Lucius was teaching more than combat or survival. He was instilling discipline, loyalty, and purpose. Soon, Seth was not just a follower but an essential part of the plan—a capable butler, a trusted companion, and an assassin in training.
"Your role will be to support me in all things," Lucius said quietly. "Cooking, cleaning, planning, and if necessary… protecting me."
Seth bowed his head slightly, a promise made without words.
Lucius's gaze hardened, reflecting both past burdens and future battles. He might not wield the strongest mana, but his strength, skill, and will were formidable—and with Seth at his side, loyal and sharp, the road ahead looked less lonely.