Chapter 46
Three days had passed since the system shutdown. In that quiet stretch of time, tension had risen like a low tide across the continent. But here, in the far western region of the Valderian Empire, nestled among the emerald waves of tall grass and rich farmland, a black carriage rolled steadily along a polished stone road. The crest of the winged lion shimmered on its sides—undeniably the mark of House Velebrandt.
Within the carriage, Lucien Caelum Velebrandt sat in silence, his gaze fixed beyond the glass pane of the window. Now taller than he had been days before, his once childish body had matured slightly overnight due to the awakening. He peered outside with a calm, almost reflective gaze. The black horses that pulled the carriage, their manes dancing like living smoke, were a rare breed exclusive to elite Velebrandt knights. The three mounted knights—each A-rank and clad in obsidian armor—rode ahead with practiced formation. Their movements were sharp and disciplined, a shield to their young lord.
Lucien’s eyes scanned the vast fields that stretched outward like a sea of green. The breeze rippled through the grain like ocean waves, brushing softly against the golden horizon. In the distance, the imposing dark walls of the Velebrandt Estate stood tall and unmoving, like a slumbering colossus.
He inhaled deeply, his breath fogging the glass for a moment. There was serenity in the landscape, yet his thoughts were restless.
"So, this is what it feels like," Lucien murmured to himself. "My mana... no, whatever this power is... it’s awake now. But what exactly is it?"
There were no clear answers. Just a low pulse in his chest. A whisper in his bones. Something ancient and unfamiliar.
Soon, the carriage slowed.
The great black iron gates loomed ahead, intricate with golden embroidery, bearing the sigil of the winged lion. At both ends, Velebrandt knights in polished ceremonial armor stood in rows. As the lead knight raised a gloved fist, the gates creaked open with measured grandeur.
"Young Master Lucien, welcome home!" one of the guards at the gate saluted with a fist to his chest. "Congratulations on your awakening, my lord!"
"All hail the future of House Velebrandt!"
Lucien blinked, momentarily stunned. Their voices were laced with genuine joy, echoing like music beneath the towering gate. From within the carriage, he tilted his head.