Asthia walked ahead, her pace slower now, almost thoughtful.
They passed through a side corridor—quiet, lined with dark glass and stone serpent statues. Reth stayed two steps behind.
Then she said it, like she was commenting on the weather:
"We'll be visiting House Virex tomorrow."
Reth blinked. "Why?"
She glanced over her shoulder. "Politics. Appearances. Varen may have been branded a traitor, but his family still holds power. The patriarch will expect a gesture."
"A gesture?"
"Courtesy," she said simply. "An apology without admitting fault. A show of strength without causing offense."
She stopped at a carved door, placing her hand on the runeplate. It opened with a hiss.
"They'll want to see the one who killed their heir."
Reth met her gaze. "And if they want revenge?"
Asthia tilted her head. "Then we'll see if they're foolish enough to try."
She stepped inside her chambers, then paused.
"Wear black. i don't like you wearing white."
The door closed behind her with a soft thud.
He turned and walked down the corridor, past the serpent statues, past the flickering torches, until the walls opened into a quiet stone courtyard.
The air was cold. The sky was gray. But the space was empty — and that was enough.
He dropped his cloak on the ground and stepped into the center of the stone floor. No guards. No system prompts. Just the sound of wind and breath.
His muscles were tight from days of tension.
He started slow.
Stretches. Breathing.Then drills. Stances. Steps.
Reth tightened his grip and moved faster.
Slash. Turn. Guard. Step. Thrust.
Again.
Again.
The system pulsed in the back of his mind.
[Skill Progress: Basic Sword Technique Lv. 1.4]
[Muscle Sync: Improving]
[Fatigue Detected: Low]
[Focus: Stable]
He grunted and pushed harder.
Sweat rolled down his back.
The sword cut through air, again and again, until his arms ached and his chest heaved.
He stopped only when his hands began to shake.
Then he sat down on the cold stone, resting the blade across his lap.
His breath slowed.
The stone beneath him was cold, but the heat in his limbs lingered — a slow burn under the skin, not exhaustion, not pain.
Just power.
He glanced down at his hands. The tremble was there, but faint. Controlled.
[Bodyguard – Lv. 2][Strength: Slightly Enhanced][Reflexes: Stable Boost][Focus Retention: Improved][Threshold: Expanded][Combat Recovery Rate: +12%]
Reth flexed his fingers slowly.
He could feel it — not just in stats or system messages, but in his body.His stance was more solid. His balance sharper.The sword didn't feel so foreign now.
[Basic Sword Technique Lv. 1.4]
[New Threshold Unlocked at Lv. 2.0]
He exhaled and sheathed the blade.
Still a long way to go.
He retrieved his cloak from the ground and stepped out of the courtyard, sweat cooling on his back, breath steady.
[EXP Gained: +5 – Manual Combat Training]
[Current EXP: 12 / 200]
[Loyalty Sync: 15%]
[Fatigue Status: Moderate – Recommended Rest]
[Objective Reminder: Prepare for House Virex Visit – 1 Day Remaining]
Tomorrow, he'd face a house full of warriors.
...
Morning came without a knock.
The system's chime stirred him awake before the sun had fully climbed.
[New Day Detected][Objective Active: Accompany Asthia to House Virex][Condition: Remain Alert. Do Not Act Without Command.][Reward: 25 EXP]
Reth sat up slowly, the cold air biting at his skin. The stone room was still dim, lit only by a single glass lamp glowing low orange.
His body ached, but it was a clean soreness.
He splashed cold water on his face and stared at his reflection in the basin. Pale eyes. Unreadable expression.
A folded set of clothes lay neatly on the bench by the door — black. Formal.
She really meant it.
He got dressed in silence. The fabric was heavier than usual, the collar high, lined in faint silver stitching. His boots had been polished. A small, dark pin rested on the chest — the serpent crest of the Ninth Flame.
Asthia's house.
The mark he served under.
By the time he stepped out, the halls were already stirring. Servants whispered behind hands as he passed. Guards straightened but didn't speak.
He was the thrall who killed a High House heir.
Today, he'd walk into that house's domain.
Asthia was waiting in the lower foyer.
She wore black too — her robes flowing, edged in dark crimson. No crown. No jewels. Just the red eyes and silver hair that made everyone stop when she entered a room.
She glanced at him once. No nod. No comment. But she looked him over from head to toe, and didn't seem displeased.
"Carriage is ready," she said, stepping forward.
She paused. Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment.
Then she turned and walked.
Reth followed.
Outside, the palace grounds were quiet. The sky was overcast, the kind of gray that dulled the world. The carriage waiting at the gate wasn't ornate — matte black, steel-trimmed, drawn by two dark-bodied horses with ember-red eyes.
Two guards stood by, armored in polished blackplate. They didn't look at Reth. Not once.
Asthia stepped in first.
Reth followed.
The door shut behind them with a soft click.
[New Location: Outer Gate Road – En Route to House Virex][Event Flag: Active][Danger Rating: Variable][System Monitoring Enabled]
The wheels turned, and the city began to pass outside the narrow windows. Stone streets, low roofs, distant towers.
Reth sat across from her in silence.
...
The carriage rolled to a slow stop.
[Location Reached: House Virex – Outer Courtyard][Threat Level: Low-Moderate][Attention: High – Observed by Multiple Hostiles]
Reth stepped out behind Asthia.
The air here was colder.
The Virex estate stood like a fortress—sharp edges, white stone towers, no decoration. Rows of Knight banners hung limp in the wind, marked with the House crest: a twin-bladed helm crowned in fire.
Guards lined the outer yard, all armored in silver steel. None moved. But every eye followed them.