The castle was enormous, always bustling with around fifty servants ready to meet any need. Most people on the island could use the same ability as Vorden, though they didn't bear the Blade family name—there were only a few exceptions.
Those considered true family were the only ones allowed to dine at the main table or leave the island, and even then, only with Grandpa Blade's permission. The top floor of the castle held the family's quarters, the dining hall, and the throne room.
As Vorden and quin walked down the long corridor, their eyes scanned the surroundings—the polished ornaments on display, the mounted heads of hunted beasts, and detailed portraits of strangers from another time.
When he reached his room, he found it exactly as he had left it—spotless, thanks to the servants, but simple. Unlike the lavish chambers elsewhere in the castle, his room was plain and without unnecessary decoration.
The moment Quin stepped inside, he blurted out, "Can you tell me what the hell is going on? How am I a threat? I haven't done anything! And Vorden—did you know this was going to happen when you brought me here? And can I leave safely if I want to?"
"How can I trust you?" Quin pressed.
Vorden stayed silent for a moment, then sighed. "I'm sorry, Quin, for making this hard on you. Leaving… that's the difficult part. But believe me, I'll find a way."
Quin exhaled heavily. "This is my mistake, Vorden. You and your messed-up family…"
Vorden turned away, his eyes settling on two noticeable things in the room—one of them a tall bookshelf. Stepping closer, he pulled out a book with a worn spine and slightly ruffled pages. The front read: Level Six Water Ability Book.
He slid it back into place, running his finger along the other spines. Every single one was an ability book, each of them showing the same signs of heavy use.
"Don't get so down, Quin," Vorden said, glancing back with a faint smile. "You don't have an ability, right? Well, here—these are all ability books. You can pick one."
"Are you serious? You mean I can literally learn any ability?" Quin asked, eyes wide.
"Yes and no," Vorden replied. "Some ability books—like fire or lightning—are original abilities. And you've already seen a glimpse of my family's… dynamics. Ours is one of those original ones. If you learn an original ability, they will definitely come after you. But there are plenty of other powerful and useful abilities. I can even help you get a head start before we go back to military school."
Quin didn't need to be told twice. He immediately began scanning the shelves for an ability book that matched his taste.
"How many times did I read these over and over?" Vorden muttered under his breath.
His mind drifted to memories of himself sitting at his desk, studying, glancing out the window at the clear blue sky.
"Stop getting sentimental," Raten's voice echoed in his mind. "You had us, didn't you?"
Vorden remembered the countless days he'd spent at that desk, and one recurring thought he could never shake.
"When will that old man die?" Vorden blurted out suddenly.
The two voices in his head froze.
"Hey, Vorden—you can say that to us, but don't say it out loud here," Raten warned. For once, even he wanted Vorden to tone it down. Those words were better left unspoken in this place.
Luckily, no one else was around—only Quin, still engrossed in flipping through the ability books.
For as long as anyone could remember, Hilston had been the head of the Blade family. Even when his siblings—much older than him—were asked, they said he had always been in charge. His parents had told the same story.
From that alone, it was clear the old man had to be at least seventy or eighty years old, though whispers suggested he might be far older.
What was certain, however, was that he neither looked nor moved like someone of that age. There were a few possible reasons. One was his ability—after all, in a world full of strange powers, it wasn't impossible that he possessed one that slowed, or even reversed, the effects of ageing.
The Blades had their own unique way of training—one that differed greatly from the rest of the world. It wasn't just about the techniques; it was about the beliefs behind them. Vorden knew that if he stayed here long enough, it wouldn't be long before he was dragged back into their methods.
His eyes shifted to a corner of the room where a familiar VR capsule sat. He used to spend hours inside it—first studying from the ability books, then testing what he'd learned in simulated battles. The capsule could mimic any ability a person chose, making it the perfect training ground.
The books here were only a fraction of the Blade family's full collection. Back then, once Vorden finished a set, he would simply swap them for fresh ones from the library. Thinking of this, he decided to make a trip there. There was still time before dinner, and on this island, if you stayed within bounds, someone would always track you down when it was time to eat.
"Hey, Quin," Vorden called, "want to check out the library? They've got way more books there. Let's find you an ability book or you buddy."