She stood up from her seat and rushed to him, her eyes searching his hand. She gently grabbed his arm, bringing it closer. The moment she saw the mark, her eyes widened in disbelief—then almost instantly, her shock melted into joy, a radiant smile spreading across her face.
"You awakened your Arcana Mark!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement.
Travis gave a small nod, and she pulled him into a warm embrace. He hugged her back, his chest swelling with happiness.
"I knew my baby had it in him! I'm so, so proud of you!" she said, her words tumbling over one another. "We should go tell your father right away—"
He gently pulled back. "I… I don't think that's a good idea. Not yet. Until I'm sure this is really an Arcana Mark, I don't want to tell anyone. Let's keep it a secret—for now, at least."
Elyzhaeth nodded, her smile softening. "Okay. You'll tell me when you're ready." Then, with a curious tilt of her head, she asked, "So, how do you plan to confirm it?"
"Well," he said with a small grin, "I'll just have to test it. If I can use magic now—or anything else—it should prove it."
After they finished eating, she walked him to his room.
"Goodnight, Travis," she said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Don't forget to update me on your results, alright? And remember—whatever happens, I'll always stand by your side."
He smiled. "Yeah… I'll do that. Thanks, Mom. Goodnight."
She gave him one last smile before gently closing the door and walking away.
' Finally,' she thought, her heart full.' My son is going to become the great warrior he's always dreamed of being. I can't wait to see his legacy unfold.'
Back in his room, Travis had already bathed and changed into his nightwear. The soft moonlight streamed through the window as he sat on the edge of his bed, eyes fixed on the mark glowing faintly in his palm.
"That sword from before… I wonder if I can summon it," he muttered to himself.
At that exact moment, his palm pulsed with light—and in a flash, the sword materialized in his hand.
His breath caught. The weight, the texture, the feel—it was all real. His grip tightened as he steadied himself, trying to calm the storm of emotions rising inside him.
'This is the sword I've been dreaming about for the last eleven years. And now… it's in my hands. This feels surreal,' he thought, awe-struck.
He stood, stepping into the center of the room. With practiced instinct, he slipped into a combat stance—his father's old formation. He closed his eyes, channeling his mana through his body and into the sword.
Then he moved.
With a sharp breath, he raised the blade and brought it down in a clean, arcing slash.
*Woosh*
A sudden gust of wind erupted from the strike, blasting outward in every direction. The curtains flared, books shifted on his desk, and the air seemed to vibrate with the echo of his swing.
Travis stared in disbelief.
'Huh? I didn't even use mana. Does the sword amplify my strength? But… I don't feel any different,' he thought, glancing down at his palm as he opened and closed it slowly.
He chose to ignore it for now. With a steady breath, he tightened his grip and continued training—each motion deliberate, each strike more focused than the last.
After a few minutes, he stood in the middle , sweat dripping from his forehead.
" Wow, I genuinely feel faster and stronger." He declared in a low tone not wanting to alarm anyone who might be around.
He raised the sword up to his face, when he looked closely he saw ruines etched on the blade the same as the mark on his palm. They glowed faintly in a red energy. Travis pulled it away from his face and with a command the blade vanished.
' That felt electric ' he thought.
Travis looked at his body which was now drenched in sweat and sighed as he went and bathed again he then went to his bed laying there.
' I can't wait to spar with Hendrick tomorrow, but I don't want to reveal my sword yet. So I'll just use another sword' he thought.
He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
...
Deep in his sleep, Travis once again found himself standing in that familiar, shadowy dungeon. He let out a tired sigh.
But this time, the sword was already in his hand.
'At least I won't be cliffhanged anymore,' he thought dryly.
Just a few meters ahead, the pedestal stood exactly where it had been before—but now, resting atop it was a black, ancient-looking book. Its cover pulsed faintly, as though alive.
Travis stepped forward and reached for it.
'Hope I won't wake up the moment I try to open the first page,' he thought, lifting the book.
He opened it—
And instantly shot awake.
His body jolted up from bed, drenched in sweat. But before he could process the dream, his nose twitched. A foul, almost rotting stench filled the room, thick and nauseating.
'What is that?!' he thought, disgust twisting his face.
He scrambled up, flicked on his magic lamp—and froze.
His entire body and bed were coated in a thick, black, gooey substance. It clung to his skin and sheets like tar, glistening under the light.
'Did I awaken? What did I awaken though?' he wondered, eyes wide.
This was Shed Residue—a sticky, putrid substance that leaked from one's body during moments of elemental awakening or sudden power growth. A rare and telling sign that something inside had changed.
Without wasting another second, he rushed to the bathroom and scrubbed himself clean, taking his second bath of the night.
"I must've gotten stronger," he muttered, staring at the swirling water, "but… I didn't even do anything."
He sighed, the weight of mystery still hanging over him. There were too many questions for now, and his body felt drained. He returned to his room, pulled the soiled sheets off, and laid down on the bare mattress.
This time, sleep came easier—deeper. He didn't dream of the dungeon.
He dreamed of something else.
And for the first time in a long while, he slept peacefully. A quiet smile touched his lips as excitement stirred in his chest.
Morning couldn't come fast enough.
...
The next morning, Travis woke up on his own. The soft light of dawn peeked through his window as he rose from bed and made his way to the bathroom for a fresh bath.
Moments later, the door to his room creaked open.
It was Gloria, the family's longtime maid, arriving to wake him as usual. But upon seeing the empty bed, she blinked in surprise.
'Young Master woke up early? It's surely going to rain today,' she thought, amused, her eyes drifting to the bundled bedsheets on the floor.
Curious, she approached the pile—then froze as the stench hit her. She immediately pinched her nose and shut the sheets back with a grimace.
'Shed Residue? Did Young Master… awaken? Or grow stronger?' she thought, eyes widening. She quickly gathered the sheets and left the room, already piecing the signs together.
Just as she exited, Travis stepped out of the bathroom, toweling his damp hair. Seeing that the bedsheets were gone, he gave a small smile.
He got dressed quickly, donning a simple outfit and lacing his boots with practiced ease. Without delay, he headed downstairs.
To everyone's surprise, Travis joined the family at the breakfast table—awake, alert, and early.
Elyzhaeth's face lit up the moment she saw him. She didn't say anything, but the warmth in her smile said it all—her son's fire had returned.
After breakfast, Travis didn't linger.
He made his way straight to the training grounds, heart pounding with anticipation. The morning air was cool, and the grass still held dew as he stepped onto the familiar field.
He picked up a training sword, feeling its weight, and drew in a deep breath.
'Okay… let's see how strong I've grown,' he thought, eyes narrowing with focus.
TO BE CONTINUED