Julian pov
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The car smelled like cake.
Not the good bakery kind either. The homemade, chocolate-cream-that's-been-in-a-warm-box-for-three-hours kind.
I shifted in my seat and cracked the window open a little, letting the evening air rush in. The forest road was quiet now, the last orange streaks of sunset slipping between tall trees like lazy brushstrokes. The picnic spot where we'd celebrated Joshua's birthday was already far behind us.
Dad was driving with one hand on the wheel, humming some old song I didn't recognize. Grandpa Helior sat in the front seat beside him, arms folded, eyes half-closed like he was asleep.
He wasn't.
He never was.
In the backseat, Joshua was completely out cold, sprawled across Mom's lap like a sack of potatoes. His mouth was slightly open. A tiny line of drool threatened to escape.
Mom was gently stroking his hair, smiling softly. She looked tired, but the good kind of tired. The kind you get after a day that mattered.
I was sitting opposite her, legs stretched out awkwardly because Grandpa insisted the legroom in this car was "an insult to tall people and war heroes."
I was pretty sure it was just a normal sedan.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
Alicia.
I glanced at Joshua to make sure he was still asleep, then answered quietly. "Hey, Sis."
"Did I miss anything important?" Her voice came through clear and calm, like always. "You said it was just a family picnic."
I snorted softly. "It was just a family picnic. Mostly. Joshua ate too much cake, Dad almost burned the skewers, and Grandpa scared off a wild deer by staring at it."
"I didn't scare it," Helior said suddenly from the front seat. "It sensed my killing intent."
Dad coughed. "You were holding a sausage fork."
"Same thing."
I pressed the phone closer to my ear. "See? Normal family stuff."
"And the not normal part?" Alicia asked.
I hesitated. Just for half a second.
Then, "We met someone in the forest."
"Oh?"
"Boy. About my age. Spear user. Strong. Like… really strong."
That got her attention. "Define really."
I thought of the way he'd stood between Joshua and that mutant bear. The way the air had shifted around him. The way his spear had moved like it belonged in his hands.
"…Monster," I said honestly.
There was a pause.
Then, "What's his name?"
"Daniel Mangrave."
The car went quiet.
Even Joshua shifted in his sleep.
I slowly looked up.
Grandpa Helior's eyes were now fully open.
"…Mangrave?" Alicia repeated.
"Yeah."
From the front seat, Helior let out a low chuckle. "So Brooklyn's grandson turned out like that, huh."
Dad raised an eyebrow. "You know him?"
Helior leaned back. "I know his grandfather. War buddy. Duke Mangrave. Stubborn. Loud. Hits harder than he talks."
I tilted my head. "So… Daniel's like that too?"
Helior smirked. "Worse. That boy's a monster in the making."
Alicia exhaled softly through the phone. "You're telling me you randomly met a Mangrave heir in the forest."
"I know how it sounds."
"And he just happened to be strong enough to scare our grandfather."
"I'm right here," Helior said.
"Good."
Mom finally spoke, amused. "So what did you do? Fight him? Make friends? Accidentally adopt him?"
"…All three, kind of?"
Alicia laughed. "Of course you did."
I leaned my head back against the seat. "We sparred. Friendly match. Ended in a draw."
"That's not normal," Alicia said flatly.
"Nothing about today was normal. But he's… nice. Awkward. Serious in a weird way. Like he's carrying too much for his age."
Helior glanced at me sideways. "You like him."
I shrugged. "He saved Joshua. That earns permanent respect."
Mom smiled down at Joshua. "Then I owe him too."
There was a brief silence.
Then Helior spoke again, tone lighter but eyes sharp. "So. Julian."
"Yes, Grandpa?"
"You're heading to the academy soon."
"Yep."
"And now you know that your academy life is going to be surrounded by geniuses and extraordinary students."
I stared out the window, watching the forest blur past. Daniel's calm face flashed in my mind. His spear. His quiet strength.
"…Yeah."
Helior continued, "What will you do?"
I didn't answer right away.
Instead, I thought about the cards in my watch. The kama in my room. The status screen that still confused me half the time.
I thought about Joshua sleeping peacefully.
About Alicia carrying the weight of the family on her shoulders at seventeen.
About Grandpa Helior, who had survived wars I couldn't even imagine.
I smiled.
"Why should I envy them?"
Helior blinked.
"I've got you," I said, nodding toward the front. "And I've got my sister. And my family."
I looked down at my hands.
"I'll train hard. I won't become dead weight. I won't be the one who drags everyone down. And I definitely won't disgrace the Morvain name."
Alicia's voice softened. "Julian…"
I grinned. "Plus, if everyone's a genius, that just means it'll be more fun."
Helior laughed. A real one this time. "You're ridiculous."
"Runs in the family."
Dad glanced at me through the mirror. "I'm proud of you, son."
That… hit harder than I expected.
The car slowed as city lights began to appear ahead.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
Somewhere out there, Daniel was probably bribing his master with chocolate.
And in a few months…
We'd meet again.
At the academy.
The thought made my chest buzz with something warm and restless.
This is going to be fun, I thought.
******
End of volume 1