Alex lay back on his soft, big bed, staring up at the ceiling. He had come straight to his room to avoid some students after the news of his injury.
"Humph… they're all just a bunch of hypocrites anyway. Their compassion is just them trying to get closer to the principal through me," he thought, his lips curling into a faint scowl.
A sudden knock on the door broke his train of thought.
"They're here already?" he muttered to himself, struggling to get up.
'Creak.'
The door responded to his touch, opening slowly. Behind it stood the still-sunken Connor Doryel, his awakened relic perched on his shoulder. Its round, shiny yellow eyes scanned the room with an almost eerie calm.
"Oh… Connor."
"Hey, Alex," Connor greeted, stepping inside.
Alex smiled faintly and shifted to the side to let him in.
"You came straight to your room? I've been looking everywhere for you. I even went to our training zone thinking you'd be there."
Alex stayed silent, waiting for Connor to say more.
"My mum and Kira will be here anytime soon… they're visiting," Alex finally added.
Connor nodded, lost in thought for a moment.
"Alex… I would like to learn combat."
An awkward silence followed, stretching for a few seconds before Alex finally spoke.
"Why so sudden? But you're already a good archer."
"I felt so helpless when the monster showed an evolved aura. I… I… couldn't even draw the bowstring. And besides, I don't feel any connection with the bow when I hold it. I want to learn melee. Please teach me, Lex."
Alex scratched his head with his gloved hand. "To be honest, fighting with gauntlets without enhanced stats is really dumb. I know sword skills—being an Anderson—but I'm not a good teacher.-"
The window curtains fluttered gently before the wind carried a voice into the room.
"I will train you to become a perfect swordsman… but you'll lose some of your awakened scout skills when you bloom," Sir Anderson's voice suddenly echoed in the room, as if he were standing there in person.
Connor looked around for two seconds before realizing whose voice it was. He immediately stood from the chair near Alex's study table, lowering his head in respect.
Sir Anderson didn't usually interfere in Alex's daily life, but it seemed he had noticed the passion in this particular student.
Connor beamed with a mix of happiness and uncertainty. "But Sir… it was never my intention to trouble you with this. And besides, it would really affect your busy schedule… I don't think it's worth it."
"I'm not a very patient man, young Connor… you should know this. And both you and Ellie are like family to me." The usually stern voice carried a hint of softness. "You can make it worth my time by not slacking. There will definitely be punishment for slacking."
Alex lay back on his bed, listening like an outsider. He watched the now-energetic Connor bow repeatedly to no one. Even the hawk perched on his shoulder screamed in appreciation. Connor thanked and bowed, even after the voice had vanished, until another knock at the door brought Connor back to reality. This one sounded a little impatient making Alex guess who it was.
He struggled to stand, his ribs still throbbing from the guardian's ruthless strike. Hissing in pain, he opened the door.
A little girl of six, with a cute round face, leapt into his arms. "Brother!" she called out excitedly.
Alex grimaced in pain but managed a friendly tone. "Brother is hurt, Kira… did you forget again?"
"Oh! Sorry," the girl grinned apologetically. Her sky-blue iris sparkled mischievously. "I forgot… again."
"Take it easy, Kira," a gentle voice called from the doorway.
A pretty woman in her mid-thirties stepped in, she was nearly identical to Kira but With more maturity visible on her face. "How's your recovery progressing?" she asked, worry clear in her tone.
Alex greeted his mother before replying, "Better than last time we met. I'll fully recover once I bloom, and I'll do my breakthrough within three days."
Kira noticed Connor standing with a smile and ran toward him. But before she got close, the hawk on his shoulder fluttered up and hovered near the ceiling.
Pouting, Kira called out to the hovering bird, but it ignored her.
Alex invited his family inside, though he barely had a moment before Kira demanded another Coeron Arbora story.
Helpless, Alex told a short version, even though he had recited it many times before.
"Alright… Coeron Arbora has stood for millennia. It was founded by the World King— the man who fully integrated with the world itself and earned that title. He became the first World Rank expert in all recorded history," Alex said, a quiet pride colouring his voice.
Kira's tiny arms drew a big circle in the air. "Is he really strong?"
"Really, really strong," Alex replied. "HE is considered a God—but one below the other Six known Gods." He paused, noticing Kira's wide eyes and her mouth forming an O of awe.
"And it was because of His role and lingering blessings that Coeron Arbora became the best seed academy in all of the Valoryn Kingdom. It even outshone most seed academies across the southern continent. It's known for producing the finest powerhouses, artificers, and researchers in all of Valoryn."
Kira gasped, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Wow… so everyone here becomes amazing?"
Alex chuckled softly. "Yes, Kira. But it takes hard work and courage to truly shine in Coeron Arbora. That's why it has drawn talents and young nobles all over the world and had produced legends for hundreds of years."
Kira's eyes sparkled brighter, her excitement contagious. Alex smiled subtly despite his pain, watching her imagination light up with the tale.