The journey from the borderlands to the heart of the empire took exactly seven days. As the rugged, dirt paths of the frontier transitioned into the smooth, obsidian-paved highways of the central provinces, the atmosphere shifted.
The air grew denser with mana, a side effect of the massive spirit veins that ran beneath the ancestral lands of the Six Great Families.
Zephyr sat by the window of the carriage, his chin resting on his hand. He had spent the last week meditating, his Mana Regeneration skill working silently in the background to refine the energy in his core. Beside him, Lina was polishing a small silver dagger, her expression focused. Despite the luxury of the carriage, neither had relaxed their discipline.
Five years of Seres' "hellish" training had made it impossible for them to simply sit still.
"We are entering the territory of the Six," Seres said, his voice dropping an low as he looked at his children. "Remember what I told you. The Ragnar, Lunar, Serkan, Silvaris, Morgrave, and Solari families are the pillars of empire.
Our land alone is larger than most kingdoms. In Silver City, you are no longer just Zephyr and Lina. You both are the scions of the Silvaris."
Zephyr nodded
Ahead of them stood the Gate of the Silver Lion. It was a gargantuan structure, towering seventeen meters high, carved from solid white marble and reinforced with streaks of magical silver.
Standing at the base were two companies of the Silvaris Home Guard.
Zephyr's Battle Adaptation kicked in instantly. Master Peak Ranks, he noted, his eyes narrowing. Every single one of them. The aura radiating from the guards was like a physical weight, a shimmering pressure that would have made a normal ten-year-old tremble.
But with his Unbroken Mind and Endurance, Zephyr felt as if he were merely standing in a stiff breeze.
As the carriage approached, the guards didn't reach for their weapons. Instead, they snapped their shoes together in a thunderous salute, the sound echoing off the city walls like a cannon blast.
"WELCOME BACK, YOUNG LORD SERES!" they roared in unison. "WELCOME TO SILVER CITY!"
The gates groaned open, revealing the majesty of the city. Silver City was a marvel of architecture—soaring spires, floating gardens held aloft by gravity stones, and streets so clean they reflected the blue sky.
Thousands of citizens lined the streets, bowing as the carriage passed.
The carriage finally pulled into the grand courtyard of the main palace. As the door opened, Zephyr expected to meet the cold, calculating eyes of political rivals. Instead, he was met with a boisterous laugh.
"Seres! You stubborn fool! You finally decided to come home!"
A tall man with hair as black and eyes the color of a summer sky stepped forward. This was Uncle avalon, Seres' eldest brother. Unlike the stories Zephyr had heard of cold noble families, avalon moved with a warm, frantic energy.
He caught Seres in a massive bear hug, lifting the Commander off the ground.
"Brother, you've gotten heavier," Seres joked, though his eyes were moist with relief.
Avalon let him go and turned his attention to the children. His gaze landed on Zephyr, then Lina. A look of genuine awe crossed his face. "By the Gods... Seres, you didn't tell me you were raising lions in the borderlands. Look at these two!"
He stepped toward Zephyr, clapping a hand on the boy's shoulder. Avalon was a Mid Saint, and his hand felt like a mountain, yet Zephyr didn't budge. He stood his ground, meeting his uncle's gaze with his golden eyes.
"Zephyr, I presume?" Avalon grinned. "You have your father's chin and your mother's terrifying eyes. Welcome home, nephew. The family has been too quiet without your father's troublemaking."
"Thank you, Uncle," Zephyr said, offering a respectful bow.
"It's an honor to finally meet the man who keeps the city standing."
Avalon laughed loudly, ruffling Zephyr's hair. "A charmer, too! Come, don't stand out here in the sun. Your grandparents are losing their minds waiting for you."
They were led through the palace, passing through hallways lined with portraits of ancestors and suits of armor that hummed with ancient enchantments. Finally, they reached the Hall of the Ancients, where the current Head of the Family resided.
At the end of the hall, sitting on two thrones of carved obsidian, were Zephyr's grandparents.
Grandfather cedric was a man who looked like he had been carved out of granite. Despite his age, his shoulders were broad, and his presence was so immense it felt like the air was being squeezed out of the room. Beside him sat Grandmother vira, a woman of grace whose silver hair glowed like moonlight.
As Seres led the family to the center of the room, he knelt. "Father, Mother. I have returned."
Cedric didn't speak at first. He stood up, his heavy boots echoing on the marble. He walked slowly down the steps, his sharp gold eyes—the same as Zephyr's—scanning his son, then Ruby, then Lina. Finally, he stopped in front of Zephyr.
The pressure in the room spiked. It was a test. Alaric was releasing a sliver of his killing intent.
Lina tensed, her hand twitching toward her side, but Zephyr remained perfectly still. He let the pressure wash over him, his Unbroken Mind standing like a lighthouse in a storm. He looked up at the old man and gave a slight, confident smile.
The pressure vanished instantly. Cedric broke into a wide, toothy grin and pulled Zephyr into a hug that smelled of old parchment and expensive tobacco.
"Strong," Cedric whispered. "You are strong, little hawk."
"He's more than strong, Alaric, he's handsome!" Vira cried out, rushing down the steps. She pushed her husband aside and took Zephyr's face in her hands, kissing his forehead before pulling Lina into a hug as well. "Oh, look at you both! My beautiful grandchildren. Seres, I will never forgive you for keeping them away for many years. They are perfect!"
"Mother, please," Seres groaned, though he was smiling.
"Don't 'Mother' me," she teased. "You've brought us the future of the Silvaris. Look at Lina—she already has the aura of a Advanced Rank warriors. And Zephyr..." She looked into Zephyr's golden eyes and paused, her smile softening into something more profound. "You have a destiny that makes even my old heart race."