The sun had not yet risen when Raven stepped out of the estate.
The air was cold, damp. A thin layer of mist still covered the plains, and only a few soldiers were already training.
Like every morning.
As if nothing ever changed.
Raven walked toward the training ground. He picked up a wooden blade, spun it in his hand, then took a slow breath.
"You're up before everyone again."
The voice came from behind him.
Deep. Calm.
Raven turned.
"Couldn't sleep."
Arcturus Lightning stepped through the mist. Even without armor, he commanded respect. His posture was straight, his gaze sharp, always aware.
"You've been like this for a few days," he said.
Raven shrugged slightly.
"I feel like I'm not improving."
Arcturus stayed silent for a moment, then picked up another wooden blade.
"Attack."
Raven didn't hesitate.
He moved forward quickly, struck, chained his movements together. They were clean, precise… but something was missing.
Arcturus parried without effort.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then he disarmed Raven with a sharp motion.
The blade fell to the ground.
Raven stepped back, frustrated.
"You see?" Arcturus said calmly. "You think too much."
"And you don't think enough?" Raven replied.
Arcturus allowed himself a slight smile.
"I think at the right time."
Raven picked up his blade.
"I don't have enough power."
"No."
The answer was immediate.
"You don't have enough Nox."
Raven looked up.
"But I do have some. We all do."
Arcturus nodded slowly.
"Everyone has Nox, yes. But that doesn't mean everyone knows how to use it."
He paused, then continued:
"Nox is what flows through every living being. It's an energy. A force. It can take different forms depending on the person."
"The elements," Raven said.
"Exactly."
Arcturus raised his hand. A faint spark flickered across his fingers before disappearing.
"For some, it's fire. For others, water, lightning, ice… it doesn't matter. The element isn't what matters."
"Then what does?"
Arcturus looked straight at him.
"Quantity… and control."
Raven clenched his jaw.
"And that depends on your family."
"Yes."
Arcturus didn't soften his words.
"The great families have more Nox. They are born with it. They cultivate it. They pass it on."
"And the others?"
"They survive with what they have."
Silence.
Raven looked down.
"So no matter what I do… I'll always be behind some people."
Arcturus stepped closer.
"No."
Raven raised his eyes.
"You've already lost if you think like that."
"That's reality."
"No. That's an excuse."
Raven frowned.
"You think I started at the top?"
"You're my father."
Arcturus let out a quiet breath.
"And before that?"
He leaned slightly toward him.
"I climbed. I learned. I fought."
His voice hardened.
"Nox gives an advantage. Not a victory."
Raven stayed silent.
"You want to get stronger?" Arcturus continued.
"Yes."
"Then stop looking for reasons to fail."
A silence settled between them.
Then Arcturus stepped back.
"Again."
—
They trained for a long time.
The sun slowly rose, dissolving the mist.
The rest of the family eventually arrived.
Kaïn called out:
"Seriously? You started without me?"
"You were sleeping," Raven replied.
"Yeah, unlike some people, I actually have a life."
Darius stepped behind him.
"That 'life' is going to get you killed."
"And your seriousness is going to make you miserable."
Lyra sighed.
"Can you all shut up for five minutes?"
—
The moment was simple.
Normal.
Almost pleasant.
—
Then the doors opened.
—
A soldier rushed in.
"Lord Lightning, a messenger from the Duke has arrived."
—
Silence fell instantly.
—
Arcturus straightened.
"Bring him in."
—
A few minutes later, the man stood in the great hall.
Straight.
Calm.
Holding a letter.
—
Raven stared at him.
And immediately…
something tightened in his chest.
—
The messenger bowed.
"Lord Arcturus Lightning."
—
"Speak."
—
"I bring you an official invitation from Duke Kael Vortigern."
—
Kaïn muttered:
"Damn…"
—
Arcturus took the letter.
Broke the seal.
Read.
—
His expression shifted slightly.
—
Then he looked up.
—
"The Duke invites us to his daughter's wedding."
—
Lyra frowned.
"Lyssandra Vortigern?"
—
"Yes."
—
Darius crossed his arms.
"Why us?"
—
Arcturus paused.
—
"He wants an alliance."
—
"What kind of alliance?" Elena asked.
—
Arcturus looked at her.
—
"A marriage."
—
Kaïn let out a short laugh.
"Alright… now that's interesting."
—
Darius stayed serious.
"It's a strategic opportunity."
—
Elena shook her head slightly.
"It's too sudden."
—
"Or it's simply the right moment," Darius replied.
—
"Or it's a trap," she insisted.
—
Silence filled the room.
—
Arcturus made his decision.
"We will go."
—
Raven said nothing.
But that feeling…
was back.
Stronger.
—
—
Later that night, he found Garrick outside.
—
"So?" the soldier asked.
—
"We're going."
—
Garrick stayed quiet for a moment.
—
"What do you think?"
—
He hesitated.
Then answered:
"I think when someone like the Duke invites you…"
—
He stared at the horizon.
—
"it's never for something simple."
—
Raven clenched his jaw.
—
"Yeah… I feel the same."
—
A silence.
—
"And yet we're going."
—
Garrick nodded.
—
"Because we don't have a choice."
—
—
Two days later…
the Lightning family left the estate.
—
Raven turned back one last time.
—
He looked at the walls.
The fields.
The light.
—
Everything seemed normal…