Morning sunlight spilled across the Dawnwhisper residence, pale and golden, warming the polished floors and glinting off the silver-trimmed doorframes. For the first time in years, Lucas woke in a room that smelled of fresh linen instead of mold, dust, or rusted metal.
For a moment, he forgot he wasn't dying in a hospital bed on Earth.
For a moment, he forgot the slums.
Then his chest throbbed.
A reminder.
His bloodline.
His burden.
Lucas sat upright, breathing out slowly.
The system chimed.
[BLOODLINE DAMPENING ACTIVE — 3h 48m remaining]
Core Stability: Moderately Stable
Mana Recovery: +10%
Emotional State: Slightly Elevated
He swung his legs off the bed just as a knock sounded.
"Lucas?" Lyra's voice was soft. "Are you awake?"
Lucas opened the door.
Lyra stood with a small wooden tray of fruit, tea, and bread. Her hair was tied in a simple braid, aura gentle and bright—like morning incarnate.
"You should eat before training," she said.
Lucas blinked. "You… didn't have to do that."
Lyra smiled warmly. "You're a guest. And you nearly tore your core apart last night. Consider this repayment for not letting Kael get himself killed."
Lucas chuckled. "He'd never admit it, but he's reckless."
Lyra tilted her head. "He takes after our father. They clash because they're too similar."
That made Lucas pause.
"Kael really is your brother," he murmured. "The two of you are… different in every way."
Lyra's expression softened. "Different, but family."
She handed him the tray.
"Eat. Then come to the meditation hall."
Meditation Hall of Dawn
Lucas arrived at a side courtyard bathed in warm sunlight. The floor was pale stone engraved with soft spirals and star-like patterns. This wasn't a grand noble training room; it was private, sacred, and old.
Lyra sat on the ground, legs folded, back straight. Elara leaned against a nearby column, arms crossed, cloak fluttering lightly—watching as always.
Kael sat on a bench, stuffing his face with bread.
Lyra patted the stone beside her. "Sit here."
Lucas obeyed.
She placed her hands a few inches above his chest—never touching, only sensing.
"You still have lingering instability. We must begin slowly," she said. "Bloodline meditation differs from normal mana control. Instead of drawing mana inward, you must release the pressure gently."
Lucas nodded. "Okay. How do I—"
"Breathe," she said simply.
He inhaled.
Lyra guided him.
"Again. Slow. Deeper."
The light in her hands pulsed with his breath, synchronizing.
"Now," Lyra murmured, "imagine your core not as a solid object… but a trembling star. It brightens with your breath… and dims when you exhale."
Lucas did.
The star pulsed inside him.
Inhale—light.
Exhale—release.
Lyra continued. "Good. Now listen closely. Your bloodline wants to flare. But if you let it flare uncontrolled, it will burn your mana channels. Begin at the edges—ease the pressure outward."
Lucas felt it.
A faint warmth.
A subtle vibration.
The echo of last night's light.
His pulse raced.
"Slow," Lyra warned gently. "Don't force it."
Lucas steadied his breathing.
"Ease it… let it bleed out like sunlight dripping through clouds. No sharp movements."
He followed her voice.
The star dimmed in rhythm.
Lyra opened her eyes slightly, observing him.
"…Good," she whispered. "Now redirect the excess toward your limbs—not your core. Let your body absorb the strain little by little."
Lucas did.
Heat flowed down his shoulders, arms, legs. Not pain—warmth.
His breathing eased.
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
But the ache in his chest began to loosen.
Lyra nodded, pleased.
"You learn quickly," she said. "Most nobles take a week to reach this stage."
Kael cheered. "Of course he does—Lucas is amazing!"
Elara snorted quietly. "Or simply desperate."
Kael glared. "Why must you ruin everything with your winter personality?!"
Elara didn't dignify that with an answer.
Lucas managed a smile.
Then something shifted.
Within his core, a faint pulse—deeper, older—rose unexpectedly.
Lyra sensed it instantly.
"Lucas—slow!"
But the star inside him flared—
Silver light flashed behind Lucas's closed eyes.
He gasped.
The system shrieked in alarm.
[WARNING! Bloodline Spike Detected]
Core Pressure Increasing — Uncontrolled
Starlight Echo — Resurfacing Fragment
Lucas's vision swam.
The meditation room trembled.
Lyra grabbed his shoulders. "Lucas! Focus!"
Kael jumped up. "What's happening?!"
Elara stepped forward, mana swirling. "He's slipping—!"
Lucas clenched his jaw.
Not again.
Not like last night.
He forced his breath steady.
Inhale—light.
Exhale—release.
Lyra pressed her palm gently onto his back, releasing Aurora light.
Warmth washed over him. A guiding hand pulling him back from the edge.
"Follow my voice," she whispered. "Let the light fade. Not fight. Fade."
Lucas groaned, sweat pouring down.
Elara's voice cut through sharply. "Breathe, Starlight. Now."
Lucas exhaled—
And the flare snapped inward.
The pressure eased.
The star dimmed.
Light faded.
Lucas collapsed forward, panting.
Kael rushed to him. "Lucas! Are you—dude, say something!"
Lucas managed a weak laugh. "Still alive… I think."
Lyra wiped sweat from his forehead. "You stabilized it. I'm impressed."
Elara faced him, arms behind her back. "Not terrible. Risky, sloppy, but not terrible."
Kael groaned. "Can you say something encouraging for once?!"
"I did," Elara said.
Lyra chuckled softly. "That was her encouraging tone."
Lucas wheezed. "Really?"
"Yes," Lyra said serenely.
"No," Kael muttered darkly.
Elara smirked.
When Lucas finally recovered, Elara stepped forward.
"Now it is my turn."
Lucas blinked. "Your turn…?"
Elara drew a small crystal from her cloak. A test crystal.
In the academy, these crystals detected:
mana purity
elemental affinity
core stability
hidden anomalies
Lucas stiffened.
Elara caught the reaction.
"…This is not a full scan," she said. "But if you intend to hide your power, you must learn to mask it."
Lyra nodded. "She's right. Nobles will test you the moment you enter the academy."
Lucas exhaled shakily.
"…Fine."
Elara held the crystal near him.
"First lesson," she said. "Control your breathing. A calm breath masks your mana ripple."
Lucas steadied himself.
Elara moved the crystal closer.
"Now suppress your aura. Fold it inward like closing petals."
Lucas obeyed.
The crystal hummed.
Kael leaned over. "Is it working?"
Elara narrowed her eyes. "Partially."
She moved the crystal closer.
"Your bloodline is loud. Too loud. We need to dull it."
Lyra placed her hand on Lucas's wrist. "Use the same method as meditation—ease the pressure out slowly."
Lucas did.
The crystal dimmed slightly.
Elara nodded. "Better. Again."
He repeated the process.
This time the crystal flickered—
Then went still.
Elara's eyes widened slightly.
"Astonishing," she whispered. "You muted a bloodline flare while unstable. That… should not be possible."
Kael puffed his chest. "Told you he's amazing."
Elara glared at him. "If you interrupt again, I'll freeze your tongue."
Kael gulped. "Shutting up."
Lyra smiled warmly. "Lucas, you did exceptionally well."
Lucas exhaled in relief.
But the system chimed.
[Skill Acquired]
Mana Veil (Beginner)
Effect: Temporarily mask mana signature and bloodline fluctuations.
Duration: Short
Success Rate: Low (Currently)
Lucas's heart skipped.
That skill was critical for survival.
He bowed lightly. "Thank you… both of you."
Lyra's expression softened.
Elara looked away, muttering, "We need you alive. That's all."
But her ears were faintly pink.
Kael snickered quietly.
Meanwhile, in the estate of another noble family, a messenger knelt before a tall, sharp-eyed woman.
"Speak," she ordered.
"Lady Meridia," the messenger said, "we detected a Starlight resonance—faint but real. In the slums."
The woman stood abruptly.
"…Starlight?"
"Yes, my lady."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Prepare an investigation team."
Back in Dawnwhisper Grove
After hours of training and meditation, Lucas lay back on the courtyard stone, exhausted but alive.
Lyra sat beside him, drinking tea.
Elara leaned against a column, reading a slim book.
Kael practiced punches nearby.
Lucas closed his eyes.
For the first time since returning to Eldorin…
He felt like he had a future.
Not just survival—
A path.
A dangerous one.
A chaotic one.
But a path nonetheless.
Lyra's voice broke the silence.
"Lucas?"
He opened one eye.
"Yes?"
She smiled gently.
"When you're ready… I'd like to hear more about you. Everything."
Lucas's heart skipped a beat.
Before he could answer, Elara added quietly:
"And don't forget—you have training with me tomorrow."
Kael yelled from across the courtyard:
"And sparring with ME!"
Lucas grinned weakly.
"…I guess I don't get to rest much."
Lyra laughed softly.
"No. But you won't be alone."
Lucas looked at the sky.
And for the first time since reincarnating…
He believed her.