Morning sunlight filtered through the Dawnwhisper courtyard, scattering golden reflections across the pale stone. Dew still clung to the petals of Lyra's garden lilies. It should have been peaceful.
It wasn't.
Two hours after sunrise, the Dawnwhisper residence buzzed with tension.
Lucas stood barefoot on the courtyard stone, sweat trickling down his back. Kael circled him like a predator hungry for a fight.
"Again!" Kael shouted.
Lucas braced—
Kael lunged.
His punch cut the air. Lucas stepped aside and deflected with his forearm. Kael's momentum carried him forward; Lucas struck lightly with his elbow to Kael's ribs.
Kael stumbled back.
"What—? You tricked me!"
Lucas grinned faintly. "You attack too predictably."
Kael's face flushed. "Predictably my ass—"
"Language," Lyra said from the walkway.
Kael flinched. "S-sorry!"
Lyra, standing with a teacup in hand, smiled gently. "Continue."
Elara sat on a stone bench nearby, legs crossed, reading a small rune-engraved manual but definitely watching every second.
Lucas took a breath.
He felt different today—stronger, but not physically. More aware.
Bloodline dampening still lingered faintly, quieting the chaos beneath his skin.
Kael charged again, faster.
Lucas stepped aside more cleanly this time. His movements were smoother, more deliberate.
Elara finally shut her book.
"You're learning," she said. "Good. But Kael's punches are nothing compared to what you will face."
"Hey!" Kael shouted. "My punches are perfectly deadly, thank you very much!"
Elara raised a brow. "Deadly to vegetables, perhaps."
Kael sputtered. "WHY vegetables—?!"
Lyra giggled softly.
Lucas nearly lost his stance laughing.
Kael groaned. "This entire house is bullying me."
Lyra smiled warmly. "We do it because we love you."
Kael turned bright red. "I—I—well—ugh—whatever! Lucas! Again!"
Lucas braced.
Kael lunged.
Lucas blocked.
And this time—
Kael swept his leg low.
Lucas stumbled—
Kael grinned triumphantly—
Lucas recovered and uppercut Kael's jaw with just enough force to knock him onto his back, arms spread wide.
"OOF—! What the—!?"
Lucas blinked. "Kael, are you okay?"
Lyra sipped her tea. "Excellent counter."
Elara nodded. "Better."
Kael lay there dramatically. "I'm dead."
Elara deadpanned, "Then get up."
"I can't."
"You can."
"No."
Elara flicked a tiny shard of ice toward his cheek.
Kael yelped and jolted up. "HEY!"
Elara closed her book. "See? Alive."
Lyra hid a smile behind her teacup.
Lucas shook his head, amused. "You two bicker like an old married couple."
Kael and Elara both shouted:
"WE DO NOT!"
Lyra burst into laughter.
Training Phase Two — Mana Control
Elara stood and motioned to Lucas.
"Enough sparring. You need mana practice."
Lucas wiped sweat from his brow. "Right now?"
"Immediately," Elara said. "Before your bloodline wakes again."
Lyra set down her teacup and approached.
"I'll help regulate the output while Elara teaches the technique."
Kael pouted. "What am I doing?"
"Not getting in the way," Elara replied.
"That's discrimination!"
"That's accuracy."
"RRRGH—"
Lucas tried not to laugh.
Lyra gently placed both hands on Lucas's back. "Ready?"
Her touch was warm—calming.
Elara knelt in front of him and held out two fingers.
"Focus on my hands. The goal is simple: move mana without triggering your bloodline."
Lucas inhaled, exhaled.
He extended his mana cautiously—
A faint silver wisp escaped his fingers.
Elara's eyes narrowed. "Too fast. Again."
Lucas slowed.
Another wisp. Softer. Gentler.
"Better. But maintain it."
Lyra's guiding warmth helped him keep the mana steady.
His system chimed.
[Mana Flow Detected]
Control Precision: +0.2
Elara nodded once.
"Now increase the output."
Lucas obeyed.
The wisp thickened.
The faint warmth in his chest tightened—
Lyra murmured softly, "Steady… don't rush…"
Lucas forced the pressure outward slowly.
His core trembled but did not spike.
The silver aura extended to form a thin, shimmering thread of light.
Kael whistled. "That looks cool."
Lyra's smile deepened. "He's improving."
Elara's eyes were serious. "He is. But that's also the problem."
Lucas blinked. "Problem?"
Elara tapped her fingers together.
"You're growing too fast."
Kael scoffed. "How is that a problem?!"
Elara shot him a sharp look. "Because growth without foundation collapses."
Lyra rested a hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Elara is right. We need to slow your progress deliberately."
Lucas frowned. "Why?"
Elara's voice was cold but not unkind.
"Because if your bloodline keeps reacting at this pace, you'll awaken a stage you cannot control."
Lyra nodded. "That could kill you."
Lucas's breath hitched.
He hadn't considered that.
Elara stood.
"That's enough for today. Any more will push your core too far."
Lucas nodded reluctantly.
Lyra tapped Kael's arm. "Take him to wash up."
Kael grinned. "Come on, Lucas. I'll show you where to steal the good soap."
Elara glared. "It's not stealing if it's provided—"
Kael grinned wider. "But it FEELS like stealing, which is the fun part."
Lyra sighed. "Boys…"
Lucas followed Kael—but took one last glance at Lyra.
She watched him with soft eyes.
Eyes that glowed with warmth.
And something gentler than warmth.
He looked away quickly before his heart betrayed him.
While Lucas washed up, Lyra and Elara met privately in the Dawnwhisper library.
Elara stood by the window. "Two investigators were seen circling the district last night."
Lyra grew still. "Not Academy?"
"No." Elara's voice chilled. "Not officials either."
Lyra frowned. "Which house?"
Elara turned slightly. "House Meridia."
Lyra's breath caught.
"That's not good."
Elara's expression hardened like frost. "No. It is not."
Lyra paced. "Meridia is obsessed with relics. If they suspect the Starlight crest resurfaced—"
"They will hunt him," Elara finished.
Lyra clenched her jaw. "Then we protect him."
Elara closed the window and turned. "House Meridia is not the only one moving."
Lyra's eyes widened. "Others too?"
"I sensed three separate mana signatures investigating the slums this morning."
Lyra swallowed.
"This is worse than I expected."
Elara nodded. "Lucas doesn't know the full danger yet. And he must not."
Lyra agreed. "He's not ready."
Later, as Lucas dried his hair, Kael leaned against a wall.
"Lucas."
"Yeah?"
Kael rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Look, I don't say this much but…"
Lucas waited.
"You can trust us. Lyra… me… even the ice demon."
Across the hall, Elara muttered, "I can hear you."
Kael huffed. "See? Always listening like a creepy snow cat."
Lucas snorted.
Kael continued, serious now.
"You're not alone anymore. If things get bad… if more cultists come… or if nobles start sniffing around… I'll stand with you."
Lucas froze.
Those words—
they hit harder than any punch.
The system chimed quietly.
[Bond Strengthened]
Kael Dawnwhisper — Loyalty: High
Team Ability: Duo Coordination (Minor)
Lucas swallowed.
"…Thanks, Kael."
Kael smirked proudly. "Damn right."
That evening, as dinner simmered in the kitchen, the entire household suddenly stiffened.
A knock.
A single, sharp knock.
Lyra froze at the table.
Kael's fork dropped.
Lucas felt a cold shiver tear through his spine.
Elara stood first, mana swirling like frost around her.
"Someone powerful," she murmured.
Lyra exhaled slowly. "They shouldn't be able to locate this place."
Kael muttered, "Who the hell is it…?"
Lyra rose and met Lucas's gaze.
"Stay behind me. No matter what."
Lucas nodded, heart pounding.
They approached the main hall.
Another knock—
slower this time, deliberate.
Every instinct Lucas had screamed:
This is bad.
Very bad.
Lyra reached the door.
Elara stood beside her.
Kael behind Lucas.
The tension was suffocating.
Lyra opened the door.
A tall man stood outside.
Dressed in white, gold-trimmed robes.
Carrying a ceremonial staff.
Eyes glowing faintly with mana perception.
A crest glimmered on his chest—
House Meridia.
Lyra's face hardened. "You are not welcome here."
The man bowed slightly.
"My lady, forgive the intrusion. We are conducting routine investigation—"
Elara stepped forward. "Do not lie."
The man smiled politely.
"Very well," he said.
"We sensed a Starlight signature last night."
Lucas's heart stopped.
"And we believe," the man said, eyes sliding toward Lucas with chilling precision—
"That a Starlight heir is inside your home."