The winter snows had settled over the estate, burying the crater in the wall under a layer of white silence. Rush had spent the weeks in isolation, meditating to keep his core stable, waiting for a solution that felt like it would never come.
Two weeks had passed since the incident in the training yard.
Then, the silence was broken.
A carriage rolled through the iron gates, its wheels crunching loudly against the packed snow. It bore a crest known across the entire continent: An Open Book with a Spirit hovering beside it.
The Royal Academy of Atherland.
As soon as the news reached the solar, Lord Ryanheart dropped his quill. The ink splattered across his desk, but he didn't notice. He didn't wait for his guards; he rushed toward the courtyard himself, his usual cold composure replaced by urgent respect.
The carriage came to a halt on the cobblestones. Steam rose from the horses' flanks in the freezing air. The door opened, and a figure stepped out.
She was breathtaking—an Elf with hair like spun gold and eyes that shone with a vibrant, intelligent green. She wore robes of deep crimson that seemed to hum with latent power, contrasting sharply against the white snow.
It was Elyse Worldword.
The Headmaster of the Royal Academy, the strongest mage in the kingdom, and the only person in recorded history to slay a Dragon alone.
Lord Ryanheart bowed deeply—lower than he would for a King.
"Welcome—Master."
Elyse smiled. It wasn't the arrogant smirk of a High Mage, but a bright, warm expression that melted the frost in the air.
"Little Erwin," she said softly, stepping onto the snow. "How are you? It's been a long time."
"I'm good, Master," Erwin replied, straightening up and brushing snow from his coat. "Please, come inside."
"You sounded desperate in your letter, Erwin. "She said.
"Thank you for coming," Erwin said, his voice thick with relief. "You were the only one who I could turn to."
He signaled to the head servant with a sharp gesture. "Albert, summon my family to the main hall immediately."
"At once, My Lord," Albert bowed and hurried away.
They entered the castle. In the Great Hall, the fire roared in the hearth. Erwin did not sit at the head of the table. Instead, he pulled out the Lord's chair for Elyse and sat beside her, deferring to her as if he were still a nervous student.
Moments later, the heavy double doors groaned open. Elsa entered first, holding Liz's hand, with Rush following silently behind like a shadow.
As soon as Rush crossed the threshold, a voice thundered in his mind.
"Warning," Beelzebub spoke, his tone sharp. "Strong mana signature detected. Be careful, Child!"
Rush stiffened. His eyes narrowed instinctively, scanning the woman at the head of the table.
She feels like an ocean, Rush calculated, his assassin instincts flaring. She is suppressing it, but the pressure is immense. If she wanted to, she could crush this entire castle in seconds. Is she a threat?
Lord Ryanheart stood. "Master, these are my children."
Elyse stood up immediately, her face lighting up as she walked toward Lady Ryanheart.
"Elsa, my dear," Elyse said warmly, pulling Rush's mother into a gentle embrace. "You haven't aged a day. I hope this stubborn boy of mine isn't giving you too much trouble?"
Elsa laughed, returning the hug with genuine affection. "He behaves well enough, Master Elyse. It is wonderful to see you again."
Elyse stepped back and looked down at Liz. Her eyes softened into crescents. "And who is this little flower? You've grown so much since the letters!"
Liz curtsied perfectly, holding her dress. "Greetings, My Lady."
"And you…"
Elyse turned her green eyes toward Rush.
Rush didn't bow immediately. He held her gaze, his mind racing.
"So you are Rush," she said. She leaned forward slightly, studying his face. "You have your mother's face, but you're more like your father. Those cold, calculating eyes. Good."
Rush tensed, his muscles coiling. She knows.
Erwin looked at his son, seeing the wariness in Rush's stance. He spoke softly, his voice echoing in the large hall.
"Rush, Liz. This is Elyse Worldword. She is my master. She raised me."
Rush froze.
She raised him?
The calculation in Rush's mind came to a screeching halt. He looked at his father. If this woman was the one who raised Erwin Ryanheart, then she wasn't a threat.
She was the reason this family existed.
Liz's eyes went wide. "So… she is grandma?!"
The room went silent for a heartbeat. The servants looked terrified.
Then, Elyse laughed—a sweet, delighted sound.
"Yes, Little Liz," she answered, her tone playful. "You can call me that."
She walked over to Rush.
A moment ago, Rush would have stepped back or prepared to defend himself. But now, the tension drained out of his shoulders. The cold calculation in his eyes melted away, replaced by a quiet respect.
Family, Rush thought. She is family.
"And you," Elyse said, reaching out. She pinched his cheek. "You're even more handsome than Erwin was at this age!"
Rush blinked, completely thrown off guard.
"Master Worldword—" he started.
"Grandma," she corrected, messing up his hair.
Rush let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He smiled—a small, genuine thing.
"Okay… Grandma," he said.
Elyse patted his cheek affectionately before her expression shifted. The playfulness receded, replaced by the seriousness of a Grand Mage.
She raised her hand. The air rippled. A small dimensional portal opened in front of her, swirling with violet light.
She pulled a small, black box from the void and placed it on the table.
"Now," she said gently, "let's fix that pain in your chest."
Rush stepped forward.
Elyse opened the box. Inside lay a solid Hartsteel bracelet. It looked simple, but the air around it seemed to distort, heavy with gravity.
"Interesting!" Beelzebub's voice spiked with genuine intrigue. "That is a Khaos Blocker. A rare artifact. Only three of these exist, Child! You are saved for now."
For now!
Elyse lifted the bracelet.
"It is a Khaos Blocker," she explained. "It binds to one's core and absorbs the mana seeping out before it can damage your body. However, it will still allow you to use mana to some extent."
She looked at Erwin. He nodded.
"Give me your right hand, Rush."
Rush extended his arm without hesitation.
Elyse slid the Hartsteel band onto his wrist.
"Accept it," she whispered.
As soon as he wore it, the artifact activated.
Snap.
Rush flinched as microscopic spikes emerged, piercing his skin.
The solid Hartsteel suddenly liquified. It flowed like living mercury up his arm, wrapping around his shoulder and chest in a shimmering film before vanishing beneath his skin.
Rush looked at his wrist. Only the faint, silver geometric pattern remained.
The pain vanished instantly.
Rush took a deep breath. For the first time in weeks, the vibrating, anxious pressure in his chest was gone. The weight of his fractured core had settled into a quiet, stable rhythm. He felt at ease.
"The shackle has taken hold," Beelzebub observed, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "The core is sealed. You will not explode for now."
Elyse nodded. "Try using a basic fire spell. Just a spark."
Rush snapped his fingers.
Fwoosh.
A small, controlled flame appeared—bright, steady, and safe.
"Good," Elyse smiled. "It's working perfectly."
The tension in the room evaporated.
For the rest of the evening, the family solar was filled with laughter. Elyse told embarrassing stories about Erwin's childhood, making Liz giggle. Even Rush laughed, sitting beside his father, feeling the warmth of the fireplace and the people around him.
He wasn't calculating threats anymore. He was just a grandson enjoying dinner with his family.
As the night wound down, Elyse turned to Erwin.
"I must return to the Capital tomorrow," she said. "But Erwin… you should send Rush to the Royal Academy."
Rush looked up.
"He needs to learn to control what is inside him," Elyse continued seriously, covering Rush's hand with hers. "There, he will meet different people, make friends and learn different things, and I will be able to monitor his condition personally. I'll keep him safe."
She looked at Rush, her green eyes twinkling.
"There will be an entrance exam in six months."
"I agree," Lord Ryanheart nodded. "I was already thinking about it, Master."
The decision was made.
The next morning, the carriage with the Book and Spirit seal departed.
Rush stood at the gate with his family, watching the dust settle. He touched the silver marks on his wrist and stared at the road ahead, his eyes burning with a new resolve.
The first arc of his life was about to begin.