The estate was unusually quiet the next morning. A weight hung in the air—one Floyd couldn't quite name. Maybe it was Celine's sudden appearance, or the unease that still lingered from her claims. Or maybe it was the faint tremor he'd felt during his meditation before dawn, a barely noticeable quiver in the mana flow beneath the earth.
Floyd sat cross-legged in the grassy courtyard, eyes closed, his senses sharpened to every pulse of energy around him. The world of magic wasn't just about flashy spells or devastating force—it was a rhythm, a whisper, an art. And right now, something in that rhythm was off.
The ground pulsed again. Subtle, like a heartbeat beneath his palms. And then it was gone.
"Stillness hides storms," Floyd murmured to himself.
"You always talk like a prophet when you're focused." Gabby's voice pulled him from his trance. She stood with her arms folded, her long coat fluttering in the wind. Her red hair was tied back, and a staff rested against her shoulder.
"You felt that too?" he asked, standing and brushing grass from his pants.
She nodded, serious now. "The mana under the city is trembling. That doesn't just happen. Something old is stirring."
Floyd frowned. "Think it's a spiritual creature?"
"Possibly," she replied. "Or worse. I sent a scout rune to the foothills east of the capital. If the tremors started there, we'll know soon."
Before Floyd could respond, a loud clang echoed from the main hall. A crash. Then a yell.
He dashed inside, Gabby right behind him.
---
They arrived to find Celine standing over two bruised guards, her chest rising and falling with fury. Her hands glowed faintly with residual spell light.
"They tried to enter my room without knocking," she said coldly. "I warned them once."
Lady Ayla rushed in, startled. "Celine, dear, they were bringing you extra bedding. Not spying."
"Then they should learn manners." Celine crossed her arms under her chest. "I don't tolerate disrespect."
Floyd stepped in. "Celine, this isn't your home yet. You can't throw your weight around here."
Her eyes met his—calm, unflinching. "I don't need it to be my home to demand basic decency."
He sighed, then turned to the guards. "You two alright?"
They nodded groggily, avoiding eye contact with Celine.
"I'll heal them," Gabby said, kneeling to check their condition. "You deal with the princess."
Celine turned to leave, but Floyd caught her arm. "Hey."
She glanced down at his hand, then back up.
"You don't have to push everyone away to protect yourself," he said. "I get it. But you're not in a castle here. You're with people who don't want to hurt you."
There was a flicker of something in her expression—uncertainty, maybe. She pulled her arm gently from his grasp.
"I'm not used to kindness without conditions," she said softly.
---
That evening, as the sun dipped low and bathed the estate in gold, Mina found Floyd sitting on the garden balcony, staring at the horizon. She walked up behind him and leaned in, wrapping her arms around his chest from behind.
"You smell like lightning," she teased, pressing her cheek to his back.
"I always smell like lightning," he said with a small smile. "Too much raw mana in my veins, probably."
She sat beside him, her hips brushing his, and rested her head on his shoulder. "You're handling her better than I would. I wanted to slap her today."
"She's complicated," Floyd said. "And scared, I think. Nobility gives people sharp edges."
Mina glanced up at him, her eyes soft. "You don't like sharp edges."
"I like honesty. Warmth."
He turned to face her, and for a moment, they just watched each other. Then her hand moved to his thigh, slow and teasing, her fingers brushing up his leg through the fabric.
"You like softness too," she whispered.
His breath caught slightly as her other hand cupped his cheek and guided him into a kiss—gentle at first, then deeper, more urgent. Their mouths moved together, slow and tasting, and Floyd felt heat bloom under his skin. Her body pressed to his, curves molding against his form, and her hand traveled upward, resting over his chest, feeling the beat of his heart.
"I've been wanting to do that all day," she murmured against his lips.
He chuckled, breathless. "You're bad for my focus."
"I'm good for your soul."
---
Later that night, long after Mina returned to her quarters and the estate fell into slumber, Floyd stood alone beneath the moonlight. He extended his hand, summoning his system menu. A glowing panel shimmered before him.
> System Status:
Mana Core: Tier 4 Ascendant
Swordsmanship: Intermediate (Tracked by BohLin's Style)
Magic Affinities: Lightning, Wind, Fire, Spatial (Unlocked)
Special Class: God-Touched (Awakening Dormant)
Spiritual Creature Bonds: 2
Beast Companion Slots: 5/10
Sect Status: N/A
Wealth: 413,000 Gold Crowns
Updates Available: [1] - Potential Awakening Detected
"Potential awakening?" he muttered.
> [Would you like to initiate the trial of Awakening? Yes/No]
Floyd hovered over the option. "Not yet."
He dismissed the panel and turned his gaze toward the eastern hills, where faint smoke trailed from the forests in the distance. Something was coming.
And whether Celine was friend or foe, whether the awakening would change him or not—he had a responsibility now. A life to protect. A sect to build. A harem to love.
This world wasn't a second chance anymore.
It was his world.
---