Sigh… It had been a long, emotional day. Sovereign felt lighter in some ways—like a weight had been lifted from his chest. Yet at the same time, he was utterly drained.
He had planned to visit Master Sidner today… but after everything, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
"I'll just go tomorrow," he murmured.
His gaze drifted toward the Sacred Flame near the village center. The fire crackled gently, casting a golden glow that shimmered with strands of white. It was beautiful, almost mesmerizing—the way the colors danced like living spirits. Watching it brought him some peace.
He stood in silence for a while, just breathing in the calm.
Then he turned and walked past the flame, heading home.
About ten minutes later, he arrived at the familiar wooden hut and made his way to the back to clean up. There was a private wash area there, complete with a large stone basin beside a miniature well.
He filled the basin with water and dropped in one of the heating stones—a small orb similar to the one in his lamp. The water began to warm, steam rising slowly.
Stripping down, he eased himself into the basin with a groan of satisfaction.
"Woaahh… that's what I'm talking about," he sighed.
The warmth seeped into his skin and down to his bones. Muscles relaxed. Tension faded. After the emotional toll of the day, this was exactly what he needed.
Time passed without him noticing.
Eventually, Sovereign climbed out of the basin, water still dripping down his skin as he crossed the stone path toward the back door that led into his room. There were two entrances from the back—one through the hall, and one directly into his bedroom. He had specifically asked for the private access.
He opened the wooden door and stepped inside.
His room was tidy, just the way he liked it. He tossed his worn clothes into the laundry basket by the door and hummed a low tune as he walked barefoot toward his bed. A woven basket sat at the foot, filled with clean clothes. He grabbed a thick white towel from the bedframe and dried himself off before slipping on a pair of soft brown cloth pants with fur trimming around the waist and ankles.
Sitting down, he leaned toward the table beside his bed, cluttered with a tower of manuals and scrolls.
He'd already read through a few, but there were still plenty more to go.
Currently, he was reading a volume on rare metals—how they responded to Vol, their use in forging, and their potential compatibility with living beings. Others were about creature materials, refining essence, structural harmony… all of it fascinating.
He lost himself in the pages for what felt like only a few minutes until his mother's voice echoed through the house.
"Hey baby, are you coming to eat dinner? Hurry before the food gets cold!"
Her voice, sweet and loud, made him smile.
"Coming, Mom! Give me a second."
He slipped a string between the pages to mark his place, then stood and headed to the kitchen.
As soon as he walked in, Ashen gave him a look.
"Where is your shirt, young man?"
"Oh—my bad, I didn't even realize." He rubbed the back of his neck, not turning back as he found a seat at the table.
"You're becoming more like your father by the day." She sighed, shaking her head playfully.
Across the table, Kraken smirked and flexed his chest with no shirt on either.
He was only ever this playful when Ashen was around.
With the food set on the table—spiced meat, steamed grain cakes, and honeyed roots—they began eating.
Kraken was the first to speak.
"So… how did it go?"
Sovereign glanced up to see both his parents watching him with quiet curiosity. He smiled and took a deep breath.
"Way better than I expected. It really helped… got a lot off my chest. And it solidified my resolve—to get stronger. Not just for me, but for them too."
Kraken nodded, face as unreadable as ever. "That's good to hear."
Ashen, on the other hand, smiled so brightly it could light a torch.
"What did I tell you? I bet they're feeling better too, knowing you took the time to see them."
Sovereign returned the smile, warm and genuine.
"I really hope they do."
The rest of dinner passed quietly, with mild conversation filling the space. After eating, he helped wash the dishes, then made his way back to his room.
He lay on his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling.
"Tomorrow, I'll visit the forge," he said aloud. "But the rest of the day's open. What should I—?"
His eyes widened.
"Shit—I forgot to take the potion last night!"
He rolled over, grabbed one of the three light-blue vials from the outer edge of the table, and sat cross-legged on the bed. It didn't really matter how one sat during Vol training, but cross-legged posture helped him keep his mind focused.
He uncorked the vial and drank it in one smooth gulp.
The potion wasn't something that directly increased one's affinity with Vol, but while in the system, it helped the flow move more freely and cleared the mind. That, in turn, made one's internal guidance of Vol more precise—like sharpening the edge of a blade before cutting.
As a Titan, Sovereign was already naturally attuned to Vol. But no one could begin condensing it into a core until they were close to maturity. Before that, the mental strain was too high, and the body too malleable. Unchecked attempts could lead to warped paths or dangerous mutations.
Still… early guidance helped. Even if it was difficult.
He focused.
And for the next two hours, his mind walked a tightrope—carefully guiding Vol to his heart, navigating its flow, strengthening his will.
By the end of it, he felt completely drained. His brain felt like it had been squeezed and stretched all at once.
Letting out a long breath, he leaned back and closed his eyes.
"I hope my dreams aren't too bad tonight," he whispered.
Then silence.
Sleep took him.