Outside the Axarel Manor, a little boy stood silently and reached toward the door, his hand trembling faintly. After a long moment of hesitation, he exhaled deeply and slowly opened it.
"Might as well face the scolding that comes with it," he muttered under his breath.
Upon stepping inside, his body froze. Seated on the main chairs were his parents, their expressions dark and brooding as they stared at him with piercing gazes.
Although his mother's face showed a glimmer of relief, his father's eyes held a cold sharpness. Modret felt his chest tighten slightly. He let out a wry smile, glanced at the two of them, and spoke in a low voice.
"Mother, Father… sorry, I… uh, just took a walk outside."
Hearing his excuse, his father's expression darkened even more. "Skipping classes and making your mother and I worried? Where did you learn such behavior?"
Donald's tone carried the weight of fury, and his eyes narrowed as he stared at Modret.
Modret rubbed his nose awkwardly. "I uh… just wanted to have a little fun…"
"Fun? So late at night?" Donald barked back, his voice echoing through the room.
Seeing this, Anna's face shifted to a worried look. "Don…" she called out softly, but Donald paid no attention to her.
"Anna, you are going too easy on this boy. He is a noble and should act like one. He should follow the rules and uphold the honor of our house. If he is already becoming rebellious at such a young age, then what will he become as an adult?"
Modret understood where his father was coming from, but even so…
He lowered his head and bowed respectfully. "Father, please forgive my impudence."
Anna stepped in gently. "Let it go, Don. It was just this one time." She turned toward Modret with a softer expression. "It will not happen again, right?"
Modret hesitated briefly, then nodded passively. "Yes. I will not be late again," he replied calmly. However, deep down, that did not mean he would stop going out to grow stronger. On his path to greatness, who could stand in his way?
Donald's furrowed brows slowly eased. After a brief silence, he gave a short nod and decided not to push the matter further, though he shot Modret a cold glance.
Modret responded with a cheeky smile, which made Anna chuckle softly. Donald shook his head and walked away to his room, leaving the two behind.
"Come," Anna called gently. Modret took a few steps toward her, and she ruffled his hair. "You stink! Go and take a bath while I prepare something for you to eat."
…
Later that night, Modret lay on his bed, gazing peacefully at the ceiling. The flickering lamp overhead cast soft, dancing shadows across his face.
He exhaled slowly. "Thankfully, because of Mom, I'm still alive. Fathers are truly difficult to deal with."
{Surprisingly, your parents are actually taking this quite well.}
A fairy emerged from Modret's body, floating gently in the air and speaking in a calm voice.
Modret shrugged. 'Were you expecting them to ground me or something? Open the system panel…'
[Name: Modret Axarel]
[Status: Injured. While unborn, you were poisoned. Though you survived, the effects crippled you. You are currently unable to awaken an ability. Your health may seem stable, but it is merely a facade.]
[Ability: SS-grade Null Fire, F-grade Agile Steps, D-grade Enhanced Agility.]
[Bloodline: Unknown]
[Shadow Fragments: 627/1000]
[Remark: A pitiful soul cast into a terrifying world of deception and manipulation. The world has abandoned you, but the shadows embrace you without question.]
[Monthly Remark: After wasting five years, you have finally stepped onto the path of an Awakened. However, you did not realize that in doing so, the surging undercurrents are becoming more turbulent.]
Modret smirked at the remark. 'Still so bad?' He shook his head and turned away from the glowing message, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over him as his eyes gradually drifted shut.
…
The next morning arrived quietly. As golden rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains, Modret slowly opened his eyes and sat up.
The events of the previous day played in his mind, and he could not help but grin. He stretched out his small, fair hand. A cluster of black flames ignited in his palm. A wave of intense heat surged out instantly, making him smirk again. Without delay, he got dressed for the day's lesson.
Since the incident the day before, he was sure his parents would be on high alert if he dared to skip class. "It seems I have to delay heading into the woods for a bit."
Modret frowned at the thought, disliking anything that slowed his growth.
{If that is the case, why not send Xara into the woods to capture beasts for you? It is something even an ordinary person could think of.}
The fairy's voice rang out with an idea so simple that Modret's eyes widened instantly. 'Why did I not think of that?'
He looked at the fairy as though she were a divine treasure. 'What would I ever do without you, my love?'
The fairy only giggled, not reacting to his shameless praise.
'This way, my parents will think I am their obedient, responsible, noble son, while in the shadows I continue to gain power!' The very thought widened Modret's smile until it was almost maniacal.
"You… Young Master!" A nervous voice cut through his thoughts.
Modret turned around and saw Axel standing there with a worried expression. When Axel had awakened the day before to find himself back at the manor, he had been shocked. He had tossed and turned all night, quietly wondering if Modret had returned safely as well.
There were even moments when he began to question whether any of it had truly happened. However, as a lifeguard and a servant, he could not simply visit Modret's room in the middle of the night. He had no choice but to endure the silence and wait.
Now, seeing Modret safe and sound, Axel finally felt the heavy burden lift from his heart. He had been fearing the worst.
Modret shrugged. "You do not need to look so tense. Come on, let's head to class," he said calmly and turned to walk forward.
After they arrived, Modret excused himself briefly. He found a quiet spot, summoned his shadow servant, and gave him a command to begin gathering beasts. With his awakened abilities, he believed it would be a manageable task.
Once everything was in motion, Modret turned his gaze back toward the classroom and entered, beginning his lessons for the day.