After returning to Nova Vitae and cashing in the profits from the gathered materials, Seran went back to his apartment.
A shower was waiting for him—one that didn't just clean his body.
It was almost a ritual, marking the boundary between his life as a raider and his life as an ordinary boy.
After changing into a comfortable tracksuit, he sat at his desk and turned on his computer.
"Let's see how my finances are doing…" he said, logging into his bank account.
[IDENTITY VERIFIED]
USER: Seran Delora
ACCOUNT ID: 102293812912
STATUS: ACTIVE // INDEPENDENT RAIDER CLEARANCE: FLOOR 1
──────────────────────────────────────────────
[MAIN ACCOUNT OVERVIEW]
TOTAL BALANCE:
223,078 FLUX
"More than yesterday, but less than tomorrow."
Closing his eyes, he slowly spun in his swivel chair, calculating how much more he needed to set aside for a higher-grade mana ring.
The one he wore was no longer enough. The next model cost a full 250,000 Flux.
"I need at least 300,000… so I don't end up empty after buying it. I can't sell the cores either—I need them to progress my saturation."
He knew very well that only hunting would get him there.
Scrolling through social feeds and news updates, time passed quietly.
He prepared a simple but nutritious meal of eggs, vegetables, and rice, finding a kind of calm in ordinary routine.
Doing the dishes, vacuuming the floor, reading a book—these were the things that brought his mind back to stillness after a raid.
Calling his parents, meeting friends… those moments were what made his life feel "normal".
"Balance"
That was what he was looking for.
Then, his eyes caught an open pack of cigarettes on the table.
He thought of Regis.
He hadn't smoked since the day he made that promise. He would wait for his friend to wake up.
And so, thinking of him, Seran decided to visit the hospital.
He changed into simple black jeans and a gray hoodie, then called a taxi.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the hospital room.
White-painted walls, sterile air, and the constant beeping of machines filled the space.
At the center of the room, a bed held Regis—still in his "sleep."
Cold light washed over his face. A faint beard had begun to grow along his jaw.
Seran placed a cigarette on the nearby shelf, then sat down on the chair beside the bed.
And he began updating his friend on his recent adventures.
"You wouldn't believe how hard it is to clean blood off clothe—"
The door suddenly opened.
A man and a woman stepped inside, freezing in place.
The woman immediately broke into tears, while the man hesitated before slowly approaching the bed.
They were his parents.
Only now were they able to visit their son, having been away on a raid in another city far from Nova Vitae.
Seran stood up to give them space, but before leaving the room, the father of the boy said, his voice trembling:
"Thank you, Seran…"
Ten minutes later, in the hospital corridor, Claude appeared.
He looked about forty, with brown hair streaked with blue and matching eyes. His shoulders were low, his expression drained—but when he saw Seran leaning against the wall, he quickly straightened himself and adjusted his jacket sleeves.
He gestured for Seran to come back inside.
Margaret was sitting by Regis' bed, gently stroking his face like only a mother could.
Her long blonde hair was tied into a ponytail, with brown-tinted ends matching her eyes.
Without stopping her motion, she turned toward Seran, her face still marked by tears.
"Sorry, Seran… earlier I didn't even manage to thank you. Both Claude and I know how close you were to our Reg…"
Seran lowered his gaze, guilt tightening in his chest.
Don't thank me… this is my fault, he thought.
"We only returned from Nova Ursa today…" Claude said, exhaling heavily. "We left our expedition as soon as we heard the news."
The cities of Novaris were far apart—vast megacities scattered across the nation, separated by enormous distances.
"We're glad you're safe. You're like a brother to Regis… we can't even imagine what you've been through," Margaret continued.
Seran clenched his fists behind his back.
"Hey… I see you've become a Tower like us" Claude said, shifting the tone.
It took Seran three seconds to respond. When he realized he had been addressed, he lifted his gaze.
"Yes."
"Regis would've wanted that too…" Claude said, looking back at his son.
Wanting to give the family space, Seran excused himself.
"Take care, Seran. And greet your parents from us" Claude added.
"I'm glad they came back safe and sound" Seran thought, deciding to visit his own parents.
Victor and Sophia's affection was one of the things he valued most.
They had given him everything, teaching him life for what it was.
When he arrived, Victor opened the door after Seran rang the bell.
"Hey there, kiddo. Strange seeing you here at this hour."
"I was passing by… figured I'd stop in for a coffee" Seran said, suddenly pulling him into a hug.
Victor froze for a moment.
That wasn't like him.
But he didn't question it—he simply enjoyed the warmth of it.
"And what about me? No hug?" Sophia said from the doorway.
Seran obeyed without hesitation, like a good son.
He spent a couple of hours with them, informing them about the Nordix's return.
"I should call Margaret… she'll need some comfort right now" Sophia said.
The two families had become close thanks to their children. Seran and Regis had known each other since kindergarten.
Dinners, parties, and celebrations had always been shared between them, strengthening a bond that had lasted for years.
Leaving the home that had raised him until a month ago, driven by his constant desire to grow stronger and protect what mattered to him, Seran headed to the Forge gym.
Training was another habit he had added to his routine.
The more his saturation increased, the more his entire body evolved as a system.
At the bench press, between one repetition and the next, he thought while lifting two tons of iron plates.
"Tomorrow I should receive my new swords from Ferrum…"
He increased the load to three tons.
His movements were slow, controlled. Each breath perfectly timed.
Discipline and consistency—not motivation alone—were what truly led to improvement.
A faint smile formed as he thought about meeting Mirror at the Presidium.
"Just a few more reps…"
His chest muscles strained under the controlled pressure as he finished the set.
When the session ended, he wasn't even tired.
Still, he paused for a moment.
Just a tenth of saturation… and his entire physical capability had already been transformed.
Many chose to stop training their bodies at that stage, believing mana alone was enough.
But according to Lud, the body had to always be forged, tested, and pushed beyond its limits—so one could maintain control and awareness of their true potential.
"Remember… metal must be struck while it's hot"
Recalled his mentor's words.
And speaking of control…
Seran stepped into the open training area inside the Forge and began his mana training.