(The room was dimly lit, the air filled with the faint hum of magical suppression runes etched on the walls. Reyon stood silently outside the door, staring at it for a brief moment before he pushed it open.)
(Inside, the marshal lay on a pristine bed, her breathing steady, but her face pale. Her mana core had been completely drained after casting Absolute Zero, the legendary spell of the ice element.)
"She's still out cold..." Reyon muttered under his breath, stepping in quietly.
(Her sword was laid beside her bed, still faintly glowing with residual frost. Reyon glanced at it, a flash of awe passing his eyes. That sword—covered in glacial ice—was as elegant as it was deadly. But it was also a reminder of the battle they'd just fought.)
(Reyon sat silently on the chair beside her bed, watching over her in silence. He didn't remove his mask. Not yet.)
(A day passed.)
(Her fingers twitched. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. They scanned the room once, and immediately locked onto Reyon.)
"You can remove the mask," she said in a raspy voice. "I already know you're Reyon."
(...So she knew.)
(Reyon sighed softly, reaching for the straps behind his head and pulling off the black-purple dragon mask. He placed it gently on the side table.)
"I figured you might," Reyon said calmly. "After all, I used Laser—Ray's unique magic. And even thought throughout the fight due to my improved control the symbols were ccasted instantly barely noticeable but… to survive Absolute Zero, I had to use multiple symbols at once. Someone like you would know."
(She chuckled weakly. "There's no mistaking it. Only Leywin and you ever wielded vectors. Besides…" she looked at him with tired eyes, "...I am your stepmother. I knew your magic better than anyone else in the household.")
"I apologise, Marshal," Reyon said, bowing his head slightly. "I fought with you because I needed to sharpen my control—grow stronger through real battle."
"Don't apologise," she replied. "In Phoenix, only strength matters."
(She slowly sat up, her eyes sharper now, regaining composure.)
"And now, since you've reached the power equalimg that of the 8th circle and defeated a marshal, you'll be appointed as the official heir of Phoenix. Your status is now on par with a marshal."
"What…?" Reyon's brows furrowed in shock. "You're going to recommend me? Instead of Ray?"
(He couldn't hide his disbelief. Her own son… but choosing me instead of him?)
"Hm?" she tilted her head. "Is that shocking to you?"
"It is…" Reyon said. "You're his mother."
"And you're also my son," she replied firmly. "Both of you are direct descendants of the Phoenix Household. Both of you are equal to me."
"What!?" Reyon gasped.
"You never favoured me," he said, almost accusingly. "Not once…"
(Serena exhaled deeply and looked him in the eyes.)
"I never showed favour to either of you," she said. "I also never gave Ray any special treatment. In this household, you stand on your own. It is true that some vassals treated you poorly… they wanted Ray to become the patriarch. But iron becomes stronger the more it is hammered."
"I allowed them to pressure you… to harden you. But only up to a point. The ones who crossed the line—those who tried to assassinate you…" her voice turned cold, "I killed them myself."
(Reyon froze.)
(He remembered when he was ten. Three vassals had been found dead overnight. No one spoke about it. One of them was even her closest aide…)
"So it was you," he whispered. "I missed too many details in my past life…"
(He thought harder. That night, when he was banished from the Phoenix estate, someone had given him a bag filled with rare jewels—enough to last three generations.)
(At the time, he thought it was a fluke. But now…)
"...That must have been you too," he mummered to himself. "No jewel can pass from the Phoenix treasury without the First Lady's approval."
"Marshal," Reyon asked. "Don't you hate me?"
(She looked at him for a moment, then softly smiled.)
"I used to," she admitted. "Me, Evelyn, and Edward—we were closest back in the academy. Same age. Same squad. I fell in love with Edward, and our marriage was arranged. But…"
(She closed her eyes briefly.)
"...It was called off because of your mother. Edward loved her."
(Reyon stayed quiet.)
"I started hating her… but when the elders decided to proceed with my marriage to Edward anyway, I complied. When I entered the estate, she was already pregnant."
(Serena's voice turned heavier.)
"It pissed me off. I went to her room with a sword, intent on removing her from the estate. But when I saw her—she was radiant. The most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. She was carrying a child, but stood so calm… so graceful."
"I wanted to hate her, Reyon. I really did. But she smiled at me and invited me in. We ended up talking."
"By the time you were born… I couldn't bring myself to throw her out. We became close. I helped during your birth. And during her last moments…"
(She paused.)
"…She asked me to protect you. That was her final wish."
(Reyon clenched his fists. All this time… he thought she was the cold sword, the emotionless woman who let him suffer. But she was the one who protected him all along…)
(He lowered his head, ashamed.)
"I… I was truly idiotic," he murmured. "Misunderstood everything…"
(Serena stood up slowly, her strength returning.)
"Enough of that. Let's go."
"Huh?" Reyon looked up.
"We need to prepare for your coronation as the Phoenix heir," she said. "And you'll need to give Ray some answers. He's not a fool. He'll want to know how you got so strong."
(She turned toward the door but then stopped.)
"Though… I do feel a bit bad for Alice."
Reyon blinked. "Alice? Why?"
"She became my apprentice a month ago," Serena said with a wry smile. "Her goal? To beat you."
"She's already at the peak of the 6th circle. She can cast Ice Age. She can rival some veteran 7th circle magicians. Her growth is remarkable."
"But…" she looked at him with admiration. "You've already surpassed me. You're on par with veteran 8th circle magicians. It's… expected, though. You carry the legacy of the strongest magician in history."
(Reyon looked down, conflicted.)
"I want to go with you… but I still have things to settle here."
(Serena turned, raising an eyebrow.)
"I have to appoint a proper leader for the Classers," Reyon explained. "Make sure they don't collapse. I promise I'll return within a month."
(Serena nodded.)
"Alright. But don't take too long. I won't be able to keep your strength hidden much longer."
(She walked past him, her boots clicking softly against the stone floor.)
(Reyon stood alone in the room, watching her go. The conversation replayed in his mind. The pain, the misunderstanding, the truths revealed.)
(He picked up his mask and turned it over in his hands.)
So many years wasted hating the wrong people.
(He clenched the mask tight.)
But I'll make it right… starting now.