Chapter 24: Time Skip
Three Years Later—
Three years had passed.
Three years of relentless training.
Three years of pushing his limits, refining his control over ice and lightning, and ascending in rank.
Noah Weaverheart was no longer the D-rank, twelve-year-old boy who stepped into his first dungeon.
Now, at fifteen years old, he stood as a B-rank warrior.
Monstrous progress.
…If not for the fact that Elijah had reached the same rank.
In the outside world, Elijah was hailed as the brightest talent of the new generation—his fire and light affinity making him the undisputed "child of the Goddess.", The Blessed One.
Meanwhile, Noah Weaverheart remained a phantom, his true strength hidden in silence.
No one knows what he is capable of.
And no one knows either what the other heirs are capable of.
…
Nestled within his opulent chamber, Noah lay sprawled on a vast, silk-draped bed, sleeping peacefully—
Or at least, he would have been.
If not for the unexpected weight pressing down on his chest.
A frown creased his features as his silver eyes fluttered open. He barely tilted his head—
And locked onto the culprit.
A girl, no older than seventeen, her deep, luxurious black hair cascading over her shoulders. Perched atop her head were cat-like ears, twitching idly, and behind her, a long feline tail swayed happily, betraying her mood.
Noah let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"Neko." His voice was calm but firm. "Did I not tell you to be in your cat form if you wanted to sleep with me?"
Silence.
His silver eyes twitched.
"Now you're ignoring me? Fine."
With great effort, he raised a hand, cold mist beginning to swirl around his fingertips. The air chilled. Ice magic gathered.
He aimed directly at her.
Just as he was about to unleash it—
Neko's deep feline purple eyes snapped open, filled with mock betrayal.
"Are you seriously about to blast me, your adorable familiar?"
Her voice was sweet. Too sweet.
Noah didn't even blink. The ice in his palm thickened.
"Test me."
Neko pouted dramatically but finally rolled off his chest.
Noah exhaled in relief, sitting up. His height had increased over the years—taller than most his age. His long violet hair cascaded down his back, framing his sharp, silver eyes, which gleamed like mirrors of frost.
His physique had undergone drastic changes, too—lean, compact muscles sculpted to perfection. The kind of body that looked like a yandere goddess personally crafted it in an obsession-driven trance.
He was more powerful. More commanding.
And his time at the academy was drawing near. In fact it's tomorrow. Tomorrow he will go and take the entrance test.
As he gazed out his window, mind already strategizing, his shadow shifted.
Ester's voice echoed in his mind.
'Are you worried, Master?'
Noah remained silent for a moment—then, a slow smile spread across his lips.
"I'm not worried." His silver eyes gleamed with anticipation. "If anything, I'm excited."
From behind him, Neko frowned.
"I really don't like the fact that she's with you all the time, Noah."
Noah didn't even turn his head.
"Aren't you always with me too, Neko?"
"That's different!" she huffed. "That girl is literally your shadow. How is that fair?"
A voice echoed through the room.
"That 'girl' has a name. It's Ester."
Neko ignored her completely. As always.
Noah only chuckled.
"And you are my contracted beast, Neko. Our bond is just as close—if not closer. We are bound by soul."
He turned slightly, smirking.
"Isn't that fantastic?"
"…Tch." Neko pouted but didn't argue further.
Because she knew he was right.
She was his contracted beast.
No matter where he went—even the academy—she would always be by his side.
Knock, knock.
A voice interrupted them.
"Young Master Noah, The Lady is waiting for you at the training grounds."
"I'll be there shortly."
With that, Noah turned and walked toward his bathroom to freshen up.
⸻
Training Grounds—
Inside the expansive training grounds, Noah stood across from his mother.
Both were clad in form-fitting, purple training gear.
Selene Weaverheart—the Witch of Eternal Cold—watched her son with piercing silver eyes.
"You'll be leaving for the academy soon," she murmured, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
"Shall we see how much you've learned?"
She stepped forward—
And released her aura.
For the first time.
Noah felt it immediately.
Ester's Shrouded Aura allowed her to be or make things less noticeable. Sort of concealment.
But Selene's Aura?
It was the embodiment of cold.
Not just any cold—absolute cold.
Aura of Absolute Zero.
The temperature plummeted instantly.
Frost spidered across the ground. The very air around her seemed to freeze and fracture.
Noah stood there, unfazed. He is the Sovereign of Ice.
As he raised his hand, frost appeared at his fingertips.
"Don't hold back," Selene murmured, her smile widening.
"I want to see that lightning affinity of yours."
Noah grinned.
He had kept his lightning affinity a secret for years—but not from her. He couldn't if he wanted to train it. So He had told her the truth, wrapped in half-truths.
But now?
He wouldn't hold back.
"Alright then, Mother."
RUMBLE—!!
The sky split apart.
A blinding bolt of lightning streaked down from the heavens—
And struck her.
BOOOOOM!
The ground shattered. Fire erupted. Smoke billowed into the sky.
No hesitation.
Before the smoke even cleared, Noah moved.
Lightning coated his body, turning his movements into a blur. In an instant, he was in front of her.
Without surprise—Selene was unharmed.
Her lips curled into a mocking smirk.
"What a terrible son you are," she mused. "Striking your mother without mercy."
Noah didn't reply.
Instead—
His right hand clenched.
Instantly, jagged ice spikes erupted from the grounds, piercing her from all side.
Simultaneously, his left hand lifted—
And dozens of lightning bolts descended.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
In the same breath, a dagger materialized in his grip—he slashed forward, blade singing through the air directly to her chest—
Then, he leaped back, putting distance between them.
Everything had happened in seconds.
Not a single movement wasted.
The smoke was thick, clouding his vision.
But Noah knew.
She was fine.
She was SS-rank.
Even if she wasn't going all out, she was still using her Aura.
But at the very least—he should've scratched her.
…Right?
The smoke cleared.
Selene stood there—untouched.
Not a single scratch.
Not a single sign of damage.
Her smirk didn't even falter.
"Are you done, my baby?"
Noah felt his stomach drop.
Selene's aura surged.
"Then it's my turn."
CRACK—!!
Noah's breath hitched. The sky darkened.
Above him—
Dozens.
No—hundreds of colossal ice boulders formed, each one large enough to annihilate a fortress.
Noah's body went rigid.
He turned mechanically toward his mother.
"…Are you serious?"
Selene's grin widened.
"It's for your own good, my baby."
"Can't have you be weak at the academy right?"
And then—
They fell.
Chaos erupted.
—End of Chapter 24—