The night was heavy with silence. Deep within the Cromwell estate, far from the halls of power where Julius reigned, a gathering took place in the shadows. A lone candle flickered at the center of an oak table, casting dancing shapes upon the walls. Seated around it were the conspirators—those who had long abandoned their loyalty to the Cromwell name.
A figure stood before them, his face obscured by the hood of a traveling cloak. The envoy of House Duskbane. His presence alone sent an unspoken message—this was not just a meeting of traitors. This was a communion with something far older, far more dangerous.
Lady Vivian Cromwell, poised with her usual elegance, leaned forward. "You risk much coming here, emissary."
The envoy chuckled softly, his voice smooth as silk yet carrying an unnatural weight. "And yet, here I stand. Does that not tell you how important this matter is?"
Darius Cromwell, seated beside his mother, crossed his arms. "Enough riddles. You requested this meeting, so speak."
The envoy tilted his head. "Patience, young lord. This game is far more intricate than you imagine." He turned his gaze to Vivian. "The ancestor watches. His will guides us still."
A hush fell over the room. Few dared speak of the Cromwell ancestor—the one whose existence should have been relegated to the pages of history. Yet, there were whispers in the dark, stories of a presence that refused to fade with time.
Vivian's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "And what does the ancestor desire?"
The envoy stepped closer to the table. "The boy. Aeros Cromwell."
Darius scoffed. "That weakling? He's barely at Copper Core."
The envoy's chuckle was almost pitying. "And yet, he stands in the way. Julius grows too fond of him. That must change."
A traitor seated at the far end of the table, a minor noble in the Cromwell faction, cleared his throat. "We can't simply remove him. Julius is watching him too closely."
"Not remove," the envoy corrected. "Condemn."
Vivian's eyes gleamed. "You mean to turn the nobles against him."
The envoy nodded. "A well-placed scandal. An incident that will force Julius to question the boy's place. The academy looms near—what better time to ensure he never steps foot in it?"
Darius tapped his fingers against the table. "And how exactly do we achieve that?"
The envoy reached into his cloak, retrieving a sealed letter. He placed it gently on the table. "This contains everything you need. Instructions, connections, and… suggestions."
Vivian took the letter, running her fingers over the wax seal. She recognized the symbol embossed upon it. Not House Duskbane's crest, but something older, something that made her pulse quicken.
"The ancestor guides us," the envoy murmured. "He will not tolerate failure."
Darius gritted his teeth. "And what if Aeros somehow overcomes this?"
The envoy chuckled, his voice almost amused. "Then we move to the next phase."
A heavy silence settled over the conspirators. The air itself seemed to tighten as if the walls of the chamber were closing in.
Far from the conspirator's gathering, in the private courtyard of the Cromwell estate, Aeros trained. The sound of steel meeting steel rang through the night as Lys pushed him to his limits.
"Again," Lys commanded, parrying Aeros's strike with effortless precision.
Aeros clenched his teeth, adjusting his stance. He lunged forward, blade aimed at Lys's midsection. With a flick of his wrist, Lys redirected the attack and sent Aeros stumbling back.
"You're hesitating," Lys said coolly. "In battle, hesitation is death."
Aeros wiped the sweat from his brow. "I know that."
"Then prove it," Lys shot back. "Because your enemies won't wait for you to figure things out."
Aeros tightened his grip on his blade. He didn't know why, but an unsettling feeling had been gnawing at him all day. Something was coming. He could feel it.
He kept singing his sword in a diagonal pattern. Lys had advised him to practice his stances and never leave an opening " 2001,2002,2003… ughh this hard." Just as he was beginning to get tired, He heard a familiar sound in his head
DING!
"Congratulations, User! Through training and sheer determination, you have unlocked a new ability: Perception. This skill grants you the ability to see through the cracks in your opponent's defenses, sharpening your instincts in combat. The path ahead remains treacherous, but with each step, you grow stronger. Use it well, Forsaken Heir."
Just as he heard this, Aeros couldn't contain his excitement and yelled a happy cry and thought, "Woohoo…Now that I am a little bit stronger, Let's see what I can do with this. Hey Codex, show me my Status."
[Here you go…
Aetherial Codex System: User Status
Name: Aeros Cromwell
Age: 15
Bloodline: ???
Core Rank: Copper Core (?)
Mana Circles: 0 (Locked)
Abilities:
??? (Sealed)
Perception (New!) – Grants the user heightened awareness in battle, allowing them to instinctively detect an opponent's weaknesses, flawed stances, and moments of vulnerability. The effectiveness increases with focus and experience.
Enhanced Recovery
??? (Sealed)
Special Trait: The Forsaken Heir's Awakening (Condition Locked) ]
Meanwhile, in the grand halls of the noble assembly, a messenger burst into the chamber where Julius sat with his most trusted advisors.
"My Lord!" the messenger panted, dropping to one knee. "Urgent news."
Julius looked up, his expression darkening. "Speak."
The messenger swallowed hard. "An accusation has been made… against the young lord."
The room fell into stunned silence. Julius's grip on his goblet tightened. "What accusation?"
The messenger hesitated. "Treason."
The word hung in the air like a death sentence.
Julius stood slowly, his face unreadable. "Who dares accuse my son?"
The messenger bowed his head. "The evidence… it comes from within the estate itself."
Julius's heart pounded. A traitor among them. His mind raced through possibilities, but one thing was certain.
Someone wanted his son to fall.
And he would find them.
The night was still, but within the shadows of the Cromwell estate, a storm had begun to rise. The first move had been played, and the pieces were now in motion.
Aeros had no idea that his greatest battle had already begun.