That night, the flames of Sir Kaelen's pyre burned long into the stars.
Aelric stood alone in the courtyard long after the nobles had gone. His cloak hung heavy with ash and smoke. The System's interface hovered in his mind's eye—subtle, silvery runes etched in floating light.
> [Cultivation Grade: 1st, 9%]
[Mana Sight: Active]
[Technique: Bladeborn Form - Tier I (Locked)]
[System Points: 7]
It felt like a dream. A strange, glowing dream. And yet… it was real.
He could feel the mana in the air, threads of soft blue energy dancing like smoke trails. He could feel his body responding—muscles tightening, senses sharper, even his heartbeat steady like a war drum.
Aelric clenched his fist. Seven points…
> [Would you like to allocate points?]
"Yes," he whispered aloud. "Show me options."
> [Available Attributes:]
— Cultivation (Increase cultivation % toward next grade)
— Martial Arts (Train Swordsmanship and Bladeborn Forms)
— Vitality (Enhance body, endurance, and recovery)
— Perception (Sharpen mana sensitivity and Mana Sight)
— Focus (Boost clarity, control, resistance to mental attacks)
He frowned. So this is how it worked—absorb mana, get points, use those points to grow. Like a cultivation path distilled into pure will.
But where should he begin?
His father had always said, "Power without control is a storm. Control without strength is a shield without sword."
Aelric chose balance.
> [+3 to Cultivation] → [1st Grade, 36%]
[+2 to Martial Arts]
[+2 to Focus]
As soon as he confirmed, he felt the change instantly. Mana surged through him like riverwater. His grip tightened. His stance settled. And deep within, a glowing shape appeared in his mind—a sword, flickering like it was waiting to be drawn.
> [Bladeborn Form - Tier I: Unlocked]
[Passive Bonus: Blade Memory - Your body remembers sword movements faster]
Aelric exhaled slowly.
This was the beginning.
By morning, the sky over Thalorion was pale with mist. The castle staff resumed their duties—cleaning ash, preparing for the next day's ceremonies. But Aelric did not return to his chambers.
He walked to the old training yard behind the Vaelion manor, where his father had taught him to hold a blade before he could ride a horse.
The wooden dummies were cracked from years of strikes. The sparring circle was worn into the earth. He stepped into it like a pilgrim entering a shrine.
And he drew his sword.
The blade was nothing special—a steel practice saber from the armory—but when he held it, something clicked. A warmth stirred in his muscles. A stance came to him naturally.
Not memory. Not instinct.
> [Blade Memory Activated]
[Executing Basic Form: "Lunging Wind Slash"]
Aelric moved.
The blade blurred in his hand, cutting through the air in a perfect arc. He twisted, slashed, stepped, turned. His body flowed without hesitation.
By the time he stopped, sweat beaded his brow, and the dummy had three shallow cuts across the chest.
He grinned, panting. "So this is cultivation with a system..."
But before he could try again, a voice called from behind the gate.
"Training this early, my lord?"
It was Captain Rylen, commander of the Vaelion estate guards. A scar cut across his cheek from brow to chin—a gift from one of the monster hunts Aelric had never been allowed to join.
"I needed it," Aelric replied. "I don't want to be caught weak again."
Rylen's eyes softened. "You're your father's son, alright."
The captain entered the yard and crossed his arms. "Listen, boy. I won't lie—the world's changed. Monsters are growing smarter. Stronger. There are rumors in the Empire… beasts reaching the Ninth Grade. Maybe beyond."
"I know," Aelric said.
"You don't." Rylen stepped closer. "You've been sheltered. You've fought practice duels, maybe a bandit or two. But Kaelen died to something even he couldn't name. You're not ready to chase revenge."
"I'm not chasing it," Aelric said, his voice hardening. "I'm forging it."
Rylen raised an eyebrow.
Before he could speak again, Aelric bowed. "I'll be joining the Royal Academy of Blades in two weeks."
Rylen blinked. "The capital's academy? That's… that's a battlefield of nobles and monsters alike."
"I'll be both."
The captain chuckled, almost proud. "Then train. Harder than ever. If you want to become a real cultivator, you'll need to earn every step."
He turned and left with a final warning: "And don't tell anyone about whatever gift your bloodline gave you. Power like that? It draws envy like fire draws wolves."
That night, Aelric stood by his window. He looked out at the dark forests of Thalorion, where monsters lurked and dreams had teeth.
His System pulsed softly in the back of his mind.
> [Next Quest: "Path of the Bladeborn"]
[Objective: Absorb 100 mana points, defeat 3 wild monsters, and master Tier I Form]
[Reward: Bladeborn Form - Tier II Unlock + New Martial Technique]
He smiled.
This was only the beginning.