Sarah intercepted Liam at the entrance of the estate, a rare smile playing on her lips. "Well done, my lord. You did great."
She had been watching his training the entire time, expecting him to slack off as usual. But today was different. Today, he had pushed through every drill without complaint, finishing his training for the first time.
Liam let out a breathless chuckle, exhaustion clear on his face. He managed a tired smile.
Sarah, simply nodded. "I have prepared your bath and a fresh set of clothes, my lord."
Liam sighed in relief. "Thank you, Sarah."
As she turned to lead the way, He activated his skill Vision, and a translucent panel appeared beside Sarah
[Status Window]
Name: Sarah Evens
Age: 14
Race: Human
Class: Maid
Stars: None
Attributes:
Strength: 4Stamina: 4Agility: 5Vitality: 10Endurance: 15Mana : 10
Talents :
Cleaning (A)Cooking (B)
Skills:
Empathic Healing (Passive, Rank A) 'locked'
Empathic Healing… Rank A… and locked? Liam's mind raced. He bit back the urge to blurt out the words. He couldn't let her know he could see this. But what does it mean? How do I unlock it? He filed the questions away for later, a new layer of complexity added to his already overwhelming situation.
He glanced in the direction where Sir Lucas had been standing, a sudden impulse seizing him. He activated Vision again, focusing on the spot where the Knight-Commander had been.
This time, however, the result was different. No neat Status Window appeared. Instead, a shimmering, almost opaque panel flickered into existence, displaying only a single line of text:
[Rank Exceeds User's Vision Capability]
Liam frowned, a mixture of frustration and intrigue washing over him. So it only works on those weaker than me. That's alone is good information He deactivated Vision, the opaque panel vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
With heavy steps, he made his way inside, savoring the thought of warm water washing away the strain of today's training.
He followed Sarah in a comfortable silence, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities. As he stepped into his chambers, the familiar scent of lavender wrapped around him, a subtle reminder of home.
First, the bath. Then, the System.
The warm water washed away his exhaustion, leaving him refreshed yet restless. After drying off, Liam sat at the edge of his bed, his gaze settling on the translucent panel hovering before him. He had explored the Status Window and Inventory, but he was certain there was more to uncover.
Focusing his thoughts, he willed the System to reveal additional options. As if responding to his intent, a new selection materialized before him—[Codex].
Codex? Like a… guide? Intrigued, he tapped it. A new panel unfurled, displaying a list of categories:
[Codex]
[Swordsmanship Ranks][Creatures of Razakia] (Locked)[Magic System] (Locked)[Regions of the Sandoian Continent] (Locked)
…
Curious, he tapped it. Instantly, a fresh panel unfurled, displaying a structured list of categories, each brimming with untapped knowledge.
★ 1-Star - Novice
★★ 2-Stars - Apprentice
★★★ 3-Stars - Adept (Knight)
★★★★ 4-Stars - Expert (Knight Commander)
★★★★★ 5-Stars - Master (Elite Knight)
★★★★★★ 6-Stars - Grandmaster (Knight Champion)
★★★★★★★ 7-Stars - Sword Saint (Knight King)
★★★★★★★★ 8-Stars - Sword Sovereign (Legendary Knight)
★★★★★★★★★ 9-Stars - Sword Deity (Transcendent Knight)
★★★★★★★★★★ 10-Stars - Sword God (Knight of the End)
Liam was stunned. He had never even heard of a 10-Star Swordsman. Even 9-Stars had only been reached by a single person—and that was over a century ago.
Across the entire continent, only ten individuals had ever attained 8-Stars. The 7-Star rank was just as elusive, with barely a hundred known wielders. As for 6-Star warriors, their numbers barely reached 1,500, his father was one of them and he was granted a baronet title and lands for it.
In his past life, he had climbed to 5-Stars, a rank far more common, with around 150,000 swordsmen reaching that level. Yet now, standing at the beginning once more.
Liam's heart pounded with excitement. "So, with this system... I can reach a height no one has ever attained before."
Liam rested for a bit, exhaustion weighing on him, until he heard Sarah's voice from behind the door.
"Lunch is ready, my lord."
With a deep breath, he pushed himself up and made his way to the dining hall, a small smile tugging at his lips. It had been a long time since he had truly looked forward to a meal.
As he reached the grand doors of the hall, he knocked lightly before stepping inside. His mother was already seated, her warm gaze meeting his.
"How was training, Liam?" she asked.
"A good session, Mother," he replied simply.
Maria's eyes widened in surprise. In his past life, he would have complained—calling it tiring, unbearable—even begging her to convince his father to let him train only once a week so he could slack off.
But not this time.
Baren entered the hall, his presence commanding attention as he took his seat at the head of the table. He offered a brief nod to Liam and Maria before speaking, his voice calm but firm. "Let's eat."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the only sound being the clink of cutlery on plates. After a long moment, Baren broke the stillness, his gaze shifting to Liam. "I hear you did well in your training today."
Liam met his father's gaze briefly before responding, "I just followed Lucas's instructions."
Baren studied him for a moment, a glimmer of suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Well, keep it up."
He then turned to Maria, his tone softening. " Tell me, dear, how are the preparations for the reception coming along? If you need any additional funds, don't hesitate to ask Javier."
Maria smiled gently, her voice reassuring. " Rest assured, everything will be ready in time."
Liam's fork froze halfway to his mouth. A reception? He searched his memory, but the word echoed hollowly, devoid of any recollection, but he held back his questions. He would ask Sarah later.
The meal passed in quiet serenity, the clinking of utensils the only sound filling the grand dining hall.
As Liam rose from his seat and said « thanks for the meal » and made his way toward the door, a firm voice halted him in his tracks.
"Liam."
He turned to face his father, Baren Lithian, whose sharp gaze seemed to pierce through him.
"Is something troubling you?"
Liam hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
"No, Father. Nothing at all."
Baren's eyes narrowed, his tone calm yet carrying the weight of experience.
"If you truly wish to change, then focus on your training. Let the desire to grow stronger be the only thing that fills your dreams."
Liam's chest tightened at those words. The memories of his past life burned deep within him. He clenched his fists and bowed slightly.
"Understood, Father."
Baren said nothing more, but Liam could feel the lingering pressure of his father's expectations as he left the hall.
As he exited, he caught sight of Sarah in the corridor. He gently touched Sarah's arm to get her attention, his curiosity piqued. "Sarah, who exactly are we receiving next month?"
Sarah's hand, still holding a stack of folded linens, froze mid-air. Her eyebrows drew together, a crease forming between them. "You're supposed to know, my lord," she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper, a thread of worry weaving through the words.
She glanced down the corridor, as if checking for eavesdroppers, before continuing,"It's the Vangoria family. They're coming for the official engagement between you and Lady Narine. It's a grand affair, with many families expected to attend for the betrothal party."
Before Sarah could finish her sentence, a sudden memory hit Liam with startling clarity. The Vangoria reception—his engagement to Lady Narine—had never taken place. On the day they were supposed to arrive at the mansion, an assassination attempt had shattered everything. Lady Narine and Lord Gareth were killed in the attack.
When his father had first mentioned the engagement to Lady Narine, the idea had been unbearable. A political marriage to a woman he didn't even know, with no choice in the matter. It was then he'd made the decision to run. He fled to his uncle's estate, hiding there for nearly two months. He hadn't wanted to be part of it—hadn't wanted his life to be dictated by politics.
When he finally returned to his family, after hearing of his mother's worsening illness, no one had told him the truth about what happened. No one mentioned the failed betrothal, nor did they mention the Vangoria family's fate.
The day he left, he never heard the details about the assassination attempt—only that the Vangoria family had died. It wasn't until a decade later, during a quiet conversation with his uncle, that he learned the rest of the story.
The assassins had been captured, but they had chosen death over revealing their motives. His uncle had shared those details with him, but he had never mentioned the true purpose behind the Vangoria family's visit.
His uncle had been too pleased when the engagement had failed, too satisfied to reveal why. Liam's stomach churned with the realization that he had no idea just how deep the deception went.
Had his uncle been behind the assassination? Had he orchestrated it all to avoid the betrothal, to keep the Lithia family away from the Vangoria family?
At that moment, a translucent screen flickered into view.
[New Quest: Save the Vangoria Family]
[Difficulty: Normal]
Quest Description:
Prevent the assassination of the Vangoria family.
[Rewards]
+2 to All Stats300 EXP
[Penalty]
-1 to All Stats if the quest is left incomplete.
Liam smiled at the glowing screen, a spark of determination flickering in his eyes. "Well, this time, it won't happen, I will make sure of it." he murmured to himself.
Liam left Sarah behind, his gaze distant, lost in deep thought. She noticed his unusual silence but chose not to press the matter, allowing him to leave without question.
Liam made his way to the grand library, his steps steady yet filled with quiet determination.
Despite his knowledge from his previous life, the vast continent of Sandoria still held countless mysteries for Liam.
He also hoped to uncover anything related to Dragonheart Vigor, the strange skill that appeared in his status window, or perhaps a forbidden spell or ancient artifact capable of turning back time.
In his past life, after his father's death, the Razakian Kingdom plunged into chaos. The noble houses turned on one another, leading to a brutal civil war that ended with the massacre of the entire royal family. Liam vividly recalled the days of suffering he endured during that dark time. And just when the kingdom was at its weakest, the demonic invasion struck, wiping out nearly all the great houses of Razakia.
Liam clenched his fists as memories flooded his mind.
Standing before the towering wooden doors of the library, he took a deep breath.
Sandoria was a continent ruled by five great kingdoms:
The Razakian Kingdom of the East.The Volgunder Kingdom of the West.The Elvish Kingdom of the North.The Dwarven Kingdom of the South.And the Holy Kingdom, which stood at the very center.
Though the five kingdoms rarely saw eye to eye, they maintained a delicate balance of power, bound together through fragile political and economic agreements.
Liam pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.
The grand library was vast, stretching endlessly with towering shelves made of ancient oak. Dust motes danced in the soft light filtering through the stained-glass windows. The faint scent of old parchment and ink lingered in the air, and the quiet rustle of pages being turned echoed faintly from the distant corners of the room. The atmosphere was heavy with forgotten knowledge, and Liam felt a strange sense of awe.
At the far end of the library, behind a wooden desk, sat the sole librarian, Maggie. An elderly woman with graying hair tied in a neat bun and sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through one's soul. Despite her frail appearance, she had an aura of wisdom and authority, as if she had guarded the secrets of this library for centuries.
As Liam approached, Maggie raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was no secret that the young lord of House Lithia had always avoided study and training in the past.
"Is there anything I can help you with, young lord?" she asked, her tone polite but laced with curiosity.
"Yes," Liam replied, maintaining a calm demeanor. "I'm looking for anything related to the history of Sandoria, ancient magic, and... dragons."
Maggie's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him, clearly skeptical of his sudden interest. However, without further questioning, she gestured toward the far left section of the library, where ancient tomes and scrolls lay untouched for decades.
"Everything you seek is in that section. But be warned, history is often written by the victors. What you find may not always be the truth."
Liam gave a respectful nod and headed toward the section she pointed to.
Hours passed as he scoured through countless tomes and scrolls, flipping through ancient texts and forgotten legends. Books on Sandoria's history, magic theories, and mythical creatures filled his hands. He searched deeply, yet found nothing about Dragonheart Vigor or the terrifying black dragon that he killed. It was as if in his previous timeline. It was as if neither the skill nor the dragon had ever existed.
Frustration began to build within him.