After taking a long bath to refresh his mind after the grueling training, Cassian stepped out of the bathroom.
He picked up a fresh pair of casual black clothes and put them on before collapsing onto his bed.
The memories of his pain tolerance training made him shiver.
"It'll take time to get used to it," he muttered with a sigh.
/Knock/ /Knock/
His train of thought was interrupted by a sudden knock at the door.
"Come in," Cassian called out.
The door opened slowly, and an older man entered. He stood tall, his posture straight, dressed in the traditional butler's uniform.
"Young Master," the man said, bowing respectfully.
"For what reason have you come here, Kain?" Cassian asked.
Kain replied with a steady tone, "Young Master, Master is expecting you in his office."
Cassian stared at Kain for a moment before nodding.
"Hmm, okay. I'll be there in a minute."
"Understood, Young Master." Kain bowed again, then left the room, closing the door behind him.
Cassian sighed, lying back down for a moment.
"I guess I have to explain a lot of things... all because of that maid," he muttered through gritted teeth. Despite his irritation, he couldn't bring himself to get truly angry with Sylvia.
She was one of the few who had stayed by his side until the very day he died.
With a resigned sigh, he stood up and began walking toward his father's office.
When he arrived, he stopped in front of the large door, exhaling deeply to calm his nerves.
/Knock/ /Knock/
"Come in," a deep voice responded from inside.
Cassian opened the door and stepped in.
The room was spacious but not overly extravagant. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, documents, and various trinkets.
In the center of the room stood a large desk, and seated behind it was his father, Mark Evros Myrr.
To his side stood Sophia, her expression filled with concern.
"You called, Father," Cassian said, his voice steady.
"Yes, I called you fo—"
Before Mark could finish, Sophia interrupted, bombarding Cassian with questions.
"Why were you screaming in your room?"
"And Sylvia told me you were also screaming in the training chamber!"
Cassian's mouth twitched. 'That maid again...'
"Is your curse acting up? Is it hurting you anywhere? If that's the case, we'll book the Saintess for you. She'll surely do something!"
Her eyes were already watery, and her worry was evident.
Mark sighed and spoke in a firm voice, "Dear, at least give him a chance to talk."
Sophia looked at her husband, nodded reluctantly, and turned her attention back to Cassian.
For a moment, Cassian felt a warmth spread through his chest.
'How long has it been since I felt this way?' he thought.
Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.
"I have awakened my curse."
Both Mark and Sophia's eyes widened in shock.
Mark was the first to speak. "So you can control the curse now?"
Instead of answering, Cassian pulled out a knife.
Both Mark and Sophia looked at him, confused.
Without hesitation, Cassian slashed his own hand. His hand fell to the floor with a thud, and he clenched his teeth to stifle a scream.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Sophia screamed, her voice trembling with panic.
Before she could say anything more, his hand began to regenerate.
Within seconds, it was fully restored.
Cassian raised a single finger and said calmly, "First ability: Regenerative Scale."
Mark nodded, impressed, while Sophia continued to glare at him, her anger barely restrained.
"Couldn't you just tell us that without showing it?" Sophia snapped.
Cassian hesitated for a moment, realizing she had a point.
"But I wanted to show how effective it is," he explained.
Sophia's glare didn't soften, but she chose not to press the issue further.
Cassian didn't mind sharing this with them.
Alongside Sylvia, they were the ones who had always stayed by his side, no matter what.
His severed hand, which had fallen to the ground, disappeared as his newly regenerated hand formed completely.
Then, Cassian spoke.
"Second ability: Serpent's Vision."
Activating his skill, his eyes transformed. His white human eyes turned into white snake eyes, and his round pupils morphed into vertical slits.
Cassian's perspective shifted as his surroundings changed. The world appeared in hues of blue, while his parents stood out as warm yellow figures, glowing with heat.
Deactivating the skill, his eyes returned to normal.
"With this ability," Cassian explained, "I can see the heat signatures of beasts, humans, and other races."
Mark smiled approvingly.
"That's a fantastic ability," he said. "It'll be a huge advantage when you're hunting at night or facing someone with skills to obscure themselves, like creating mist."
Sophia nodded in agreement, though her expression still carried a pout, a lingering sign of her disapproval of his earlier reckless demonstration.
"Third ability: Venom Infusion," Cassian continued.
He held up his fist and activated the skill. A green aura enveloped it.
"I can infuse my body or weapons with venom," he said.
"Green indicates paralysis."
The green aura shifted, turning yellow.
"Yellow indicates numbing."
Finally, the aura darkened into a pitch-black hue.
"Black indicates corrosion."
"For now, I can only use these three venoms. Later, I might be able to control more types."
Mark laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! Brat, you're saying 'only,' as if that's nothing!"
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"That's an incredible ability. Being able to infuse venom into weapons makes it deadly for your opponents. You'll be a force to reckon with."
Cassian smiled faintly, appreciating his father's encouragement.
"Fourth ability: Coiling Aura," Cassian announced.
"I can release a terrifying pressure on someone weaker than me. It can even instill fear in stronger foes."
Mark nodded in appreciation, clearly impressed.
Sophia, seeing the extent of her child's abilities, now wore a happy expression, her earlier concerns fading.
"Fifth ability: Snake Tongue," Cassian continued.
"As the name suggests, I can talk to serpents."
"And the sixth ability: Serpent's Favor," he added.
"Serpents will no longer see me as their foe. Instead, they'll view me as their master, ally, or even beloved."
Mark chimed in with approval.
"Those last two abilities are incredible as well," he said.
Cassian nodded. "That's all for now, Father."
Mark leaned forward slightly, his expression turning serious.
"So, what's your plan from here?"
Cassian's eyes gleamed with determination.
"For now, I want to master my abilities fully," he said with unwavering resolve.
Mark and Sophia exchanged a glance, surprised but also deeply moved.
Since the day Mark had rescued Cassian from that dreadful organization, he had been a shadow of himself—dull and unmotivated, refusing to train or engage.
Seeing this newfound drive in their son was a moment they had long hoped for.
Sophia stepped forward, wrapping Cassian in a warm embrace.
"I don't know what's driving you, Cassian," she said gently, "but remember, we're always behind you, supporting you."
Cassian felt a surge of warmth in his chest, an emotion he hadn't felt in years.
If… if my parents back on Earth had told me these words and supported me like this, maybe I would have lived a peaceful life there, he thought, his heart aching slightly.
A single tear slipped from his eye as he murmured, "Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father."
Mark and Sophia smiled gently at him, their pride and love evident in their eyes.