Family

And so, summer break finally began.

A summer filled with plans to prepare for my second year at Mythos Academy. But first, I needed to return home—to see my family.

Family, I thought as I leaned against the window of the self-driving cab.

I had a family in my previous world too. A father and mother who loved me, who supported me with everything they had, and a girlfriend I wanted to marry someday. But I lost them when I somehow ended up in this world.

'Did I… die?' The thought crossed my mind as it always did when I allowed myself to linger on the past. I hated thinking about my old life; it made me melancholic, like a weight I couldn't shake off. And even if I wanted to return, I knew I would need to reach Radiant Rank—a goal that would take over a decade to achieve.

There was no point in clinging to what was impossible right now.

Still, with the existence of many worlds and species here, each using mana or black mana in unique ways, I couldn't help but wonder if my old world existed somewhere out there. A world where humans had never been exposed to mana, unlike this Earth, where mana had shaped humanity for thousands of years.

My world was one where mana never existed, a place of ordinary humans. Yet, I knew that reaching it—or any other world—was a distant dream. Interstellar travel would only become feasible after the discovery of aetherite and the true rise of mana technology, a development that would follow my graduation from Mythos Academy.

For now, the idea of traveling between worlds was nothing more than wishful thinking. Humans didn't even realise that other interstellar species existed, apart from demons.

'Soon,' I reminded myself. There were more immediate challenges ahead, and dwelling on the past wouldn't change what lay before me.

"Should I involve myself in the Mana-Tech revolution?" I mused, scratching my cheek thoughtfully.

Aetherite was first discovered on the moon—a game-changing mineral capable of storing mana, something previously believed to be possible only for living beings or their remains. But the true reason it could do so was because aetherite itself was formed from the essence of the deceased, imbued with the intent of the beings who passed away.

That's why it could control mana.

The moon wasn't a natural source of aetherite. In reality, a meteorite, filled with aetherite, had crashed into the moon ages ago, embedding the mineral deep into its surface.

In simple terms, aetherite was revolutionary.

It marked the dawn of mana technology, the beginning of something entirely new. It wasn't just about ancient artifacts anymore—this was the first step towards creating mana weapons that could be mass-produced. Previously, only legendary artifacts grew stronger with time and history, but now, humanity had a way to strengthen itself on a much larger scale.

With aetherite, historic-grade artifacts became attainable for more than just the elite, and the entire world would be lifted into the next saga of power.

This discovery also paved the way for a third method of using mana, different from both aura and the circle method—a method known as aether. It opened up a new dimension of possibilities for harnessing mana, but accessing aetherite, the key to this power, was no small task.

For me to even find aetherite, I would need to somehow involve myself with the Slatemark Empire's moon base. And that was... out of reach for now.

By the time I reached Ascendant Rank, I might have the power to consider it, but getting access to a space base run by the most powerful empire on Earth? That was a different challenge entirely. Still, I couldn't dismiss the idea—it was a distant goal, but one that lingered in the back of my mind.

I snapped out of my thoughts as the cab pulled to a stop in front of Count Chase's residence.

After paying the fare, I stepped out and approached the gate. Just like last time, the two familiar knights—Darol and Caroline—stood guard. They greeted me with nods of recognition.

"Arthur Nightingale," Darol said, straightening up. "Welcome back."

I gave a small nod. "Good to see you both again."

Caroline smiled. "The Count has been expecting you. Shall we let him know you've arrived?"

"Please do."

The gates opened slowly as Caroline signaled one of the attendants, and I took in the sight of the Chase family's estate once more—imposing, yet familiar. It felt strange returning here after everything that had happened at the Academy, but also comforting in a way. This place represented a small piece of normalcy, even in a world so filled with chaos.

As I walked through the gates, I couldn't shake the question of how long this sense of peace would last.

Stepping into the manor, I was met by my mother, who immediately wrapped me in a warm embrace. Her voice, filled with affection, greeted me just as it always did, "Welcome home, Art!"

I couldn't help but smile as I hugged her back, holding her tightly. "I'm back, Mom."

There was something about her embrace that made me want to just sink into it, to let everything else fade away. It was a comforting reminder that, despite everything, I still had this place—this feeling of home.

"We were so proud of you!" she said, practically glowing as she held my arms. "To make it all the way to the finals! You almost won, too! You were incredible!"

Her enthusiasm brought a warmth to my chest that even the toughest battles at the Academy couldn't match. I chuckled softly, trying to downplay it. "I just did my best."

"You more than did your best," she corrected, beaming. "I knew you'd go far, but you exceeded everyone's expectations."

My father, standing just behind her, nodded with a proud smile. "It's good to see you back, son. You've earned a break after everything."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the past months catch up with me. The tension from the tournament, the training, the endless drive to improve—it all faded in this moment. I was home, and for a little while, that was all that mattered.

"Come, sit with us," my mother urged, pulling me toward the sitting room. "Tell us everything—what's next for you, and how do you plan to spend the summer?"

As we settled into the sitting room, the familiar warmth of home wrapped around me. My mother sat beside me, still beaming with pride, while my father took his usual spot across from us, his quiet but steady presence filling the room. Just as I was about to dive into the highlights of the tournament, a voice from the doorway interrupted.

"Well, if it isn't our Academy star," Count Chase's deep voice boomed with a chuckle as he stepped into the room. "Welcome back, Arthur."

I stood and offered a respectful nod. "Thank you, Uncle Chase. It's good to be back."

The Count approached with a broad smile, giving me a firm pat on the shoulder. His presence always carried a sense of authority, but here, in this informal setting, it felt more like a father's warmth than a lord's command. "I've been following your progress closely. Reaching the finals of the Sovereign's Tournament—it's no small feat."

He took a seat across from us, beside my father, his eyes gleaming with pride. "I expect great things from you, Arthur. But for now, I'm glad you're home, safe and sound."

"I appreciate that," I said, a bit more humbled by the attention than I expected. "There's still a long way to go, though."

"You've already surpassed most of the expectations placed on you," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Don't forget to take some time to enjoy your success."

My mother nodded eagerly. "Exactly what I've been saying. You work so hard, you deserve some time to relax."

I smiled softly, appreciating their concern, but my mind was already racing toward the future. There was no time to be complacent. "I'll take a few days to rest, but I've got training planned. I can't afford to fall behind."

Count Chase raised an eyebrow, his tone a little more serious now. "Good. You'll need to be sharper than ever. Second year at Mythos Academy is where the real challenges begin—and beyond that, the world is changing fast."

I nodded, understanding the weight behind his words. He was right—what lay ahead would be far more difficult, and the tournament was only a small part of it. There were forces in play, both known and unknown, that would soon shift the balance of power across the world.