A lot to think about

The rest of their walk home was steeped in awkward silence, neither of them speaking a word until they finally arrived.

As soon as they stepped inside their humble home, the rich aroma of Mira's cooking filled their noses, instantly breaking the quiet.

In the kitchen, Mira hummed a pleasant tune as she gently stirred the food she was preparing.

"We're back, Miss," Emily said, recovering from the sudden, mouthwatering scent.

"Oh, you're back," Mira responded warmly, her voice carrying a welcoming tone as she flashed a captivating smile.

Despite being middle-aged, Mira's beauty hadn't faded in the slightest. It was enough to turn the heads of most men in the outer settlement—if not for their reputation.

More specifically, it was safe to say that Seth was the reason for this. His presence acted as an invisible repellent, keeping any potential admirers at bay.

"So? What are you still standing there for?" Mira chided playfully. "Go clean yourselves up so we can have dinner."

Without hesitation, Seth and Emily hurried off to their rooms.

Not long after, Seth emerged, freshly cleaned, and joined them for a delicious dinner.

Later that night, he found himself lying on a patch of soft grass not far from their home, gazing up at the endless expanse of the starry sky.

Lately, Seth had too much on his mind. Which if he was being honest, was out of character for him. Most of his life had been spent buried in books, keeping him distanced from the outside world.

The looming problem of the Blackthorn Trial of Blood and Iron was already weighing on him. But just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, Vince appeared.

Thinking about what the suspicious instructor had told him, Seth let out a long sigh.

*** 

Seth had just dismissed Emily when Vince spoke, his expression serious.

"If I wasn't sure about telling you this before, seeing what transpired between you and the noble children has convinced me that I should."

Hearing Vince's words surprised Seth. It implied that he had been watching the entire exchange from the very beginning, yet had remained undetected—even by the other instructors.

That realization alone was shocking. Most of the instructors were at least at the Spirit Realm or Adept Rank, and yet none of them had noticed Vince's presence. The thought sent a shiver down Seth's spine, and he subconsciously gulped.

'Scary.'

"Seeing as you're a smart kid, I'm sure you realize that what happened earlier was a mistake, right?" Vince asked, scrutinizing him.

Seth didn't respond verbally—he simply nodded.

Vince didn't seem to mind and continued, "You may not be aware of this, but there has been a power struggle within the clan lately, especially since rumors suggest that the patriarch's heir and successor might be dead..."

Seth immediately frowned. He failed to see how speculation about the heir's death had anything to do with him or the incident at the training grounds.

"While you might think this doesn't concern you, since the head family technically abandoned you… you're wrong," Vince stated firmly. "You should already know that your origins aren't ordinary. And even if you pose no real threat, the power-hungry fiends within the clan may not share that sentiment." His expression darkened, clearly displeased by these so-called 'fiends.'

"For the most part, everyone ignores your existence for obvious reasons. They're too busy eliminating real obstacles. But that could change depending on your actions," Vince warned. "You've managed to stay off their radar so far, and I advise you to keep it that way. The moment they acknowledge you as a threat will be the day you die."

His words hung in the air like a death sentence.

"I don't expect much from a snot-nosed brat like you," Vince added solemnly, "but survive the trial—and then grow strong, Seth. You'll need that strength."

Having said his piece, Vince turned to leave.

"Wait."

Seth's voice made him pause.

"I might be naive," Seth admitted, "but I'm not naive enough to believe you're telling me all this for nothing. What do you really want?"

For the first time, Vince smiled—a small but genuine one.

"I'm just taking my job seriously now," he stated simply.

Frowning at the fact that wasn't a real answer, Seth hesitated a little before asking another question.

"W-who is my father?"

"Survive the trials boy… only then will these answers be relevant."

Vince said before vanishing, as if he had never been there to begin with.

***

"Grow strong?"

"How is a cripple like me supposed to do that?" Seth couldn't help but think as he gazed up at the night sky—more specifically, at the two full moons glowing in all their glory.

Their world harbored two moons, both milky white in color, yet distinct in their own ways. One was noticeably larger than the other, though its circular form was incomplete, as if a massive impact had carved away a portion of it.

Lost in the vastness of the starry sky, Seth's thoughts wandered. He found himself wondering about his father—who he was, where he might be.

As he lay there, Emily silently joined him, settling beside him on the ground. Even after sensing her presence, Seth said nothing, his gaze still locked on the heavens above.

Moments passed in silence before Emily, unable to bear it any longer, finally spoke.

"Young Master, what is that?" she asked, pointing at the small locket around his neck.

It was a steel locket—the one he had found in his room while searching for a new book.

Seth gave a brief explanation, telling her how Mira had given it to him not long after her arrival, revealing that it had belonged to his mother. He didn't hide his dislike for wearing an accessory around his neck hence his reason for putting it away before, yet he admitted there was something about it—an odd feeling that kept him drawn to it despite himself.

Emily chuckled softly at his words. "Young Master, can I borrow it?" she asked, a playful smile on her face.

Seth hesitated for only a moment before unclasping the locket and handing it to her, not thinking much of it despite his strange attachment to the object.

And so, the silence returned as they bot

h lay beneath the endless expanse of the night sky.