A Morning of Thoughts
Chapter 11: A Morning of Thoughts
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Lucian woke up slowly, his body resisting movement after yesterday's intense training. He let out a quiet groan, stretching his arms as he blinked at the faint golden light filtering through the fog outside his window.
For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, his mind still foggy from sleep.
Then—he remembered.
The dream. The rain. The window splitting open.
His chest tightened slightly as he sat up, rubbing his face.
'It was just a dream… right?'
He ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to push away the unease that still clung to him.
There was no rain in Alexandria—not once since he arrived. And yet, in that dream, he had felt the cold droplets on his face, the damp chill in the air. It had been too real.
Lucian sighed, pushing himself out of bed. Either I'm losing my mind, or something strange is happening.
As he walked to the washroom, he debated his next move.
Should I inform the outpost?
At first, it seemed like the obvious answer. If something unnatural was happening, the Silver Order needed to know.
But then another thought crept in.
What if this is related to my situation?
Lucian had always known there was something abnormal about himself—something about his silver that even the High Council didn't fully understand.
If this was connected to him, then telling the outpost might not be the safest choice.
He exhaled slowly as he brushed his teeth, the minty taste waking him up further.
I'll only report it if it happens again.
That seemed like the safest decision.
With that thought settled, he washed up, dried his face, and headed to the kitchen.
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Lucian set a small pot over the silver-etched cooking plate, turning on the rune-powered heat source. Unlike Earth's fire-based stoves, Alexandria's cooking plates used compressed silver energy to generate heat evenly.
For today's breakfast, he had already decided—potato soup with mixed bits of meat, served with brown bread.
He reached into his small pantry, pulling out a few firm potatoes and placing them in a bowl. Using a silver-edged knife, he peeled the skins smoothly, the thin layers falling away in small curls.
Next, he diced the potatoes into small cubes, setting them aside before grabbing the meat.
The meat was salted and preserved, slightly tougher than fresh cuts but rich in flavor. He sliced it into thin strips, ensuring it would cook quickly in the broth.
After that, he poured clean water into the pot, adding a pinch of salt and dried herbs before dropping in the potatoes. The water bubbled gently, releasing a warm, earthy aroma.
Once the potatoes softened, he added the sliced meat, watching as the broth slowly absorbed its rich, smoky essence.
As the soup simmered, he took a loaf of dense brown bread and sliced it into thick pieces. The crust was crispy, the inside soft but firm enough to soak up the broth.
The moment the scent filled the kitchen, his stomach grumbled in approval.
But before he ate, he needed to wash up.
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Lucian stepped into the small bathing chamber, turning on the silver-powered heating system. The water warmed instantly, and he let it wash over his sore muscles, easing the lingering tension from yesterday's training.
As he stood under the water, his mind drifted back to his dream.
'it wasn't really just a dream, i feel creeps all over thinking about it'
The unease was still there, lingering beneath the surface.
But for now, he decided to push it aside.
After drying off, he dressed in a black shirt and pants, fastening his silver cloak over his shoulders.
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Back in the kitchen, the potato soup was ready.
He ladled it into a wooden bowl, grabbed a slice of bread, and settled at the small dining table.
The first spoonful was rich and hearty, the soft potatoes blending perfectly with the smoky meat. The warmth spread through him instantly, chasing away the morning chill.
When he dipped the crusty bread into the broth, it soaked up the flavors beautifully, adding a satisfying chewiness to the meal.
Lucian let out a small sigh of satisfaction.
"Alright. This makes up for yesterday's pain."
After finishing his meal, he washed the dishes smoothly, wiping down the counters before grabbing his silver tokens and heading out the door.
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The moment Lucian stepped outside, the familiar morning haze greeted him. The air was crisp, the golden hues of the eternal dawn blending softly into the dense mist.
He took a deep breath, stretching his arms as he started walking toward the outpost.
Along the way, he passed familiar faces—shopkeepers, blacksmiths, merchants setting up their stalls. A few people nodded in greeting, and Lucian returned the gesture.
As he continued, a few carriages rolled past him, their silver cores humming faintly.
Unlike Earth's horse-drawn carriages, Alexandria's vehicles had sleek metallic frames reinforced with silver runes. The wheels moved without any visible propulsion, powered by concentrated silver energy stored in their core compartments.
Lucian watched one roll by, its outer frame gleaming faintly in the mist.
"Still weird to see these things moving without horses."
After about twenty-eight minutes of walking, the outpost entrance finally came into view.
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Lucian stepped inside the reception hall, expecting to see Reze at her usual spot.
But she wasn't there.
Instead, sitting behind the desk was one of the Silver Guard members—the girl who had joked about him looking soft.
She noticed him first, smirking. "Well, if it isn't the soft-looking recruit."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "That joke again? You really want to test that theory one of these days?"
The girl grinned, her sharp features making her expression both cute and slightly intimidating. "Sounds like a challenge."
Lucian chuckled. "You'd enjoy that way too much."
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on one hand. "Probably. Name's Emli Farkntro, by the way."
Lucian gave a slight bow, smirking. "Lucian Veyne. Pleased to meet you, Emli."
Emli raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Didn't expect you to be so proper."
Lucian smirked. "Only when I feel like it."
Before their conversation could continue, Eleanor walked in through the front gate, rubbing her forehead.
Both Lucian and Emli greeted her at the same time.
Eleanor grunted in response, waving a hand. "Morning. Lucian, give me ten minutes. I need coffee before I deal with you."
Lucian sighed. "Figures."
Eleanor walked past them, disappearing into the corridor.
Lucian turned back to Emli. "Where's Reze?"
Emli stretched her arms. "She caught a cold. Probably overworked herself."
Lucian frowned. "She alright?"
"She's resting," Emli replied. Then, a mischievous grin spread across her lips. "Why? You worried about her? Did you fall for Reze or something?"
Lucian scoffed. "Not happening."
Emli snickered. "Sure, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Lucian rolled his eyes. This was going to be a long morning.
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The Training Continues
Lucian stood in the center of the training hall, arms loose at his sides, muscles still aching from the previous day's punishment. The familiar glow of silver runes pulsed beneath the smooth stone floor, their soft hum filling the otherwise silent space.
Across from him, Eleanor ivnya, his ever-stoic teacher, sipped from a cup of Silver Cocoa Coffee, her expression unreadable as she watched him stretch.
"You survived yesterday," she mused, taking another sip. "That's a good start."
Lucian sighed. "I appreciate the vote of confidence."
Eleanor set her cup down on a wooden side table, then rolled her shoulders. "We'll be continuing from where we left off. But today, we take things slower."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Slower?"
Eleanor nodded. "Yesterday was about introducing you to silver energy. Today is about getting your body to properly adjust to it. If we push too hard, your energy channels will reject it."
Lucian frowned. "Reject it?"
Eleanor smirked. "If you overload yourself too quickly, your body will treat silver energy like a foreign invader and forcefully expel it. If that happens, you won't be able to use it for days."
Lucian exhaled. 'So much for rapid progress.'
"Fine," he muttered. "What do we start with?"
Eleanor picked up a small silver stone from a nearby container and tossed it to him.
"Absorption. Again."
Lucian sighed deeply before catching the stone, feeling its faint pulse in his palm.
Here we go again.
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Lucian focused on the silver essence within the crystal, trying to sync his own rhythm to its pulse.
It was easier than yesterday, but still frustratingly slow.
The energy inside the stone wasn't something that could be forced. It had to be coaxed, allowed to settle within him.
It took him nearly half an hour before the first warmth of silver energy began trickling into his body.
Eleanor nodded. "Good. Now, hold it there."
Lucian clenched his fist slightly, feeling the faint hum of power beneath his skin.
"Feels… strange," he muttered.
Eleanor smirked. "That's because you're barely absorbing anything."
Lucian glanced at her. "What do you mean?"
---
Eleanor crossed her arms, her expression unreadable.
"There are differences between Silverborn, even at the same level," she said.
Lucian tilted his head. "Like what?"
Eleanor sighed, motioning for him to sit.
He did, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead as he listened.
"Each level of silver mastery has three distinct layers," she explained. "The first level—Awakened—isn't just one rank. It has three layers. You, right now, are barely at one percent of the first layer."
Lucian blinked. "Wait… one percent?"
Eleanor smirked. "Did you think just absorbing silver energy meant you were actually progressing? No. You've only started. It takes time—years, for most."
Lucian groaned. "Fantastic."
Eleanor continued. "The first layer of Awakening is about absorbing and controlling silver energy. The second layer is when you begin storing silver essence inside your body efficiently. The third layer is when you can channel silver energy into actual combat applications with ease."
Lucian absorbed her words, mentally categorizing them.
So I'm at the very bottom. Great.
He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "What about you?"
Eleanor gave him a look.
Lucian smirked. "Come on. You just dumped a bunch of information on me. It's only fair you share yours."
Eleanor sighed heavily, rubbing her temple.
"I'm at the second layer of the second level," she admitted.
Lucian whistled. "So you've been stuck there for a while?"
Eleanor scowled. "Five years."
Lucian frowned. "Why? You don't seem like someone who just… stagnates."
Eleanor hesitated.
Then—she exhaled.
"Because advancing after the third layer of the first level comes with risks."
Lucian narrowed his eyes. "What kind of risks?"
Eleanor looked at him for a long moment.
Then, simply said:
"You'll find out soon enough."
And before Lucian could press further—
She attacked.
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Lucian barely had time to react before Eleanor's foot connected with his ribs.
He stumbled back, gasping, barely managing to stay upright.
"You were distracted," Eleanor said calmly, stepping forward. "Lesson number one—never lose focus."
Lucian gritted his teeth. "You could have warned me first."
Eleanor smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
For the next several hours, training became brutal.
Eleanor drilled him on basic movement, forcing him to enhance his reflexes with small bursts of silver energy.
Lucian's body ached, burned, resisted, but he pushed through.
When his energy control faltered, she struck.
When his focus wavered, she punished.
It was painful, frustrating—but effective.
By the time they finally stopped, the dim golden light of Alexandria's perpetual dawn had begun fading into the heavier evening mist.
Lucian collapsed onto the cool stone floor, panting.
"Are… you… trying… to kill me?" he gasped.
Eleanor leaned against the nearby wooden table, sipping from another flask of Silver Cocoa Coffee.
"Not yet," she said. "But you'll feel like you're dying tomorrow."
Lucian groaned, throwing an arm over his face.
"Fantastic."
---
After around twenty minutes of rest
As Lucian finally caught his breath, Eleanor spoke up again.
"Reze is still sick," she said casually. "I'm heading to her place to check on her."
Lucian nodded. "Makes sense."
Eleanor glanced at him.
"You coming?"
Lucian blinked, lowering his arm. "Wait… what?"
Eleanor sighed. "You might as well. Besides, I'll buy you dinner."
Lucian immediately sat up. "You should've led with that."
Eleanor smirked. "Figures."
Lucian stretched his sore limbs, still feeling the deep ache of training.
As they walked toward the outpost entrance, Lucian glanced at her.
"So… where does Reze live?"
Eleanor exhaled. "In the southern sector of Alexandria."
Lucian frowned. "That far?"
Eleanor smirked. "Carriage. We're not walking."
Lucian sighed in relief. "Good. I think my legs would fall off otherwise."
Eleanor chuckled. "That's normal. Get used to it."
Lucian groaned.
As they stepped into the cool evening mist, he realized something.
For the first time since arriving in Alexandria—
He wasn't just a wandering outsider.
He had people.
A teacher who beat him into shape. A receptionist who threw sarcastic remarks at him. A city that was slowly becoming familiar.
For the first time in a while—
Lucian felt like he belonged.
Even if it meant suffering through another day of training hell.
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End of Chapter 11