A Fallen Noble

Arthur's eyelids fluttered open, his vision blurry as his mind struggled to piece together where he was. The soft glow of candlelight flickered against the stone walls, casting long shadows across the room. His body felt heavy, his thoughts sluggish. As he turned his head, he saw Felix sitting beside him, eyes filled with relief.

Felix's face lit up as soon as their gazes met. Without hesitation, he lunged forward and pulled Arthur into a tight hug.

"Thank goodness," Felix breathed, his voice trembling slightly.

Arthur, still groggy, blinked at him in confusion. "What… happened?"

Felix pulled back, studying his face. "Do you remember anything?"

Arthur frowned, his mind reaching back into the fog of his memories. Then Felix spoke again.

"You summoned a blade."

Arthur's eyes widened. "I did…?"

Felix nodded and recounted what had happened, his voice filled with excitement. As the words sank in, Arthur's heart pounded. He could hardly believe it. Summoning a blade—it was a sign of true strength, a sign of potential. A rush of excitement surged through him, and he immediately sat up, eager to confirm it for himself.

"Stats," he muttered, expecting to see something new.

But the glowing panel before him remained unchanged.

His chest tightened. His excitement drained away, replaced by a sinking feeling of doubt. He glanced at Felix. "Are you sure?"

Felix met his gaze with unwavering confidence. "I know what I saw."

But Arthur's heart remained heavy. He slowly swung his legs over the bed and stood up, walking toward the door. "I need some air."

Felix nodded, understanding. "Everyone else went home to train. We'll meet again at Sage Academy." He slung his bag over his shoulder, giving Arthur one last reassuring look before leaving.

---

When Arthur arrived home, the warm scent of freshly baked bread filled the air. As he stepped inside, a voice rang out.

"Welcome home, Arthur!"

His younger sister, Evelyn, rushed toward him, her bright eyes shining with joy. She eagerly took his bag, but as soon as she saw the look on his face, her expression shifted.

"Arthur…? What's wrong?"

Arthur forced a smile but didn't answer. Instead, he ruffled her hair gently. "I'm just tired."

Evelyn frowned, clearly not convinced, but before she could press him further, Arthur murmured, "Sorry, Evelyn. I need some rest."

He walked past her and headed straight to his room, shutting the door behind him. He collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as the weight of everything crashed down on him. Eventually, exhaustion pulled him into sleep.

---

The next morning, Arthur woke up feeling no better. The uncertainty still gnawed at him. Before he could dwell on it, Elizabeth walked into the room.

"Arthur, come on! The family's waiting for dinner."

He sighed, dragging himself out of bed. After freshening up, he made his way to the dining hall, where his mother, father, and sister were already seated. A maid silently pulled out his chair, and he sat down.

The room was eerily silent. The tension was thick, pressing down on his chest. He didn't need to look up to know what was coming.

Aldric, his father, finally spoke. His voice was deep, firm. "Arthur, how did the preliminary academy go?"

Arthur tightened his grip on his fork. He had expected this. He swallowed hard, keeping his gaze on his plate.

"I…"

Aldric leaned forward slightly. "Can you summon your blade now?"

Arthur clenched his fists under the table. His voice barely above a whisper, he muttered, "No."

Aldric's brow furrowed. "What?"

Arthur exhaled sharply and looked up. "No."

The room went completely still.

Aldric's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "Show me your stats."

Arthur hesitated. His gut twisted, but he knew there was no avoiding it. Slowly, he activated his stats, and the numbers glowed in the air.

Silence.

Aldric's eyes scanned the panel. His face twisted in disbelief, then in pure rage. He slammed his fist onto the table, causing the dishes to rattle.

"What is this sorry excuse of a stat?" he bellowed.

Arthur flinched but held his ground.

Aldric stood, his chair scraping against the floor. "You are no son of mine."

Evelyn gasped. "Father, wait—"

Verona reached out. "Please, don't—"

But Aldric's glare silenced them both. His voice was cold, unwavering. "The Valtoria name will not be tainted by weakness. Arthur, from this moment forward, you are stripped of your nobility. You are no longer my son."

Arthur's breath caught in his throat. The words cut deeper than any blade could. He barely registered Evelyn breaking into sobs or Elizabeth pleading for him. His mother covered her mouth, her eyes filled with sorrow, but she said nothing.

Aldric gestured to the servants. "Pack his things. He leaves now."

---

Arthur stood at the gates of the Valtoria mansion, a single bag slung over his shoulder. Elizabeth had given him an address, her tear-streaked face begging him to be safe.

With nowhere else to go, he made his way to the common realm. It was a long walk, the towering estates slowly fading into simple houses, the roads less polished, the air colder.

At last, he arrived at a small house by the river. He hesitated before knocking.

The door opened, revealing a young woman with silk brown hair and kind black eyes. She took one look at him and smiled gently.

"You must be Arthur," she said. "Elizabeth told me all about what happened."

She stepped aside, motioning him in. "I'm Liana. Come in."

Two children peeked from behind her. "Mama, is he staying with us?"

Liana nodded. "This is Arthur. Be nice."

The children, a boy and a girl, grinned. "I'm Luca!" the boy said proudly.

"And I'm Mira!" the girl chimed in. "Can we call you big brother?"

Arthur's heart clenched. For a moment, he saw Evelyn's face in theirs. He forced a small smile. "Yeah… sure."

Liana patted his shoulder. "Come on, I made dinner."

As they ate, Arthur listened to their stories, their laughter filling the small house.

That night, as he lay in bed, staring at the moon, the weight of everything settled in.

He exhaled softly.

"I'm no longer Arthur, son of Aldric Valtoria."

His fists clenched.

"I'm just Arthur."