Ten-fold fang of the all-seeing blade

In the courtyard, Lux stood doing warm-up exercises while Mira watched him with bright, curious eyes.

"Wow, Lux! Why are you suddenly training? Are you tired of being weak?" Mira asked innocently.

Her words hit Lux like a punch to the chest. He felt his confidence crumble.

"I'm your master. You can't say things like that," Lux said helplessly.

She really was acting strange today. Yesterday he could tell she was putting on an act. But now she seemed completely innocent and clueless, like a different person entirely.

"I just decided I want to get stronger, that's all," Lux said, stretching his sore muscles.

As he moved, he caught sight of something at the edge of the storage wall. Maskl was watching him from the shadows, completely still.

"Oh? He noticed me," Maskl thought, surprised. "Even young master Hel isn't that sharp."

He couldn't help but feel impressed. This bastard son was full of surprises.

Knowing he'd been spotted, Maskl stepped out from his hiding place with a warm smile.

"Young master Lux, what are you doing? May I watch?" he asked politely.

Lux wanted to frown immediately. But he knew better than to anger this man. Maskl had influence over most of the Marquis's business dealings. One bad word from him, and Lux could disappear forever.

"Sir Maskl," Lux stopped his exercises and bowed respectfully. Mira did the same. "I'm just training my body a little. You're welcome to watch. I'd be honored."

Lux said the words, but he didn't mean them. This man was dangerous. More dangerous than his father, who was a peak-level swordsman. Maskl made shady deals with powerful people, and no one knew his true identity.

In the original story, Maskl had planned to stay loyal to the Marquis family until the end. He found them interesting. But when a powerful figure asked him to betray them, the entire family was destroyed in three days.

"Then please continue. Don't mind me," Maskl said, standing beside Mira.

Mira began shaking nervously. She had never stood next to someone of such high status before. She didn't even consider Lux to be nobility.

Lux gave her a sharp look. She gulped and tried to stand straighter.

Lux walked forward, picked up his wooden sword, and began swinging at the air like usual.

Maskl watched him carefully. He didn't understand the stance Lux was using, but he could tell there was no real technique behind it. It looked sloppy and random, like Lux was just doing whatever felt easiest.

"Young master Lux, if I may interrupt," Maskl said suddenly. "I'd like to correct your stance."

Lux turned toward him, already sweating. He saw no harm in learning, so he nodded.

"Point your sword forward and angle it slightly upward," Maskl instructed.

Lux did as he was told. His strength hadn't improved, but he was getting used to the pain. The movement came easier than before.

"Bend your knees. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart. Straighten your back and center your weight," Maskl continued.

Lux shifted his position again. The new stance felt stiff and straining, but he held it.

"Take a slow breath in, then exhale. Focus completely. Block out everything else," Maskl said.

Lux breathed in slowly, then let the air out softly. He focused all his attention on the form he was holding.

"Now lift the sword overhead, then slash down precisely through the centerline. Put your intent behind it," Maskl commanded.

Lux raised the sword above his head and brought it down with purpose.

The old butler's eyes went wide with shock. He never expected the bastard son, who everyone called useless, to master a technique that took most people months to learn. Lux had done it in minutes.

Lux had been called a prodigy when he was younger. But even then, he was supposedly worthless now. Yet here he was, doing the impossible.

Ding!

[New skill unlocked: Branmere family technique, Ten-fold Fang of the All-seeing Blade, First Fang: Heaven's Descent]

Lux's eyes went wide when he saw the notification. He couldn't believe it. The butler had just taught him an actual Branmere family technique. Normally, bastard children like him weren't allowed to learn family techniques. The main family feared it would damage their reputation.

"Congratulations, young master Lux. You've learned the first fang," Maskl said with a gentle smile.

His reaction shocked Lux, but he quickly composed himself.

"Thank you, Sir Maskl, for this opportunity!" Lux said gratefully.

"Smart boy," Maskl thought, nodding with approval. "He understands that I went out of my way to teach him something meant only for heirs and core family members. And he knows why."

Meanwhile, in his office, Aldric watched through his window with interest. His son had just learned a family technique that had taken even him, a prodigy, two weeks to master. Lux had done it in minutes.

"I think it's time we had one more member join the home classes," Aldric mumbled to himself, a small smile on his lips. "Especially with the academy selection process coming up."

He gazed down at his son. No, his bastard son. But perhaps that was about to change.