The echoes of the awakening ceremony still rippled through the streets, woven into every conversation and every tavern tale. The festive air lingered in the capital ,laughter, awe and ambition coloring the lives of commoners and nobles alike.
But for Derek, there was no joy.
He stood at the edge of the training courtyard behind his estate, arms crossed, eyes distant. His heart was a battlefield, torn between two unrelenting truths. He knew, deep down, that sending Kaelen to the Special Academy was the best option. No other place could provide the resources, protection, and guidance needed for a Black System child.
And yet... it felt like betrayal.
That academy, dressed in noble ideals, was nothing more than a forge where children were hammered into weapons, tools to fight monsters, to die in dungeons, to protect a world that didn't even understand what they were. Was it right to send his son to such a place? To a place where innocence was sacrificed for strength?
As a father, Derek wanted to shield Kaelen from the cruelty of the world ,for just a little longer. But the impending doom , and the burden of the Divine Cleric class, wouldn't wait.
He was caught between reason and love.
---
A week passed.
In a secluded estate far from the city center, a man stood in silence beneath the canopy of dusk, his form unmoving as if rooted in his thoughts. His mansion was vast, ornate, and quiet save for the faint knock that came at the main door.
"Master," an aged butler said, opening the door slightly, "a man seeks an audience. He claims to have trade business with you. Shall I send him away?"
The man turned slowly. His eyes, once sharp and proud, were clouded by frustration. "No. Let him in. Show him to the guest room. I'll be there shortly."
After the butler left, the man sighed, whispering to himself, "Will it even be worth it...?"
Moments later, he entered the guest room. There, a hooded figure sat silently in the corner, the air around him tense and unreadable. As the man approached, the visitor removed his hood.
It was Derek.
The man frowned. "I've changed my mind. You'll have to add a few more items."
Derek's tone sharpened with irritation. "What do you mean? We had a clear agreement."
"Yes, we did," the man said coolly. "But an Epic material for an Epic skill book? That's not enough."
He leaned back, voice smug. "And it's not just any Epic skill. It's a Spacetime type. The skill 'Instant' you know what that means."
Derek's jaw clenched. "Epic material, my ass! Do you have any idea how rare an Epic Essence is? You could live your whole life and never see one."
Essences are extremely rare items dropped from powerful monsters or found in legendary chests were among the most coveted materials in existence. During an awakening ceremony, high-tier System cards sometimes dropped them by pure chance. Their uses ranged from alchemy to rank advancement, making them priceless.
"Essences can replace a rank advancement item," Derek continued. "Do you know how much I sacrificed for that?"
The man folded his arms. "Yes, it's rare. But I have options."
"Then go find someone else." Derek stood up . "Pleasure doing business with you."
Both men bore Purple Systems, and both had remained Gold-ranked Awakened for nearly a decade. As nobles, experience points were abundant, but advancement materials were the true bottleneck.
Each rank-up required three distinct items, personalized to the Awakened. Derek had secured two, including the essence. The man, by contrast, had only one.
Derek had sacrificed his own cultivation path for Kaelen's sake. He was giving away something that could push him into the Epic tier, just to protect his son. That was how much the boy meant to him.
"Wait, hold on," the man called after him. "throw in a Gold-rank item!"
Derek didn't stop walking.
"Fine! You can have it!" the man snapped.
Derek paused at the door. "Too late. I'll settle for a defensive skill instead. You had your chance, brother."
Without another word, Derek disappeared down the corridor, his figure fading into the light.
The man clenched his fists, teeth grinding.
This petty, greedy noble was Arlan Byrax , Marquis of the Starfall Kingdom respected by many, but clearly not by Derek.
And now, he was the one left with regret.