Meanwhile, Seok Yung quietly rubbed his temple and muttered under his breath, "Now they're encouraging him…"
But in his heart, even he had to admit—the spear was no ordinary tool-type. There was something different about it. And perhaps… just perhaps, the name wasn't that far-fetched after all.
----
"Old man Hung, what do you think of Arthur?" Grandmaster Kim asked, his tone unusually calm but laced with quiet hope. "Can you give him some guidance in the soul path? A few pointers, even a bit of training?"
Arthur perked up immediately, eyes lighting with anticipation. After all, Seok Hung wasn't just a powerhouse in the Emberveil Kingdom—he was one of the rare few who had reached the pinnacle of the soul path and he is also a duel paths cultivatior. If someone like him were willing to guide Arthur, even a little, it could change everything.
But that hope was short-lived.
"I can't, old man Kim," Seok Hung replied flatly.
The air shifted.
Before Grandmaster Kim could interject, Seok Hung raised a hand. "There are many reasons," he continued, his voice low and resolute, "and I won't be able to explain any of them. So please—don't ask."
His black eyes held a trace of regret, but his tone left no room for argument.
Arthur felt his chest sink a little. He didn't expect a miracle, but still… hearing it spoken aloud, so firmly, was like a cold splash of water.
Seok Hung, too, looked conflicted. In truth, he wanted to teach Arthur. The boy's aptitude for the soul path was rare—dangerously rare. His talent was on par with Seok Yung's, and that was saying something. With the right guidance, both boys could become unmatched. But the weight of old vows and hidden truths tied Seok Hung's hands. No matter how much he admired the boy's potential, he couldn't act on it.
Grandmaster Kim, however, was not so easily dissuaded.
"You call that a favor?" he said sharply, his expression hardening. "After everything, you still won't help?"
Seok Hung turned to him, the lines around his eyes suddenly heavy with fatigue. "I'm bound, Kim," he said quietly. "There are things I can't defy. You of all people should understand that."
There was a silence between them—old and layered.
Then, after a long breath, Seok Hung reached into his space ring and pulled out a set of ancient-looking books. The covers were worn, the leather faded, but well-kept—like relics passed down for generations.
"This is the Spirit Beast Encyclopedia," he said, offering the stack to Arthur. "It contains knowledge about every spirit beast found not only in the Emberveil Kingdom but also from bordering lands. Their attributes, age classification, weaknesses… it's all there."
He handed the books to Arthur with a solemn nod, as if to say, You may not have my guidance, but you have this. Don't waste it.
Arthur accepted the books with both hands, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Grandmaster Kim's shoulders dropped with a sigh. He understood now—whatever was stopping Seok Hung wasn't a matter of pride or stubbornness. It was something deeper, something binding. And he could not, in good conscience, push further.
"…So be it," Kim said at last, rubbing his temple. Then he turned to Arthur. "We'll begin your martial arts training after the clan meeting. You're dismissed for now."
Arthur nodded and left the chamber, the books tucked under one arm. His footsteps echoed faintly in the hallway.
I guess I can't expect everything to go my way, he thought, suppressing the disappointment brewing inside. But this is still my path… and I have the System. Even without Seok Hung, I'll keep moving forward.
After the door closed behind Arthur, a heavy silence settled over the room like fog creeping through old ruins.
Seok Hung exhaled deeply, his breath slow and ragged—as if he'd been carrying the weight of that moment for years. He lowered himself into his chair, the sharpness in his gaze dulled by something deeper... something haunted.
"You understand why I refused to train him, right?" he said quietly. His voice was calm, but his expression was carved with tension—and fear. The kind that only resurfaces when recalling something that should have stayed buried.
Grandmaster Kim didn't answer immediately. Then, in a low voice, he said, "Because he's from Aether City…"
Sweat beaded along his temple. "But we don't know if he's really part of *that* family. You could've at least taught him something subtle. No one would've—"
"Can you really take that risk?" Seok Hung cut him off. "Do you think I can?" His voice trembled, not from weakness, but from the storm churning behind his eyes. "When you told me about his dual path, it all started making sense. That balance... that raw instinct. That kind of power—it's not normal."
"He doesn't even know who he is," Kim argued. "Maybe he was too young. Maybe he's not—"
Seok Hung's eyes darkened. "It doesn't matter. That blood still flows in him."
A dangerous silence followed. And then, in a flash, Seok Hung's killing intent surged.
Grandmaster Kim's staff was in his hand in an instant. "Don't even think about it," he warned, his tone frigid. "Touch that child… and I'll become your enemy."
Seok Hung stood frozen—then slowly sat back down, running a hand down his face. His voice cracked.
"…You don't understand. If they still exist… if even one survived…" His words trailed off, and for a moment, one of Emberveil's most powerful men looked small.
"We were the greedy ones," Kim whispered. "But that boy… he's innocent."
"We all were involved in this mess, this was everyone's fault."
---
Meanwhile, in Arthur's room…
Arthur sat cross-legged on his bed, the blue orb glowing softly in the candlelight.
He stared at it for a long moment.
"…Let's see if I'm right," he muttered, placing his right hand on the orb.
As his soul force surged, the orb flared to life.
It pulsed—once… twice…
Then something shifted.
The glow turned deeper—ancient, ethereal—like the heartbeat of something that had been waiting. A low hum filled the room, and Arthur felt it.
A pressure.
Something vast.
Something that *noticed* him.
His breath hitched. His vision trembled. Cold sweat ran down his back.
The light in the orb flickered... and for a split second, a whisper brushed the edge of his consciousness.
Not a voice. Not a word.
Just presence.
Watching. Remembering. Waiting.
Arthur's heart pounded. The orb dimmed slowly, the room returning to stillness.
But the silence was no longer comforting.
Something had awakened.
.
..
...