The door to the seclusion room creaked open, and Reve stepped out, eyes calm and presence radiating an unusual stillness. In his hand, he held a scroll—its surface etched with elegant markings that shimmered faintly in the light.
Eiran turned toward him and froze. His eyes locked onto the scroll, then drifted back to Reve's serene expression.
"You… what is that?" he asked, voice a whisper.
Reve extended the scroll toward him. "The Apex Aura Art. The sword showed me how to create it."
A moment of silence passed. Eiran took a deep breath and nodded, pride barely hidden in his voice. "Then it's true. Reve Arclight's legend… has begun."
From the side, Arel and Mina watched in awe, their gazes flicking between the scroll and their brother. "Big bro… did you really make that?" Mina asked, wide-eyed.
Reve smiled softly. "I didn't do it alone. The sword—it guided me. Its name is Apex."
The room remained quiet for a few heartbeats. A strange warmth spread among them, a bond deepened through wonder and awe.
Before they could speak further, a knock echoed through their home. A Kaizan clan soldier stood outside, his tone laced with arrogance. "All vessel clans are to gather. In two weeks, your disciples will face off against junior and senior disciples of the Kaizan Clan. If you dare."
Without waiting for a response, the guard turned and marched off.
Reve's smile deepened. "Looks like our chance has arrived."
But Eiran stepped forward, stern. "You will fight, yes. But not to become one of their pawns. Our path is different. Stronger. You hold something they could only dream of. We don't need their scraps."
Reve met his gaze and nodded. "Then what's the next step?"
Eiran's eyes gleamed with determination. "We need strength. Allies. Members. The Arclight Clan must grow. And for that… I'm giving you your first mission."
Reve's brows lifted, curiosity and resolve dancing in his eyes.
Eiran continued, voice calm but firm. "We must find someone worthy—another talent like you. Someone hidden, someone raw. And along the way, we'll let the world know: the Arclight Clan has begun its rise."
A new fire kindled in Reve's chest as he looked at the scroll in his hand. No longer just a boy with dreams of peace—he was now a wielder of power, a builder of legacy.
And this was just the beginning.