CHAPTER 120: TO THE CAPITAL

Morning sun rays filtered through the windows, falling across silk sheets in golden bars.

Alaric opened his eyes, already fully alert—a habit he formed from the months of Fredrick’s dawn training sessions.

He rolled out of bed, muscles protesting slightly.

The past two days of investigating Risvolk corruption had kept him up late.

And today, was the day for the entrance examination of the Pheonix Academy.

After freshening up, Alaric dressed in his usual clothes.

He stepped out of his room and noticed that the hallway was pretty quiet as he made his way toward the dining hall.

Then...

Tap! Tap! Tap!

He heard the footsteps echo from his side.

Elina emerged from the corridor. When she saw him, her expression went as cold as winter frost.

He smiled cheerfully. "Good morning, sister," adding a small wave.

But she huffed in response and strode past without a word, her scarlet hair whipping behind her like a banner of indignation.

Since the day they met, she’d been doing this.

Two days of glares, pointed silence, and leaving any room he entered.

She’d delivered the Risvolk documents as ordered, dumping them on his desk without commentary before fleeing like he carried some kind of plague.

Though he’d tried engaging her in conversation exactly once.

But she responded by very deliberately pouring salt in his tea while maintaining eye contact.

The message was clear enough.

’Don’t you fucking talk to me, outsider.’

Tap! Tap! Tap!

The dining hall doors were already open.

Selene sat at the head of the table, reviewing what looked like merchant reports while nibbling toast.

Elina sat beside her.

Selene glanced up as he entered.

"Good morning, Aunt" he said, taking his usual seat.

She nodded, "You’re up early. Nervous?"

"About a test?" He reached for the honey. "Please."

She said nothing and just kept eating her portion.

Silence stretched as they finished their breakfast.

Then Selene stood up, adjusting her silk dress.

"It’s time for both of you to leave."

She then looked at both of them, "Get ready. I want to see you outside in ten minutes."

Just as the words escaped Selene’s lips, Elina stood up hurriedly and left.

Selene watched her retreating back, sighed, and turned her head toward Alaric, who was just smiling at her.

She looked away and left too, leaving him alone there.

"Argh!"

He groaned, stretching his arms over his head.

Then he stood up and left the room too.

After fifteen minutes.

Alaric moved through the corridor, his steps unhurried.

As he stepped into the courtyard, he saw the carriage waiting there already, polished in black color with the Glimor crest gleaming in morning sun.

Selene was standing by the carriage door, impeccable as always in deep green silk, arms crossed, waiting for them to arrive.

And just a moment later, Elina emerged from the manor, though still radiating her cold fury.

She moved toward the carriage without acknowledging either of them, offering only a stiff bow to her mother.

"Elina."

The single word stopped her.

"Are you really going to stay mad at me?" Selene turned to her, eyes full of concern.

Elina stiffened, ready to retort, but Selene grabbed her and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Mother—"

Selene’s eyes softened.

"The last two days have been too long. Do you know how empty the mornings felt without your chatter."

Then, despite herself, Elina’s rigid posture softened.

Eventually, her arms came up, and she returned the embrace reluctantly.

"Why do you make it hard to stay angry with you?" she muttered into Selene’s shoulder.

"Because I love you too much." Selene pulled back, cupping her daughter’s face briefly.

"Though, don’t let him provoke you, if you sulk like a child, he will try again."

"I can handle him." Elina muttered and then raised her voice a little, but there wasn’t any bite in it, "And I’m not a child."

"I know you can." A small smile formed on Selene’s face. "Now go. Show them what House Glimor is capable of."

Then she kissed her forehead and released her.

Elina nodded and then turned to the carriage and climbed without looking back.

Alaric, who was watching the whole exchange from afar approached slowly, that familiar smirk still playing at his lips.

Selene’s expression immediately shifted to careful neutrality.

Instead of the carriage, he moved towards her, slowly.

"Don’t even think about getting the sa—"

But he kept moving closer. She took a half-step back, then caught herself and stood firm.

"What exactly do you think you’re doing?" Her voice had gone slightly higher.

Alaric smirked, dipping into a perfect court bow. "Saying goodbye, naturally."

Then he straightened back, "Try not to miss me too much. I know time without my charming presence will be difficult."

A faint flush crept up her cheeks despite herself. "Get in the carriage," she snapped.

"As my lady commands." He winked and turned away, climbing into the carriage.

Selene stood there as the carriage rolled through the gates, fingers tightening over the silk.

From the carriage window, she could see him grinning.

Damn that boy.

Then she exhaled deeply and returned to the manor with measured steps.

Inside the carriage, Alaric settled into the seat opposite Elina.

She didn’t spare him a glance, her face already turned to the window the instant he stepped in, as if the passing scenery mattered more than his presence.

Not a word. Not even the faintest acknowledgment.

Well, he couldn’t blame her.

To her, he was still a nobody, an outsider suddenly thrust into a role he had no claim to.

She was the legitimate daughter of the house, and Selene had handed him the title of heir without so much as consulting her.

Worse, that same heir had humiliated their allies in public, mocked her authority, and carried himself like some street thug itching for trouble.

And as if that weren’t enough, her mother had even chosen to trust his word over hers, on matters about investigating the House Risvolk and severing the alliance.

The carriage lurched into motion, wheels clattering over cobblestones.

Silence stretched between them.

He sighed and with a thought, summoned his status window.

The familiar cyan panel popped in front of him.

[STATUS]

Name: Brandon (Past Life: Alaric Noir)

Race: Human

Age: 19

Title: Slave, Model Servant, Prince of Blackthorn (The Fallen King).

Essence Path: The Path of #$#&##@##

Sub-Path: Flame

Essence Rank: D+

EXP: 5,460/9,400

Stats:

STR: 99

AGI: 110 (Max)

END: 96

WIL: 70

CHA: 80

INT: 94 (??)

Free stats points: 429

Domination Points: 7500

Level: 3 Skill Tree:

-Intermediate Fire spell (F):

Fireball

Flame Arrow

Burst Step

-Scorchblade Arts (S):

First Form- Flame Blade

Second Form- Flame Slash

Third Form- Blazing Mirage

-Dominion’s Gaze (A)

-Regnant Strike (B)

Scanner

Shop: Advanced Tier Items

Obedience Meter: 1 (70%)

Loyalty Meter: 1 (80%)

DP Exchange: Available

Daily Quest: Completed

Quest: House of Cards [Objective: Annihilate House Valtair] (In Progress)

Side Quest: Expose House Risvolk’s Corruption (In Progress)

System Level: 3

Next Upgrade: 10,000 DP

??? (System Level: 4 required)

He skimmed through all the details.

The Risvolk matter was nearly settled.

There wasn’t much left for him to do, Selene would see it through.

With a flick of his hand, he dismissed the panel hovering before him and leaned back, letting his eyes drift shut.

The carriage rattled steadily along the road, silence stretching between him and Elina like a wall.

Time passed.

An hour later, the carriage came to a halt.

"We’re here," the coachman called.

Alaric opened his eyes to the sight of iron gates and watchful sentries as the carriage rolled into a heavily guarded compound.

At the center of the yard stood a massive stone arch, veined with glowing runes, the space within shimmering like heated air.

The Teleportation Gate.

They disembarked. Guards fell in around them as they moved toward the checkpoint.

"Papers," the gate officer said without looking up.

Elina produced a slim folio: travel permits, identification. The officer checked each of them and stamped with practiced efficiency.

"Two passengers, four guards. Destination: Capital, Central Plaza."

A nod.

"Step through when ready."

The shimmer deepened as they drew near. Alaric had read about teleportation gates, but standing this close was different... impossibly different.

The moment he stepped through, the world collapsed. He felt himself crushed and stretched in the same breath, his entire being squeezed into a single point before tearing outward again.

Then—

His feet landed on the solid ground.

The air was heavier here, thick with smoke and the musk of thousands of bodies.

This was the Capital.

They had emerged into a plaza vast enough to swallow Bramwell’s entire market district.

Towering buildings stabbed the sky. Carriages rumbled past on paved streets wider than any town square he’d ever known.

"First time in the Capital?" Elina’s voice broke the silence. The first words she’d spared him all morning.

"Yes."

"Then try not to gawk like a peasant."

And just like that, the silence returned.

Their guards closed ranks, forming a living wall to keep the press of the crowd at bay as they moved forward.