Morning mist clung to the stones of the courtyard. The sky was pale, still bruised with the last traces of night.
"Seraphina, make sure you protect my son’s safety."
Valyra’s voice trembled, though her face remained composed.
"Mom, don’t worry." Seraphina’s arm tightened around Lucien’s. "With here, no one can dare hurt my husband."
Lucien stood between them, his arms interlocked with Seraphina’s, feeling the warmth of her palm. His brother Kael gave a lazy wave. His father David nodded, but his eyes held sothing deeper—pride, maybe, or the weight of a man watching his son leave the nest for the first ti.
Fifteen years old. And finally free of these walls.
The carriage waited behind them.
It was a royal vessel—white wood veined with silver, its panels carved with scenes of dragons and thrones. Four unicorns stood harnessed to the front, their coats like fresh snow, manes drifting as if underwater. Their horns pulsed faintly with Originat. Inside, the space was larger than the mansion’s foyer: a bed draped in silk, a table with wine, lanterns floating like sleepy fireflies.
Lucien climbed the folding steps. At the top, he turned.
His mother wiped her eye.
He nodded once, then the door slid shut, and the unicorns spread their wings.
They watched as the carriage flew away under the blue sky.
"Don’t worry, our son isn’t trash. It’s ti for you to let him go and explore the world."
David consoled his wife, who was already crying.
He turned to Kael. "Your brother will need your help in three weeks. Make sure not to tarnish our clan’s image."
David glanced in the direction Lucien had left, as if he could still see the carriage.
"We will know whether you are a carp or a dragon in three weeks, my son," he muttered in a voice only he could hear.
---
In the sky, Lucien looked at the disappearing mansion, tears dropping from his eyes.
"Do you want to go back?" Seraphina asked, holding his hands.
Lucien turned his gaze to her. "No."
He wiped his tears, and his gaze turned determined.
Staying at the mansion was better than going out. There were lots of resources, and his father could hire a special teacher to train him. His cultivation would grow stronger than heading out.
But there was sothing about going out—your ntality changed as you encountered both the good and the filthy of the world.
"Aethelgard, I am coming for you," he roared internally.
Within a few hours, they reached a city nad Haewun. It wasn’t Lucien who led them there, but Seraphina guided him.
The city walls stretched across the horizon, grey and weathered, running for miles until they vanished into distant hills. The main gate was a massive arch of black iron and white stone, its surface carved with faded battle scenes—lions, spears, and naless heroes long forgotten. Above the gate, a simple copper bell hung silent, waiting for an enemy that had never co.
Haewun was not the strongest city in Aethelgard. But it was popular, a place where travelers rested and rchants traded, where old and new mixed like oil and water.
Lucien’s eyes lit up when he saw the city gates. He had read about the city in ancient texts, but seeing it in person gave him a different feeling.
The coachman guided the unicorns to land slowly, stopping at the city gates. The guards’ eyes were glued to the carriage. They recognized the unicorns and began guessing at the background of its owner.
The carriage was parked with the coachman, while Lucien and Seraphina alighted and walked into the streets.
Lucien wore a simple traveler’s outfit—dark, unadorned, practical. Beside him, Seraphina stood out like a burning coal in a pile of ash, her red dress catching every eye on the street.
The crowd began to whisper and murmur.
Lucien’s handso face and Seraphina’s beautiful face were beyond sothing mortal, with the sacred and royal aura they carried.
Seraphina had her arms interlocked with his, making the crowd realize they were a couple.
"Who are they?"
"This is the first ti I’m seeing them here."
"They must be from a royal or aristocratic clan."
"They are a perfect match."
"Ah, I’m jealous of both of them."
The murmurs reached his ears, which made him chuckle.
At the outer part, the races he saw were Humans, but as they continued, he encountered other races that made his eyes glow with stars.
Especially Volkins. Seeing those rabbit ears, fluffy fox tails. Damn, how big were those breasts? Weren’t these the legendary F-cup he had read about in novels?
His gaze kept wandering off, entranced by the scene before him. He had read about them in the clan’s repository, but seeing them with his own eyes gave a special flavor.
"Hmph..."
This snort woke him up. He turned to Seraphina, who wore an ugly expression.
Ding!
[Host’s action has caused a spark of jealousy in his wife. You are rewarded with one Random Gacha Ticket and 100 Eternal Devotion Tickets.]
’Even this brings rewards,’ Lucien thought.
But a pain woke him up. Seraphina held his right ear and slowly twisted it.
Lucien shouted in pain. Their commotion slowly garnered attention.
"Darling, where are your eyes wandering?" Her cold voice made his body shake. For the first ti, she was calling him Darling.
He forced a smile and coughed. "Just admiring the scenery the city has to offer."
"Oh, really?" Seraphina covered her mouth and muttered.
Lucien nodded eagerly.
"And which scenery are you admiring?" she asked, her tone curious.
"Those bunny ears, fluffy tails..." Lucien quickly shut himself up, realizing the situation he was in.
"Oh, honey, I was thinking of sothing. What if I exterminated every female in the world so you could only admire ?"
Her words were like whispers of hell in his ear.
How the hell did she have such thoughts?
He began to sweat unconsciously.
"Just kidding." She burst into giggles, releasing her grip on his ear, clearly delighted by Lucien’s reaction.
Lucien was relieved, but he didn’t believe she wouldn’t dare do it.
The crowd shook their heads at their antics. Why couldn’t they do this at ho?
They walked through the streets. Lucien made sure not to make the sa mistake again.
The scent of grilled at and sweet dough drifted from a nearby stall. He resisted the urge—there would be ti for street food later.
"So, what’s the next plan, husband?" Seraphina asked after they had explored part of the city.
"Let’s go to the rcenary Association and register ourselves," Lucien said.
They made their way there.
The rcenary Association was a neutral organization created by all races. Its purpose was to keep order and provide resources for cultivators. All races coexisted and cooperated here.
They entered the door.
---
Inside the rcenary Association
Noise hit them first—a wall of voices, clinking coins, and the thud of boots on worn stone. The hall stretched wide, its ceiling lost in shadow, supported by thick pillars carved with the emblems of a dozen races: human fists, dragon claws, angel wings, demon horns, and more.
Long wooden counters lined the walls, each manned by clerks in grey robes. Adventurers of every race crowded the open floor—so boasting scars, others polished armor. A massive quest board dominated the far wall, covered in parchnt pinned with iron nails. Requests ranged from "Kill a pack of dire wolves" to "Escort a rchant to the next city." Above the board, a clockwork tir ticked down seconds, marking the hours until new quests arrived.
The sll of old paper, sweat, and cheap ale hung in the air. Sowhere in the back, a drunk Volkin with bear ears was arm-wrestling a stout Dwarf. A group of humans in leather armor laughed at a corner table. And near the center, a white-haired Elf polished her bow, watching the door with cold, disinterested eyes.
This was not the Veyrion mansion. This was where people ca to work, to bleed, to rise.
Lucien’s heart beat faster.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and glanced at them.
The aura they exuded couldn’t be possessed by ordinary people.
"Oh, it seems newbies have appeared," soone chuckled.
Before Lucien could say anything, everyone rushed toward them.
"Co join the Fla rcenaries. We’re the best here!"
"Bah, which Fla rcenaries? Young man, don’t mind her. Co join our rcury Association. We’re an A-Rank rcenary group!"
The hall turned rowdy, shocking Lucien.
He coughed and said, "Sorry, everyone. We’re here to create our own rcenary group."
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