The sun rose over Selorn City, burning away the last vestiges of the morning mist. It was a bright, clear day, the kind that usually signaled new beginnings.

For the Willson Guild, it was exactly that. For me, it was the end of a vacation that had felt more like a covert war.

It was crisp, bright—perfect weather for a new beginning. Or, in my case, an ending.

I sat on the edge of my narrow bed, my bag packed and leaning against the doorframe. On my pillow, a small, obsidian-scaled menace was currently trying to murder the corner of my blanket.

...tasty... fabric... destroy...

Nox, the Abyssal Wyrmling. My Mythical-grade headache.

"Hey," I whispered, poking its tiny, horned head. "You eat that, and you're riding in the cheap inventory slot. The one that smells like goblin teeth."

Nox let out a puff of black smoke that smelled like ozone and old books, then nuzzled my finger with a purr that vibrated straight up my arm.

The bond between us hummed in the back of my mind—warm, demanding, and deeper than mana.

I sighed, opening my dimensional storage.

"Alright, inside. We're moving out."

...dark... sleep... okay...

With a soft chirp, Nox dissolved into a streak of violet light, vanishing into the storage space.

I stood up, taking one last look around. The worn training manuals on the shelf, the cracked window frame that rattled when the wind blew, the smell of old wood and lemon polish. It was a humble room, miles away from the luxury of the Supreme Hall. But in the last few weeks, this dusty little box had felt more like home than anywhere else in two lifetimes.

I grabbed my pack. "Time to go."

Downstairs, the guild hall was alive. The gloom that had suffocated the place when I first arrived was gone, replaced by the clatter of breakfast plates and the loud, boisterous laughter of hunters who finally had steady paychecks.

My family was waiting by the main entrance. A carriage stood outside—not a fancy noble's coach, but a sturdy, well-maintained transport we could now easily afford.

"Michael!" My mother, Lilly, spotted me instantly. She was wiping her hands on her apron, her eyes already shimmering with that dangerous, pre-crying gloss.

"You're ready? You have everything?"

"I'm ready, Mom," I said, stepping down the last stair.

"Did you pack the extra socks? The wool ones?" she asked, fussing with my collar. "The dorms in Arcadia are stone, they get drafty at night."

"Mom, I have an Ice Affinity. The cold doesn't bother me."

"Don't sass me, Michael Willson," she sniffed, swatting my arm lightly. "Affinity or not, you catch cold just like anyone else. And the dried meat? I put three packets in the side pocket."

"I saw. It's enough to feed a platoon."

"Good. You're too skinny." She pulled me into a crushing hug, burying her face in my shoulder. She smelled of flour and dried herbs. "Oh, look at you. You just got back, and now you're leaving again."

"It's just school, Mom," I said, hugging her back, feeling the genuine warmth of it seep into my chest. "I'll be back for winter break."

"You'd better be," she mumbled into my shirt.

My father, Darius, cleared his throat, stepping up beside us. His left arm was still in a sling, but the color had returned to his face, and he stood tall.

"Let the boy breathe, Lilly," he said gently, though his own eyes were crinkling with emotion. He looked at me, then at the bustling guild hall behind us.

"Ready to head back to the snake pit?" he asked, a knowing grin on his face.

"Something like that," I said.

We piled into the carriage. Marcus sat across from me, looking calm as ever in a simple tunic and trousers. To the rest of the world, he was just the reliable big brother. To me, he was a Sword Immortal keeping his power sheathed.

As the carriage rattled through the streets of Selorn, I watched the city pass by. The Weaver's District, where Master Thorne waved from his shop window. The market, where merchants actually tipped their hats to our crest. The distant, charred skeleton of the Viper's warehouse—a grim reminder of the work we'd done.

"It's a different city than the one you came home to," Darius said softly, following my gaze.

"It's a better one," I replied.

"Because of you," he said. He looked at his injured arm, then flexed his good hand. "You know, when you first left for the Academy... I was terrified. I thought the capital would chew you up and spit you out. I thought I was sending you to the wolves."

He looked at me, his expression fierce and proud. "But watching you these past weeks... taking charge, leading the raid, handling those business deals with Victor... I realized something."

He leaned forward and clapped his hand on my knee. "You're not the sheep, Michael. You're the wolf. I don't think I have to worry about you anymore."

I smiled, a little awkwardly. "I'll try not to cause too much trouble, Dad."

"Cause trouble," he laughed, a booming sound. "Just make sure you win."

The station platform was crowded, steam hissing from the massive rune-engine of the Arcadia train. The conductor blew the five-minute whistle.

"Alright," Marcus said, speaking for the first time since we left the guild. "This is your stop."

We stepped out onto the platform. The finality of it hit me then. The break was over. The safety net of my family was staying here.

My mother hugged me one last time, holding on for a long moment. Don't forget to call us regularly," she whispered.

"And not just when you need money or... or when you're in trouble. Just call. Tell us about your friends....and most importantly". She has a serious expression.

Everyone was taken a back but next second, her word make me fall to ground.

"... don't forget to bring my daughter in law home next time "

" huhh"

I winced, thinking of the Maria disaster. "I will, Mom. I promise."

She stepped back, wiping her eyes. "Go on then. Make us proud."

"I already am," my father said, shaking my hand firmly. He didn't say anything else; the strength of his grip said it all.

Then, it was Marcus.

He didn't go for a hug. He didn't shake my hand.

He just stood there, hands tucked into his sleeves, an island of calm in the chaotic station.

He looked at our parents, making sure they were out of earshot, then fixed his gaze on me.

"You've got everything?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah. The egg, the contracts, the evidence. It's all secure."

"Good." He tilted his head slightly, a faint, barely-there smirk playing on his lips. "Go play your games in the capital, 'Player'. Climb your ranks. Deal with your nobles."

His expression sobered, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that transcended the role of a simple brother.

"Don't worry about the rear," he said, his voice low and steady as a mountain root. "I've got the guild. I've got Mom and Dad. If the Vipers—or anyone else—try to crawl back out of the gutter while you're gone... I'll handle it."

He didn't need to say how. I knew.

"I know you will," I said, feeling a massive weight lift off my shoulders. "Just... try not to ascend to the Heavens before I get back, alright? I still need a brother."

Marcus let out a short, dry chuckle. "I'll try to keep my feet on the ground. But you... watch your back. The Academy is a different kind of jungle."

"I'll be fine," I said.

We bumped fists—a simple gesture, but between a transmigrated author and a reincarnated cultivator, it felt like sealing a pact.

"All aboard!"

I grabbed my bag and stepped onto the train stairs. The doors hissed shut behind me.

I found my seat by the window and looked out.

They were standing there in a row. My mother, waving frantically with a handkerchief. My father, standing tall and saluting. And Marcus, arms crossed, watching me with that unreadable, ancient calm.

The train lurched, the mana engine whining as it picked up speed.

I watched them shrink into the distance.

I watched Selorn City, the place where I'd rewritten the script, fade into the morning haze.

I didn't turn away until they were gone.

When I finally faced forward, settling into the plush velvet seat of the first-class cabin, the soft smile on my face faded. It was replaced by a cold, sharp focus.

I pulled out my tablet. A new message from Victor was waiting.

[Victor: Boss. Daven just moved 50 million Ren into a shell company called 'Black Iron'. It's starting.]

I tapped the screen, my fingers moving quickly.

[Me: Let it start. I'm on my way.]

My Vacation was Fullfill by returning home. The family reunion was done.

I closed my eyes, listening to the rhythmic hum of the train.

"Time to go back to work."

(End of Chapter)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.