Raiden woke with a start.

His body ached, and his back protested against the cold stone floor he'd passed out on. For a moment, he blinked in confusion, staring up at the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the small opening in the ceiling.

Right.

He was still in his base.

The secret basement beneath the abandoned building at the far edge of the Goldheart estate — quiet, forgotten, and perfect for hiding from everyone who thought he trained too much.

He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples. The air here always smelled faintly of dust and old mana — a strange, heavy kind of energy that never truly disappeared. The walls, though cracked, still shimmered faintly with remnants of old inscriptions.

"This place never gets old," Raiden muttered, stretching his sore arms. "Literally."

He glanced upward through the circular opening that led to the sky above. Stars glittered faintly beyond the jagged edges of stone, and the pale silver of the moonlight told him everything he needed to know.

"…Midnight again, huh?" he whispered, sighing. "Guess I overdid it."

He chuckled tiredly and dragged himself to his feet, collecting his wooden sword and the empty water flasks scattered nearby. His body felt heavy, but the ache was a good one — the kind that came from real progress.

Still, he couldn't stay here. If anyone found out he'd been missing all night again, even after saying not to search for him, his mother would lock him in his room for a week.

He climbed the narrow stone staircase, careful to keep his footsteps quiet. When he reached the surface, the cool night air greeted him — crisp, clean, alive with the faint hum of mana that always surrounded the Goldheart estate.

He took a deep breath and smiled faintly.

Freedom. At least for now.

Raiden stepped out into the moonlight, brushing dust from his clothes, and began walking toward the main building. But before he'd taken more than a few steps, a calm, amused voice drifted from above.

"Impressive. I see you've taken quite the liking to this old place."

Raiden froze mid-step. His shoulders stiffened.

That voice...

He turned, eyes darting upward toward the roof of the very building he'd just exited.

Lord Cedric Goldheart stood there his father cloaked in soft moonlight, arms crossed, a faint smirk curving his lips.

Raiden's heart nearly jumped out of his chest. "F–Father?!"

Cedric chuckled quietly. "You thought you could train in secret forever? I was curious where you kept disappearing to. It's quite an excellent hideout."

Raiden blinked, uncertain whether to be proud or terrified. "You… knew about this place?"

"Not entirely," Cedric admitted. "Until tonight, I only suspected. You've grown sneaky."

That caught Raiden's attention. He frowned, tilting his head. "Wait—what do you mean 'until tonight'? You've been tracking me?"

Cedric's smile widened just slightly. "Let's just say you left a few traces behind on your way here. Broken grass, faint mana residue… You're talented, Raiden, but not invisible."

Raiden groaned. "I knew I should've practiced stealth skills instead of sword drills."

Cedric laughed softly and then, without warning, leapt gracefully from the rooftop.

He landed beside Raiden without a sound, his boots pressing lightly against the grass. The moonlight gleamed off his silver hair and calm gray eyes — eyes that always seemed to see more than he let on.

"Come," he said, gesturing for Raiden to sit. "Let's talk."

They sat together on the grassy patch beside the abandoned building, the night alive with the gentle chirping of crickets. The ruined structure loomed beside them like a silent guardian — old, dignified, and humming faintly with forgotten magic.

Raiden glanced at his father, curiosity burning brighter than exhaustion. "So… you really knew about this place?"

Cedric nodded slowly. "Of course. This building holds history. I wondered when one of my children would rediscover it."

Raiden blinked. "History?"

The lord leaned back, gazing thoughtfully at the moon. "This used to belong to one of our family's oldest ancestors — Lady Anaaya Goldheart. She was a prodigy in Barrier Magic, perhaps the greatest our family has ever known."

"Barrier Magic?" Raiden echoed.

Cedric nodded. "Yes. She could weave protection spells strong enough to withstand armies and monsters. The protective field that still shields our estate — the one that regenerates even after damage — that was her work. Centuries ago."

Raiden's mouth fell open. "Wait… she made that?!"

Cedric chuckled softly. "Indeed. She devoted her life to perfecting her craft. And this building—" he gestured around them "—was where she began. This basement you've claimed for yourself was once her workshop."

Raiden turned his gaze toward the half-collapsed walls, noticing the faint sigils glowing along the stones. He'd always assumed they were leftover decorations. But now that he looked closer, he could sense it — a quiet, pulsing hum of ancient mana beneath the surface.

"That's why it always feels so… strange down there," he murmured.

Cedric nodded. "The spells she cast were powerful enough to linger for centuries. Even in decay, her work endures. It's quite remarkable."

For a moment, silence settled between them. The wind rustled softly through the trees. The moon bathed the ruins in gentle silver light.

Then Cedric turned to his son, smiling faintly. "You have good instincts, Raiden. I'm impressed you found this place. It's no wonder it's been so difficult to locate you lately — the lingering barrier magic must have hidden your mana signature."

Raiden looked at him in surprise. "So that's why you couldn't find me when I disappeared?"

Cedric laughed quietly. "Yes. I was beginning to think you'd mastered invisibility."

Raiden grinned. "Guess I'm just naturally gifted."

Cedric shook his head, amused. "That, or you're extremely lucky."

They both chuckled, the sound soft and easy in the quiet night.

After a while, Cedric spoke again, his tone gentler. "You've been training hard, haven't you?"

Raiden nodded. "I have to. I'm still weak with the sword. And there's a lot I need to learn."

Cedric gave him a long, searching look. "You've been pushing yourself beyond your limits lately. Don't think I haven't noticed."

Raiden shifted slightly. "…I'm fine."

"Even the strongest swordsman breaks if he forgets to rest," Cedric said. "Progress means nothing if it costs you your body."

Raiden lowered his gaze. For a long moment, he didn't answer.

If only his father knew — knew that the Skill Draw System had given him missions far beyond sword drills and sparring.

If only he knew that Raiden's true goal wasn't just strength for its own sake — it was survival against the Seven Great Evil Beasts he'd been fated to face someday.

Slow down? Raiden thought bitterly. I can't. Not when I know what's coming.

He managed a small smile and nodded. "I'll try to slow down a bit."

Cedric smiled in return, clearly unconvinced but willing to let it go. "Good. Your spirit is admirable, Raiden. But you must learn balance. Even warriors need stillness."

Raiden sighed softly. "I'll remember that."

They sat there a while longer, father and son beneath the stars — no training swords, no sparring, no lectures. Just quiet understanding.

After some time, Raiden looked up, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Father?"

"Yes?"

"Can you… keep this place a secret? You know, between us?"

Cedric raised an eyebrow. "Your little hideout?"

Raiden nodded quickly. "If Mother finds out, she'll drag me here every morning to 'supervise' my training or worse, ban me."

Cedric laughed, a deep, rich sound that echoed in the still air. "Very well. Our secret."

Raiden grinned triumphantly. "Deal."

Then Cedric stood, stretching slightly. "It's late — or rather, early. We should head back before the sun finds us sitting out here like statues."

Before Raiden could reply, his father crouched down, effortlessly lifting the boy and setting him on his shoulders.

Raiden blinked in surprise. "Huh? Father!"

Cedric only smirked. "You look exhausted. Besides, you've earned it. Even warriors need a ride home sometimes."

Raiden chuckled, settling comfortably against his father's broad shoulders as they began the slow walk back toward the main building.

The night breeze brushed gently past them, carrying the faint scent of dew and grass. The world was calm, peaceful in a way it rarely was for Raiden.

They walked in silence for a while, until Raiden's stomach gave a loud, echoing growl that shattered the tranquility.

Cedric blinked. "…What in the world was that?"

Raiden groaned, covering his face. "I, uh… might've skipped dinner."

Cedric sighed dramatically. "Skipped dinner? That didn't sound like hunger. That sounded like the end of the world."

Raiden laughed, embarrassed. "Guess I burned through everything while training."

Cedric shook his head, amused. "You need food before you end up fainting again. I'll have the kitchen prepare something warm when we get back."

As they approached the glowing lights of the main building, Raiden's eyes grew heavier. The steady rhythm of his father's footsteps and the soft hum of the night made his exhaustion finally catch up to him.

Before they reached the gates, his head tilted forward, resting gently against Cedric's hair.

The lord smiled faintly, feeling the boy's breathing even out.

"Sleep well, my son," he murmured. "You've earned your rest."

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