Tap... Stomp...
The resonating sound of footsteps filled the serene hallway, creating a soothing atmosphere in its vicinity. With every step he took, the man reflected on the conversation he had shared with his father.
-He will be my rightful heir.
his father's words reverberated in his mind.
-That child, he's nothing short of a prodigy. -
-He has a monstrous talent.
the voice echoed once more. Its relentless repetition disrupted his thoughts, leaving him unable to concentrate on his current concerns. Gradually, his patience reached its limit.
Carl sighed. "Just what did father saw from him at that time to say something like that?" he said with a visibly annoyed expression on his face.
Contrary to what one might assume, Carl's feelings towards his nephew and his potential succession have nothing to do with hatred or anger. Even if his father decided to choose another successor, Carl harbors no ill will towards anyone. Instead, he harbors a deep sense of curiosity that drives his thoughts. Rather than being resentful, Carl is eager to explore the extent of Lux's potential that made his father speak like that.
He was genuinely curious about the battle that had taken place that day. Upon returning home, he heard the news and how Azu was blown away by Lux with his mysterious technique but hadn't fully comprehended the entire situation yet.
As Carl pondered the situation, he realized that he had wasted too much time dwelling on this matter. Therefore, he decided to let it go and continue forward.
'Perhaps I should speak with Lux directly about this later on. Although the likelihood of receiving accurate information is slim, I will still value and respect his decision. After all, this matter does not directly concern me,' Carl thought, feeling certain in his decision.
He also felt that it was not yet the appropriate time to inquire about the matter. It had only been three months since his father's tragic demise in their battle against a supreme-ranking demon during their visit to his father's relatives. In a tragic turn of events, all of them, except him, were obliterated. Now, in addition to their grief, Felix and Carl were fervently striving to locate any potential survivors or clues, but... No traces were found until now.
"The Argan Family..." Carl's voice trembled as he whispered their name. His bond with them had been exceptionally strong. Carl couldn't fathom the pain his sister endured, and the burden Lux carried as the sole survivor. Just the mere thought of what Lux witnessed that day, the horrifying sight of their loved ones falling victim to the hands of demons, compelled Carl to shut his eyes momentarily.
Lux had somehow managed to escape from the invasion of one of the twelve supreme-rank demons the closest in terms of power to the 'Nightmare demon' through sheer luck and willpower.
Gasping for air with his weak body on the verge of dying, Lux was discovered unconscious in the heart of the forest. Thankfully, word of the invasion had reached the ears of Carl and Felix who was the closest to the Argan territory, and immediately rushed to the scene in a desperate attempt to offer aid. Unfortunately, their arrival came too late - the demon's onslaught had already claimed the lives of the entire Argan family.
They were overwhelmingly grateful that one of their beloved family members had managed to survive the devastating catastrophe.
Upon examining the map showing the exact location where Lux was found in an unconscious state, where albeit there's a high chance of encountering even more strong demons, it became unmistakable that the only available path for Felix and Carl to potentially come and offer assistance recklessly would be the one his father had anticipated and prepared for. It was evident that his father had spared no effort in utilizing all the resources in his arsenal to meticulously design a successful escape route for Lux.
But right now, It is undeniable that nobody should bother him during his mental healing process. Carl is fully aware of the struggle of his nephew.
Putting that in mind, Carl went to the dining room for breakfast where everyone could be seen including Lux. This put a smile on Carl's face.
The breakfast ended with trivial talk and smoothly without a hitch, leaving everyone to do their things.
***
A week passed since then
Bubble... Bubble... Bubble... Bubble...
Under the vast waterfall, the shimmering stream of water danced upon his skin enveloping him in its refreshing embrace. With each droplet that trickled down, a cool sensation coursed through his vein, revitalizing his spirit and awakening his senses.
In this cold mountain, where temperatures plummet, one would expect the physical form of a person, deeply immersed under the chill cascades of waterfalls, to crumble under the intensity. However, Lux's expression defies all expectations. Serene and unaffected, his body appears as an extension of his tranquil mind. A harmonious fusion of his inner self and the external elements, he stands undeterred by the biting cold. The unity between the mind and body is complete, transcending the extremities of the external environment. Lux's unwavering presence and experience in the face of such adversity speaks volumes of his profound connection to the surroundings and his mastery over the cold mountain air.
His ability to conquer natural extremities shows how he truly lives up to his reputation in his past life.
As Lux trained his body and mind to become one, he found himself in a deep thought. 'Over the time I spent my life in this place for this entire week, I'd realized that this world had its own struggles as well. From the memory of the original Lux, Not only do evil beings exist but gruesome-looking things they called monsters are also plucking anywhere causing disturbance and chaos to peace resulting in the deaths of countless people every year. The existence of the absolute nightmare being caused a significant change in the lives of people. Hence, people with a sense of righteousness who opposed evil emerged one after another with the power they acquired bestowed by God. This power is what they call mana. This so-called mana was provided to fight against these wicked, corrupted, and cruel beings. Similar to internal energy, mana performs miraculous things. When swords are embedded with mana, it can easily cut a tree with a swing and through this technique and profound knowledge of controlling mana, one can perform inhumane movements. Though, there are similarities, the two energy works differently. Unlike mana which was granted by God ever since they were born, internal energy requires deep knowledge of circulating and absorbing energy inside the human body. To master, it involves materializing this energy externally and enveloping your sword with energy, which is one of the basic principles of being a martial swordsman in my previous world. This mana is also the same but works differently. Since they have had mana since birth, their ways of utilizing it with the sword are different compared to internal energy. And... the reason for the disappearance of my mana after I took over this body is...'
Arriving in a question with no immediate answer for this strange phenomenon, Lux could only grumble at the moment. He instantly disregarded the thought for later analysis. His information is evidently not enough.
'"In addition, I've noticed that the workings of this world bear similarities to my previous one. The irony lies in the persistent presence of political affairs. Though politics is something I detest, it seems unavoidable in a world like this." Lux delved into analyzing the inner workings of the world. After some time, he arrived at a conclusion, opening his eyes with determination.
Rising to his feet, Lux pondered, "With all this information, my focus should be on improving my physical prowess."
For the past few days, Lux secluded himself in an isolated location, dedicating himself to rigorous training.
Day after day, he pushed his body to its
limits, without relenting. Despite the exhaustion and pain, Lux recognized the necessity of this training to regain his former strength. His strong mentality plays a vital role in driving him forward.
With this mindset, Lux prepared to resume his training when his concentration was abruptly interrupted by the approach of a group of individuals.
As he observed them, the first thing that caught Lux's attention was their attire – they were dressed as maids, pushing metal trolleys laden with meals. Lux instantly grasped their purpose but was taken aback by their sudden appearance. Nevertheless, he warmly welcomed them.
Approaching him, the head maid wasted no time in explaining their mission. "Master Carl has specifically instructed me to deliver this message to you. He's been concerned that young Master Lux often skips dinner since you secluded yourself to train. He worries that your health may be compromised, considering that it hasn't been long since your recovery from severe injuries. As a result, Master Carl has agreed to have these meals and fresh clothes sent to you daily, so you can change out of your previous attire when it becomes dirty."
Lux couldn't help but think, 'Clothes, huh? It seems Carl has been surveilling me from a distance all this time.' However, recognizing no ill intent, Lux decided to let the maids proceed.
Nodding in acknowledgment, Lux instructed the maids, "I understand. But please refrain from disturbing me during meal delivery in the future. Your actions may be compelled by Uncle's orders, but this is my training area. I request that you simply leave the meals nearby, and I will consume them when the time is right."
He pointed to a nearby forest quite far away from his training area.
The head maid looks puzzled after examining the distance where he points his finger. She wasn't sure if the young master would eat them knowing that the distance gave off a ridiculous sensation, however, as per the order given to her, she decided to obey his instruction.
"...I'd understand your request, and we will certainly make the necessary arrangements. Next time, I'll arrange for a dedicated maid to oversee the food while you're occupied with your training. Rest assured, we will take precautions to ensure that the local wildlife does not disrupt or feast upon it. Our goal is to ensure the utmost convenience for the young master." she responded courteously.
Lux nodded with great satisfaction at the answer she gave. 'Surely, she wasn't given that position for nothing.' he thought.
After a great meal, the maids hurriedly left the training area. The world by then seems to have become slower and slower under his perception while repeatedly doing his training and making progress as time goes by.
***
A month later...
Lux entered the office and found himself in the presence of his grandfather, Felix, diligently tending to the important documents and paperwork.
Felix noticed him immediately. He looked bewildered at first, then shocked, and lastly, his expression turned serious with a slight hint of interest just by seeing a bright beam in his pupil. Lux's sudden appearance made him speechless for a moment.
Lux could feel the unspoken questions just by seeing his grandfather's expressions. What has brought him here?
Albeit, Felix had so many questions, the lingering air seems to tell that he didn't come here for that reason. Felix disregarded his questions and stood on business. "...It appears that your training has come to an end. I sensed a distinct shift in the room's ambiance the moment you entered. State it, what prompted you to come here?"
Without wasting further time by dwelling on trivial talks, Lux hurriedly explained in a way that his grandfather would comprehend everything and his objectives for coming all the way here instantly.
"I need to leave, Grandfather," Lux declared, his voice resolute, barely concealing the urgency in his words. "I need to see my mother."
"...."
Silence hung in the air, leaving Felix again momentarily speechless. The weight of Lux's confession settled heavily upon them both. Felix could read the sincerity etched upon Lux's face, recognizing that reuniting with his mother was vital for his own healing.
Not knowing that this is just a deception that Lux had implemented on him.
'hehe, I'm really good at this.' thought Lux.