Time flies by, and in the blink of an eye, Ethan is already 10 years old, with only a few days left until he turns 11. In these few remaining days, Ethan will be taken to the main family estate to determine once and for all whether he has finally developed his spirit core and spirit talent.
If the results show no signs of progress, he will be declared a waste in front of everyone, becoming an ordinary person with no talent who can’t practice or master the arts.
Ethan lies on a rocking table, enjoying the bright sunshine, while a girl named Nyra, around 16 to 17 years old with delicate features, creamy skin, and a good figure, massages his shoulders with a sweet smile. A handsome boy about 15 to 16 years old, named Edrin, runs in.
"The car is ready, and Sir Anthony and Madam Aurora are waiting outside panting."
Edrin and Nyra are siblings, not part of the Drake family, but Ethan bought them from a businessman at a high price when he was 7 years old.
Ethan slowly opens his eyes, savoring the comfortable life he leads, free from worry about money or work, with someone to serve him at all times. It’s a far cry from his previous life of constant work, stress, and financial concerns.
Ethan gets up, stretches, and smiles. "Let’s go," he says. "Didn’t you both want to see Skyvault City? I’ll take you to see it today."
Edrin suddenly asks, "Young Master, are you not nervous at all?"
Ethan smiles at him and replies, "Do I need to be nervous?"
Nyra’s face changes slightly as she glares at her brother. "Shut up!" she shouts. ’Didn’t you know that the talent has always been a thorn in the Young Master’s heart? Why would you mention it?’ She thought, wishing she could sew her brother’s mouth shut.
Seeing his sister’s fierce look, Edrin’s neck shrinks, and he apologizes hurriedly. "I’m sorry, Young Master, I was just speaking nonsense."
Ethan waves his hand and smiles. "It’s okay, I’m very open-minded. If I can’t get the spirit core this time, it means I have no chance to get it. Let’s go to Skyvault City." He steps out of the yard, with Edrin and Nyra hurrying to follow.
On the way to Skyvault City, Anthony asks unhappily in the carriage, "How can you be more calm than your parents?"
Ethan’s mother, Aurora, sits opposite them, silently praying to the gods and their ancestors for a miracle that will help their son possess a spirit core.
Ethan replies to his father’s statement, "If the spirit core spawns in my body, that would be good. If it doesn’t, then it cannot be helped."
Anthony is happy to see his son’s mentality but still wishes for him to have a spirit core or at least a spirit talent to absorb an external spirit core. He hopes that if the worst-case scenario happens, Ethan will marry someone as soon as he comes of age and continue the family line.
"This time, we will stay at your great-grandfather’s house," Anthony says.
Ethan nods and looks out the window. The city is huge, with no end in sight, like a divine beast crawling and exuding an extraordinary momentum that would shake many people’s hearts and minds. This is Skyvault City, where the main lineage of the Drake family resides.
"How magnificent!" Edrin and Nyra exclaim in awe from another carriage behind Ethan’s.
After entering Skyvault City, the car meandered through bustling streets and quiet alleys, slowly making its way toward the outskirts of the inner city. The destination was a grand mansion—The Midnight Mansion—a name whispered with reverence and a hint of mystery. It stood proudly on a sprawling estate, surrounded by ancient trees and stone walls, a silent guardian of countless histories.
As they drew closer, the gates of the mansion loomed large, wrought iron stretched tall and imposing. Two guards stood sentinel, their armor gleaming faintly under the sunlight, eyes sharp and watchful.
The car came to a halt, and Sir Anthony stepped forward. His voice was calm but authoritative as he stated their purpose: "We are here to have Ethan Drake’s Spirit core and Spirit talent examined. The butler has been informed"
After a brief pause, the guard at the gate nodded and turned to a figure from within. Moments later, a second guard emerged, bowing slightly before speaking:
"Please follow me inside".
Proceeding through the gates, they were led across a meticulously kept courtyard to the mansion’s entrance. The mansion itself was an imposing structure: tall, with a roof topped by dark tiles that gleamed in the sunlight. Its walls were adorned with intricate carvings, the air heavy with the weight of history.
They entered through a large, arched doorway into a long, narrow hallway.
The hallway stretched endlessly, lined with dark walnut paneling polished to a low sheen—its surface etched with centuries of passing hands and stories. A faded red runner, stitched with gold thread, covered the wooden floor, the gilt near the edges worn soft by countless footsteps. Brass sconces with flickering, ever-burning candles cast an amber hue, shrouding the corridor in an oscillating dance of shadows.
Portraits in elaborate gilt frames lined the walls, depicting somber cultivators, veiled ladies, and patriarchs of old—eyes in those fading paintings seemed to follow any who dared to pass, as if guarding silent secrets of the family’s past.
The air was tinged with a faint scent of old parchment, lavender, and something metallic—a subtle reminder of bloodshed and sacrifice that lingered in the very stones of the mansion.
Finally, they were led to a small, secluded courtyard on a corner of the estate. The sun shone down gently, highlighting the surrounding stonework and ancient trees. Ethan glanced around, noting how quiet and solemn the place felt.
After the guards stepped back, Anthony sighed heavily. "The family’s affection seems to be diminishing with each generation," he murmured, watching the ghost of a smile fade from his face. "It’s getting harder for us to connect to the old glory."
Ethan, on the other hand, was observing silently, feeling that strange sense of being looked down upon—like a distant relative whose worth was measured only in bloodlines, ignored in the shadows of the grand estate. There was a sting to it, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he just looked around at the subdued surroundings.
Aurora, listening to Anthony’s grumbling, gently chided,"We should be grateful. At least they allowed us to come here, instead of exiling us to some forgotten corner of the city."
They stayed in that quiet courtyard for nearly a day, the afternoon softening into dusk, until a guard appeared with news: "A servant from the main family has arrived. They wish to meet with you."
The entire family stepped out—Ethan clutching Nyra’s hand, Edrin close behind—walking into a luxurious yet restrained hall. Moments later, a tall figure approached, bowing slightly as he announced: "It is time for the spirit core and talent examination."
They followed the servant through several grand corridors, rising higher and higher into the main castle, which sat on the opposite side of Skyvault City—an imposing fortress where only the core lineage of the family resided.
As they traveled, Ethan’s eyes swept across the surroundings. He felt a faint ripple of stronger presences nearby—archetypes whose aura and presence trembled with power. Some seemed older, their energy dense like compressed mountains; others emanated a sharp, commanding authority.
Unable to hide his curiosity, Ethan turned to his father. "How strong are they?"
Anthony glanced at him, amused. "Some of those you sense might be elders from the main family, or even members of other branches—perhaps from the outer guilds that serve under the Drake banner. A few of them could very well be at the guardship cultivation rank."
Ethan’s eyes widened slightly. "Guardship? How powerful is that?"
Anthony offered a small smile. "It’s a rank that signifies the beginning of true strength—the Guardianship rank is the next stage of cultivation after the Ascendant rank,"
Ethan nodded, feeling a new weight settle on his chest. The world was bigger than he had imagined—more dangerous, more magnificent. Yet, amid all the awe, he knew that he was stronger.