Lindarion's pupils finally adjusted to the light just as a loud chime echoed in his head.
Quest: Human Ball – Completed!
??? → Insight (Legendary!)
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the quest!]
Mana Thread Manipulation (Mythic) Mana Perception (Common) Flow (Rare) [New!] Insight (Legendary) [New!]
Accelerated Regeneration Mana Shot Pure Mana Shield Phantom Step (★★★)
'Wait… Mana Thread Manipulation is Mythic?! Plus, I got a Legendary technique! My Mana Core also moved up two sub-ranks…'
Lindarion froze, standing stiffly beside the palace guards. They gave him odd glances but said nothing.
His mother, however, was staring at him with an unreadable expression.
'What's wrong with her?'
"My little one, you're growing more beautiful by the second," she mused, a sweet, innocent smile gracing her lips. But he hadn't forgotten her devilish antics from earlier.
'It's probably the Charisma stat… I should test out my new skills and techniques later.'
"Thank you, Mother," he replied with a small shake of his head, allowing a faint smile to slip through.
With that, they made their way into the palace.
His father wasn't there when they arrived.
'He must be in his office.'
"Mother, I need to speak with Father."
She gave him a strange look, as if searching for something in his words.
"…Very well, son. Go ahead."
He didn't wait for her to finish.
He bolted toward the office like a madman.
He practically kicked the door open, his voice ringing through the chamber. His father, seated at his desk, blinked in surprise at the abrupt entrance.
"Good to see you, son. How was the ba—"
"I want to start training. Like a real Elven soldier."
Lindarion cut him off, knowing full well that interrupting the Elven King was a grave offense. But he didn't care—he needed to get straight to the point.
His father stared at him, clearly caught off guard. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk as he considered.
"You're too young, Lindarion. You can't train with the others yet."
'…Damn it. I didn't expect that.'
"What if someone trained me one-on-one?"
A deep sigh left his father's lips. His brows furrowed slightly.
A presence emerged from Lindarion's shadow.
He stiffened. His breath hitched. His eyes widened.
'Wait—she was at the stone circle that day!'
The memory was crystal clear. She had guided his meditation for hours, then disappeared without a word. He hadn't seen or heard from her since.
"You've met before, if I recall correctly," his father said.
"From tomorrow onward, Seraphine Nightgem will be your teacher. She is the Sunblade family's head guardian."
"…Seraphine Nightgem."
Lindarion turned to her, meeting her piercing gaze.
"Thank you, Father. I accept."
A genuine smile crossed his lips as he bowed. His father and Seraphine exchanged glances before nodding.
"The training will be hell," Seraphine warned, her voice colder than ice. A chill ran down his spine. His instincts screamed that she wasn't exaggerating.
He straightened, meeting their gazes head-on. They tried to hide it, but he saw it.
'Makes sense. After all, it's me we're talking about.'
[Don't get ahead of yourself.]
'Shh… don't ruin the moment.'
"Meet me at the stone circle tomorrow," Seraphine said before vanishing like a ghost.
Lindarion's eyebrows shot up.
"…You'll get used to it, son," his father chuckled.
'What a strange woman'
"Now go. Tomorrow will be a big day."
With a final nod, Lindarion left his office and made his way to his room.
The palace maids brightened upon seeing him.
"Your Highness, welcome back," they greeted in perfect unison, bowing with practiced elegance.
He chuckled awkwardly.
"Please, don't mind me. Carry on with your work."
Waving a hand, he quickly escaped the mildly embarrassing situation.
Tomorrow was going to be hell.
And he couldn't wait.
He rushed back to his room and locked the door with everything he could find.
"Alright, the book, please."
A black hole appeared before him, and the snake-covered book fell out. The moment he grabbed it, a familiar resonance pulsed through him.
[Come on, open it, Host.]
The system had never been this excited before.
As he opened the book, strange symbols filled the pages—none of them made any sense.
"Uhh, system… a little help would be nice."
"What the fuck? What happened?"
[Translation successful!]
The symbols began to shift before his eyes, forming a strange sentence:
"Breaking through the veils of the past, shaking the boundaries of the present, I call upon the secrets of the future to flow through me. From the fate of this book, which I seek, I cannot part. Come, now, that I may reach what is lost…?"
The moment he finished the sentence, control slipped from his body. The world went dark.
"Phew… so I'm not dead."
Suddenly, a hissing sound echoed through the void.
"You are a brave child. You remind me of him, Lindarion."
A massive white snake emerged before him. His face paled, his body freezing in place.
"Lindarion, boy, this book is not mere paper and ink. It is the voice of time's depths, brought forth by the ancient wind. One single motion, and the boundaries of the world could blur—or disappear entirely. The knowledge you seek is no gift, but a price you must pay. Every word inscribed, every magic invoked, carries weight. You don't just seek answers, but deeper questions: Are you ready to pay the cost of the secrets that lie within you?"
"…Yes, I am ready. I will do what I must."
"You have chosen wisely, Prince. Now, extend your hand."
Lindarion obeyed, and suddenly, a white snake tattoo coiled around his arm.
"Remember, time shows no mercy. What you now begin cannot be undone. Prepare yourself, for the past and future will intertwine, and you will be the one to change everything. Take the beginning, but do not forget that the end is also part of your story. Step forward, and let time guide you."
As the voice faded, he found himself back in his room.
A terrible pain shot through his head.
It felt like his skull was splitting—but the pain faded quickly.
"Finally, that's over—"
[New title unlocked.]
[Ouroboros's Disciple.]