A few hours later,
The midnight silence of the Glacier Palace was absolute. The house was quiet and asleep, the perfect time for someone to break in… or in this case, break out.
Henry slipped out of his bedroom, his footsteps making zero sound against the polished crystalline floor. His posture was rigid, his breathing shallow and controlled. His eyes darted across the shadows of the corridor, calculating the optimal route to the perimeter exits. He had memorized the layout during the tour Felicity gave Henry.
The plan was simple: get out of the estate, lose himself in Arcadia City, and figure out the rest from the shadows.
He reached the grand staircase, his muscles coiled to descend, when a figure stepped out from the landing below.
Henry froze. It was Felicity. She was about six steps from the top, ascending slowly. She was dressed in a white silk robe, her long white hair loose around her shoulders, a faint blue glow from a datapad in one hand illuminating the lower half of her face. She was looking down at the device, not fully aware of Henry's presence yet.
In a fraction of a second, the cold, calculating predator in Henry's eyes vanished. His posture slumped slightly, his shoulders rounding just a fraction to project vulnerability. The sharp, hyper-aware tension in his jaw relaxed into a soft, somewhat sheepish expression.
By the time Felicity's gaze lifted from her device and found him standing at the top of the stairs, he had completely reset his demeanor to match the one she knew of the original Henry.
"Oh, my…" Felicity blinked in surprise, her hand fluttering to her chest. "Henry, you startled me. What are you doing awake at this hour?"
I could ask you the samething. Henry wanted to say. But instead, he decided to continue his act and reply with the best possible response.
"Actually... I was looking for you," he said, his voice smooth and laced with the perfect amount of boyish hesitance. He didn't even need to think about the lie; it materialized flawlessly.
Felicity paused on the stairs, her surprise melting into gentle curiosity. "Looking for me? Do you need something, darling?" she asked.
"Yeah." Henry rubbed the back of his neck… an intentional, well-timed gesture he'd mimicked from the original Henry. "I know it's late and I'm sorry for that. I just… it's been on my mind since I woke up and I couldn't get back to sleep."
Felicity tilted her head, her expression a mix of concern and genuine curiosity. Inwardly, Henry watched her face. Watched her shoulders. Watched the micro-movements around her eyes that would tell him whether she was buying it or not.
"What is it?" Felicity asked. "Is something wrong?"
Henry shook his head. "No, nothing's wrong. It's just—" He paused, letting a beat of uncertainty enter his voice. "Earlier, when I was sparring with Emily, she was using weapons made from ice constructs. And it got me thinking... if I can't really throw a punch yet, maybe I should learn how to use a weapon first." He met her eyes, making sure he held just the right amount of earnest, almost embarrassed honesty. "I remember you having an armory, and I was wondering if you could take me there to get a weapon of my own."
Felicity was thoughtful for a moment, tapping the datapad against her leg. "That's a very practical idea," she said finally. "But you should know, Henry, learning to wield a weapon properly takes even more effort than basic hand-to-hand combat."
"I know," Henry said, his tone resolute but soft. "I'll try my best. I just feel like I need it. Most especially for protection. If I couldn't fight using my own body today, I at least want to have something I can use."
Felicity smiled warmly and nodded. "Alright," she said. "Follow me."
She turned and led him back down the stairs, navigating the labyrinthine halls of the mansion. As they walked, she covered a delicate yawn with her hand. "Couldn't this have waited until tomorrow, though?" she chuckled lightly.
"I'm sorry," Henry said quickly, injecting a heavy dose of guilt into his voice. "I didn't mean to disturb you. It's just... after what happened today, with me almost taking Emily's life... I couldn't sleep." He lowered his gaze to the floor. "I feel terrible."
Felicity stopped and turned to him, her expression softening with maternal sympathy. She reached out, squeezing his arm. "Oh, Henry, you mustn't feel bad. It wasn't your fault. It was my fault for not keeping a closer eye on you, and Emily's for pushing you into a situation where your dissociative state felt the need to surface. If she hadn't struck you so hard, none of that would have happened."
"Please don't blame Emily," Henry pleaded, his voice cracking with just the right amount of empathetic distress. He was putting on the performance of a lifetime. "She was just trying to train me. She didn't know."
Felicity shook her head, her eyes flashing with a brief hint of maternal sternness. "She took it too far. But don't worry, Henry. Everything will be okay. I'm going to look into your mind and fix you right up."
Henry paused. He let his head drop, his expression shifting to one of deep, somber conflict. He stayed rooted to the spot until Felicity noticed and stopped.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
"Is there really a need to eliminate the other side of me?" Henry asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Henry, we've been over this," Felicity sighed gently. "It's not your 'other side.' It is a murderous dissociative state. A glitch your brain conjured as a protective mechanism."
A glitch?! A spike of pure fury flared in Henry's chest. I am the only reason you have a son left to speak to, you arrogant woman, he snarled inwardly. But on the outside, his face remained a mask of tragic innocence. He forced the anger down, burying it deep beneath the facade.
"I know," Henry voiced out, biting his lip. "But I just feel like it's wrong. That other state... it protected people yesterday. It saved lives. It's like a heroic version of me. One capable of a lot of good, if we just gave it a chance."
Felicity sighed heavily, stepping closer to place both hands on his shoulders. "Henry, the state is not a person. It is a disorder. One that tried to slaughter your sister without a second thought." She searched his eyes, looking for understanding. "I don't even know if I can completely remove it, but I can definitely stop it from surfacing by sealing it away. Is that better?"
Henry managed a slow, reluctant nod. He looked her directly in the eyes, letting a vulnerability shine through. "But... can we not do it tomorrow? My head still feels so fuzzy from everything that's happened. I think I still some time to recover." He held his breath behind his teeth.
Felicity's gaze softened completely. "Of course, darling. We can move it to the day after tomorrow. Your recovery comes first."
"Okay," Henry smiled faintly. "Thank you."
"Come on," Felicity said, turning back down the corridor.
They walked in comfortable silence until they reached a set of heavy, reinforced vault doors tucked away in the lower levels of the mansion.
Felicity stepped up to the terminal, her fingers flying across the holographic keypad. A heavy mechanical thud echoed through the floor, and the thick doors hissed open, venting a rush of cool, sterile air.
Henry stepped inside, and even with his cynical mindset, he couldn't help but stare in genuine awe.
The armory was massive. It wasn't just a room; it was a warehouse of lethal art. Rows upon rows of racks stretched out before them, housing everything from ancient, rune-carved swords to sleek, futuristic firearms. The weapons were meticulously organized by rank. The F to C-rank weapons were neatly racked on the outer edges, while the B and A-rank armaments were displayed on illuminated pedestals closer to the center, glowing with faint magical auras.
Right in the dead center of the room, resting on a velvet cushion inside a reinforced glass case, was a single, magnificent spear. It pulsed with a terrifying, ethereal silver light. It was an S-rank weapon. The only one in the room
"You own all of this?" Henry asked, his eyes reflecting the glow of the arsenal.
"Yes," Felicity said casually, walking past a rack of high-tech assault rifles. "Though this isn't even my main armory. I have a much larger one on a private island in the Gaea Nation. I'll take you there someday. For now, just pick whatever you feel comfortable with."
Henry began to scrutinize the displays, letting his tactical mind evaluate the weight, balance, and lethality of the tools. His gaze snagged on a sleek, obsidian-bladed dagger resting idly in a small glass case. It was labeled as an A-rank weapon. He walked over to it, reading the additional information underneath.
Then he turned to Felicity. "The info says it possesses a skill. What does that mean?"
Felicity stepped up beside him. "Only weapons ranked B and above possess innate magical skills. Some high-end A and S-ranks even possess two or more skills." She tapped the glass, and the case slid open. She picked up the dagger, the dark metal drinking the ambient light. "This one has a very useful property for a speed-focused fighter."
Without warning, she turned and hurled the dagger toward the far wall. It flew like a bullet, sinking up to the hilt into the reinforced concrete with a sickening thuck, slicing through the stone like it was warm butter.
Henry watched, waiting. Felicity simply smiled and opened her empty hand. A pulse of dark energy flickered, and the dagger instantly vanished from the wall, reappearing perfectly in her palm.
"Whoa," Henry said, genuinely impressed. "That's cool."
"It has a localized spatial return function," she explained, tossing the blade to him. "You can call it back using a mental command."
Henry caught the blade effortlessly by the handle, testing the perfect, deadly balance.
"Learning to use a dagger is much more intuitive than a longsword," Felicity continued. "but mastering it takes time. I'm no expert with short blades, but I can teach you the fundamentals."
"I'm ready to learn," Henry said, securing the dagger in his grip. "Whatever it takes."
"Good," Felicity said. But Henry's attention had already drifted past her, locking onto the modern ammunition and firearms section.
Felicity noticed his gaze and chuckled. "Do you want a gun, too?"
Henry shook his head quickly, playing the modest boy. "No, it's okay. I already got the dagger. I don't want to be greedy."
"Nonsense," Felicity insisted, walking over to the firearm displays. "A gun is even easier to get the hang of, and it's incredibly effective for self-defense at range. Do you prefer a rifle or a pistol?"
Henry hesitated, simulating uncertainty, before answering firmly. "A pistol." He said.
"Good choice." Felicity scanned the rack, picked up a sleek, futuristic energy pistol laced with intricate, glowing blue circuitry, and tossed it to him.
Henry caught it. It was weighty… a combo of solid metal and dense energy cells—but his stats made handling it feel natural.
"Energy pistols have zero recoil and pack a devastating punch," Felicity explained. "Just aim and shoot."
"Okay. Thank you, Mom," Henry said, slipping the pistol into his waistband.
"Is that all you want?" Felicity asked, her eyes scanning the room.
"Yes, I'm good." Henry replied.
Felicity nodded and began heading toward the exit. Henry followed a few paces behind. As they neared the massive vault doors, Henry's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of an open crate tucked beneath a worktable. Inside were dozens of spherical objects, the size of eggs, painted a dull, matte red.
He recognized them instantly from his predecessor's memories: Yhey were Boom Balls.*l Highly volatile, military-grade explosives that detonate with a mere crack of their outer shell.
Henry found them fascinating and useful. And he needed to have it.
He looked up to check on Felicity. She was walking ahead of him, her back turned
Perfect.
With a burst of speed so fast it barely registered as a blur, Henry's hand shot out, snatched one of the red spheres, and tucked it away in his inventory.
DING!
[Item Acquired: Boom Ball (B-Rank Explosive)]
[Boom Ball has been added to System Inventory]
He adjusted his stride seamlessly, walking out of the vault right behind Felicity just as the heavy doors hissed shut and locked themselves.
"You should be able to get some sleep now, right?" Felicity asked as they walked back toward the residential wing.
"Yes. I think I'm fine now," Henry replied with a polite smile. "Thank you again."
Felicity paused, glancing over her shoulder. A faint, almost imperceptible smirk played on her lips. "No need to thank me, darling. I am your mother. What belongs to me... belongs to you."
Henry's heart skipped a beat. Sheknows, he thought. The hint was unmistakable. She knew he took the explosive, but she hadn't called him out on it.
"Get some rest," Felicity continued smoothly, turning her gaze forward again. "Take tomorrow to relax. I have meetings at the guild all day, so you'll have the estate to yourself."
"Okay," Henry said.
They reached the upper hallway where the family's private quarters were located. The layout was a long, luxurious corridor: Felicity's master suite was at the far left end, Emily's room was situated squarely in the middle, and Henry's room anchored the far right end.
Felicity stopped at her door, bidding him a soft goodnight before stepping inside.
Henry walked down the long hall, his face a perfect mask of sleepy innocence, until he reached his door. He stepped inside and pushed the door shut until the locking mechanism clicked. And the instant the latch caught, the mask shattered. His posture snapped rigid. The warm, boyish softness melted from his face, leaving behind a cold, furious scowl.
He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles popped.
His plan had been completely foiled.
When he had crept to the stairs tonight, he had fully intended to walk out the front door, disappear into Arcadia City, and never look back. But Felicity appearing at that exact moment? It was too convenient. She had deliberately intercepted him. She had known he was going to try and leave, and she had effectively boxed him in with a smile and a conversation.
Henry paced across the room, his mind working in overdrive. Sheknows, he realized with a cold certainty. She knowsexactly what I was up to. She probably knows I'm not the pathetic version of her son that walked in here three days ago. But she just keeps playing along.
Why?
Why let him steal the explosive? Why pretend to buy his emotional act?
He shook his head, pushing the questions away. It didn't matter what game the Ice Queen was playing. What mattered was the timeline. She was going to dive into his mind and attempt to erase him the day after tomorrow. He didn't know if her psychic abilities could actually kill a reincarnated consciousness, but he absolutely refused to stick around and find out.
He had begged for the delay, pushing the execution to the day after tomorrow, just to buy himself a twenty-four-hour window.
I can't just walk out the front door, he thought, collapsing backward onto the edge of the massive bed. If she's watching me this closely, she'll just intercept me again. Or have her guards do it. I have to leave in a way she won't anticipate. Catch her entirely off guard.
He ran a hand over his face, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. He was trapped in a gilded ice cage.
"Look what you got us into," he muttered to the silent room, cursing the weak, original Henry. "Always leaving me to fix your messes."
He sat up and pulled the A-rank dagger and the blue energy pistol from his waistband. He stared at the lethal tools in his hands. He hadn't planned to go to the armory tonight, but when Felicity blocked his exit, his tactical mind had pivoted instantly.
If you can't escape, arm yourself.
With a thought, he willed the weapons away.
[Two Items have been added to Inventory]
He heaved a slight sigh of relief. The night hadn't been a total loss. He was armed now.
He sat there in the quiet, staring at the glowing ice walls, trying to formulate an escape plan for tomorrow. How could he break out of an impenetrable estate while under the watch of an overpowered psychic woman?
Then, a thought struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Hang on. I have a system.
He shot up from the bed, his purple eyes widening. He possessed a Celestial System that literally rewrote the laws of physics. All he needed to do was utilize it. He remembered Miley's voice in his head from earlier that day.
The fastest way to gain EXP is by completing quests, defeating enemies... and hunting beasts.
He needed to level up. He needed raw speed, stamina, and EP if he was going to outrun and outsmart Felicity Myers and every other entity that posed a threat to him.
Henry strode across the room to the sleek, modern table in the corner. He tapped the surface twice.
Immediately, a holographic keyboard lit up beneath his fingertips, and a crisp, blue screen materialized in the air above it. His fingers flew across the light-keys, bringing up the local network.
He typed in the search query:
[Hunting Grounds in Arcadia City]
As the search results populated, listing the zones, beast sightings, and entry requirements, a dark, thrilled smirk spread across his face.
"Okay," he whispered, his eyes reflecting the glow of the screen.
"Time to really put this system to good use."