Rain descended steadily across the Southern capital.
Not violently.
Not mercifully.
But endlessly.
The droplets slid along the mansion windows in thin silver trails, distorting the lantern lights outside into wavering fragments of gold and crimson. Beyond the glass, the city remained awake despite the storm—shadows moving through rain-soaked streets, distant carriage wheels grinding against wet stone, muffled voices disappearing into the night.
Inside the mansion—
Warmth lingered faintly.
The fireplace near the far wall crackled softly, its orange glow painting restless patterns across dark wooden panels and fractured furniture left behind from the earlier clash.
The room still carried tension.
Not hostility.
But awareness.
The kind shared between men who understood how dangerous the other truly was.
Kel sat quietly near the table, one arm resting against the chair while the dim lantern between them illuminated half of his face. His black hair cast faint shadows across his forehead, and his calm eyes reflected the firelight with unreadable stillness.
Across from him—
Landon remained straight-backed despite exhaustion.
His clothes had been hastily adjusted after the battle, though signs of disorder remained. The collar of his dark training shirt sat unevenly against his neck, exposing faint scars tracing across his collarbone and shoulder. His hair, slightly damp from sweat, framed a face sharpened by the South's brutality.
He no longer looked like merely a promising knight.
He looked like someone forged through conflict.
Kel observed him silently for a moment.
Then—
"How strong are you now?"
The question came calmly.
Directly.
No unnecessary words.
Landon's expression straightened instinctively.
Not because he feared the question—
But because he respected it.
He lowered his gaze briefly before answering.
"Currently…"
His voice remained steady.
"…I can be considered a Master Swordsman."
The rain outside intensified slightly, droplets striking the windows in soft rhythmic patterns.
"I also possess high mana capacity now."
Landon continued.
"And…"
A faint pause.
"…I recently broke through into Sequence-6."
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Even the fire seemed quieter.
Kel's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interested.
"The Unmoving Mountain Constellation."
Landon spoke the name calmly, though traces of pride lingered beneath his restraint.
"As I advanced into Sequence-6…"
He exhaled slowly.
"…all my physical traits underwent amplification."
His fingers tightened faintly against the armrest.
Not out of nervousness.
But recollection.
"My strength increased first."
A pause.
"Then endurance."
Another.
"And finally…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…durability."
Kel listened silently.
"I gained a skill known as Titan Skin."
Landon raised one hand slowly, studying his palm for a brief moment before continuing.
"My skin and muscles became dense enough to withstand medium-level magic directly."
A faint smile appeared briefly.
Small.
Controlled.
"…with bare hands if necessary."
Sairen's voice echoed softly within Kel's mind.
"…A body-oriented constellation."
A brief pause followed.
"…Rare."
Kel answered internally.
"Useful for frontline warfare."
Sairen remained silent for a moment before adding quietly:
"…And dangerous if allowed time to mature fully."
Kel already knew.
Landon continued speaking.
"I also awakened Rapid Regeneration."
His expression darkened slightly now.
"As long as blood loss remains below a critical threshold…"
A pause.
"…my wounds recover within seconds."
The lantern light flickered against the faint scar near his jaw.
A scar that had likely once been far worse.
"Additionally…"
Landon leaned slightly forward.
"I improved my aura control significantly."
The air around him shifted faintly.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Kel observed carefully.
Landon's aura no longer leaked uncontrollably like before.
It circulated.
Compressed.
Refined.
Still not perfect—
But disciplined.
"And my magic capability…"
A faint breath escaped him.
"…has reached Fourth Circle."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Not awkward.
But measured.
Rain continued to fall beyond the windows.
The storm outside seemed distant now compared to the stillness inside the room.
Then—
Kel spoke.
"I'm proud to hear you progressed this much."
Landon froze slightly.
Again.
Because despite everything—
Those words still carried weight.
Far more than noble titles ever could.
"My lord…"
His voice lowered instinctively.
"…thank you."
Kel's gaze remained fixed on him.
Calm.
Unmoving.
Then—
His expression shifted slightly.
Not colder.
But more serious.
"But Landon."
The atmosphere tightened subtly.
"Progressing toward the goal I gave you…"
Kel's voice remained steady.
"…is one thing."
A pause.
"…but neglecting your own desires entirely…"
Another pause.
"…or using someone innocent for political advantage…"
His eyes sharpened faintly.
"…is wrong."
Landon's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
The rain outside softened.
As though the world itself quieted slightly.
Kel continued.
"If you have no feelings for the Duke's daughter…"
His voice remained calm.
"…clarify it now."
Landon lowered his gaze.
Silent.
"Before it reaches the point of no return."
The lantern flame swayed gently between them.
"The capital is already speaking about you."
Kel leaned back slightly.
"Rumors spread quickly."
A pause.
"They say you intend to marry her."
Another.
"That you aim to become the next Duke."
Landon's fingers tightened subtly.
Not defensive.
Not angry.
But conflicted.
Kel noticed immediately.
"And if…"
Kel's tone softened slightly now.
"…you do have feelings for her…"
The room fell completely silent.
"Then tell her honestly."
Landon slowly lifted his head.
His eyes met Kel's directly.
"Tell her you love her."
The words came without hesitation.
Without mockery.
Without manipulation.
"And tell her…"
Kel continued quietly.
"…that you will climb high enough to become worthy of asking for her hand."
The rain struck harder again.
Steady.
Cold.
Relentless.
"Ask her to wait."
A brief pause.
"…instead of treating her affection like a stepping stone."
Landon remained silent.
Completely silent.
Sairen's voice echoed softly within Kel's mind.
This time—
Curious.
"…You speak as though you understand it personally."
Kel's eyes did not move.
"Understanding people is necessary."
Sairen's presence lingered thoughtfully.
Then—
"…That was not what I meant."
Kel ignored the implication.
Across from him—
Landon finally spoke.
Quietly.
"…I never intended to hurt her."
His voice lacked the calm confidence from earlier.
Now—
It carried uncertainty.
"At first…"
He exhaled slowly.
"…I approached her strategically."
Honest.
Painfully honest.
"But…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…she trusted me sincerely."
Kel remained silent.
Listening.
"She is naive in some ways."
A faint smile appeared briefly on Landon's face.
Small.
Distant.
"…too kind for the South."
The room grew quieter.
"And recently…"
He paused.
"…I began wondering if I was the one being unfair."
Kel watched him carefully.
Not judging.
Not comforting.
Simply observing.
Then—
Kel spoke quietly.
"The South changes people."
A pause.
"…sometimes faster than they notice."
Landon nodded slowly.
"I know."
Another silence followed.
Longer this time.
Not heavy.
But thoughtful.
Outside—
Thunder rolled faintly across the mountains beyond the city.
Ancient.
Distant.
Like something watching from far away.
Then—
Kel stood.
His coat shifted softly as he moved, the black fabric catching faint traces of firelight along its edges.
Landon immediately rose as well.
"My lord…"
Kel looked toward the rain-covered city beyond the window.
His expression unreadable.
"You've built a foundation here."
A pause.
"…better than I expected."
Landon lowered his head slightly.
Respectfully.
"But remember this."
Kel's voice turned colder now.
Sharper.
"Power gained through manipulation alone eventually collapses."
The lantern flame flickered violently for a brief second.
"Especially…"
Kel's eyes narrowed faintly.
"…when emotions become involved."
Landon remained still.
Absorbing every word carefully.
Then—
He nodded.
Slowly.
Firmly.
"…Understood."
Sairen's voice echoed softly one last time through the soul-link.
"…You guide people strangely."
Kel's gaze remained fixed on the storm outside.
"Fear creates obedience."
A pause.
"But understanding creates loyalty."
For a brief moment—
Sairen fell silent.
And somewhere beyond the rain-covered city…
The South continued moving.
Unaware—
That the man who intended to reshape it…
Had already arrived.