The huge building rose up ahead after the last turn in the overgrown path—two stories high, made of thick stone and dark wood beams. It looked old and worn from years of neglect, but the walls were still solid and strong. The main structure felt sturdy, like it could stand for many more years with a little work.
Vines crawled thick up the walls like green ropes, twisting into every crack. Most windows were broken or covered in dust, but the frames were heavy and firm. The front door hung a little crooked on one rusty hinge. The training yard in front was buried under layers of fallen leaves, dirt, and tall weeds that reached up to knee height. Stones in the paths were cracked in places, with soft green moss growing between them, but the ground underneath felt steady.
Inside, through one open window, Hsuya could see old tables flipped over, benches covered in spider webs and dust, and dirt so thick it looked like gray snow on every surface. The whole place smelled of damp earth, old wood, and forgotten years. It had clearly sat empty for twenty years or more.
Still, the building itself was sturdy. The thick stone walls and strong wooden beams had held up well. With a good cleaning, this hidden spot would be perfect for what he needed—a secret base far from watching eyes, with plenty of space to train and grow his group in the shadows.
He turned to the girls. "This is where you all are going to stay from now on."
Contrary to the hesitation he expected, Ren and Zena's eyes widened with pure wonder. They stepped forward, their black cat ears perking up and twitching with excitement.
"Our... our own home?" Ren whispered, her voice thick with awe. She ran a hand over the rough stone of the exterior wall. "Lord Hsuya, it's perfect. It's hidden, it's strong... it's exactly what a group like ours needs."
Zena nodded fervently, a bright, determined smile breaking across her face. "We can finally be useful. We won't just be guests at the manor anymore—we'll be the guardians of this place. We can scrub these floors until they shine and turn this into a fortress for you, my lord!"
Only Shina, the younger twin, seemed a bit unsure. She stood a few paces back, clutching the hem of her sleeve as she stared at the dark, yawning gaps of the broken windows.
"It... it is very big," Shina squeaked softly, her golden eyes darting toward a shadow moving in the corner of the training yard. "And the door makes a very loud sound... do you think there are things living inside? Like... big, hairy things with too many legs?"
Ren laughed and playfully bumped her shoulder against Shina's. "Don't be silly, Shina! Even if there are, they'll run away the moment they see how hard we're working. This is the first gift the Lord has given us. We should be honored!"
Zena reached out and patted Shina's head. "It's just dust and shadows, little one. With the mana the Lord gave us, we have nothing to fear."
Shina looked at her sisters' radiant faces and then up at Hsuya. She took a deep breath, her small tail giving a brave, if slightly shaky, wag. "Okay. If Ren and Zena say it's okay... then I'll be brave too. I'll make sure the monsters don't even get a chance to hide in the corners!"
Hsuya calmly cut into their conversation. "Can you three clean this place? At least one room and the path for the day? Or do I need to help you? You can use my mana all you want. Although there is a limitation to how much your mana core can handle, take as much as you want—but don't overdo it."
Their faces sparked with even more determination. It was their first real job after being saved and hired by Hsuya.
"Yes, my lord!" Ren said quickly, standing straight and proud. "We can do at least this much without your help. Compared to what you did for us, cleaning one old building is nothing!"
Zena and Shina nodded fast. "We will make it clean and nice for everyone," Zena added with real energy. Shina gave a small but brave smile. "We promise! We won't let you down!"
Hsuya nodded slightly, his face still calm. "After the cleanup, try memorizing the pathway from the dormitory to the manor. I will come back later with some food and we'll train."
He paused, his dark eyes sweeping over the three of them. They didn't know it yet, but they were the beginning of something massive. They were the first three pieces of his chessboard.
Leaving them here wasn't just about cleaning. It was his first silent test. He had given them access to his infinite mana. Now, he needed to see how they handled that power, and whether their loyalty held firm when he wasn't watching.
Without another word, he turned and left them to their task.
*****
Hsuya walked back through the quiet forest path, his steps steady and unhurried. The morning sun filtered through the leaves as he reached the Noxford Manor. He went straight to his room and sat on the throne-like chair. For a long moment, he thought about what to do next. The system had given him basic information about the Kingdom of Dian, but he still knew almost nothing about the other kingdoms or the countries beyond its borders.
To understand Alexia better, Hsuya decided it was time to join The Dian Academy. He went to Kael and gave clear orders.
"Register my name for the entrance exam," Hsuya ordered smoothly. "Submit it as a commoner. Do not mention anything about me being the real heir of the Noxfords."
Kael bowed deeply, but a rare flicker of hesitation crossed his usually composed face. "My lord... forgive me, but that will take some time. The Dian Academy is incredibly strict with its traditions. They only hold the entrance examination once a year, and the rules cannot be broken—not even for the royal family."
Kael lowered his head further. "You will have to wait five months until the next entrance exam."
Hsuya's expression didn't change. Five months. To him, it was a perfectly timed opportunity. That gave him five clear months to train the girls and build his forces in the shadows.
"Understood," Hsuya replied smoothly. "Register me for it anyway. We have plenty of work to do in the meantime."
"As you say, my lord," Kael replied with a deep bow.
*****
After that, Hsuya decided to check his father's old alchemy lab, a place that had stayed unvisited and locked since Levi died. The door creaked loudly when he pushed it open.
To get rid of the thick spider webs, Hsuya simply raised his hand and sent out thin mana threads. In one smooth motion, the invisible lines flashed through the air and every single web fell to the floor like cut strings.
He checked the entire lab carefully. At the very end, when he checked his father's personal writing table, he found something interesting. The bottom drawer wouldn't open. As Hsuya pulled, a complex, glowing red magic circle flared to life across the wood—a high-tier ward meant to keep intruders out.
Hsuya didn't even blink. He simply pushed a fraction of his mana into his fingertips and tapped the center of the circle.
*Crack.*
The intricate spell shattered like fragile glass. He pulled the drawer open easily.
Tucked deep inside was an old and peculiar-looking book with no title on the cover. Strange faded symbols were etched into the leather—twisted thorns wrapped around broken swords, almost exactly like the crest on his ring. Hsuya opened the book slowly. As he started reading, his sharp dark eyes narrowed slightly.
This world also had creatures called Demons. They had their own powerful entity—a Demon Lord whose strength is said to be comparable to Nodin himself. The truth was kept hidden from common people to prevent a kingdom-wide panic.
Hsuya closed the book and sat back. His mind turned quickly, but his face stayed calm.
If the Demon Lord was as strong as Nodin, then fighting him would not only test his power—it would also give him important information. The Demon Lord might know secrets about the gods, or there could be ancient paths and knowledge that only someone who faced such power could find. Defeating the Demon Lord could be the key that opens the way to Nodin himself.
He changed his goal right there. The Echoes of Dark—or TEOD for short—an organization Hsuya decided to create—would now have two clear steps. First, gather information about the Demons and find the Demon Lord. Second, use everything he learned to prepare for Nodin.
Hsuya stood up and walked to the window. A small, faint smile touched his lips for just a second.
"The Demon Lord first," he said quietly to himself. "Then Nodin."
*Ding.*
A translucent blue screen flickered to life.
[You have unlocked your hidden 'MAIN' Quest: Hunt the Demon Lord]
[Objective 1: Investigate the Demon Lord and uncover the forbidden truths of the Gods]
" Hidden main quest ?" saying that he thought for a while and then swiped the screen away. The real game in Alexia was just getting started, and Hsuya was ready to play it his way—one careful but unstoppable step at a time....