Morning fog drifted softly across the Asheville Estate.
Cold silver mist covered the western gardens while faint sunlight slowly pierced through distant clouds beyond Citadel's outskirts. The rain from the previous night had vanished completely now, leaving behind only wet stone paths and quiet winds carrying the scent of earth and fading storms.
And at the front gates of the estate—
Kel stood prepared to leave.
The black-haired young man wore simple noble traveling clothes beneath a long dark coat embroidered subtly with silver thread. A sword rested calmly against his waist while black gloves concealed his hands beneath the pale morning light.
No grand ceremony awaited him.
No gathering.
No emotional farewell.
Just silence.
The same way he preferred arriving anywhere.
Meanwhile—
Several estate knights quietly stood near the entrance maintaining respectful distance while servants lowered their heads softly beneath the heavy atmosphere.
And slightly behind them—
Reina remained standing motionlessly.
Silver hair moved gently beneath the cold winds while her silver eyes quietly remained fixed upon Kel.
Neither spoke for a long while.
Because honestly—
What words could even properly describe two entire years?
The Scarlet Lake.
Citadel.
The Mercenary Alliance.
The restoration of House Asheville.
Wars.
Politics.
Bloodshed.
Training.
Countless nights discussing strategies beneath candlelight.
And somewhere amidst all of that—
They became irreplaceable to one another.
Yet now—
The journey ended.
Eventually—
Kel calmly stepped toward his horse afterward.
The large black warhorse snorted softly beneath the cold morning air while Kel fastened several travel bags beside the saddle.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"She wants you to stay longer."
Kel quietly placed one hand against the horse's neck.
"I know."
"Then why leave now?"
Kel slowly looked toward the distant northern skies beyond the estate.
"Because some paths eventually demand returning."
The silver-haired spirit became silent afterward.
Meanwhile—
Reina quietly walked several steps closer afterward.
Her expression remained calm.
Controlled.
Yet her eyes carried something heavier beneath the surface.
Then finally—
She softly spoke.
"…Take care of yourself."
Simple words.
Yet somehow—
They sounded heavier than elaborate farewells.
Kel quietly looked toward her afterward.
Then slightly smiled.
"You too."
Another silence followed.
The winds moved softly through the estate gates.
And then—
Kel mounted the horse.
The black warhorse slowly turned toward the northern road afterward.
Reina quietly remained standing near the entrance beneath the pale morning light.
Watching.
Only watching.
Then eventually—
The horse began moving.
Step by step.
Further away.
Kel never looked back again.
Not because he didn't want to.
But because some departures became harder if someone turned around.
Meanwhile—
Reina silently watched until his figure gradually disappeared into the distant mist-covered road completely.
Only then—
Did she quietly lower her gaze.
Inside her chest—
The estate suddenly felt far emptier than before.
Meanwhile—
Life continued moving regardless.
Hours later—
Inside Asheville Estate's underground treasury chambers—
Reina personally began organizing the countless resources Kel left behind.
Ancient dragon blood.
Monster cores.
Rare scales.
Bones.
Marrow.
Organs.
Materials so valuable entire kingdoms would collapse into war trying to obtain even one fragment.
The silver-haired matriarch quietly walked through the treasury afterward while several trusted retainers and researchers carefully cataloged everything beneath heavy security barriers.
Yet surprisingly—
Reina stored most of the materials away immediately.
Locked.
Sealed.
Untouched.
Because instinctively—
She felt using most of them carelessly would simply waste Kel's efforts.
Only a limited amount became distributed.
Several dragon blood samples went toward Asheville alchemists.
Some scales toward master forgers.
A few preserved organs toward medical researchers.
And even then—
Reina personally supervised every transfer herself.
No leaks.
No rumors.
No exposure.
Inside her mind—
Only one thought repeated quietly.
"These are things he prepared for my future."
And because of that—
She treated every item almost sacredly.
Meanwhile—
Far away from the Asheville Estate—
Kel had already entered Citadel once more.
The massive northwestern city remained as lively as ever beneath pale morning sunlight.
Merchant caravans crossed the streets endlessly while nobles, adventurers, mercenaries, and travelers moved throughout the layered city districts beneath towering mana-powered structures.
The city itself almost felt nostalgic now.
Because so much began here.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly walked through the crowded streets toward one familiar location.
The Mercenary Alliance Headquarters.
The enormous structure towered proudly near Citadel's central district while countless armed mercenaries entered and exited constantly beneath the giant black iron insignia mounted above the entrance.
Most people nearby never even realized—
The true ruler of this organization casually walked among them now.
Kel quietly entered afterward.
The moment several administrative officers noticed him—
Their expressions immediately stiffened.
Respect.
Fear.
Reverence.
They all lowered their heads instantly.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly ignored most reactions while walking deeper into the upper administrative floors.
Eventually—
He entered one private office.
Inside—
A silver-haired woman sat behind an enormous desk reviewing countless documents beneath floating mana lamps.
Elara.
Former assassin.
Former administrator division head.
Now completely bound beneath Kel's shadow contract.
The moment she sensed his presence—
She immediately stood up from her chair.
Her sharp crimson eyes softened slightly afterward.
"My Lord."
She bowed deeply.
Kel calmly motioned toward her.
"Sit."
Elara quietly obeyed afterward.
Then—
Kel immediately asked:
"Revenue reports."
No wasted conversation.
No greetings.
Pure efficiency.
Meanwhile—
Elara immediately began explaining.
Trade growth.
Mercenary expansion.
Underground contracts.
Intelligence network profits.
Political infiltration.
The Spector Network itself had grown terrifyingly efficient under her management.
And through it—
Kel quietly maintained awareness over large portions of the Empire itself without most nobles realizing it.
After nearly an hour—
Kel finished reviewing everything.
Then finally—
He stood.
Elara quietly looked toward him afterward.
"You're leaving Citadel."
Not a question.
A statement.
Kel calmly nodded once.
"The north calls."
The assassin quietly lowered her gaze briefly.
Then eventually—
She spoke softly.
"…Will you return?"
Kel slightly smiled afterward.
"Probably."
Not certainty.
Not denial.
Only possibility.
Meanwhile—
Elara quietly bowed her head again.
"Safe travels, my Lord."
Kel left shortly afterward.
And once again—
Citadel slowly disappeared behind him.
Meanwhile—
Far ahead—
The northern roads stretched endlessly beneath cold skies.
Large forests covered the distant mountains while frozen winds gradually became harsher the further north he traveled.
And somewhere beyond those endless lands—
The Rosenfeld Main Estate awaited.
The residence of Duke Aktaris von Rosenfeld.
The ruler of the entire Northern Region alone.
One of the Empire's Seven Pillar Houses.
A territory feared for military might, monstrous winters, and ancient authority.
And Kel—
The eldest son once abandoned quietly as a cursed dying heir—
Was finally returning home.
Alone.
Two years ago—
He left accompanied by Reina and Landon beneath the title of a weak cursed child seeking meaningless travel before death eventually arrived.
Now—
He returned as something entirely different.
Mercenary King.
Dragon Emperor.
Fatebreaker.
A being who altered realms themselves.
Yet strangely—
As Kel rode quietly through the cold northern roads beneath endless skies—
His expression remained calm.
Not triumphant.
Not emotional.
Only thoughtful.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly spoke.
"So…"
Another pause.
"How do you think your family will react?"
Cold winds moved through Kel's black hair afterward.
Then quietly—
He answered.
"…I honestly don't know."