Yuri escorted Danir from the towering gates of the Scalebound Citadel back toward the House of Granger.
The carriage ride was quiet.
When they arrived, the massive iron gates creaked open. And there—waiting at the entrance hall—was Jared.
Before Danir could even speak, his father stepped forward and wrapped him in a firm, fatherly embrace. It was strong. Steady and reassuring.
For a brief second, Danir stiffened. Then slowly relaxed.
"Where have you been all this time?" Danir asked, pulling back just enough to look at him.
Jared's expression softened, though something unreadable lingered in his eyes.
"I was… taking care of something important." he replied. "It's not something I want dragging you into. So for now, it remains a secret."
Danir studied him for a moment.
"Uhh… okay then. It's really good to have you back, Father." His tone was casual. Almost indifferent.
But Jared wasn't fooled. He saw it—the faint relief in Danir's gaze. The way his shoulders eased. The quiet yearning that his son tried so hard to hide.
Jared simply ruffled his hair. "I'm home now."
When Danir stepped further into the mansion, a familiar hush greeted him.
The halls of the Granger estate were grand—high ceilings, polished floors—but they felt emptier than he remembered.
Loneliness clung to the corners like dust untouched. Now that their father had returned, something felt restored.
Yet at the same time—his brothers were gone as each of them now had chosen the path of an adventurer, chasing glory and destiny beyond these walls.
Danir walked upstairs, passing the closed doors of their old rooms.
He paused briefly in front of one.
Then another.
He forced himself not to dwell on it. Thinking like they were lost forever.
Knowing that they were just simply out there… ahead of him, doing their adventurer's things.
He continued down the hallway until he reached his own room.
When he stepped inside, he inhaled deeply.
The scent of wood polish, clean linen, and faint cedar filled his lungs.
Home.
He dropped onto his bed with a heavy exhale.
"Gosh… I missed this bed."
The mattress embraced him in a way no academy cot ever could. For a moment, he allowed himself to sink into the softness, staring at the ceiling, letting the weight of the past days melt away.
No crowds!
No chants!
No strategies.
Just quiet. Peace of mind for awhile...
After several minutes, he rose. He washed up, straightened himself, and changed into the traditional Granger attire where the family crest stitched proudly over the chest.
He caught his reflection briefly.
He looked… different. Sharper and more certain.
Then he descended the staircase.
The clinking of cutlery echoed softly through the dining hall of the House of Granger.
To ease the lingering quiet, Jared leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.
"I heard from a friend in Scalebound Citadel that you did something stupid… but heroic. Is that true?" Jared asked.
Danir blinked.
"A friend? Who was that friend of yours?" he asked cautiously.
Jared smirked. "Oh? He didn't tell you? Cerulean."
He let out a nostalgic laugh. "Hahaha… what you did brought me back to my academy days."
Danir stiffened slightly.
Of course it was Cerulean. The man observed everything.
Jared paused, then suddenly narrowed his eyes playfully.
"So," he continued, "did you kill all of them alone?"
Danir nearly choked on air. "Ha? What? What did I kill?"
"The slimes, you little prick. Were you the one?" Jared pressed, though there was mischief dancing in his gaze. It wasn't something Cerulean had written in his letter—he was just simply probing.
Danir's mind raced.
"How does he even know about that?!" He thought panicking inside.
"No, I was just messing with you! Hahahaha!"
Jared burst into laughter.
Danir stared for a second… then exhaled.
"Hahahahaha…" He laughed along, though his heart was still pounding.
For a moment, the hall felt warmer. Livelier.
Then Jared's tone shifted. "So… you sacrificed yourself and one of your party member to win that tournament?"
Danir's smile faded into seriousness.
"That was the only way to win," he replied quietly.
Jared studied him carefully.
"You know, son," he began, his voice no longer teasing, "on a real battlefield, that kind of tactic should never be your first choice. You either fight and win together… or retreat together."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Only consider the sacrifice-play as a last resort—when you are absolutely certain your loss won't be meaningless."
The weight of those words settled over the table.
Danir lowered his gaze.
"Forgive me for being reckless. I swear I won't do it in a real fight. I was just… eager to give my party a victory. Because everyone was really looking down on us." Danir explained and apologized.
Then he remembered the chants!
The doubt.
The way the crowd barely acknowledged them.
Jared's expression softened.
"That's alright," he said calmly. "A leader feels the burden of his team's pride. But remember—true strength isn't proving others wrong. It's bringing your people home alive, safe and sound."
Danir nodded slowly. "Yes, Father."
Jared pushed his chair back and stood.
"Meet me at the forum hall after this. We've prepared something for you."
After the finished their dinner. They went into their forum hall.
Inside... there was a lot of battle gears awaited for him. It wasn't wrapped with fancy wrappers like any Christmas presents back in his world but each of it have a heartwarming message from each of his brothers.
He first picked up the item appeared to be a rolled up piece of paper and a small parchment along with was the message. And then he read the message...
"This is the world map. It's enchanted with some kind of magic fragments—I don't even know what they are, so don't lose it!
It contains images of the explored regions of Aetheria. So you won't lose your way, you little clumsy idiot!" From— Alec...
Danir let out a small laugh.
It was a detailed world map of Aetheria, faint runic lines glowing across its surface. When tilted toward the light, tiny magical markings shimmered, adjusting terrain details like a living chart.
Not the present but the message made Danir happy inside.Then Danir picked up the next one...
A small silver object rested in a velvet cloth.
"Hey, I heard you did something stupid in that tournament. Fill this up with booze when we meet again." From— Ulfzar...
Danir snorted.
It was a beautifully crafted pocket liquor flask, made of polished silver metal, engraved with subtle wolf patterns near the cap.
"Of course it's from him…" He shook his head with a smile and set it aside.
Next—was a pair of dark leather battle gloves.
"Hey bro, this isn't fancy, but it'll help you keep your grip on your weapon." From— Caspi...
Danir lifted them carefully. They were firm yet flexible, the surface textured with scaled patterns.
"This is amazing… from a serpent's skin?"
Black Desert Serpent leather—durable, resistant to heat and friction. Perfect for swordplay or spellcasting focus.
His fingers brushed over the stitching, imagining Caspi negotiating or hunting for this material.
Then—he picked up another...
He unfolded the note first.
"This is the most expensive thing I've ever bought in my entire life. So take good care of it!" From— Nezcar...
Danir blinked.
Resting before him was a high-caliber six-bullet revolver, fitted into a dark leather holster. Its frame gleamed faintly beneath the light—mithril reinforcement along the barrel and cylinder, customized craftsmanship evident in every detail.
Nezcar didn't just bought it, he forged it to a skillful craftsman customized with mithril. That's what made it so expensive.
Danir lifted it carefully, feeling the surprising balance of weight.
"How am I supposed to use this? I'm not even a gunslinger…"
Still… the thought that his brother invested so much in him made his throat tighten.
Then he moved on...
A rugged leather backpack lay neatly folded...
"Now that you're finally an adventurer. Bringing essential items in adventuring is one of the most important thing to know that you're a well-prepared warrior." From— Zebion.
It was crafted from Black Desert Serpent leather as well. A lightweight but durable, reinforced straps, multiple hidden compartments.
Practical and reliable. Just like Zebion.
Danir swallowed softly. Then he reached for the final letter. The handwriting was firm and slightly slanted. "Hey, little bro. Sorry we couldn't attend your tournament fight. We were busy tracking leads on the rampaging potion.
But we never forgot." From— Zeke...
Danir's hands trembled slightly as he lifted the last item. An amulet. A silver chain holding a luminous pearl pendant. The Amulet of Power.
He gave him one of the most important relic for an adventurer to have. The Amulet of Power. It was an amulet with pearl pendant, the pearl pendant in it was enchanted with the Sphere of Power's magic-fragments, so useful that it will emits a light according to the monsters or any enemy of that adventurer was facing against.
Danir wore it.
Then Jared, who had been watching quietly from behind, finally spoke. "Actually… we never forgot your birthday."
Danir looked up.
Jared gave a faint smile. "It's just that… celebrating it always felt like something your mother would have insisted on."
The room fell silent.
But this time—it wasn't lonely. Danir clutched the amulet gently.
His brothers were scattered across Aetheria.
Chasing monsters.
Chasing mysteries.
Chasing their own paths.
Yet somehow—through maps, gloves, flasks,an enchanted relic, and even a ridiculously expensive revolver—they were still right here beside him.
And for the first time in a long while—Danir didn't feel like the youngest left behind. He felt like an adventurer about to begin.
Before handing over his own gift, Jared motioned for Danir to sit.
The forum hall suddenly felt less like a celebration chamber—and more like a private lesson between father and son.
"Before you carry those into the world," Jared began, gesturing to the battle gear laid across the table, "you need to understand what they truly are."
Danir straightened his posture.
"Battle gear and special items are often called Relics among adventurers," Jared explained.
"But not all relics are the same." He raised a finger.
"First—Common Relics. These are man-made items without enchantments. No divine blessing, no magical fragments. Just craftsmanship, durability, and the skill of the one who forged them."
A second finger.
"Second—Monster Relics. These are obtained from defeating monsters, magic beasts, spirits, or demons. Sometimes it's a core. Sometimes a weapon formed from their remains. They often retain traces of the creature's power."
A third.
"Third—Sacred or Divine Relics. Rare. Extremely rare. Believed to be blessings dropped by the Goddesses themselves. They carry divine authority… and often a will of their own."
Danir instinctively glanced at the Amulet of Power.
Then Jared lifted a fourth finger.
"And lastly—Enchanted Relics. Crafted by mortals, but infused with magical fragments, mana crystals, or magic gems. These require both a master craftsman and a skilled enchanter."
Danir absorbed every word.
Only after the explanation did Jared walk toward a long, velvet-covered case resting at the center of the table.
He opened it.
Inside lay a medium-sized black blade.
A katana.
Then Jared gave Danir a medium-sized black sword, a well-crafted katana crafted with mithril.
"I'm just gonna give you a common relic, but a durable one." Jared said.
Danir accepted it carefully.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he felt it—light.
Almost effortless to lift.
Yet when he gave it a slow test swing, the blade cut through the air with satisfying weight and force.
"This feels light… but the swing is heavy," Danir said, eyes widening. "It's awesome. Thank you, Father."
He performed a few controlled strikes, the blade humming sharply with each motion.
Jared watched quietly, pride hidden behind his composed expression.
Then footsteps approached.
The two Knight-Paladins stepped forward.
Gadreel bowed slightly before presenting his gift—a fresh set of traditional Granger attire, tailored more firmly than his previous one, reinforced subtly at the shoulders and sleeves for combat practicality.
Yuri stepped forward next, holding a thick, leather-bound book.
"This is my present to you, Young Master," Yuri said respectfully as he handed it over. "It is my diary from my adventuring days. I hope you'll find it useful. Read it in your spare time."
He smiled faintly.
"I left something interesting in there." Yuri said as Danir accepted it with both hands.
The leather cover was worn at the edges—evidence of years spent traveling through harsh terrains. A real adventurer's record.
Danir now cannot feel a little bit of loneliness like what he felt earlier.
Every messages and presents were appreciated for the heart.
He also learned something new that the academy didn't taught him. About the relics...