Nearly four months had passed since the day of the summoning.
During that time, the castle had become a place of relentless pressure, where every day was consumed by training and expectations. The summoned heroes were pushed without rest under the watchful eyes of royal knights, veteran soldiers, and court mages. There was no room for hesitation, and no tolerance for weakness.
The training grounds were never silent.
Steel rang out again and again as blades collided with force and precision. Magic burst into the air in flashes of light and heat, leaving behind the sharp scent of burned mana. Commands echoed constantly as instructors corrected stances, movements, and timing refining every action until it bordered on perfection.
Clara adapted quickly.
Her movements became sharper, cleaner, and more controlled with each passing day. There was no wasted motion in her strikes anymore, only purpose.
Shira's divine magic evolved just as rapidly. What had once been simple healing now extended into reinforcement, strengthening those around her and sustaining them far beyond their natural limits.
Collen displayed a natural mastery over the elements. Fire, wind, and lightning bent to his will more easily with every lesson, earning him quiet recognition from the court mages observing his growth.
And Liam
His progress unsettled even the veterans.
His strength grew at a pace that felt unnatural. His strikes became faster, heavier, and more refined until even experienced knights began avoiding direct sparring with him.
They were all improving.
All of them.
Except one.
Lucius lived a different life within the same walls.
While the others trained
He worked.
He carried weapons across the courtyard, his arms aching from repetition. He brought water to soldiers who rarely acknowledged him, moving quietly between them as if he did not exist.
When the day ended
He remained there cleaning, sweeping and enduring all harsh comments
No one expected anything from him.
And over time
No one even looked at him.
He got used to it over time.
There were moments when his path crossed with that of the remaining heroes.
But even then
Nothing changed.
Liam ignored him completely.
Collen's gaze passed over him without interest.
Shira hesitated, as if she wanted to speak but never did.
And Clara…
She had tried.
Once.
Twice.
But Lucius had avoided her.
And eventually
She stopped trying.
The distance between them didn't form all at once.
It settled slowly.
Until it became normal.
Until no one questioned it.
Then
The trumpets sounded.
The sharp call cut through the air like a blade, instantly breaking the rhythm of training.
Everything stopped.
Servants froze mid-step.
Soldiers turned without needing orders.
The courtyard filled quickly as people gathered from all directions.
Something had happened.
It was their first mission.
"A report arrived during the night from Larkspur Village," the royal announcer declared.
"It is a farming settlement near the borders of the Cursed Lands."
A ripple of unease spread.
"Several villagers have collapsed. Dark veins have been seen spreading beneath their skin."
Silence followed.
Then murmurs.
Recognition.
Concern.
"Our mages believe this may be the result of a curse."
Then the King spoke.
King Aldric Valerion III stood above them, his presence alone enough to silence the entire courtyard.
"You will depart immediately," he said.
"Investigate the curse… and eliminate its source."
The heroes stepped forward without hesitation.
Confident.
Certain.
Applause followed.
Lucius moved with them.
Quietly.
Unnoticed.
The journey lasted most of the day.
And with every mile
Something changed.
The grass lost its color.
The air grew heavier.
The land felt… wrong.
By the time they reached Larkspur Village, the sun was already beginning to fall.
Lucius noticed it first.
The silence.
No voices.
No movement.
Only distant cries.
Then he saw them.
Bodies scattered across the ground.
Some are barely conscious.
Others are struggling to breathe.
Dark veins twisted beneath their skin
Moving, and it looked alive.
The head mages rushed forward immediately.
The heroes followed.
Commands were shouted.
Magic gathered.
Everything moved quickly.
Urgently.
Lucius stopped.
He didn't step forward.
He watched.
Something in his chest stirred.
A faint pulse.
Cold.
Unfamiliar
Yet not.
The closer he looked at the corruption…
The stronger that feeling became.
As if something inside him was responding.
His fingers tightened slightly.
If he stepped forward
If he showed something they didn't understand
They wouldn't see a hero.
They would see something else.
Something wrong.
And things that were wrong…
Were not protected.
Golden light spread across a trembling farmer as the mages began purification.
The corruption resisted.
Clung.
Then slowly
Faded.
The man's breathing steadied.
"It's working," one of the mages said.
Relief spread.
Then
Another villager collapsed.
Then another.
Then another.
The village descended into chaos.
Cries filled the air.
The mages rushed from one victim to the next, their energy draining rapidly.
At first
The purification worked.
But not for long.
"This shouldn't be happening…" an older mage muttered.
"In normal cases, the curse weakens."
This one didn't.
It resisted.
Adapted.
Returned stronger each time.
The mages began to slow.
Their breathing grew heavier.
Their movements less precise.
And still
The number of victims increased.
Lucius remained where he was.
Watching.
The pulse in his chest grew slightly stronger.
Responding.
Calling.
He understood something then.
Not clearly.
Not fully.
But enough for him to step forward.
He could do something like the last time, and a curse would enter his body.
But if he did
Everything would change, so he decided to keep his powers a secret from them and help the villages in the dark.