After finishing breakfast, Noel called Noah and Lily to the study room.
It was Rowan's study. As they entered, the air felt still, as if the room itself had yet to move on. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books and records.
The desk remained where it always had been, solid and worn from years of use.
Noel sat behind it.
A scroll lay open before him. It was old but ordinary, the parchment slightly yellowed with age and the edges faintly rough. Lines of ink stretched neatly across it, written in a steady and controlled hand.
He continued writing even after they arrived.
Noah and Lily stood quietly, neither speaking, both waiting.
After a moment, Noel's hand slowed and then stopped.
He lifted his gaze.
At that instant, something only he could see appeared before him.
[Detected investment
Noah Hendrix invest in iron grade breathing technique]
[Reward
One silver grade breathing technique
50 SP]
[Detected investment
Lily invest in gold movement technique]
[Reward
One ruby movement technique
50 SP]
Noel's eyes remained calm as the prompts faded.
So it works.
Noah stood firm, his posture straight, already showing signs of discipline. Lily, on the other hand, was lighter on her feet, her presence more fluid, as if she was never fully still.
Different paths.
Good.
"From today, your training changes," he said.
Noah's expression sharpened.
Lily tilted her head slightly, curious but attentive.
"You will follow exactly what I say,No shortcuts."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Noel continued writing without looking up. The sound of ink against parchment filled the quiet room until he finally stopped.
He let the ink settle, then rolled the scrolls and stood.
Noel handed a scroll to each of them without a word.
Lily looked down at the parchment in her hands, then back at him, confusion creasing her brow. Noah did the same.
"What is this?" Lily asked.
"Look at it," Noel said.
Lily unrolled her scroll first. Her eyes moved across the text, and within seconds, her expression changed. Confusion became focus,focus became recognition,recognition became disbelief.
Her breath caught.
"Young master, this is—" She stopped, reading further, her hands beginning to tremble.
"This is a movement technique. Shadow Sense."
Noel said nothing.
Lily read further, her hands beginning to tremble.
"This is above silver tier. I can tell. Maybe peak silver, maybe even low gold. Where did you get this? This is simply too precious. I cannot accept it."
"Why"
"Young master you should give to a person you should trust not to me."
"Lily," he said quietly. "I trust you."
Her hands froze.
"You have been with me since I was a child. You sat beside my bed for twenty-one days while I was unconscious. You sent soldiers to find my father. You held this family together when I could not."
He stepped closer.
"There is no one else I trust more. So you will learn this technique. You will become stronger. And you will stand beside me when the time comes."
"Now the territory is falling apart," he said quietly.
"We cannot be selfish. Someone will attack while we are weak. So it is better to use it for someone I can trust. That is better than being beaten to death by enemies."
Lily's lower lip trembled. She looked down at the scroll, then back at him, and something in her eyes cracked. Not tears—not yet—but close.
She lowered the scroll.
"...Understood," she whispered.
Noah had been silent throughout the exchange. He unrolled his own scroll while Lily spoke, his eyes scanning the text. His expression did not change at first, but something behind his eyes shifted.
He read the words again. Ember Ring. Iron grade breathing technique. Not flashy, but solid.
He looked at his brother.
Noel stood there with the same calm, steady expression he had worn since waking from his coma. He had almost died.
He had learned of their father's disappearance and their mother's condition. And now he was writing techniques through the night, handing them out like he was the only one who could fix anything.
Noah's eyes glowed with determination. His brother was doing everything alone. By himself. And here Noah was, doing nothing. Just sitting, Pretending nothing had happened.
His face filled with shame. He could not look at his brother's face.
He looked down at the scroll in his hands, then at his own trembling fingers. He told himself that if his brother was doing this much for him, he would not simply sit nearby. He would share his brother's burden.
The burden his brother had been facing alone. And to do that, he had to become stronger.
Noah raised his head. He met Noel's gaze and nodded once.
He did not speak. He did not need to.
The resolve in his eyes said everything.
After Lily and Noah left the room, the system screen appeared before him.
[Congratulations, host. The Shop has been unlocked.]
[Special Benefit: Every three months, one item may be purchased freely with no SP required.]
Noel felt a flicker of genuine happiness. The weight of managing resources had been pressing down on him since he woke. Scrolls, training, equipment, supplies for the estate all of it cost something.
But this would ease that burden. He allowed himself a small breath of relief before turning his attention to the screen.
His eyes scanned through the available items.
[Fireheart Breathing Technique – 1500 SP]
[Iron grade. Enhances lung capacity and mana circulation.]
[Shadow Step – 2500 SP]
[Silver grade movement technique.]
[Frostbite Blade – 4250 SP]
[Silver grade weapon. Inflicts cold damage on contact.]
[Thunder Palm – 1780 SP]
[Iron grade combat technique.]
[ Recovery Pill – 590 SP]
[Restores stamina and minor injuries. No side effects.]
[Minor Mana Core – 152000 SP]
[Increases mana reserves permanently.]
[Temporal Domain – 500000 SP]
[Time flows slowly inside the domain. Twelve years inside this domain equals one year outside.]
Noel's eyes stopped on the last item.
Twelve years inside, One year outside.
He read the description again, then again,his mind raced through the implications,training,combat experience. Skill refinement.
He could spend years honing his techniques becoming something far beyond what he was now and return before anyone even noticed he was gone.
This was not just an opportunity. It was a turning point.
Without a second thought, he selected the item.
[Temporal Domain purchased.]
[You have used the free offer. The offer will be available again in 3 months.]
[Item added to inventory. Would you like to activate now?]
Noel looked at the door where Lily and Noah had exited. Then he looked back at the screen.
Not yet. There were things to arrange first. But soon.
He closed the system window and stood a little straighter. For the first time since waking, he felt something other than grief or pressure. He felt possibility.