Chapter 16: Home Is Only a Call Away
The applause slowly faded.
Professor Adrian stepped aside as Headmaster Orion returned to the center of the stage.
He looked over the sea of young faces.
"You have all worked hard."
"You survived the entrance examination."
"You have earned your places within this Academy."
He paused before continuing.
"As a reward..."
"The Academy will grant all first-year students one week of leave."
The hall erupted into excited chatter.
"Really?"
"We can go home?"
"I haven't seen my family in weeks!"
The Headmaster raised his hand, and the hall fell silent once more.
"You are free to leave the Academy."
"Spend time with your families."
"Say your goodbyes."
"Or prepare yourselves."
"When the week ends..."
"Your true Academy life will begin."
His voice became firmer.
"The kindness shown today will disappear."
"The training will become harsher."
"The lessons more difficult."
"And the expectations..."
"...much higher."
He smiled faintly.
"So enjoy your week."
"You've earned it."
The students burst into applause.
Some immediately rushed toward the exits.
Others began making plans with friends.
Leon stretched his arms.
"I'm finally sleeping for two whole days."
Aurelia smiled.
"I thought princes were supposed to train every day."
"They are."
"I choose to disappoint tradition."
Vee laughed.
"That's surprisingly relatable."
---
A few minutes later...
Vee wandered through the Academy until he reached the Communication Hall.
Rows of glowing crystal mirrors lined the room.
An elderly staff member smiled warmly.
"Would you like to contact your family?"
Vee nodded.
"Yes, please."
The old man placed a crystal on the table.
"Just pour a little mana into it."
Vee did as instructed.
The crystal glowed.
Ripples spread across its surface.
Then...
The image cleared.
A familiar face appeared.
"...Vee?"
His mother's eyes widened.
"Mom."
For a second...
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
"VEEEEE!"
She burst into tears.
"My baby!"
"I've missed you so much!"
She reached toward the crystal as if she could pull him through it.
"I've been worried every single day!"
"Did you eat properly?"
"Are you sleeping enough?"
"You don't look thinner, do you?"
"Did anyone bully you?"
"Are your clothes warm enough?"
Questions poured out one after another.
Vee laughed softly.
"Mom..."
"I'm okay."
She sniffled.
"No, you're not."
"You've got a scratch on your cheek!"
Vee touched his face.
"Oh..."
"I forgot about that."
"What happened?"
"I may have..."
He hesitated.
"...gotten slightly lost."
His mother narrowed her eyes.
"Slightly?"
"I accidentally wandered into a monster reserve."
Silence.
Then she turned her head away from the crystal.
"Honey!"
"Duke!"
"I told you he'd get into trouble!"
A few moments later, his father appeared beside her.
Unlike his mother, the Duke looked calm.
Though there was unmistakable relief in his eyes.
"So."
"You survived."
"I did."
"I heard."
"You got lost."
Vee sighed.
"...Everyone knows?"
"The Headmaster sent a report."
Vee buried his face in one hand.
"Of course he did."
His father chuckled.
"I'll admit..."
"I wasn't expecting my son to fight monsters while looking for an assembly hall."
His mother wiped away fresh tears.
"I don't care about the monsters."
"I just..."
"...miss you."
The room became quiet.
Vee smiled gently.
"I miss you too."
Her eyes immediately filled with tears again.
"Oh no..."
"He's saying sweet things..."
"I'm going to cry again."
His father wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You've been crying since he called."
"I know."
"I can't help it."
She looked back at Vee.
"Come home during the break."
"I'll make your favorite meals."
"I've already told the chefs to prepare everything."
"And..."
She smiled through her tears.
"I want to hug my baby."
Vee laughed.
"I'll be there."
His father nodded approvingly.
"We'll be waiting."
Before ending the call, his mother pointed a finger at him.
"And don't get lost on your way home."
Vee grinned.
"I'll try my best."
His father smirked.
"That doesn't inspire confidence."
The crystal slowly dimmed.
The connection ended.
For a moment...
Vee simply stood there, staring at the now-dark crystal.
A warm smile spread across his face.
"No matter how strong I become..."
"...I'll always have a place to come home to."
Outside the Communication Hall, the Academy bustled with excitement as students prepared to leave for their one-week break.
But hidden in the shadows of a nearby corridor...
Someone had been quietly watching Vee's conversation.
"And so..."
The cloaked figure whispered.
"The Death God's successor still has people worth protecting."
A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.
"Good."
"That will make the future... far more interesting."
Chapter 16: A New Teacher
The carriage rolled through the familiar gates of Ashford Manor.
The moment it stopped...
The front doors burst open.
"VEEEE!"
His mother ran across the courtyard without caring about noble etiquette.
Vee barely had time to step out before she wrapped him in a tight hug.
"My baby!"
"I missed you so much!"
She squeezed him so tightly that he struggled to breathe.
"M-Mom..."
"...oxygen..."
"Oh!"
She quickly loosened her grip.
"Sorry!"
Then she hugged him again.
"I missed you."
Vee laughed.
"I noticed."
His father walked down the manor steps with his usual dignified posture.
Though the faint smile on his face betrayed his happiness.
"Welcome home."
"It's good to be back, Dad."
The Duke nodded.
"You've grown."
His mother immediately objected.
"He has not."
"He is still my baby."
Vee smiled helplessly.
"I don't think that's going to change."
"It never will."
The servants welcomed him warmly as he entered the manor.
Everything felt exactly as he remembered.
The paintings.
The chandeliers.
The familiar scent of his mother's favorite flowers.
For the first time since entering the Academy...
He truly relaxed.
---
That evening...
The family gathered around the dining table.
His mother insisted on serving him personally.
"Eat more."
"I'm already full."
"You've only had three servings."
"...Mom."
"You've become thinner."
His father calmly looked at Vee.
"You've actually gained weight."
His mother ignored him completely.
"My baby needs another serving."
Vee looked toward his father for help.
The Duke slowly shook his head.
"There is no winning this battle."
Vee surrendered.
"...More food it is."
---
After dinner...
The three sat together in the family lounge.
A warm fire crackled inside the fireplace.
For a while...
No one spoke.
Finally...
Vee broke the silence.
"Mom."
"Dad."
"I've been thinking."
His parents immediately became attentive.
"I want to become stronger."
His father nodded.
"I expected as much."
"The Academy is full of monsters."
"And students like Kai."
Vee smiled.
"Exactly."
He took a deep breath.
"I'd like to spend this week training."
His mother smiled proudly.
"I knew you would."
Then...
Vee spoke the words he had been considering ever since leaving the Academy.
"I want to train..."
"...under Uncle."
The room fell silent.
His mother's smile slowly disappeared.
His father folded his arms.
Neither of them answered immediately.
Vee looked between them.
"...Was that a bad question?"
His father sighed.
"No."
"It's simply..."
"...unexpected."
His mother looked worried.
"Your uncle..."
"...doesn't train people."
"He doesn't even like teaching."
Vee nodded.
"I know."
"But he's one of the strongest warriors in the kingdom."
"I want to learn from him."
His father stared into the fire.
A faint smile appeared.
"You're serious."
"I am."
The Duke looked at his son.
"Do you know what people call your uncle?"
Vee shook his head.
"They call him..."
"...the Iron Tempest."
"The man who once fought an army for three days without retreating."
"The swordsman who defeated five enemy generals in a single battle."
"The warrior whose name alone ended wars."
Vee's eyes lit up.
"...Now I want to train with him even more."
His mother sighed, already knowing that expression.
Whenever Vee looked like that...
He had already made up his mind.
She reached over and gently held his hand.
"If you choose this..."
"...it won't be easy."
"I know."
"He is harsher than your father."
Vee glanced at the Duke.
"Harder than Dad?"
His father actually laughed.
"Much harder."
"He once broke my arm during training."
Vee blinked.
"...On purpose?"
"He said..."
The Duke imitated his brother's deep voice.
«"If you can still hold a sword, I haven't trained you hard enough."»
Vee swallowed.
"...He sounds terrifying."
"He is."
His mother gently brushed a strand of white hair away from Vee's face.
"I don't want to see you get hurt."
Vee smiled softly.
"I know."
"But if I want to protect the people I care about..."
"I can't stay the same."
Those words lingered in the room.
His father looked at his son for a long moment.
Then...
He nodded.
"I'll send him a message tonight."
"If anyone can prepare you for what awaits at the Academy..."
"...it's your uncle."
His mother's shoulders slumped.
"I suppose..."
"...I can't stop you."
She smiled sadly.
"But promise me one thing."
Vee reached across the table and gently held her hand.
"I'll come back."
She smiled through watery eyes.
"That's all a mother ever wants to hear."
Outside...
Far beyond the walls of Ashford Manor...
A lone swordsman stood atop a mountain, practicing beneath the setting sun.
Each swing of his blade split the wind itself.
A messenger hawk descended from the sky.
The man caught the letter without even looking.
He read it once.
Then a rare smile appeared on his face.
"So..."
"My nephew wishes to train under me."
He sheathed his sword.
"I hope..."
"...he's ready to regret that decision."
The mountain trembled as he walked away.