After a few moments, Arman finished his conversation with Audrey.
The two exchanged a nod toward Commander Richard.
Commander Richard stepped forward and began calling each trainee knight to receive their official ranking from the Head of the Alan Family.
After four trainee knights had been called, he finally announced the twins.
Commander Richard: "Trainee Ron and Trainee Dion, come before the stands."
Everyone turned their attention toward them.
Audrey stepped forward.
Audrey: "Today, both of you have shown great feats during your test."
Ron and Dion looked at each other and smirked.
Audrey continued.
Audrey: "You have proven yourselves worthy of being called Knights of the Alan Family. That's why I have asked the person who tested you to give you your official ranking."
Arman stepped forward.
He looked at the twins.
Arman: "Tell me, what have you both learned from my test?"
Ron and Dion looked at each other.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ron answered.
Ron: "What we cannot do alone..."
Dion continued.
Dion: "...can be done if we are together."
Arman looked at them.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
He was proud.
Arman: "Trainee Knight Ron. Trainee Knight Dion."
He raised his voice so everyone could hear.
Arman: "From today onward, you are officially Intermediate Knights of the Alan Family."
Ron and Dion looked at Arman.
They clenched their fists, brought them close to their hearts, and shouted together.
Ron & Dion: "WE ARE READY TO SERVE THE ALAN FAMILY!"
The crowd applauded.
Commander Richard stepped forward.
Commander Richard: "The official Knight Ranking Test is now over."
He looked toward the soldiers and trainees.
Commander Richard: "Everyone, return to your posts."
He then turned toward Audrey.
Commander Richard: "Sir, then I shall take my leave."
Audrey nodded.
Audrey: "You may."
Arman and Commander Richard looked at each other.
Arman: "I'll catch up with you later."
Commander Richard: "Yes. I'll see you later."
Commander Richard turned around and began walking away.
Suddenly, Arman remembered something.
Arman: "Wait."
Everyone stopped.
Arman stepped forward and drew his sword.
The moment the blade came out, the atmosphere around the training ground became quiet.
His voice echoed throughout the entire area.
Arman: "I, Arman Alan, the Dragon Berserker, swear upon my honor that the rumors you have heard about me are not true."
Everyone remained silent.
Arman's eyes swept across the crowd.
Arman: "But if anyone still wants to spread those rumors..."
He rested the sword against his shoulder.
Arman: "Come and confront me."
His eyes became sharp.
Arman: "If you have the guts."
Silence.
Some people lowered their heads in guilt.
Others looked frightened.
Arman slowly sheathed his sword.
Arman: "Just as I thought."
He looked around one final time.
Arman: "Don't talk behind a man's back if you don't have the guts to face him."
Arman returned to the others and looked toward Commander Richard.
Commander Richard understood immediately.
Commander Richard: "Everyone, return to your posts."
He paused.
Commander Richard: "And remember the words of the Dragon Berserker."
The soldiers and trainees quickly began leaving.
Everyone except the twins.
Ron and Dion immediately ran toward their family.
Ron looked incredibly excited.
Ron: "Mom! I am officially a Knight of the Alan Family!"
Dion looked at him.
Dion: "Don't get too excited. We barely made it."
Martha smiled proudly.
Martha: "Yes, I saw. Both of you did very well."
While the twins talked with Martha and Reina, Lisa looked toward Arman.
She couldn't help but remember how easily he had handled them during the test.
Lisa: "I thought you were going to kill them earlier."
Arman looked at her in disbelief.
Arman: "What do you take me for? A monster?"
Lisa smiled.
Herald stepped in.
Herald: "What he did was right."
He looked toward the Knights of the Alan Family.
Herald: "A Knight should always respect the chain of command."
Lisa looked at Herald, confused, and nodded.
Lisa had been talking about the twins, while Herald thought she was talking about what Arman had done in front of the knights.
Then she turned toward Arman.
Lisa: "Hey, introduce me to my cousins."
Before Arman could introduce Lisa to the twins, Ron and Dion suddenly noticed her.
They immediately rushed toward her.
Ron: "Hey! You must be our cousin Lisa!"
Dion: "Nice to meet you. I'm Dion, and he's Ron."
Lisa smiled.
Lisa: "Hi! I've seen your match. You both were amazing."
The three quickly began getting along.
Herald watched them for a moment before interrupting.
Herald: "Alright, everyone. Let's get inside."
He tapped his cane against the ground.
Herald: "All of you get freshened up first. Then we can have a proper family gathering."
ONE HOUR LATER
Arman was lying on his bed, quietly looking around his room.
Everything was exactly as he remembered it.
The same furniture.
The same decorations.
The same atmosphere.
Eight years had passed...
Yet his room felt as though he had only left yesterday.
Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Arman: "You can come in."
The door opened.
Ganther entered the room.
Arman: "Ganther... everything is just like I left it eight years ago."
Ganther smiled.
Ganther: "Nobody comes into your room, sir. Only the housemaids enter to clean it."
Arman nodded slowly.
Arman: "Hmm..."
He looked toward Ganther.
Arman: "So why have you come now?"
Ganther: "Master Herald is calling you for the family gathering."
Arman sighed.
Arman: "Tell him I'm feeling tired right now. I can't come."
Ganther nodded.
Ganther: "Yes, sir. Should I bring you some medication?"
Arman: "No. I'm fine."
Ganther nodded again and left the room.
The door closed.
Arman remained silent.
Then he closed his eyes.
Suddenly...
A memory from the day he first came to the Alan House returned to his mind.
TEN YEARS AGO
Herald stood before the family with a fifteen-year-old Arman beside him.
Herald: "Audrey. Martha. This is your nephew."
He looked toward Arman.
Herald: "He was chosen by the Dragon Orb."
Audrey stepped toward the young Arman.
His expression was gentle.
Audrey: "I know all of this is new for you, and it must be difficult."
He placed a hand on Arman's shoulder.
Audrey: "But don't worry. We're all here for you."
Arman said nothing.
He simply nodded.
There were already too many things going through his mind.
But one thought kept repeating itself.
They call me family...
But when my parents died, none of them came to see me or Lisa.
And now, suddenly, I've been chosen by this strange power...
And they're all acting like I'm important.
Are they really treating me like family?
Herald looked at the young boy.
After a moment, he ordered one of the maids to take Arman to his room.
THAT NIGHT
Arman suddenly woke from a nightmare.
His breathing was heavy.
His heart was pounding.
He looked around the unfamiliar room.
No one was there.
He slowly got out of bed and walked into the hallway.
The mansion was completely silent.
Arman walked for a while until he noticed a balcony.
He approached it and looked up at the night sky.
The stars were shining brightly.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then...
A shadow appeared behind him.
Someone gently tapped his shoulder.
Nina: "Young Master, what are you doing out here at this hour?"
Arman turned around.
He looked at the woman standing behind him.
Arman: "Who are you?"
The woman smiled warmly.
Nina: "I am Nina Steward, the Head Maid of the Alan Family."
She bowed slightly.
Nina: "And I'm your caretaker."
Arman looked at her curiously.
Nina smiled.
Nina: "Now, Young Master, answer my question."
She looked toward the dark hallway.
Nina: "Why are you here?"
Arman lowered his head.
Arman: "I had a nightmare..."
His voice was quiet.
Arman: "I couldn't sleep after that, so I came outside."
Nina's expression softened.
Nina: "Forgive me, Young Master. I wasn't there."
She looked slightly guilty.
Nina: "I was making my rounds around the mansion."
Arman shook his head.
Arman: "No. You don't have to apologize."
Nina smiled.
Nina: "Young Master, you should go back to sleep. It's already past midnight."
Arman hesitated.
He still didn't want to return to the room.
But eventually, he nodded.
Arman: "Okay."
As they walked toward his room, Nina suddenly looked at him.
Nina: "Young Master... would you like to hold my hand?"
Arman looked at her.
Then he nodded.
He gently grabbed her hand.
For the first time that night, he felt a little safer.
After they entered his room, Arman climbed back into bed.
He looked toward Nina.
Nina sat down on a chair beside him.
Nina: "Don't worry, Young Master."
She smiled warmly.
Nina: "I'll be right here whenever you need me."
Arman stared at her for a moment.
After hearing her words, he finally closed his eyes.
Slowly...
He fell asleep.
THE NEXT MORNING
When Arman opened his eyes, everything was blurry.
His body felt strangely hot.
He tried to move.
But he felt weak.
Arman: "Ni...na..."
Nina immediately woke up.
She had stayed awake throughout the night, watching over him.
The moment she saw his condition, she rushed toward him.
She placed her hand on his forehead.
Her expression immediately changed.
Nina: "Young Master... you're burning up!"
She quickly left the room.
A few moments later, Nina returned with several physicians.
Herald, Audrey, and Martha also arrived.
The physicians examined Arman carefully.
But after several minutes...
They still couldn't determine what was wrong with him.
Audrey looked at them.
Audrey: "What happened to him?"
One of the physicians shook his head.
Physician: "We couldn't determine what has happened to him."
Herald's expression darkened.
Herald: "What do you mean you couldn't determine it?"
He slammed his cane against the floor.
Herald: "You're physicians! Do something!"
His voice echoed throughout the room.
Herald: "If something happens to my grandson, I will make sure none of you leave this mansion on two legs!"
The physicians became nervous.
Suddenly, one of them raised his hand.
Physician: "I... I think I know what's happening to him."
Audrey immediately looked toward him.
Audrey: "What do you mean?"
The physician took a breath.
Physician: "It's only a theory, but I believe his body is reforming because he was chosen by the Dragon Orb."
Everyone looked at Arman.
Physician: "He wasn't physically ready to accept such a massive amount of power."
He continued.
Physician: "The Dragon Orb is now reforming his body so that it can withstand its power."
Suddenly—
Arman: "AAAAHHHH!"
Arman screamed in agony.
His body trembled.
Arman: "AAAAHHHH!"
Martha's eyes filled with tears.
She couldn't bear watching him suffer.
Martha: "Can't we do something?"
She looked toward the physicians.
Martha: "He's just a child. I can't watch him suffer like this."
The physician nodded.
Physician: "There might be a way."
Everyone looked at him.
Physician: "If you infuse your Mana into his meridians and carefully guide it through his body, it could lessen his pain and accelerate his body's reformation."
Herald immediately frowned.
Herald: "But he's a Berserker."
He looked toward the physician.
Herald: "He doesn't possess Mana."
The physician nodded.
Other Physician: "His Berserker Aura and Mana could collide and destroy his meridians."
He paused.
Physician: "But innate Mana without an elemental affinity is very similar to Berserker Aura."
The physician looked at them seriously.
Physician: "You must be extremely careful."
He continued.
Physician: "The process could take days, so multiple people will have to take turns."
His expression became stern.
Physician: "Don't overdo it. If you aren't careful, you could lose your own life."
Arman, who had been listening to everything, looked toward them.
A thought crossed his mind.
Why would they risk their lives for me?
I'm just a tool to them...
Herald suddenly stepped forward.
His expression was filled with determination.
Herald: "I'll go first."
He looked at Arman.
Herald: "I can't watch my grandson suffer anymore."
Arman stared at him.
What is he doing...?
Martha suddenly stopped Herald.
Martha: "Father, wait."
Everyone looked toward her.
Martha: "Let me go first."
She looked at Herald and Audrey.
Martha: "You and Audrey have to take care of the family. After me, you two can switch with each other."
Audrey looked at her with concern.
Audrey: "Are you sure?"
Martha nodded.
Martha: "Yes."
She looked toward Arman.
Martha: "Trust me."
Martha walked toward Arman and sat beside him.
She placed her hands gently against his body.
Then she began infusing her Mana into his meridians.
Almost immediately...
Arman's pain began to lessen.
It wasn't gone.
But compared to the agony from before...
It was much more bearable.
Arman slowly opened his eyes.
He looked toward Martha.
Then he called out weakly.
Arman: "Nina..."
Nina immediately stepped closer.
Nina: "I'm right here, Young Master."
She gently held his hand.
Nina: "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere until you're completely recovered."
Arman looked at her.
For some reason...
Her words made him feel safe.
One by one, everyone eventually left the room, their faces tense with worry.
Martha remained beside Arman, continuing to guide her Mana through his body.
Then...
Strange images suddenly appeared in Arman's mind.
He couldn't understand what they were.
But they felt important.
Arman slowly turned toward Martha.
His voice was weak.
Almost childlike.
Arman: "Aunty..."
Martha looked at him.
Martha: "Yes?"
Arman's eyes were filled with uncertainty.
Arman: "Are you... mad at me?"