That night, Lucian dreamed again.
No—dreamed was the wrong word.
They were nightmares.
Cruel, relentless nightmares that dragged him back into a past he had spent years trying to bury.
Ever since he had retrieved more of his childhood memories, those memories brought even more trauma.
He saw his mother cry while trying to keep a smile for him.
He saw his father's shadow towering, shouting, and hitting.
He saw himself, small and terrified, hiding in his room as muffled sobs seeped through the walls.
He couldn't move. Couldn't scream.
His increased Will made him more aware, more mentally stable—yet it also tore open the boxes he had sealed for survival.
Some memories had returned.
Some wounds had reopened.
And this time, they bled freely.
***
When he woke up, he was exhausted.
Not just physically, but mentally too.
He didn't get a good sleep since he had woken up repeatedly, sweating due to his nightmares.
After a long, hot shower, he stood before the bathroom mirror.
Steam fogged the glass, blurring his reflection. He wiped it away with his hand—and stared.
His reflection no longer looked like the frail boy he used to be.
Muscles had begun forming along his arms and torso. His shoulders were broader. His posture had improved. Faint outlines of abs traced his abdomen.
Even the faint sharpness in his features had become more defined.
He looked… good.
Handsome, even.
With a thought, the familiar translucent screen appeared before him.
[STATUS]
Name – Lucian Foster
Race – Human
Titles – [LOCKED]
Bloodline – ??? (Dormant, Sealed)
Affinity – [LOCKED]
Talent – [LOCKED]
Rank – [LOCKED]
[Attributes]
Strength – 2→4
Agility – 2→5
Constitution – 1→4
Intelligence – 7→8
Will – 3→4
Perception – 1→3
Charm – 5→8
Stamina – 2→6
Mana – [LOCKED]
Attribute Points (AP) – 2
***
[You have grown much more than expected in a month.]
Akasha's voice was softer than usual.
Almost… proud.
"Thank you for the compliment, but…" Lucian trailed off.
[But what, are you disappointed?]
"No, not that. I am satisfied with my growth, but… why is my charm so high?"
He didn't understand how his charm had increased so much all of a sudden in just over a month.
[How would I know?] Akasha scoffed.
[It's your body.]
"I thought you'd know."
[I don't.]
***
After breakfast, he went out again—this time to buy something.
A gift.
However, since he didn't have much money, he had to buy something cheap.
Still, he searched carefully. Eventually, he found a small store.
After looking for a while, he finally found something he liked.
When he reached the facility, nervousness crept back in.
Yesterday, his mother looked terrified as he tried to calm her down. Shaken, confused.
He didn't know if she would like to see him again.
Still, gathering his resolve, he went inside.
The same guard escorted him down the familiar hallway.
The door creaked open.
She flinched at the sound.
Her eyes were still cold. Still distant.
But when she saw him, something flickered within them.
"Good morning," Lucian said softly.
She didn't say anything, just stared with an unreadable expression.
He didn't push.
Instead, he began talking—softly, casually.
Things about his day, stories he thought might interest her, even small dumb things just to keep her mind moving.
She sat silently, pretending not to care, but she listened.
After a while, she finally spoke, her voice brittle,
"Why… why are you wasting your time here?"
Lucian blinked, but smiled.
"Because I want to."
She stared at him, confused, then muttered,
"Whatever," turning her head with irritation that didn't quite reach her eyes.
He chuckled.
"Don't laugh." Her tone grew sharper.
"But you looked cute just now."
She looked at him, trying to find any false emotions, but found none. Just sincerity.
"Look, kid," She said quietly.
"Whatever you are trying to get from me—it won't work."
Lucian frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
She looked again—and finally realized something unsettling.
He wasn't lying.
He hadn't lied once. His words, his eyes, his presence… none of it matched the ones who had taken advantage of her for their own profit.
Maybe she had misunderstood him.
"...Nothing." She muttered, dismissing it.
She ignored his confused look and looked at him.
Now that she looked properly, he was handsome.
Like someone from an upper-class family—at least at first glance. But the worn shoes, faded hoodie, rough calluses on his fingers… anyone could see he wasn't from wealth.
Even his stories confirmed it.
'My boy might have looked like him if he—'
Her vision blurred. Pain surged as old memories stabbed through her chest.
If only she had ended Damien that night…
If only she had been stronger…
If only she had protected her son…
Then maybe—
"Mom––"
Her eyes snapped up.
"Miss, are you alright?" He repeated himself, trying to clear his blunder.
"What did yo—no. Nothing."
She sighed. She didn't want to have any expectations.
She must have imagined it.
Feeling the touch of his hand on her cheek, she flinched.
He looked worried, as if she were someone precious to him.
She didn't understand it. No one had ever looked at her that way—not without wanting something.
Her beauty had ruined her life—turned her into a prize, a tool.
Even her own family had married her off to that bastard, simply because he desired her at the time.
A signature, a transaction—nothing more.
In exchange for her life, he handed them enough property to live comfortably, and they never looked back.
But this boy's gaze held worry, not desire.
Lucian wiped her tears away, filled a glass with water, and offered it to her.
She stared at it blankly, unmoving.