"I had hoped, for your sake, that you wouldn't awaken." Darius said in a moment of frankness. "But it seems the Veynar in you cannot be suppressed."
He smiled at Raelith. "And so we stand at a crossroads, where you must make your choice."
In this moment, Darius almost seemed like a father gracefully guiding his son, but Raelith wasn't fooled. He kept his expression blank, giving Darius no insight into his thoughts.
"You have two options." Darius said.
Raelith blinked at that. In his previous life, he hadn't been given options. He'd simply been told where to go and what to do, and it had been left at that. Darius must really want his dual Blessings to be this... magnanimous.
"Option one, you go to Black Castle and become a Black Knight. And option two, you go to the Royal Academy."
Darius didn't elaborate, but they both knew that these were more than just options.
In his previous life, Raelith had simply been ordered to go to Black Castle. That was where he'd honed himself to become the Tyrant of Ashenfall. The place where he'd faced dangers that had pushed him to become one who stood above others.
But right now, it meant something else. If he chose to go to Black Castle, it would mean cutting himself off from his family forever.
Black Knights are an ancient order of Awakeners dedicated to one thing. Killing beasts. Theirs was a life of blood, and they answered to one banner only. The king of Eldenvast.
They were the first line of defense between monsters and the kingdom, and that made them elite warriors who faced death on a daily basis.
During the early days of the kingdom, nobles usually sent their spare children to Black Castle as a show of allegiance, but now, anyone sent knew they were being abandoned by their families.
Because once one becomes a Black Knight, they sever all ties with their family, and become monster hunters. If he joined, he would no longer have any claim to his father's Barony, and won't be able to compete with his elder brother, Seren.
While the second option, heading to study at the Royal Academy, meant that Darius was willing to let Raelith stay with the family and try to earn his place among them. This was his way of showing acceptance. And perhaps, or might be the more dangerous option.
Raelith weighed both options but he already knew which one he was going to pick. He had no interest in the Veynar family, as they had nothing real to offer him except hostility.
But Black Castle? This was a place he was familiar with. A place filled with opportunities he wouldn't want to miss. A place that would grant him explosive growth.
He wasn't stupid enough to believe that the future would continue moving in the same way it had in his previous life, as even his awakening of two Blessings had already caused changes, but there were still opportunities for him to seize before the future can't be predicted anymore.
So, he stared his father in the eye and gave his answer. "I choose Black Castle."
Darius blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected this. He'd expected Raelith to cling to the second option, and at the chance of being a recognized member of House Veynar.
He'd been prepared to protect Raelith from his wife, had he chosen the second option.
He took a moment to sweep away the disappointment within him, before nodding at Raelith, his voice curt. "Very well. Prepare yourself. You depart next week."
Raelith gave his father a nod, before turning and leaving the study. He made his way to his room, where he sat on his bed with a sigh. There was nothing left for him here. His future resided outside these walls.
And as he began crafting a training regimen for himself, he couldn't let his skills get rusty, the door slammed open, and Aurora rushed inside with a squeal of joy.
"You did it!" She gave him a tight hug, unable to contain herself. "You did it, Raelith!"
After a few seconds, she pulled back, excitement sparkling in her eyes. "What blessing did you get? Show me. Show me." She clapped her hands like an excited child.
Raelith grinned and obliged. His hand came up, white fire blooming above it before fading away and replaced with ice.
Aurora's jaw dropped. "Two Blessings?"
Raelith nodded.
She squealed again, giving him another tight hug. She then suddenly stood, looking around in a hurry. "I can't be wasting time like this! I need to prepare!"
Raelith frowned in confusion. "Prepare for what?"
"For the Royal Academy, of course." Aurora laughed. "You'll be going there now that you've awakened."
"About that..."
Aurora frowned, immediately sensing the change in Raelith's tone.
"We won't be going to the Royal Academy."
"What?"
"Father is sending me to Black Castle."
Aurora stood there, frozen. The realization entered her head, and her eyes widened. Raelith was being cut off from the family.
"Oh." She said quietly. Then a few seconds later, she pasted a strained smile on her face, trying to stay happy for Reality. "Well, I still need to pack. We're going to Black Castle."
"About that..."
Aurora turned to him, another frown on her face. "What is it this time?"
Raelith searched for a way to say what he wanted without hurting her feelings, and after finding none, he simply said it. "You won't be coming with me."
He could see the exact moment hurt flashed in Aurora's eyes. Her hand flew to cover her mouth and her eyes began to water. "W- what?"
"Aurora," Raelith sighed, walking closer to her, "you know what it means to become a Black Knight. I would no longer be of House Veynar. You would no longer be serving a noble. You deserve better than that."
"But—"
Raelith cut her off. "You've done a lot for me, Aurora. You're like an elder sister to me. Which is why I don't want you to follow me and live a life of suffering. I want you to stay here as a maid of House Veynar, find yourself a man who would love and take care of you, and have children of your own to look after you in your old age."
"If you follow me, all you would have is suffering. But I want you to live a life of happiness, Aurora. So, promise me you won't come with me. Promise me you'll stay and be happy."
At this point, Aurora was openly crying, tears running down her face. She threw herself forward, wrapping Raelith into a hug.
"I promise." She whispered as she cried into his chest.
Raelith held her tight, knowing that after he left, he might never see her again. But this was for her own good.
In his previous life, she'd followed him on the journey to Black Castle but had never made it. She'd died on the road in order that he might live. This time, he was strong enough to protect himself. There was no need for her to come.
He patted her chest till she stopped crying and after a few words of reassurance, she left.
Raelith sat back on his bed and finally pulled up his panel.
[Raelith Veynar]
[Tier 1(0/1000 cores)]
[Tier 1(0/1000 cores)]
[Blessing: Purifying Flames, Ice]
[Beast Soul: N/A]
He stared at the tiers of his two cores. He'd need to consume 1000 beast cores each to level them both. It would require twice the effort, but it would be worth it.
At that moment, there was a knock on his door. Raelith stood, walked to it, and pulled it open.
Standing before him was Seren, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Raelith."