Arthur's eyes snapped open.
The dim flicker of candlelight danced across cold stone walls. His body ached, and his limbs felt heavy, but the familiar face beside him pulled him back into focus.
"Arthur!" Felix's voice cracked with relief as he pulled him into a tight hug. "You're awake."
"What… happened?" Arthur asked, blinking the fog from his mind.
"You summoned a blade," Felix said, wide-eyed. "You froze that guy solid and shattered him into pieces."
Arthur's breath caught. He sat up sharply. "I did?"
"You did," Felix nodded. "It was incredible. You were like—boom! Ice everywhere. Then this huge dragon appeared behind you and became a sword."
Arthur's heart pounded. His lips moved instinctively. "Stats."
A glowing screen hovered before him—empty.
BLADE: —
MAGICAL ATTRIBUTE: —
LEVEL: —
ABILITIES: —
His chest tightened. "Nothing…"
"I know what I saw," Felix said firmly. "You summoned something. That sword chose you."
Arthur stood slowly. "I need air."
Felix nodded. "Everyone's gone home to train. I'll see you at Sage Academy."
Arthur paused at the door. "Thanks, Felix."
---
The scent of fresh bread greeted him as he stepped into the Valtoria mansion. Familiar, warm—but it didn't reach him.
"Welcome home, Arthur!"
Evelyn ran toward him, eyes sparkling. She grabbed his bag but paused when she saw his face.
"Arthur…? What's wrong?"
He forced a smile. "Just tired."
Evelyn's brows furrowed, but before she could ask more, he ruffled her hair and walked past her. "I'll rest a bit."
He locked the door behind him and collapsed onto the bed. The ceiling offered no answers. Sleep took him anyway.
---
The next day came like a cold wind.
Elizabeth knocked twice before entering. "Arthur. Your father's waiting. Dinner."
Arthur dragged himself up, washed, and walked toward the dining hall with the weight of a stone tied to his back.
Everyone was seated already—his mother, silent and graceful as ever; Evelyn, watching him nervously; and Aldric, rigid and unreadable.
He sat.
The silence was thick.
"How did the Preliminary Academy go?" Aldric asked without looking at him.
Arthur gripped his fork. "Fine."
Aldric's gaze sharpened. "Can you summon your blade?"
Arthur hesitated.
"No," he said at last, voice flat.
Aldric's brow twitched. "Show me your stats."
Arthur sighed and activated the screen.
BLADE: —
MAGICAL ATTRIBUTE: —
LEVEL: —
ABILITIES: —
Silence. Then—
Bang!
Aldric's fist slammed the table. Dishes rattled. Evelyn jumped.
"What is this sorry excuse of a stat?" he bellowed.
Arthur didn't flinch.
"You are no son of mine."
Verona gasped. Evelyn burst into tears. "Father, no—!"
"Silence!" Aldric barked. "I will not have the Valtoria name tainted by weakness. From this day forward, Arthur is stripped of nobility. He is no longer a Valtoria."
Arthur stood slowly. The words echoed in his chest like thunder.
"I understand," he said quietly.
Verona's eyes shimmered with sorrow, but she didn't speak.
Aldric pointed at the maids. "Pack his things. He leaves now."
---
The mansion gates creaked open behind him.
Arthur stepped out with a single bag over his shoulder. Elizabeth had pressed a paper into his hand with an address on it and whispered through tears, "Be safe. Please."
He walked.
From shining estates to cracked roads. From polished gates to chipped fences. The cold air of the common realm met him with silence.
Finally, he reached a small house by the river. He stared at the door for a moment before knocking.
It opened to a woman with soft brown hair and warm black eyes. She looked at him—really looked—and smiled.
"You must be Arthur," she said gently. "I'm Liana. Elizabeth told me."
She stepped aside.
Two children peeked from behind her.
"Who's he?" the boy asked.
"He's staying with us," Liana replied.
"I'm Luca!" the boy grinned. "And I'm Mira!" the girl added. "Can we call you big brother?"
Arthur's throat tightened. He saw Evelyn's smile in theirs.
"…Sure."
"Come in," Liana said warmly. "I made soup."
They ate together. Laughter filled the air. Luca talked about chasing a squirrel. Mira proudly showed a lopsided drawing of a horse. Liana asked nothing of him.
Arthur listened, smiled a little, but said little.
That night, as he lay on a straw mattress under a thin blanket, the moonlight falling softly through the window, he whispered to himself,
"I'm no longer Arthur, son of Aldric Valtoria."
He closed his eyes.
"I'm just Arthur."