Nerion clicked the card.
Then, without a sound, he pressed the summon option.
A black and white egg materialized before him—hovering midair like a sacred relic.
His screen shifted, revealing the new details:
⸻
Name: Fangbeast (Mutant)
Note: Pour blood to bind to Soul Inventory
⸻
His brothers leaned in, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Whoa! A Soul Beast Egg!" Aelric exclaimed, practically bouncing on his heels.
"No way—your first fight and you got a beast egg? That's insane!" Riven added, grinning from ear to ear.
"Quick! Pour some blood on it!" Aelric urged. "It needs to bind to you before it hatches!"
Nerion hesitated, blinking at the pulsing shell. Confusion clouded his face.
"Come on, don't just stand there!"
Without warning, Riven grabbed Nerion's hand.
"Here—I'll help."
He pressed Nerion's palm firmly against the egg's surface. Its jagged ridges sliced into the skin, drawing droplets of blood that trickled onto the shell.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the egg pulsed—once, then twice—before glowing with a strange, quiet light. Black and white energy curled around it like wisps of mist.
And then—
In a flash, the egg vanished.
It phased straight into Nerion's chest, like a spirit slipping into its chosen vessel.
He gasped softly at the odd, warm sensation.
The system screen flickered again.
⸻
[Soul Beast Egg Bound]
Stored in Soul Inventory
⸻
His brothers stared, eyes shining with excitement.
"It went in! It went in!" Aelric shouted.
Riven let out a long whistle. "Damn. It's official now. You've got a Soul Beast."
Nerion blinked as the last traces of the egg disappeared. A subtle warmth spread through his chest—gentle, not painful. Just… there.
The screen updated again.
⸻
[Soul Beast Egg Bound]
Location: Soul Inventory (Mana-Nurtured Incubation)
Status: Dormant – Maturing
⸻
He stared, absorbing every word.
Aelric stepped forward, arms crossed, slipping into his trademark older-brother-lecturer tone.
"Alright, listen up. Your Soul Inventory—that's the same place your class data and skills are stored. Remember when you first activated your abilities? That space."
"Now the egg's part of it," Riven added with a nod, playing the seasoned instructor. "It'll feed off your mana. Takes time to mature. Think of it like… a magical incubation chamber. Your body keeps it safe while it grows."
Both of them looked at him, clearly proud of their shared wisdom.
"Oh, I know," Nerion replied dryly. "I read the system message."
Aelric scoffed. "We're just trying to help our dumb little brother process it."
"Exactly," Riven smirked. "Gotta break it down for the guy who nearly died to a Tier 2 beast."
Nerion rolled his eyes. "This dumb brother topped the entire duchy's exam rankings… unlike you two geniuses."
That shut them up.
For a beat.
"…Still almost died, though," Riven muttered under his breath.
Their laughter chased the awkward tension away.
Behind the teasing, though, Nerion leaned back into his pillow. His brothers continued to toss theories back and forth—debating what kind of beast might hatch from the egg—but his mind drifted inward.
So much had changed. So fast.
He had awakened. Fought his first real battle. Claimed his first kill. Earned a Soul Card. Acquired a Soul Beast Egg.
All within days.
His palm still tingled faintly from where the egg had drawn his blood.
But this was just the beginning.
He could feel it.
The road ahead would be long, harsh, and unforgiving. The Tower, the Royal Academy, the wars that churned beyond the horizon… all of it loomed closer each day.
He would need to train harder. Grow faster. Push beyond the limits of expectation.
Because if this was the start—
Then what lay ahead would demand everything.
Everything he had.
And more.
⸻
[Weeks Passed]
A few weeks slipped by in a blur of rest, light training, and constant preparation.
And now—the day had nearly arrived.
Tomorrow, he would leave.
Nerion stood alone on the west wing balcony, overlooking the quiet lands of House Ophirein. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting golden rays over the farmlands and forests he had known his entire life. The breeze was cool and familiar—like a whisper of home.
Tomorrow, he'd leave it all behind.
He didn't know when he'd return.
Or whether he'd be the same person when he did.
A open world so vast and wild, names like his meant nothing without power.
Behind him, the house buzzed with soft noise—his siblings chatting, servants preparing gear, his mother making sure everything was perfect. His father was likely finishing the last letters of introduction.
Everyone was ready.
And so, Nerion made a decision.
Before leaving, he would speak with each member of his family—one by one. Not as a noble. Not as a student. Not even as an awakened.
Just as a son. A brother.
A boy standing at the edge of everything he'd ever known.
It was a rare day.
Every member of House Ophirein had cleared their schedules.
Even his father had paused his duties.
⸻
(Nerion decided to speak with his parents first.)
He approached the council room and knocked once.
"Come in," his father's voice called from within.
Nerion stepped inside.
Both of his parents sat at the grand table, a glowing rune map stretched between them. Their expressions were tense.
"Hey… everything okay?" Nerion asked.
His mother looked up first and smiled softly. "Oh, Nerion. Yes, come in."
Alaric nodded. "We're just finalizing some things. Everything's ready for your departure."
"Good," Nerion said, then paused. "Wait—are you sure? You both look… frustrated."
His father exchanged a glance with Evelyne before sighing. "It's the borders. Trouble again. The Margrave might send me out soon to deal with it."
"What kind of trouble?" Nerion asked.
"Neighboring nobles," Evelyne said. "Testing boundaries."
"Under royal law," Alaric added, "Awakeners below Mythril Rank (4) can fight freely for territory and resources. Some of them are abusing that. It's stirring tension."
"Will it affect me?"
His father nodded. "Yes. That's why I'm assigning fifty Soul Elite Guards to travel with you."
"Fifty? That's… a lot."
"You'll need them," Alaric said firmly. "This isn't just a journey. There are nobles who might try to delay you. Or worse."
Nerion frowned. "But I'm just heading to Emberhold. Why would they even care?"
"Oh, they'll care," Evelyne muttered. "You might become a threat to them later—just like your father."
Alaric leaned back in his chair. "The Margrave's men will escort you during the final stretch. Until then, our people will shield you."
Nerion took a deep breath. "Alright… Thanks for thinking ahead."
Alaric saw the flicker of worry in his son's eyes. His voice softened.
"But don't worry. No one would dare a large attack. At worst, they'll try something small. And we'll be ready."
Nerion looked between them.
"Still… everything's changing so fast. Awakening. Leaving home. I just—"
Evelyne stepped forward and wrapped him in a tight embrace.
"I know," she whispered. "I remember the night you were born. Now look at you."
Alaric's voice warmed. "You've grown into a fine man, Nerion. We're proud of you."
Nerion managed a faint smile. "Even more than the twins?"
Alaric chuckled. "They'd never admit it—but yes."
Evelyne placed her hands on his shoulders, firm and motherly.
"But promise us something."
"Anything."
"Stay true to yourself," she said. "The world will try to twist you. So always keep your head, stay calm, and focus. Your life matters more than power."
Nerion nodded. "I promise."
Alaric stepped forward, resting a hand on his back. "Good. Then go get some rest. Tomorrow, it all begins."
"I will," Nerion said. "But first… I have a few more people to talk to."
His father raised a brow. "Your siblings?"
Nerion smiled. "Yeah. I want to speak to all of them—one by one. Just in case."
Evelyne touched his cheek gently. "They'll love that. Especially the little ones."
Alaric gave a proud nod. "Then go on, son. We'll see you at dinner."
Nerion turned and stepped out of the council room.
The warm voices of his parents faded behind him as he walked into the quiet hallway—heart a little heavier.
But also steadier.
Stronger.
Ready