Chapter 14
First Time Flying
The farewell went smoothly. Thankfully, Lucius didn't get teased too much by Edward's mother this time.
After hopping into the car, the two drove off. Edward glanced at Lucius as he shifted gears, then casually asked:
"Lucia—ah, I mean Lucius—what do you want to eat? It's my treat."
Feeling guilty for having already received so much from Edward today, Lucius deflected the decision.
"I'm fine with anything. How about you decide?"
Edward gave it some thought before offering options.
"Hmm… how about seafood? Or maybe meat? Fast food's fine too."
Lucius shook his head, internally groaning.
'Dude… you really want me to choose again, huh? Fine. Let's eat something spicy then.'
While casually scrolling through his phone, Lucius spoke up.
"Alright, let's get something spicy. I've been craving it. You okay with that?"
Edward glanced at him, nodding.
"Sure, spicy works. Korean hotpot? Or Chinese hotpot?"
Lucius paused, looking up from his phone. He smiled, then sighed.
'Is it just me, or is he letting me lead everything lately? Why's he suddenly so considerate? When we used to hang out, it was always him deciding where to eat.
'Wait… is he unconsciously treating me like a girl now? Damn it, bro… this transformation really flipped the whole dynamic.
'To be fair… if I looked like this, even I'd probably treat me differently. Damn… this appearance really screams "beautiful" from every angle…'
Lost in thought, Lucius didn't respond right away. Edward glanced at him again, seeing her—him—deep in some kind of intense mental battle.
– Edward's POV –
She crossed her legs, sitting comfortably, a small frown between her brows. One hand rested beneath her chin, the other supporting her chest—a pose that, unintentionally, drew attention.
I didn't know what she was thinking about, but one thing was certain: even in deep thought, Lucia looked breathtaking.
I snapped myself out of it.
'Focus, Edward! You're driving a car, not daydreaming!'
– Back to Lucius' POV –
"Erm… so? Chinese or Korean?" Edward asked again. "I'll go with your pick."
Lucius blinked, finally coming back to his senses.
"Let's go with Korean hotpot. Chinese hotpot's usually for three or four people. I'm not that hungry, honestly."
"Alright." Edward nodded, speaking toward the dashboard. "Siri, change destination to the nearest Korean hotpot restaurant."
Without taking his eyes off the road, he set the navigation.
Eventually, they arrived. After parking, the two of them walked toward the restaurant entrance. The staff greeted them politely and led them to a table.
As they passed through the dining area, they drew quite a bit of attention.
Lucius, used to this reaction by now, kept his head high and ignored the stares. Edward, however, received a different kind of attention—glares of pure envy from nearby male diners.
Of course, Edward wasn't bad-looking by any means. He had that refined, gentlemanly charm, paired with calm confidence. But it was who he was walking with that made jaws clench and tempers simmer.
Trying to ignore the tension, they sat down and ordered a hotpot for two, with a few side dishes. Thankfully, no one tried to approach them, so dinner went by smoothly.
As they sat finishing their meal, Lucius suddenly remembered something important.
'Wait… I never asked Edward about his transformation power. I've been so caught up in everything else lately.'
Edward was fiddling with his phone when Lucius leaned in and spoke softly.
"Hey, I'll talk quietly—so answer the same way. Can I ask about your powers? Just the general idea is fine."
Hearing this, Edward immediately put his phone down, grinning.
"Haha, we kept forgetting to talk about that. Finally, I get to share it."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"Alright, so… it's not super flashy. My race is actually still Human. Same as our base race."
Lucius nodded, listening attentively.
"I've actually started researching this. Turns out, almost half of the transformed cases ended up with Human as their new race. That's just from the reported ones, of course.
"But mine's a little different. Even though it says 'Human,' my stats and abilities are a cut above the rest."
Lucius looked relieved to hear that Edward had gotten something decent.
"That's good to hear. What kind of traits and abilities did you get? If it's private, you don't have to tell me everything."
Edward smiled and stared off slightly—clearly looking at something invisible to Lucius, like his Status screen.
"Let's see… My traits are [Martial Body Constitution] and [Sword Sense]."
"As you'd expect, they're both related to martial arts and swordsmanship. Think of the kind of stuff we've read in cultivation manhwa and wuxia games."
"And your ability?"
"Ah yeah—[Mountain Slash]." Edward's grin widened. "If I use a sword—or even any object I imbue with mana—I can unleash a powerful slash. It's got some serious destructive force."
"Honestly, I'm pretty happy with it. It's easy to develop, especially since we've read so many fantasy manhwa for reference."
He leaned back, smiling with visible satisfaction, and waited for Lucius to react.
Lucius, meanwhile, didn't notice the expectant gaze. He was processing the explanation—feeling both happy for his friend and slightly disheartened.
His own abilities didn't have any direct offensive power. Not yet, anyway.
Not letting jealousy cloud his heart, Lucius finally smiled and offered genuine praise.
"Congrats, Edward! I'm really happy to hear you've got such a strong ability and solid traits."
He leaned back, smiling softly.
"With this, I can comfortably leave the country one day without worrying about your safety.
"And with you as a vanguard and Eve as a long-distance damage dealer, if something does happen in the future… the two of you should be able to handle it just fine.
"Anyway, let's go. I really want to figure out how to use these wings."
Edward stood up with a grin.
"Thanks a lot, Luci."
After paying the bill at the cashier, they hopped back in the car and continued their journey to the villa.
Feeling a wave of fatigue hit him after dinner, Lucius turned to Edward.
"Thanks for the food, by the way. Is it alright if I nap for an hour? I suddenly feel super sleepy."
Eyes focused on the road, Edward smiled gently.
"Of course. Just rest until we arrive. If I get tired, I'll stop at a rest area."
Lucius adjusted the passenger seat and glanced at Edward with a small grin.
"Thanks, dude."
Soon after, he drifted off to sleep.
During the journey, Edward made a couple of quick stops—grabbing a coffee, refueling the car, and later pulling over to nap for an hour himself.
They finally arrived just past 3 AM.
Edward had already called ahead, so the head of security and villa staff were prepared for their arrival.
As they drove uphill, the road narrowed and the surrounding homes thinned out. The scenery changed—lush tea plantations stretched across the hills, and mist lingered in the cool mountain air.
The villa finally came into view. Built atop a scenic hill, it faced a dense forest and overlooked a steep ravine. To the left: more forest. Behind: neat rows of tea bushes. The road curved around the right side toward the main gate.
The villa was well-guarded, its perimeter secured with fences and monitored from a guard post 300 meters away.
When they reached the main gate, the security staff—already informed of their arrival—opened it with a salute.
After a short drive, the car pulled into the front yard of the villa.
Waiting at the entrance was the head of security, a solid, muscular man in his early 40s, looking like he could bench press a small tree. Behind him stood several staff members and the villa manager.
Edward gently nudged Lucius awake.
"Lucius, we've arrived."
Groggy, Lucius stirred and sat up slowly.
"Uhh… Edward? Are we here already? You didn't wake me after an hour?"
Edward had already stepped out, leaning into the open door with a smile.
"You looked tired, so I let you rest. As for me? I'll catch up on sleep after we finish shooting.
"I hope you'll stay here at the villa until evening. I've got something I need to do afterward."
Lucius felt a twinge of guilt but nodded.
"Okay. But let me repay you later, somehow. After all this, just say the word—I'll do anything I can."
She stepped out of the car and walked around to his side, smiling warmly.
Edward tried not to think too hard about her words, especially given how they could be… misinterpreted.
"Let's go."
They walked up together toward the waiting staff.
The head of security gave Edward a respectful bow, followed by the rest of the team.
"Welcome to the villa, Sir Edward."
The villa manager stepped forward.
"We've prepared the master bedroom for your use. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to tell us."
Edward nodded and handed the manager a bag—inside was the dress Lucia had worn earlier.
"Please have this cleaned within the hour. And let a female staff member handle it."
The manager took the bag without question and bowed again.
The two were escorted inside, and as they reached the bedroom, the manager gave one final bow.
"Please enjoy your stay, Sir Edward. No one will approach the area. You'll have total privacy."
Before either of them could respond, the manager bowed again and left.
Edward stood frozen. Lucia, too, was stunned into silence.
An awkward pause filled the air.
Finally, Edward scratched the back of his head and offered a suggestion.
"Lucia… why don't you go ahead and use the room? I'll head to one of the others.
"They'll call me when the laundry's done. Don't worry about it."
Lucia honestly didn't mind sharing the room—they were friends, after all, and she didn't see Edward as someone to be cautious of.
But seeing the tension in his expression, she relented. She understood it might be harder on him, especially now that others kept misreading their situation.
"Okay. I'm actually fine with sharing… oh—I mean, not that way.
"But I did want to talk with you about something… though maybe it can wait."
Of course, Edward still insisted on using a separate room—it was for his own sanity, after all.
"Alright, I'll take the other room. You can wait here. Just call or message me if you need anything. I'll be arranging the setup for the shoot in the meantime."
Lucia nodded. After Edward left, she entered the bedroom alone.
The room was massive, dominated by a king-sized canopy bed draped in bedding that matched the soft cream-and-gold color scheme. It was luxurious—romantic, even. The kind of setting you'd expect from a honeymoon suite.
Which made things incredibly awkward.
'Ugh... the vibes in here. No wonder the staff misunderstood our relationship…'
She sighed.
'Anyway, I'll just wait until the dress is done. In the meantime, I should practice wing coordination…'
She paused, glancing around.
'But what if someone comes in while I'm practicing? I need something to cover myself quickly.'
Lucia searched the room and eventually found a red silk gown—likely meant for post-shower lounging.
"This will work."
She walked over to the door and locked it firmly. Even if she was alone, the vulnerability of being in an unfamiliar place, in a transformed body, was still hard to shake.
The room was spacious—easily bigger than Edward's study, maybe even larger than her own house. Taking a deep breath, she began.
Lucia focused, sending mana toward her back, feeling the strange but familiar shift as her wings emerged once again. They extended smoothly—black and white feathers glimmering in the dim light.
She practiced hovering, gradually controlling her balance. After a few tries, she managed to stay airborne for several seconds. Then longer. And longer still.
'Yes! Finally! Now I just need to improve my maneuvering—up, down, maybe even backwards flying…
'Ahh… If only I had someone to teach me. A bird, maybe?'
Almost an hour passed without her realizing it.
Sweaty and tired but happy, she retracted her wings and put the gown aside. Changing back into her normal clothes, she grew a bit restless and decided to message Edward.
> Lucius: Edward, is the dress done? Btw, did you already tell everyone about what we're going to do?
No reply yet. She sighed, tossing the phone onto the bed—
KNOCK KNOCK
"Lucia, it's me. The dress is ready. Please open the door."
She hurried over and unlocked it.
Edward stood there with a neutral expression, holding a familiar tote bag.
"Here's your dress. I'll wait outside. Once you're ready, we'll head to the edge of the yard—I've already cleared the area."
"Thanks, Edward. Give me a few minutes, I'll be right out."
She closed the door and changed quickly. When she stepped out again, she was fully dressed and wore a look of determination.
"Alright! Let's do this. Uh—you didn't forget the camera, right?"
Edward flashed a thumbs-up and grinned.
"Of course not. It's almost dawn, so let's do a few practice runs. I'm hoping to finish shooting before 6 AM."
"The tea farmers usually start working around that time."
Lucia nodded.
"Yeah, let's hope it all goes smoothly. Let's go."
Edward led the way through the villa's spacious grounds toward the cliffside edge facing the forest.
They passed the head of security, who nodded and signaled his team to secure the area. The path curved slightly due to the hilly terrain, and the actual cliffside wasn't visible from the villa entrance—it could only be seen from the second floor.
After walking about 300 meters, they reached the edge of the estate.
A low stone barrier stood between them and the ravine—a 120cm wall reinforced with thick stone. Lamps had been installed every 50 meters along the perimeter to provide dim but steady lighting.
Edward paused near the wall and turned to Lucia.
"Let's practice here. Just make sure you don't fly too high or over the wall. I really don't want a heart attack this early in the morning."
Lucia's gaze drifted past the wall and toward the dark forest beyond. She pointed toward the horizon.
"Hey, Edward. East is that way, right?"
He followed her finger and smiled.
"Yeah. The sun should rise in about an hour and a half. Once the first light hits the forest, we'll start the main shoot."
Lucia closed her eyes, imagining the golden rays breaking through the misty forest canopy. The thought sent a thrill down her spine. Her heartbeat quickened with anticipation.
Then—she acted.
Concentrating her mana, she activated the mechanism in her back. Her wings unfolded, elegant and powerful, as a breeze picked up and lifted the hem of her dress and her long hair.
She breathed in the cool dawn air, eyes still closed.
Then—with a burst—she launched upward.
Her wings propelled her several meters into the air. She opened her eyes mid-ascent and looked down. The ground seemed distant, shrinking beneath her.
She began flapping—slow, steady beats.
One second.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Twenty…
Thirty…
A full minute.
Lucia hovered steadily in the air, suspended between darkness and dawn.
A bright smile broke across her face. She turned her gaze toward Edward, eyes shining with joy.
She waved from midair, her voice trembling with joy.
"Edward! I did it!"
Edward smiled warmly, feeling her happiness resonate deep inside. But his heart ached slightly, the realization hitting him like a whisper in the wind—this meant she'd soon be leaving on her journey.
Still, he didn't let it show.
Not when he wasn't even sure what he was feeling—was it just friendship? Or something else entirely?
"Congratulations! How about trying to land now?"
Lucia nodded. She glanced down from several meters in the air and immediately realized this would be trickier than her usual practice.
Back home, she'd only hovered a short distance above ground—simply stopping her wings had been enough. But now…
'Okay... I need to reduce height gradually. Wing flaps—lower the frequency? Or the power? Maybe both?'
She tried reducing both. Instantly, her altitude dropped—fast.
"Crap!" she yelped, flailing slightly.
Edward's eyes widened in alarm, and he sprinted toward her, arms outstretched.
Lucia reacted just in time. She channeled more mana into her wings and caught herself just before hitting the ground, slowing her fall to a gentle stop.
Both let out a long, exhausted sigh.
Edward dropped to the grass, hand over his chest.
"You almost gave me a heart attack…"
Lucia scratched the back of her head, sheepish.
"Ahaha… Sorry. I didn't realize lowering both frequency and power would make me drop like that. The controls are... complicated.
"I guess I need to rely on instinct for now."
She managed a soft landing and smiled. Then she reached out her hand to Edward.
He took it and stood up.
"I'll try again. This time, maybe you can get a few shots on camera?"
Edward gave a nod.
Lucia turned and flew again.
This time, her movements were steadier—her control improved. Her confidence grew with every beat of her wings.
'This... this is exhilarating!'
Her thoughts drifted, not in worry, but in joy. Every breeze that brushed against her skin, every tilt of her body midair, every second of suspension—it all felt magical.
She wasn't just flying.
She was free.
Free from burdens.
Free from fears.
Free from the looming questions of identity, purpose, and uncertainty.
Just for this moment... she flew.
Edward watched from the ground, camera in hand, capturing what he could. But the light was still low, and Lucia was flying fast, making clear shots difficult.
Noticing the exertion involved, he messaged the head of security to bring drinks and snacks for when she landed.
After about half an hour, Lucia finally descended, her wings folding in with grace. She looked winded, cheeks flushed from excitement and effort.
"Huff… That was fantastic. I want to keep flying forever… but I think I'm running low on mana. Flying isn't just physically tiring—it eats through my reserves too."
She looked down and noticed the refreshments already laid out.
'I didn't even notice these arrived… I was so caught up in the moment.'
She took a mental note:
'I really need to improve my situational awareness—especially if this power's ever needed for combat, scouting, or escaping. Can't afford to be so distracted.'
Walking over to Edward, she sat beside him on the grass and picked up a drink.
"Thanks for this, Edward. Did you get any good shots?"
He smiled, handing her the camera.
"Not quite yet. The lighting's still too dim, and I had to increase exposure, which made the video a bit blurry. But it'll be fine soon—it's almost sunrise.
"Look," he added, pointing up.
Lucia looked to the sky. The horizon in the east was beginning to lighten with shades of blue and gold.
She sipped her drink through a straw.
"Yeah… the sunrise..."
Her tone softened, distant.
"It makes me feel this strange blend of sadness and joy. It reminds me of a vacation I took with my family long ago…
"Oh. I don't think I've ever told you about that. Want to hear it?"
Edward turned toward her, meeting her eyes.
"Sure. I'm interested."
Lucia lowered her gaze. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly before beginning.
"You already know I lost my parents, right?
"This is the story of how it happened..."