The air was still, except for the gentle rustling of the wind threading its way through the open window. A chilly wind swept in, caressing Orion's skin with the soft brush of the evening. It bore on it the clean fragrance of the faraway forest, blending with the retreating heat of candlelight.
Orion took a deep breath; his breathing even.
Tonight, marked the start.
He leaned down to the wooden floor, folding his legs into a meditative position. His back straightened, his palms laying lightly upon his knees. The gentle illumination of the moon caressed his body, creating shadows upon his defined features.
Upon the floor beside him, he retrieved a ManaGold pill—a small, crystal sphere of golden-yellow color. It glimmered weakly in his palm, emitting a soft heat.
Orion regarded it for an instant before jerking his head back and swallowing it into his mouth.
The pill dissolved in his mouth on contact, washing down a syrupy warm yet cold thick spread through his gullet. It wasn't really bad—the flavor was faintly floral, tinged with the slightest bitter earthy taste.
Then—
BOOM!
There was a massive, violent, crashing surge of power within him.
Mana coursed through his body like a furious river, battering into his meridians with savage power. His muscles flexed. His bones shook. He felt as if his whole body had been set ablaze from the inside out.
Then, the pain came.
Wrenching. Scorching. Unyielding.
A rasping growl vibrated in his throat as he tightened his fists, nails sinking into his palms. His vision reeked, his breath became a rasping. Something within him was tearing itself apart—splintering—renewed.
His gut churned with a mad sickness.
Then—
"Kah!"
He retched hard, and a mouthful of dark, fetid blood landed on the floor with a wet splat. The odor was revolting—rotten metal stench, like corroded iron immersed in putrescence.
And it wasn't done.
His pores dilated, and gloopy, tar-like impurities seeped out of his skin, covering him in a pungent, noxious sludge. It was choking, like a century's accumulated dirt being wrung out of him.
Orion's body convulsed spasmodically, his breathing coming in staccato gasps. Every cell of his existence howled at him to halt—to make the agony stop.
But he persevered.
Minutes ticked by. Then hours.
His body convulsed, the sweat running off his chin and mingling with the black sludge that gushed around his feet.
And then—
With the stroke of midnight, pain receded.
The tempest within him died down. Heat dissipated, leaving a foreign feeling of lightness.
Orion was finally. free.
His breathing stabilized. His heartbeat slowed.
And then he knew.
A different presence inside of him.
The mana surrounding him had shifted. It was brighter, sharper—as if the world itself had been revealed to him.
He raised a hand, curling his fingers. The energy coursing through his veins was unshakeable.
He had cracked through.
A slow, triumphant smile spread across his lips.
"Finally… I have begun my cultivation journey."
And with the thrill rising up in his chest, he did his best to smother it.
This was just the start.
Taking a deep breath, he looked around his room.
It was a mess.
The wooden floor was smeared with black impurities, the air heavy with an acrid, unholy smell. Even the walls seemed tainted, as if the very room had been changed along with him.
He looked towards the window, noticing the dark midnight sky spreading across the Vale estate.
Summoning a maid at this time was impossible.
With a weary sigh, he struggled to his feet, his body still humming with energy. First, he washed up, cleaning away the grime until his skin felt clean. Then, after a warm, long bath, he went back to bed.
The moment his head rested on the pillow, he slept.
----------
A resounding knock came through the door.
"Son, are you still asleep? Have you forgotten? Today you have to see your father."
Orion's eyes flew open.
His mother's voice.
For an instant, he remained motionless, his thoughts floating between the remnants of sleep and the residual heat of mana flowing through his veins.
Then, he breathed out harshly.
"I'm coming, Mother… Just wait a moment."
He pushed himself up, extending his arms. His body felt altered.
Stronger.
Lighter.
More alive than ever before.
He freshened up in a hurry, donning a clean robe before going downstairs.
At the cafeteria, Celia, Sera, and Elara were already seated, waiting for him.
As Orion walked in, Elara stopped mid-bite, her blue eyes widening.
"Brother…" she mumbled. "You look different today!"
Celia and Sera turned to him. The moment they felt his aura, their faces changed to shock.
Sera was the first to respond. "Dear… did you really reach Novice First Star already?"
Orion just nodded and smiled. "Yes. Last night."
A gentle breath left Celia's lips as she smiled proudly.
"That's amazing son!"
Elara, on the other hand, puffed out her cheeks in frustration. "Brother, I haven't even begun cultivating yet, and you've already breached?! If this continues, I'll be left behind!"
Orion laughed at her over-the-top reaction, but Sera merely petted her black hair. "You'll catch up soon, my dear."
Orion, however, faced Elara with a contemplative look.
"Elara… You haven't had your ManaGold yet, have you?"
Elara scowled. "No, not yet. Why?"
A cryptic spark danced in the depths of Orion's eyes. "Good. Then don't."
Elara blinked. "What? Why not?"
Celia and Sera shared questioning glances.
Orion grinned. "Because I have a surprise for you."
Elara sat up straight. "A surprise?"
Celia arched an eyebrow. "Orion, what are you up to, exactly?"
He just laughed. "You'll see soon enough."
Elara pouted but nodded. "Fine… but you better not forget!"
The family had a warm breakfast together before Orion finally got up.
It was time.
He went outside, walking towards his father's mansion.
The Viscount's Estate towered in front—a magnificent palace of marble and gold, towering like a monument of power.
Guards stood at the huge iron gates; their faces unreadable. Behind them, manicured gardens, towering pillars, and royal banners adorned the huge mansion grounds.
Orion paused for a moment, looking at the land he had never really called home.
Today… that could be different.
Taking a deep breath, he moved forward.