The first light of morning slipped through the canopy, painting long stripes of gold across the clearing. The fire from last night had burned down to embers, faint smoke curling lazily into the cool air.

Noel was already awake. He sat near the ashes, Revenant Fang resting across his knees, the blade dark and still. With calm, practiced movements, he wiped it clean, checking every edge as though last night's slaughter hadn't even strained him.

Elena stirred inside her blanket. Her amber eyes blinked open, adjusting to the light, before they settled on Noel's figure. She propped herself up on her elbows, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

'He's so strong now… stronger than I ever imagined. And he's mine, well should I say ours? He is not technically mine alone.'

She sat quietly for a moment, simply watching him. The faint glow of the morning made him look different—calmer, older somehow.

Noel glanced at the treeline, his thoughts measured. 'Being Ascendant puts me on another level. Normal beasts like those Howlers… they'll never be more than an annoyance now.'

The memory of the notifications flickered in his mind. Each kill had only granted a sliver of progress—barely 0.05%. It felt like the system was mocking him, forcing him to grind endlessly for scraps. But even so, the gap between him and the common monsters was undeniable.

The flap of canvas rustled. Veyron emerged from the makeshift tent, stretching his arms wide with a long yawn. His silver hair was a mess, falling over his face. "Hah… morning already? And of course, you're up before everyone else."

Noel shrugged. "Habit."

Veyron chuckled, rubbing his eyes. "Habit? You make it sound like you don't need sleep at all. At this rate, you'll put the rest of us out of work."

Elena finally sat up, smoothing her hair and wrapping her blanket around her shoulders. She couldn't hide the pride in her voice as she looked at Noel. "That's just how he is."

Noel gave her a sidelong glance, faintly amused, though he said nothing.

The camp was quiet again, save for the chirping of birds—finally returned after the chaos of the night. The storm of shadows had passed, leaving behind only morning calm.

The fire was coaxed back to life, its flames licking at a small iron pot balanced over the embers. Breakfast was simple—hard bread softened in hot water, dried fruit, and a few strips of cured meat. It wasn't much, but after the night they'd had, it was enough.

Veyron tore off a piece of bread and grinned at Noel across the fire. "You know, I almost feel cheated. I had my sword ready last night, waiting for a good fight. Then you go and wipe out a whole pack before I can even blink."

Noel raised an eyebrow, tearing into his own bread. "Would you rather I left a few alive for you?"

Elena chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "Brother, you should be glad Noel was there."

Veyron laughed, his shoulders shaking. "True enough. Still, let me at least pretend I'm useful."

Noel allowed himself a small smile, the corner of his mouth twitching. Elena's laugh joined Veyron's, light and easy.

But not everyone was laughing. Livia set her food aside, her golden-brown eyes fixed on Noel. "It's strange," she said softly. "My brother wasn't always this strong. Noel… how did you gain so much power so quickly?"

The laughter quieted. Noel chewed once more, swallowed, then answered simply, "When you've got enemies coming for your life, you learn fast. Either that, or you die."

Her gaze sharpened slightly. "That's all?"

Noel met her eyes without flinching. "Nothing else. Just daily training until I couldn't move anymore. Then doing it again the next day."

Livia studied him carefully, her lips parting as if to push further, but she didn't.

Elena leaned forward quickly, her voice gentle but insistent. "It doesn't matter how. What matters is that he's here, with us. That's enough."

Veyron smirked, raising his strip of meat in mock salute. "And I, for one, am glad he is. Saves me the trouble of getting torn apart by shadow-dogs in my sleep."

By midmorning, the clearing had begun to warm under the rising sun. The fire was reduced to embers once more, and the camp slowly came apart.

Veyron tied up the tent canvas with practiced ease, humming lightly as he worked. "You know," he said over his shoulder, "I'd forgotten how much of a nuisance it is to set these things up just to take them down again. Makes me appreciate beds even more."

Noel tightened the straps on one of the supply crates, checking the harness for the horses. "At least it's faster to break down than to build."

Veyron laughed. "That's true enough."

Elena moved gracefully between them, folding blankets and shaking off the dirt before tucking them neatly into the carriage. She glanced once at Noel, her cheeks coloring faintly before she busied herself again. 'He really doesn't act like someone who just fought monsters alone. Like it was nothing…'

Livia, meanwhile, gathered the remains of their meal into a basket, ensuring nothing was left behind. Every so often, her gaze lingered on Noel. She was curious about her little brother.

Once everything was packed, Veyron clapped his hands together. "All right! Horses are rested, supplies secured. Let's get moving before the day heats up too much."

He offered his hand to Elena, helping her step up into the carriage. Livia followed gracefully, settling on the cushioned seat.

Noel lingered a moment, scanning the treeline. The memory of last night's fight felt distant now, but he knew better than to assume the forest would stay quiet. 'Ascendant or not, it pays to stay cautious.'

Satisfied, he climbed in after them. The door shut, the driver cracked the reins, and the carriage rolled forward once more.

The forest path stretched ahead, dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. The rhythm of the wheels and the steady clop of hooves carried them onward, away from the clearing and toward the next stage of their journey.

Inside, the atmosphere was lighter than the night before. Veyron leaned back, humming again, while Elena rested her chin on her hand, watching the scenery blur past the window.

By afternoon, the scenery outside the carriage had settled into something more familiar, yet distinct. The dense forest had thinned, giving way to long stretches of coastal road. The air grew warmer, saltier, carrying the faint tang of the sea.

Through the window, Noel caught sight of the shoreline—rolling waves crashing against pale sand, stretches of beach dotted with fishing boats pulled onto the shore. Farther inland, clusters of homes and small farms broke up the greenery, ordinary but alive, shaped by the sea's rhythm.

Noel leaned against the window, his eyes narrowing faintly. "So those two grew up here, huh? Lucky bastards, living right by the beach. I guess it makes sense though—Clara's water magic, Marcus with earth. Fits the place."

Elena smiled softly, nodding. "Exactly. Their elements reflect their home as much as their personalities."

Veyron chuckled, stretching lazily in his seat. "You'd be surprised how much the land shapes the people. The sea gives, the sea takes. Nivaria makes its folk tougher than they look."

Livia's gaze softened as she followed the coastline with her eyes. "You've never seen anything like this before, have you, Noel?"

"No," Noel admitted without hesitation. "Our territory looks nothing like this. No sea, no endless sand. Just… different."

She returned a faint smile. "And yet here it feels ordinary. That's the strange thing about borders—they divide worlds that live side by side."

The carriage jolted over uneven stones, and Elena grabbed the side rail for balance. She glanced at Noel, her amber eyes warm. "It really is beautiful. Simple, but beautiful."

Veyron leaned forward, grin widening. "Wait until you see the city. Nivaria's strength isn't just in the land—it's in the people who make it thrive. You'll understand once we're there. Who knows, maybe you'll even like it."

Noel didn't answer, his gaze lingering on the rolling waves. 'A beach for a backyard… must've been a good life.'

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