Chapter 21 - Dinner
LARS POV:
I had always believed I understood what pride felt like. The day Lafiel agreed to marry me. The day our estate survived the winter famine when so many others did not. The day Lance was born, small and fragile, wrapped in a blanket far too big for him.
But none of that compared to the moment the altar exploded with lightning beneath my son’s hand.
For half a second I Flared my Mana, preparing my body for the worst. I half thought the Altar was being attacked, or worse.. Corrupted. I have seen my fair of share ascension ceremonies, witnessing the birth of heroes whose name still ring today during my time in the army. None felt, or looked like this.
When the Priest staggered back, Body tense as stone. and robes fluttering from the shockwave, I felt my heart stop. Not from fear. From recognition.
The Guardian had warned us that Lance’s Ascension would not be normal. That his soul was old in ways a child’s should not be, and his mana has ties to powers that are deeper than the river that carved Knighthelm’s valley. But even so, seeing lightning arc across the entire square, hearing the thunder crack directly above us with no cloud in sight…
I could barely breathe.
Then the Priest spoke, and the world shifted under my feet.
Tempest Knight. Legendary. Dual Affinity. Systembond: StormSoul.
A Legendary class had not appeared in this Town's known history. The North itself only holding a handful of epic and ascendent classes. Still very powerful, but it is not Legendary.
My arms moved before my mind caught up, sweeping him off the ground and throwing him into the air like I used to when he was small. He looked horrified. I did not care. The square erupted in cheers, and for one perfect heartbeat, I allowed myself to feel it. To celebrate the miracle the Guardian had left in our care.
But beneath my joy lingered a quiet, sharp truth.
Now that the System had marked him, the world would come looking.
Tonight, we needed to talk.
BACK TO LANCE:
By the time we made it back to the estate, the moon had climbed high enough to stain the snow-blue stone with silver. The celebration in the town still echoed faintly behind us, drunken singing, laughter, a distant crash that sounded like someone falling into a barrel.
Our gates closed behind us, and the noise faded. Peace. Finally,
My father walked beside me, no longer grinning but wearing the calm seriousness of a Knighthelm lord. My mother was on my other side, hands folded in front of her, eyes sharp and assessing.
I swallowed. I had expected this.
Mother spoke first. “Inside. Both of you.”
We stepped into the manor’s front hall, the hearth burning low, the air warm with pine resin. I barely had time to sit before the System panel flashed again at the edge of my vision, reminding me it existed.
My father leaned forward. “Lance. Show us the interface.”
I blinked. “You… can see it?”
“No,” he said. “But we can guide you. Your grandfather taught me the structure when I Ascended. Your mother’s House taught her as well. Now we teach you.”
Mother nodded toward me. “Open it intentionally this time. Not by surprise.”
I exhaled slowly and thought: Status.
The blue panel unfolded like pages of light.
─── SYSTEM STATUS ───
Name FamilyTier Level: 0
Class CoreAFFINITIESBOND BLESSINGS -Effects: Cold-mana resilience, passive protection, Good Fortune, Increased Natural Healing when surrounded with Nature Mana
Skills─── SYSTEM STATUS ───
I read aloud, explaining what I saw when looking at the system interface. I waited to see if either of my parents gasped, recoiled, or collapsed dramatically. That seemed reasonable given the absurdity of the panel.
Instead, my father grunted like I had just shown him a mildly overcooked roast.
“Good,” he said. “Clean structure. No corruption. Expand Class.”
I tapped the blue line with my thoughts, and a new sheet unfolded.
─ Class Details: Tempest Knight
Rarity: Legendary
Type: Martial Spellbland hybrid
Recommended Pathways: Stormbound, Arclight, Frost March
Passive Effects: Lightning-Resonance, Minor Mana-Conduction, Weather Sense, Minor weather Manipulation
Active Skill Slots: 0/3 unlocked
Core Attunement Required: Stage 1 Advancement
I frowned. “Pathways? Active Skills? How do I—”
“Later,” mother said. “Scroll to your Bond.”
I did, and another window appeared.
─ Bond: StormSoul
Variant Type: Draconic-Proto
Growth: Dormant
Elemental Composition: Lightning 62% / Snow 21% / Unknown 17%
Bond State: Slumber
Integration: Partial
Notes: Further resonance required for awakening.
My father leaned back, eyebrows raised. “Seventeen percent unknown element. That is concerning.”
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“Concerning?” I said. “I thought it was good.”
“It can be both,” Mother said. “Unknown elements often mean unrecorded potential. But they also mean no guidance. No history. You will have to figure out its growth manually.”
I hesitated, then asked the question that had been choking me since the ceremony.
“Why do I have a ‘Tier: Unique’ listing? I thought Prime meant… something else.”
My father’s gaze sharpened. “Prime describes your soul-classification. Tier describes your System ranking. The *Unique* classifier means there is no other like you in the current System registry.”
“So… I’m not Tier 0 like the books say?”
Mother shook her head. “Tier 0 is theoretical. Philosophical. Reserved for entities that predate the System or exist outside of it. You are not outside the System. You are simply an anomaly inside it.”
I felt my pulse quicken. “An anomaly the System recognizes?”
“Clearly,” my father said. “And that makes you valuable. Too valuable to reveal your true Core formation or soulstate. Which brings us to the real question.”
His eyes bored into mine.
“How much did you hide from the System today?”
My breath caught. “I… protected the core. I shaped a shell around it before touching the altar. This is what me and the Guardian practiced on the mountain. Mana control and forming my Core. Using my Mana Control I hide my already created core from the system during the Ascension ceremony..”
“Interesting,” mother repeated slowly. “Your Father may have a different opinion, but I believe the System noticed the attempt to hide your core, thus hiding your status as a Prime and allowed the attempt. I mean your System interface says Prime, so how could you have truly hidden it?”
I nodded my head, “I had the same thought, I believe the System is allowing me to grow without external interference.”
My father leaned forward. “Possible, but we are not qualified to sit and elaborate on what the system may or may not be doing.”
“Well, is there anything else in your system that is questionable?”
“I don’t think so,” I said. “It still gave me Legendary. It didn’t flag anything.”
Mother rubbed her temples. “Lance. Hiding parts of your soul during an Ascension is something adults attempt and fail at. It can mark you for life. It can even—”
“It didn’t,” I said. “Look.”
I expanded the Core section.
Core: Pre-ascension Lightning Core
Condition: Stable
Integrity: 99%
Visibility: System-Limited
My father inhaled sharply. “System-Limited? You forced the System to see only what you allowed it to.”
“So it did actually work, somewhat,” I said. “I’m safe.”
He exhaled, long and slow. “Safe is not the word I would choose. But you bought us time. At the bare minimum the system didn't mark you a Prime to the world, but you are marked in the System. It almost seems the System understood your intention to hide, and chose to agree with you.”
Father chimed in, “For better or worse, the system is allowing you to stay hidden as a Prime, while your legendary class will draw attention it is not unheard of.”
Mothers voice softened. “Lance. We are proud of you. But pride is not safety. You need to understand the weight of what you carry.”
I looked between them, feeling the pressure settle on my shoulders like fresh snow.
“I do.” A half-truth. “The Guardian had taught me the importance… and dangers Primes hold during our training.”
My mother nodded, “I trust you will make the right choices as you grow. You have always seemed wiser than your age. Alas, only time will tell.”
Maria broke the tense atmosphere by knocking on the Library's door.
“Sir Lars and Miss Lafiel, Dinner is prepared in the main hall.”
“Let us go then, shouldn't keep the guest waiting!” a small smile ran across my mothers face.
The manor’s main hall was livelier than I’d seen in all my years growing up in the Estate. Warm torchlight and hearthfire painted long shadows across the old stone walls. The great timber beams thrummed faintly with the echoes of chatter, boots, and hurried steps, like the manor itself vibrated with the excitement of the day.
Sir Darvish stood sentinel near the tall double doors, his armor polished enough to catch the firelight in sharp glints. Maria stood at the opposite end, graceful and steady, ready to pour wine or deliver plates at the slightest gesture. Between them, the long feast table stretched like a spine of polished frostwood, already set with steaming dishes.
Our guests filled the space with energy that swirled around me in waves.
The two village heads, stout Northfolk with poise to match, sat with their wives and children. A couple merchants, prominent ones, the kind who controlled the winter caravans; occupied seats near the center. One merchant’s daughter, dressed in neat apprentice’s robes, offered me a shy nod; her newly gained Apprentice Merchantess class having graced her family today.
And then there were Slade and Aoife.
Aoife carried the confidence of her uncommon class like a cloak—chin lifted, eyes bright. Slade, on the other hand, practically vibrated with restrained force. His warrior class was already pushing against the limits of his control, evident in the way his mana pulsed off him in small, uneven waves.
For the first time, I noticed Darvish watching the two boys with interest. No doubt he was already planning their first drills.
Our arrival at the table drew everyone’s attention, quick bows, murmurs of “Lord Lars,” “Lady Lafiel,” and even a few curious glances my way. Word of the ceremony had spread with wildfire efficiency. To be expected when basically our whole town was in attendance, it would be weird if someone didn't know my newly gained Class and its Classification.
Mother raised a hand for quiet. The hall settled.
My father stepped forward, taking a simple iron cup not silver or gold, but wrought Northsteel, a Knighthelm tradition and lifted it.
“To the System that guides us,” he said, voice deep and steady.
“To the North that shelters us.”
“To Knighthelm, whose walls have never fallen.”
He looked at me, pride shining openly now.
“And to the youth who carry our strength forward.”
He raised the cup higher.
“May our blessings endure, our mana run true, and our future rise brighter than the winter star.”
Dinner went splendidly. The casual atmosphere was much more inviting and relaxing than I expected. From my past life, lords eating with their village heads and Merchant Vassals, there was always a sense of uneasiness. Here, everyone looks comfortable, invited. This tells me a lot about the kind of people my parents are, to raise our Isolated town to the place it is today.
A merchant grabbed fathers attention, “Sir Lars, do tell your plans for our children's trip to Duke’s Nox’s City? I believe that is where the youngsters go for the Academy nowadays, no?”
“Sir Farve, great question. While Duke Nox’s City does hold an academy, I will be putting my wages on my son taking the Capital Entrance exam, and I will provide support for ones I deem worthy in our own territory when it is time for my son to go!” A wide smile aroused on everyone's faces when they heard support and capital entrance exam in the same sentence.
Father did not attend himself, he being a battleborn man. That said, nobody can deny the undoubtable sway the youngest Tier 5 holder on the Continent can have.
“Alas, I believe Duke Nox’s Academy still boasts a top 5 academy. A successful future is all but guaranteed if you finish there with merit. With how special this ascension ceremony was this time around, I have no doubt great people will have their origins from Knighthelm!”
Father raised his glass once more, to emphasize his point.
“When does the academy start?” Slade spoke up to his father, his voice having been louder than intended. “Well, after the Ascension ceremony, the king gives you 3 years to adjust, and learn as much as you can before going to school. School lasts 4 years, and from there you will be an adult with adult responsibilities.”
Sir Darvish gave a quick interjection, “Alas, you can always come back and serve in our Milita, or hope to be appointed here in the North by the Kings Army if school doesn't work out for you.”
A small chuckle waved through the table. Slade stuck his tongue out.
The evening ended after much conversation. After Father and Mother led everyone out, they came back into the dining hall.
“Tomorrow Lance, we can talk about your growth. You are leagues ahead of normal people your age, so I have no doubt we will need to up your training regime.” Father said with a hard face.
“Seems like I will need to enjoy the rest I get tonight then.” I hurried to my soft bed, it feels like it's been ages since I have laid down on something so soft.
