CHAPTER 84: WHEN I WAS FIVE

The halls of the palace were wide and bright, with tall windows letting sunlight pour across the polished marble floors. Logan walked beside Rowan, with Daliah just a step ahead—humming and skipping like someone who had just won a war.

Logan had seen grand buildings before, but there was something different about Solvane’s royal palace. The silence here wasn’t empty—it felt like it was lively. Even though the halls were empty, Logan could sense the presence of guards, servants, and magic woven into the very walls.

After a few turns, they finally arrived at the dining hall.

Two tall doors swung open before they could even knock. Inside, the atmosphere was nothing like the normal dinner he had attended earlier, or the quiet breakfast that morning.

This... was something else.

The lunch table was long but welcoming, covered in rich golden fabric. Dozens of dishes were already set across it—colorful fruits, steaming meats, soft breads, and strange sparkling liquids in crystal jugs. The aroma alone made Logan’s stomach growl a little louder than expected.

Daliah grinned. "I gave the menu today. Thought our guest should be welcomed properly!"

They took their seats at the long rectangular table. Rowan sat at the head position while Logan and Daliah sat on either side of the table, directly across from each other. Servants moved like shadows, placing new dishes and quietly stepping away without saying a word.

Logan picked up a fork, unsure where to begin. Some of the dishes looked familiar. Others... not at all.

Rowan noticed his hesitation and smiled. "Relax. This isn’t some royal test. Just eat whatever you feel like."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Easy for you to say, Prince." Though Logan also lived in a palace and had wealth enough to live a luxurious life, he felt more comfortable in the battlefield in his previous life.

Daliah had already begun. She bit into something wrapped in thin golden leaves and let out a happy sigh.

"This one’s my favorite! Sweet on the outside, spicy inside. You’ll love it!"

Logan cautiously took the same dish and gave it a bite. Instantly, his eyes widened. It was surprisingly good—sweet and crunchy outside, but with a sharp, warm kick underneath.

"See?" Daliah grinned, clearly pleased.

Rowan took a more careful pace, cutting through something that looked like roasted beast meat.

As they ate, the conversation stayed light. Daliah talked about her lessons, the knights in the courtyard, and how she once beat Rowan in a sparring match—something Rowan denied with a faint smirk and no comment.

For a moment, Logan forgot about the books, the questions, and the pressure hanging over him. He was just a boy having lunch with people who—despite their status—felt oddly familiar.

But just when things were going smoothly, a new voice echoed from the entrance of the dining hall.

"Well, well... the air here feels rather lively today."

Everyone turned.

It was Elias.

Clad in his usual noble robes, his smile was gentle—but the glint in his eyes wasn’t easy to read.

"Mind if I join?"

Rowan’s relaxed smile faded, almost as if putting on a formal mask now.

"Sure. Why not." Rowan’s voice was calm and composed.

Daliah, however, didn’t seem to care much. She didn’t flinch, didn’t adjust her tone or manners. She remained the same—light, chatty, and unbothered. She seemed like the only free soul.

Elias took a seat beside Daliah. A servant instantly appeared to arrange his setting, placing new dishes in front of him with graceful precision.

As Elias picked up a piece of roasted meat, he glanced across the table at Logan.

"Logan, it feels nice to see you here as well. Now that I think about it, we didn’t get the chance to get to know each other properly in the morning. Why don’t you tell us a bit more about yourself, Logan? No one ever mentioned a hidden prodigy in the Smith family besides Darius." Elias’s tone was totally different from the morning now. Now he felt like more welcoming.

The question was asked with a smile—but there was weight beneath it though. Polite... but pressing.

Logan, who had just reached for another bite, paused midway. Slowly, he set his fork down and looked up with calm eyes.

"It’s my honor that you’re interested in me, Prince Elias," he said respectfully. "But... what would you like to know in particular?"

Elias chuckled, dabbing his lips with a silk napkin.

"Well, for starters... why was someone like you kept a secret? The Smith family isn’t exactly known for being modest when it comes to showcasing talent."

Logan gave a small, polite smile. His reply came smoothly—carefully crafted.

"It wasn’t a planned decision, really. My mother... she’s from a humble background. So no one paid much attention to me in the beginning."

Rowan remained silent, observing the exchange closely.

Elias raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

"Is that so?"

Elias tilted his head, still smiling, though his fingers had stopped moving the knife on his plate.

"I heard... you’re already a Tier One mage. Is that true?"

There was a brief pause.

Logan nodded. "Yes."

Elias leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the table.

"Then tell me... when exactly did you awaken your mana core?"

Logan’s fingers curled slightly around his fork. He hesitated a bit. But then blurted out.

"When I was five."

PFFFFFT!

A sudden sputtering noise snapped through the quiet room.

Daliah, who had just taken a sip of her sparkling fruit juice, suddenly spat it all out in a fine mist across the table—barely missing Logan’s plate.

"WHAAAT?!" she exclaimed, coughing and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

Elias froze, blinking once. Even he wasn’t prepared for that answer.

"Five?" he repeated, the casual smile slipping for just a moment.

Only Rowan kept his expression composed—but the slight twitch in his brows gave him away. Even he hadn’t expected the number to be that low.

Five.

It echoed in everyone’s mind like a thunderclap.

Awakening a mana core at that age was... unnatural. Even Tier Five nobles from powerful bloodlines rarely awakened before ten. Five was unheard of.

Logan always wanted to hide his strength. But court mage Abraham already knew about it. So it won’t stay a secret for long. Not revealing something and lying about something are different. And Logan didn’t want to be pointed out as a liar.