CHAPTER 27: YOUR FATHER WOULDN’T BE PROUD, I’M SURE, BUT YOUR MOTHER WOULD.

Soon evening came and Ethan was sitting on his now clean bed.

He closed his eyes and hesitated for a brief second before making a decision, 1500 points disappearing from his savings in the system store.

[Your current chances of advancement are 90% System: Advancement starting at 3... 2... 1...]

Ethan listened to the system’s messages, but didn’t worry as he prepared himself.

He had talked to the system a bit that afternoon and now knew that the odds displayed were not absolute.

They were just a crude estimate using data from many people as a basis, not taking into account his great talent.

His real chances of making it to the advanced level of the awakening stage were probably infinitely close to 100%.

The advance began and Ethan concentrated as he moved his mana around his body.

Just like last time, he felt intense pain as a colossal amount of mana invaded his body.

His muscles twitched and he grunted, trying to hold it all in and help the system as much as possible.

The difference was that this time he had more experience.

Although he had only spent a few days training, these had been enough to allow him to get much deeper into controlling mana.

The result was a much smoother progression than the first time.

Of course, he didn’t let himself get carried away.

He was well aware that advancing within the same stage was much easier than advancing to different stages.

When it came to advancing to the foundation stage, it would probably suffer a lot.

"uh... Ah..." He took a deep breath before exhaling.

His eyes were still closed and a faint suppressed pulse of mana spread through the room as the system finished working on the advance.

[System: Breakthrough successfully completed, put your new power to good use]

Shortly after the system’s message, he opened his eyes and felt that his mana reserves had increased by more than 50%.

Even though the awakening stage only worked on the mana heart, and not the body and meridians, he still felt much stronger in terms of his body and his ability to use this power in battle.

After making sure everything was all right, he got up, picked up his equipment and walked towards the bedroom door.

He was supposed to meet with Robert and the others to decide how they would steal the crystal. But his steps stopped the moment he grasped the door handle.

His breathing became heavy and mana exploded in his body as he drew his sword.

With a burst of strength and speed, he turned and advanced, swinging the sword at a lone, shadowy figure next to the window.

The sword struck the figure, but nothing happened.

As if the force had been immediately nullified and even the inertia produced by the speed of the attack had been completely undone.

"Mighty... Congratulations on your breakthrough, Ethan. Your father wouldn’t be proud, I’m sure, but your mother would." The figure spoke in a strangely familiar voice as he revealed himself.

It was a tall man with a dignified face, blue eyes and golden hair.

"You... how?" Ethan asked, still in shock as he walked away in quick strides. His body only stopped when it hit the wall of the room at his back.

"You can change your body, your face and your hair, but not your soul.

For an ordinary refinement stage awakener, this might be something that goes unnoticed. But for someone who has dedicated their life to studying magic and knows it so well, noticing your presence is as natural as breathing."

"Ah..." Ethan sighed as he realized there was no escape.

Killing David was far beyond his capabilities and even escaping was just a dream.

In the end, he could only laugh bitterly as he spoke. "It’s good to see you, Lord David... How’s little Arthur?"

"He’s fine," David smiled, "but no longer as small as before and already showing the qualities of a worthy heir. He’s asked a lot about you since his father disowned you."

"I understand..." Ethan’s voice and face still showed strangeness at meeting an old acquaintance who still treated him so normally.

A deafening silence filled the room as the two men stared at each other.

"Ethan..." David broke the silence, a little hesitation in his voice as he thought about the next words to come out of his mouth. "About what happened... I’m sorry for not intervening, but I-"

"It’s okay," Ethan interrupted David’s words. "There was nothing you could do, I know that. I know the rules of this game."

"I’m glad... I don’t know how you got back, I don’t know if you made a pact with a god, a demon or some remnant of a specialist lost many ages ago. But I want you to know that it doesn’t matter.

Your father may be dead, but my alliance with your house still stands."

David paused, his words laden with sincerity.

"My troops are at your disposal to recover what is rightfully yours and I will even defend you personally in front of the king against the crime of parricide."

The words were sincere enough to move Ethan, who had forgotten that in this world of cruel men, there were men with good hearts.

Men who would give their lives to defend those they loved.

"Thank you, Lord David. I promise to do my best to repay your kindness in the future..."

"Don’t worry about paying me back, young man. Our alliance should still last another 200 years by the agreement made by our ancestors, and as long as it does, helping you is my obligation."

David laughed at Ethan’s words and his gaze turned deep as he turned and looked out at the great city that lay beyond the window.