Overwhelming Firepower

Vardon Thornehart, the Iron Duke of the North, the enduring shield of the kingdom of Norvaegard, one who has continuously defended Norvaegard from the monster waves and the barbarian tribes.

Even as he sat looking at some paperwork, he was like a fortress in human form. Towering and broad-shouldered, his body bore the marks of countless battles, scarred knuckles, weather-worn skin, and a posture so rigid it felt carved from stone.

His hair, once a deep black, had faded into iron-gray, swept back neatly, not a strand out of place. A short, well-kept beard framed his square jaw, streaked with silver like frost creeping over a steel blade.

His eyes, a piercing ice-blue, held the weight of the North in them. They were cold, sharp, and unwavering. When they settled on you, it felt like standing before a frozen cliff moments before it collapsed. He rarely spoke, but when he did, his voice was like a sharp blade able to cut you at any given moment.

Clad in his deep blue military coat, trimmed with the white fur of frostfang wolves native to the northern wilds, and with the sigil of Thornehart, a shield wrapped in thorns, on his chest.

Vardon stopped his hand as he sensed a familiar presence approaching his room. Before the other party could knock on the door, Vardon spoke.

”Vahn, come in.”

The old butler opened the door and did a knight’s bow, one hand firmly pressed on his chest.

”My lord, I have something to report about the young master.”

”What is it? Did he get hurt again while training? Or perhaps did he decide to stop training altogether?”

Though Vardon’s tone was disinterested, his eyes remained locked on Vahn. He was listening intently.

”The young master has awakened mana and gained a mana core.”

The moment those words came out of Vahn’s mouth, there was a few seconds of silence as a cold chill assaulted him. It was like a sharp blade was pointed at him, ready to slash him in half.

”I have no time for such jokes, are you telling me that a Thornehart instead of awakening his Aura had awakened Mana instead?”

There was only one record of a Thornehart gaining mana, but that was after he had awakened Aura at had become a powerful knight. Trying to gain even more power, he had forcefully created a mana core for himself and became one of the rare few to wield both sword and magic. This person was none other than the first Duke of the North of Norvaegard, the blade of the king, Duke Edric Thornehart.

”I have indeed confirmed that the young master has gained a mana core, not only that, but he already has one circle. A feat few his age could claim.”

It was for only a brief second, but Vardon showed a hint of surprise before returning to his stoic demeanor. There was a moment of silence as Vardon tapped on his table, thinking deeply about something.

”Bring Lucen to me.”

”As you wish, my lord.” After doing a bow, Vahn exited the room. Once he was alone in the room, Vardon stood up from his chair and looked out the window, watching the snow fall.

’To think that the child whom everyone thought was worthless actually had such hidden talent. A twelve-year-old who no one taught gained one circle. Even I find it hard to believe.’

Vardon, who always had a stoic look on his face, had his lips curving slightly upward.

...

Lucen was walking through the hallway, following behind Vahn. He had already expected it, but it was still a little unnerving to go and speak to his father.

Even with his memories from Earth, even knowing more than a twelve-year-old should, there were some things no amount of reincarnation could prepare you for, like facing a father whose silence could weigh more than steel.

’This was going to happen sooner or later, so I guess it’s good to get this over with immediately.’

The last time he spoke with his father was a year ago. He had been trying to awaken Aura at the time and asked his father for advice. His father came to him and said the words that devastated the former him.

”Give up the sword, and find another path.”

He could still remember how those words shattered him, how he’d clutched his wooden sword tighter that night, trying not to cry. Now, with the eyes of someone who’d lived another life, he saw it for what it was, a man who couldn’t bring himself to lie, even to his own son.

’Really saying something like that to his nine-year-old son, without explaining anything clearly. Back then, I truly thought I had been abandoned. Of course, now I know that isn’t the case.’

Lucen couldn’t help but sigh, recalling that memory.

”Young master, we have arrived,” Vahn spoke as he stepped to the side.

Lucen halted in front of the grand doors of his father’s study. The wood was dark and heavy, inlaid with silver patterns of the northern crest thorns wrapped around a shield. Lucen was about to knock on the door when his father’s voice interrupted him.

”Come in.”

Lucen breathed inward and exhaled, calming his nerves before opening the door. Upon opening the door, the first thing Lucen saw was the back of the towering Vardon. Once Lucen had closed the doors, Vardon faced him. The father and son were now looking at each other. Lucen quickly did a knight’s bow and spoke.

”I have arrived as requested, Father.”

Vardon did not respond and simply stared intently at Lucen. Vardon had quickly noticed the huge difference between the Lucen he had last seen and the current Lucen.

Even though it wasn’t that obvious, Lucen’s body was beginning to change; his muscles were growing. There was also the fact that every time he spoke to Lucen, his son would always have his head down, looking at the ground, but this time he was looking straight into his eyes.

Vardon slowly approached Lucen. In the past, Lucen would shudder in fear of his father’s overwhelming presence, but now he had his back straight and did not even flinch. Lucen then felt something was probing him from within. It was obviously Vardon doing the probing, so Lucen did not resist and allowed it to happen, not like he would be able to do anything at his level anyway.

”So it’s true you have a mana core, not only that, you even formed your first circle... Tell me, how did you achieve gaining your first circle?”

”I do not know as well... After waking up from my fever, it was simply there,” Lucen answered with truths mixed in with some lies.

”I see...” Vardon did not continue to probe him as he turned, walked back to his chair, and sat down. ”It would seem that you have found your own path... The path you walk is something no one here can teach you. I will find an elemental mage who could guide you in this new path. The capital has quite a few competent mages with military backgrounds. I will send word and see who can be your guide.”

Lucen already guessed that his conversation with Vardon would go this way. Even though Vardon had died early in the original game, Cael had many stories to tell the protagonist about his father. There were even some side quests you could do if you had Cael in your party that would show you flashbacks of his talks with his father.

Because of that and his own memories as Lucen, he knew a lot about Vardon’s character. It was at this moment, as the conversation went as he foresaw Lucen interjected.

”Father, if I may speak.” Vardon nodded at Lucen, who then continued speaking. ”Instead of hiring an elemental mage, I would wish to learn from an alchemist.”