Chapter 30: Three Years of Progress

Neo finally returned to the Draven estate, stepping out of the carriage into the same courtyard he’d left behind so long ago. The moment the door opened, Sylvia was already there, rushing down the front steps without even waiting for the guards to properly announce his arrival.

"Neo!"

She scooped him up before his feet had even fully touched the ground, spinning him once before pulling him tight against her chest. Neo, now a little taller and a little heavier than the last time she’d held him like this, let out a small laugh despite himself.

"Mama, I can’t breathe."

"I don’t care, months, Neo. Several months. Do you know how many letters your father wrote just to keep himself from marching straight to the Celestia estate and dragging you back home himself?" She said, squeezing him even tighter.

Cassian, standing a few steps behind her with his arms crossed, cleared his throat loudly, clearly trying to look composed despite the obvious relief written all over his face.

"I did not write that many letters."

"You wrote enough that Father started sending them back unopened," Sylvia shot back, finally setting Neo down on his feet, though she kept one hand firmly on his shoulder, as if letting go completely might make him disappear again.

"You know what, Neo? I’m quite angry with you right now. Why didn’t you come home for months?! Did you not miss us?"

Neo simply let out a long sigh. He couldn’t exactly tell her that he had just wanted to escape from the grasp of his family and train as much as he wanted without facing any restrictions.

"Sorry..."

Sylvia pursed her lips before leaning forward and kissing his forehead.

"It’s okay. Just don’t return home late whenever you decide to visit somewhere. We miss you so much."

Cassian walked over and ruffled Neo’s hair, the same easy grin from years ago still perfectly intact.

"Welcome home, son."

That night, after dinner, Neo finally sat his parents down and told them something he’d been thinking about for a long while.

"I want to learn magic properly, Not just the basics I’ve been teaching myself."

Sylvia and Cassian exchanged a look.

"We could hire an instructor, one of the best in the empire, if that’s what you want."

Neo shook his head firmly. "I don’t want a stranger teaching me. I want to learn from you both. You know things no ordinary instructor would ever be allowed to teach. And I’d rather grow strong watching the both of you than someone I barely know."

Sylvia’s eyes softened instantly, and Cassian’s proud grin returned even wider than before.

"Well, who am I to say no to that?"

From that day on, life in the Draven estate changed completely.

Cassian took charge of his physical training, pushing him through drills meant to strengthen his body far beyond what any normal child his age could handle. Sylvia, meanwhile, took over his magical education, teaching him control, precision, and the delicate balance needed to properly shape and release mana without wasting a single drop.

The years blurred together in a steady rhythm of sweat, bruises, and slow, steady progress. Mornings were spent sparring with wooden weapons under Cassian’s eye, learning to read an opponent’s movements before they even finished their swing. Afternoons were spent sitting cross-legged in the private training hall, practicing spell formations under Sylvia’s patient but firm guidance.

Neo didn’t mind the exhaustion. If anything, he welcomed it. Every ache in his muscles, every small correction from his parents, felt like proof that he was actually getting somewhere, instead of just hiding away in his room absorbing mana in secret like before.

Now, sitting quietly in his room after another long day of training, Neo finally decided to check just how far he’d come.

"Status window, open."

[Ding!]

-----

[STATUS WINDOW]

>Name: Neo Draven

>Titles: Final Hope

>Talent: Paragon

>Race: Half-Human

>Core: 3rd Circle

>Rank: Adept (IV)

>Bloodline: Unawakened

>Affinity: Starlight, Gravity, Ice

[ATTRIBUTES]

[STR: 210/1000] [AGI: 230/1000]

[DEF: 200/1000] [STA: 225/1000]

[INT: 310/1000]

[HP: 600/600] [MP: 3200/3200]

[TECHNIQUES]

>Basic Cultivation Scripture

>Draven Dragon Art (Basic)

>Celestia Cultivation Scripture (Basic)

[SKILLS & ABILITIES]

>Mana Suppression

>Basic Sword Forms

>Basic Frost Manipulation

-----

Neo let out a long, satisfied breath.

’Peak of the Adept rank. Not bad at all for eight years old.’

In this world, most Awakeners only really began growing fast once they hit ten or twelve years old. That was the age when the body finally matured enough to properly absorb and process nature’s mana at a much faster rate. Before that, growth was usually slow and steady, no matter how hard someone trained.

Of course, that rule never seemed to apply to people like Nora or Kael. And now, apparently, it didn’t apply to him either.

His eyes lingered on the new affinity listed beside his name.

Ice.

He hadn’t expected that one, though it made a strange kind of sense. He’d spent the last three years constantly watching his mother demonstrate her own ice magic, over and over, during every single lesson. Somewhere along the way, without even realizing it, his body had apparently decided to pick it up on its own.

’Three affinities now. Starlight, Gravity, and Ice.’ He smiled faintly, closing the status window. ’Well not bad for my own use.’

He leaned back against his headboard, staring up at the ceiling, letting the quiet satisfaction settle over him.

Three years of hard training. Three years of steady, careful growth, all while making sure nothing looked too suspicious to the outside world. It hadn’t been easy, but looking at his memory showcasing his hard work, he couldn’t help but feel like all of it had been worth it.

Neo raised his hand, stretching his fingers before slowly curling them into a clenched fist. He looked up at it, his fist blocking the light of the Floating Light Orb, like the moon hiding the sun during an eclipse.

’Alright, let’s see what the next few years bring.’

...

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