The next morning, Ignis woke up and quickly freshened up before heading straight to the training ground, where he knew his parents would be waiting.
Sure enough, when he arrived, Evan and Alenna stood there, their gazes immediately falling on him. In his left hand, he held the book Knight Mental Method, while a black crutch rested in his right. Though they noticed the crutch, neither of them questioned it.
Alenna offered a warm smile. "Did you sleep well, my son?"
"Yes, Mom," Ignis replied. "I was exhausted, so I slept deeply."
She nodded in approval. "That's good to hear."
Evan's expression remained steady as he asked, "Did you study the Knight Mental method I gave you yesterday?"
Ignis straightened, his demeanour serious. "Yes, I memorized every word. But there's also something else I need to discuss with you."
Sensing the weight behind his words, both Evan and Alenna grew attentive. Evan met his son's gaze and said, "Go ahead. You can speak freely."
Ignis took a deep breath before speaking. "Yesterday, something changed inside me—something sudden and completely unexpected. To be precise, it happened in my mana circuit. It feels as if my heart and Dantian have connected." He looked at his mother, his voice steady. "Mom, please check my body. You'll understand what I mean."
Evan and Alenna exchanged a look, their expressions darkening with concern. This was the first time they had ever heard of such a phenomenon.
According to everything they knew, mana circuits followed a strict structure. Though interconnected, they were distinctly separate—one originating from the Dantian, the other from the heart. This fundamental division was the reason two main professions existed: Magicians, who channeled mana through their hearts as the core, and Knights, who relied on their Dantian to circulate mana.
The concept of a fused circuit—where the heart and Dantian were directly linked—was unheard of. Or rather, it was something found only in legend.
There was only one known creature in existence with such a mana structure: Dragons—god-like beings that stood at the pinnacle of power. Even half-dragons, to the best of their knowledge, did not possess this trait.
Alenna's eyes flickered with something between astonishment and disbelief. "This… shouldn't be possible," she murmured.
Yet, if Ignis was telling the truth, then something impossible had just become real.
Evan's eyes widened with a mix of excitement and urgency. He turned to Alenna. "Honey, check him. Now."
Alenna, just as eager, wasted no time. She placed her hand gently on Ignis's head, a soft green aura radiating from her fingertips. The energy expanded, enveloping his entire body as she probed his mana circuit.
Her expression grew more astonished with each passing second. She checked once. Then again. A third time—just to be sure.
Finally, she opened her eyes and turned to Evan, her voice brimming with excitement. "Hubby, our son is absolutely right—his heart and Dantian are connected!"
Evan inhaled sharply, trying to suppress his overwhelming emotions. He locked eyes with Ignis, his tone steady but urgent. "Son, tell me everything. Every detail. What exactly happened to you?"
Ignis nodded, gathering his thoughts. "I… I don't know the exact cause," he admitted. "But while I was reading the Knight Mental method you gave me yesterday, I suddenly felt something—like a surge inside me. And then… I blacked out." He paused, recalling the strange sensation that had coursed through his body. "While I was unconscious, I could feel changes happening inside me. The only thing I saw clearly was my mana circuit—veins of energy forming, growing—until one connected my heart and Dantian."
A heavy silence filled the air as Evan and Alenna absorbed his words.
What had happened to Ignis defied everything they knew. And yet, it was real.
Ignis held up the black crutch for his parents to see. "This was in front of me when I woke up. And… I can control it with my mind. Watch."
Alenna and Evan examined the crutch closely. It was undeniably beautiful—its polished black surface gleamed under the light, accented by a golden head and base. Yet, despite its elegance, there was nothing outwardly extraordinary about it. To them, it seemed like an ordinary, well-crafted item.
Then, without a word, Ignis focused.
The crutch in his hand suddenly ignited with flames, its form twisting and reshaping before their eyes. In an instant, the fire receded, revealing a stunning katana—a sleek blade with a deep purple handle and a brown sheath.
Ignis unsheathed it, the steel glinting ominously as he held it up for them to see.
Evan and Alenna stared, their expressions frozen in shock.
"How is this possible?" Evan murmured. His sharp eyes traced every detail of the blade, his mind racing for an explanation. "This… this has to be an artifact. Nothing else could transform like that."
Alenna, a seasoned adventurer before she settled down, nodded in agreement. "Yes, this is definitely an artifact. There's no doubt about it."
Ignis had expected this reaction. He had read about artifacts in books, and he knew that his parents would naturally assume his Zanpakutō was one. After all, its unique characteristics mirrored those of legendary artifacts.
So, he told them everything—everything about the crutch, its transformation, and how he could control it with his mind.
But there was one thing he didn't reveal.
The Hōgyoku.
That secret was his alone to bear. No matter what happened, no matter who he trusted in this life—even if he found a partner he loved—this secret would be born with him and die with him.
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