Between the cold frost and the white snow that covered the mountains, dominating everything, stood a man with white hair. His golden eyes bore the trait of his family as he held that fang in his hands, which seemed as hard as solid scales.
"My lord, I believe it's time to return."
The man bowed, wearing his black robe, while frozen blood stained his tattered clothes. A massive corpse lay before him, sprawled between the arms of a monstrous white creature, which looked like a mix between a bear and a white tiger. The corpse's gaze was completely empty, as if it had never carried emotions or fear. Even in its final moments, its eyes did not change toward its killer.
Edgar Lockard, the current head of the Lockard family, was a man who had reached the rank of "Hero" in strength. Since the family's royal title was lost due to internal conflicts, he decided that he must fix everything. For this reason, he began gathering the family members again. And for those who refused... their fate was like this man's.
For Edgar, nothing deserved respect except power. Either you were strong and proved yourself, or you died. He did not care whether the person was related to him or not.
"Prepare our things for the return."
He did not look back as he walked, as if everything around him meant nothing to him. The masked warrior did not speak or ask questions; he simply carried out the order immediately. The corpse disappeared as if it had never existed, while the beast's body was burned and buried under the snow.
Edgar raised his gaze toward the horizon, where his family's castle loomed in the distance.
"I will return to see you, Elenor."
A shiver ran through Valerian's body, making him feel an unseen, piercing gaze that he could not identify. He frowned slightly but shook his head to dismiss the thought.
"I guess it's just a feeling… Well, let's continue what we were doing."
He looked at the screen in front of him, trying to understand his levels and abilities.
"From what I understand, my power is theft, but each type has consequences."
"I only have one chance per day, at least for now. The problem is that theft, even if it fails, is still considered theft."
"As for chances, they have no consequences, but they come with great risks. Success depends on physical ability, but it does not guarantee victory."
[Name: Valerian Lockard]
[Rank: Human (Intermediate)]
[Talent: Low]
[Skill: Fate Theft (Allows stealing a skill, a future opportunity, or a talent)]
He kept staring at the screen while eating his meal. He noticed something that had always been obvious: his family never gathered together. Everyone relied on themselves and their own strength.
"Let's see what obstacles I'm facing…"
"A weak talent, brothers—I've seen two of them, and the third sees me as a worm… It seems like I'm living a truly wonderful life."
He mocked himself. A few days ago, he had seen his younger brother, Alexis. Unlike the rest of the family, Alexis inherited black hair from his mother and golden eyes from his father. He was intelligent, but what was truly alarming was his deep fascination with poisons.
For some reason, from the moment Valerian saw him, he felt as if a snake had coiled around him, determining his fate, unable to escape.
"He's someone I should never mess with."
His tone trembled as he muttered these words, feeling invisible chains restraining him. Even though he had received a second chance to change his life and was given a body that was considered the "disgrace of the family," this did not change anything. Instead, it made things even more complicated.
"We also have my mother, Elenor… This body doesn't remember much about her, except that she was sick and unable to move."
He stopped as an old memory surged through him, one that always made his heart clench in pain.
His mother… who had died when he was young.
"How I wish I had met you…"
He looked down, a feeling of emptiness eating away at him, as if a part of his soul was missing—a piece that needed to be completed.
"And finally… Edgar Lockard, the head of the family."
"I don't know much about him, but I do know that he doesn't even consider me his son."
Time passed quickly as he was lost in his thoughts until his servant, Carlos, pulled him back to reality.
"My lord, it's getting late."
He stood up, heading to his bed, ready to sleep.
The sun rose, bathing the castle in the light of dawn, but Valerian remained awake. He could not stop thinking about how to advance in his life.
Even after stealing Zeke's talent, he was still being defeated. The difference in talents wasn't huge, but it was decisive. And with every defeat, he improved—if only slightly.
He got out of bed, determined to start training again, but this time, he decided to search for something else: talent.
"I have to take it from them… It doesn't matter who they are or what their level is."
Before he could leave, a maid entered carrying his breakfast.
"Well, I guess food is more important."
He could not resist the delicious aroma of the food, finding himself devouring it eagerly. After finishing, he patted his stomach in satisfaction.
"Your food is always so good."
He tried to get up, but Carlos' sudden entrance changed everything. His face was filled with panic, and his tone was tense as he quickly said:
"My lord, your father has arrived!"
Valerian's body froze, his jaw dropping in shock.
"Why did he come now? Did he hear about me?"
His thoughts raced, and a heavy feeling of fear began creeping into him.
"Hurry, my lord, put on your clothes to welcome him."
He rushed to his wardrobe, searching for the best outfit he had, while at the castle gates, Edgar had arrived.
He dismounted from his silver wolf, his constant means of transportation. The wolf was known for its speed and endurance, never knowing fatigue.
After a year of absence, he returned to see his castle, welcomed by knights and servants. He felt no nostalgia for anything, but he asked about the latest updates.
A servant explained that his daughter had ranked second in the academy exams and that his eldest son had reached the rank of knight. Even when he was told that Valerian had broken past his talent limit, his expression did not change.
As for Alexis, he had managed to develop a poison capable of penetrating cells and disintegrating them through complex chemical reactions.
Yet Edgar showed no interest.
He sat on the empty throne while his children knelt before him.
"It seems you have achieved things that are… not bad."
Valerian felt a surge of anger. "Not bad? That's all you have to say?" But he kept his thoughts to himself.
"Thank you, Father."
He tried to glance at his eldest brother, but he had never seen him before.
"You may leave, except for you, Valerian."
His heartbeat quickened.
"In a month, you will go to Novastra Academy."
His body finally relaxed. He feared being exposed, but going to the academy? It was a center of opportunities.
"I will not disappoint you."
Valerian rose after being dismissed, but he could not resist the urge to glance back. Still, he did not dare meet Edgar's gaze, so he quickly left for the training grounds.
He knew this was not the time for complacency. The academy meant competition, and competition meant strength—and strength was the only thing that would secure him a place in this family.
Meanwhile, Edgar remained seated in silence, watching his children leave one by one. He said nothing, but inside, he was evaluating each of them.
He stood up and walked into a nearby room inside the castle.
The room was dimly lit but warm, with a familiar medicinal scent. In its center, a bed was surrounded by faintly glowing crystals, and on that bed, a woman lay in stillness, as if she had been asleep for years.
This was the only room that had not changed since his departure.
Edgar stood beside the bed, his eyes fixed on his wife's motionless body. For years, she had been unable to move or speak, as if life had frozen within her.
The old doctor who had long tended to her stood in the corner, silently watching his master. He had never seen this strong man display any clear emotions before, but he knew something was different at this moment.
Edgar reached out, gently placing his hand on hers.
"I am getting closer to finding the cure, and soon… you will return to us."
Edgar was not a man who easily showed emotions, but for a brief moment, the doctor saw something rare...a very faint smile, almost imperceptible.
It was the first smile he had seen from him in years.