Chapter One: Making a Choice

Morning sunlight bathed the earth in its golden glow.

Veylin Ex awoke in his bed, rose, and opened the window, welcoming the first rays of dawn. From here, he could see directly to Training Ground Seven within the castle walls, where over a thousand knight squires were engaged in their combat aura exercises.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a lovely maid appeared, bowing respectfully. "Young Master Veylin, the lord requests that you see him in his study after breakfast."

"I understand," he replied.

At his words, the maid retreated, closed the door, and departed.

Veylin lowered his head, fully aware that this visit to his father's study would require him to make a choice.

More than two months had passed since his coming-of-age ceremony; now, he was considered an adult. Apart from the designated heir, all other offspring were required to choose their path upon reaching adulthood.

First, one could become the guardian knight of the current heir, swearing an oath before the Goddess of Life never to betray.

Second, one could leave the family, become a pioneer, and venture to the frontier to forge a legacy of their own.

The final choice was to join the Kingdom’s Order of Knights, serving the king under the family’s recommendation.

"If not for this unique soul skill—Fate’s Guidance—I might have chosen the first path, staying with the family and letting life drift by," Veylin mused.

As a transmigrant, Veylin had received fate’s gift upon coming of age. After some time experimenting, he had roughly grasped its special properties.

On the first night of every month at eight, a melodious female voice would whisper in his ear, conveying a piece of valuable information.

Over the past two months, he’d received two such messages—one concerning himself, the other about Silverstar City, the stronghold of the Ex family.

A short while later, a servant brought his breakfast to his room.

After dressing, Veylin sat and quickly finished three slices of white bread and a large cup of milk. When the butler cleared away the dishes, Veylin took up his knight’s short sword and left for his father’s study.

The Ex family’s ancestral seat was Windsor Castle—a romantic name, yet a fortress in every sense. The castle sprawled over eight square kilometers, home to tens of thousands. Among them, hundreds were of the Ex family, more than two hundred Silver Knights, a thousand Bronze Knights, and over six thousand knight squires in training; the rest were servants.

Leaving the secondary keep where his chambers lay, Veylin strode across marble floors toward the main keep and his father Angus’s study. Along the way, servants bowed in greeting; Veylin smiled and nodded in return.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the third floor of the main keep. He straightened his attire, took a deep breath, and knocked on the study door.

"Come in."

The commanding voice came from within. Veylin steadied himself and entered.

Facing the tall, imposing figure before him, Veylin placed his right hand on his chest and bowed. "Good morning, Father."

The sixth patriarch of House Ex, the present Count Eagle Angus, turned and fixed a stern gaze upon his fifth son. "Veylin, my dear son, what is your choice?"

"Father, I choose to become a pioneer knight, to bring new glory to House Ex," Veylin replied, his voice firm as he met his father’s authoritative gaze.

"That is not in keeping with your nature," the Count declared, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized his son.

"Perhaps I have grown since coming of age and now wish to soar like an eagle, forging my own path," Veylin replied, feigning composure beneath the pressure of his father’s golden knightly presence.

Since the decision had been made, Angus relented, withdrawing his subtle aura and replying, "According to the rules set by the first generation of House Ex, any child who chooses the pioneer’s path may remain in the castle for only three months."

"As your father, I will grant you an additional month. But two months from now, you must leave Windsor Castle."

"I understand, Father. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Seeing his father nod in approval, Veylin turned to go.

"Your information spared Silverstar City from grave loss. Your reward and further assistance will be delivered to you," Angus added just as Veylin reached the door.

"Yes, Father," Veylin answered, then closed the door behind him and departed.

As the study door shut, a shadowy figure appeared before Angus, kneeling on one knee. "Master, there is no evidence of any outside influence around Young Master Veylin. Do you wish to investigate further?"

"Let this matter end here. Destroy all records," Angus ordered, hands clasped behind his back.

"Yes, Master." With that, the shadow vanished.

A gentle smile softened the count’s severe expression as he murmured, "Veylin, my child, may you truly carve out a new world, spreading the glory of House Ex."

Meanwhile, after leaving his father’s study, Veylin wandered the castle corridors, pondering his next steps.

Before coming of age, with only average talent, he had resigned himself to a life of idle comfort within the family, never considering another path.

Now, with his choice made, he had to plan carefully, lest he wander aimlessly.

"Next, I should seek out Elder Miller, who manages the family’s affairs, and obtain whatever information I can," Veylin mused, gazing at the sky.

Every pioneer who left the family would visit Elder Miller, the three-hundred-twenty-year-old living legend of House Ex.

But before that, he needed to go to Silverstar City on an urgent matter.

From the second message delivered by Fate’s Guidance, he knew that:

[In two weeks, at House 308 in the West District of Silverstar City, two groups will conduct a transaction. The goods: two inseparable youths, one gold-haired, one silver-haired, both with immense potential. The most powerful among the parties is a mid-tier Bronze. Save these boys—they will become your wings.]

Arriving at the stables, Veylin asked the groom to saddle a horse, mounted up, instructed the guards to open the castle gates, and rode out, heading toward Silverstar City, thirty kilometers away.

Thanks to the paved roads, it took him only twenty minutes to reach the city—a metropolis spanning thirty square kilometers and home to over three hundred thousand.

Silverstar City was the second-largest city in House Ex’s domain, garrisoned year-round by eight thousand troops responsible for its security.