Chapter 8: Vesperion Treasury I
Morning arrived quietly.
For the first time since awakening, Malrik slept peacefully. No nightmares. No regrets. No memories of a powerless life.
When he opened his eyes, sunlight was already pouring through the large windows of his room. A few moments later—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Young Master."
Malrik sat upright. "Come in."
The door opened and Eliza entered carrying a silver tray. After placing it on a nearby table, she bowed respectfully.
"Good morning, Young Master."
"Morning."
Eliza hesitated briefly before speaking. "The Treasury will open later today."
Immediately, Malrik remembered the gift he had received. The right to enter the Vesperion Treasury. His interest was instantly piqued.
Seeing that, Eliza began explaining. "The Treasury of House Vesperion is divided into multiple sections."
Malrik silently listened.
"Each section contains treasures appropriate for a specific rank. The higher the rank, the greater the value and power of the treasures stored within."
Malrik nodded. That made sense. A powerful family like House Vesperion would naturally possess countless treasures accumulated over generations.
"However..." Eliza continued. "A treasure is only useful if its owner can properly utilize it."
Malrik raised an eyebrow.
Eliza explained. "A Mortal cannot properly wield a Sacred-ranked weapon. Nor can they properly use most Sacred-ranked artifacts. The difference in power is simply too great."
Understanding dawned on Malrik. Even a child holding a legendary sword was still a child. Power alone couldn’t erase that gap.
"As a newly awakened Mortal, Young Master will only be allowed access to the first two sections."
"Mortal Rank."
"Awakened Rank."
Malrik wasn’t disappointed. On the contrary. Those were the treasures most suitable for him anyway. Choosing something he couldn’t use would be pointless.
After a brief pause, Eliza continued. "Once you’ve selected your treasure, your formal training will begin."
Malrik looked toward her. "Training?"
"Yes. Every Banner Bearer undergoes personal training after awakening."
That immediately caught his attention. "What kind of training?"
"A specialized instructor will be assigned to teach you magic. And another instructor will be assigned to train you in weapons and combat."
Malrik looked at her in surprise. "I thought weapon training came before awakening."
Eliza nodded. "It does."
"Every direct descendant of House Vesperion begins physical training from childhood. Swordsmanship, spears, bows, axes, daggers... every child is taught the fundamentals of many weapons before awakening."
"Only after awakening does that training become specialized. From then on, they focus on the weapon best suited to their Class."
"A swordsman refines the blade. A lancer perfects the spear. An archer masters the bow. A mage still learns to fight—but only enough to survive close combat."
Malrik couldn’t help but smile. That sounded exactly like House Vesperion. Direct. Practical. Brutal.
No matter how powerful someone’s magic became... An enemy reaching them in close combat could still prove fatal. Apparently, even mages in Valthera were expected to know how to fight.
The more he learned about this world, the more he liked it. There were no shortcuts. No special treatment. Only strength.
After explaining everything, Eliza waited quietly. A few moments passed.
Then Malrik suddenly asked: "How long until the Treasury opens?"
"One hour, Young Master."
Malrik nodded. Good. That was more than enough time.
Then another thought crossed his mind. "Prepare breakfast."
Eliza immediately bowed. "Of course, Young Master."
She turned to leave. Then Malrik added: "No."
Eliza paused. "No?"
A faint smile appeared on Malrik’s face. "Prepare the largest meal available."
For a brief moment, surprise flashed across Eliza’s face. Then she nodded. "As you wish."
Less than thirty minutes later—
Malrik stared silently at the enormous dining table before him. The amount of food was absurd.
Roasted meat. Fresh bread. Rare fruits. Vegetables infused with mana. Several soups. Multiple side dishes. And countless foods he couldn’t even identify.
For several moments, he simply stared. Back on Earth, meals like this only existed in luxury restaurants. Even then, they couldn’t compare.
The aroma alone was enough to make his stomach growl. Without hesitation, Malrik began eating.
One bite. Then another. Then another.
The quality was unbelievable. Every ingredient tasted fresh. Rich. Perfect.
Even more surprising... The food itself contained traces of mana. Tiny amounts. But enough for him to notice.
Memories belonging to the original Malrik surfaced inside his mind. Mana-rich food. One of the many privileges enjoyed by powerful noble families.
For ordinary people, such meals were luxuries. For House Vesperion... They were simply breakfast.
Malrik suddenly understood something. Growing up inside a family like this was already an enormous advantage.
Resources. Education. Training. Equipment... everything had been placed before him from the moment he was born into this family.
No wonder House Vesperion kept producing monsters, Malrik thought.
By the time he finished eating, nearly half the food had disappeared. He leaned back in his chair. Satisfied.
For the first time in two lives, he genuinely enjoyed a meal without worrying about tomorrow. At that moment—
Eliza glanced toward the clock mounted on the wall. "The Treasury will open soon, Young Master."
Malrik nodded. "Then let’s not waste time."
A few minutes later, the two left the private wing.
The corridors of House Vesperion were just as magnificent as before. Black marble floors stretched endlessly beneath their feet. Massive pillars supported the towering ceilings.
Ancient paintings and portraits of previous Dukes decorated the walls. Each one radiated authority. Each one represented a legend of House Vesperion.
As Malrik walked through the estate, servants immediately stepped aside. Every single one lowered their head.
"Young Master."
"Young Master."
"Young Master."
Respectful greetings followed him everywhere. Malrik remained calm. Yet he couldn’t help but notice the difference.
Before awakening, many servants had considered him the least promising among the Duke’s children. No one openly disrespected him. That would have been unthinkable.
But whispers existed. Doubts existed. Questions about whether the Seventh Son could truly become a Banner Bearer existed.
Now those whispers were gone.
A successful awakening. A Hidden Class. His standing within the family had changed.
No servant dared question his future anymore. Not after what had happened inside the Awakening Hall.
As they continued walking deeper into the estate, the atmosphere gradually changed. The number of servants decreased. The number of guards increased.
Elite knights wearing the crest of House Vesperion stood silently at fixed positions. The emblem of the Sky-Devouring Dragon-Serpent appeared everywhere.
A dragon-serpent swallowing the sky itself—the enduring symbol of House Vesperion, feared throughout the Empire.
Eventually, a massive black gate appeared in the distance. Ancient runes covered its surface. Several powerful knights stood guard before it.
Even from afar, Malrik could feel the pressure radiating from the gate itself.
Eliza stopped beside him. A faint smile appeared on her face. "We’ve arrived, Young Master."
Malrik’s gaze settled upon the enormous gate. The Treasury of House Vesperion. One of the greatest treasure vaults in the entire Empire.
And today... He would choose his first treasure.
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