The Exiled Prince Domination

Chapter 104: Preparations

"The Sand Man?" Lucian’s curiosity was now thoroughly piqued.

"His full name is Sanderson Mansnoozie," Yen Sid continued, "One of the legendary Guardians. Only those who truly believe in them can perceive them... or those who have attained the power of a Grandmaster Mage."

"I will tell you about them and teach you more things after the ceremony. But for now, Your Majesty, you truly ought to rest. Tomorrow will be a very great day." Yen Sid said as he finally reached the door and then went out.

The moment he was out of earshot, his expression hardened into a deep frown. "That old fool... he has always been nothing but trouble," he muttered.

He knew exactly who was behind all of this.

He had felt lingering traces of that familiar power the moment he arrived and the reason why he didn’t press the king any further. Yen Sid shook his head slowly, his voice soft with quiet concern. "I only hope he truly understands what kind of path he has set this one upon."

_____

Back inside his chambers, Lucian sank onto the edge of his bed, his gaze still fixed on the flecks of golden sand drifting past his window.

He had a hundred more questions waiting on his tongue, but for now he pushed them aside, there was still much he needed to prepare for. He turned his attention inward, opening his system interface to see exactly what he had earned from those special reward boxes.

Panels of light flickered into view, their descriptions clear and sharp:

[Photographic Memory: Every image, word, face, map, symbol, and movement you lay eyes on is etched permanently into your mind with perfect clarity. You never forget details, never misquote what you’ve read, and can recall even fleeting glimpses as clearly as if you were looking at them right now. Complex patterns, scrolls, battle stances, and blueprints can be reproduced exactly from memory alone. Does not process or understand what you see automatically, you still need to analyze, learn, or decode information yourself]

[Forest Sense: The host shares an innate awareness with all wild woodlands, groves, and untamed lands. You always know exactly where you are and which direction leads where, never getting lost no matter how dense or twisting the terrain. You can sense shifting ground, hidden water, resources, nearby creatures, changes in weather, and even unnatural presences or disturbances within the trees and undergrowth.]

[Strain Weave: An ability tied to the bearer’s inherently mutable essence. Upon making contact, through fangs, claws, or direct exchange of vital essence, the user may consciously select one specific strain from their inherited pool to infuse into another living target. Unlike uncontrollable curses or fixed infections, this power never acts at random: the user retains full choice over which effect to pass on, and may even opt to withhold it entirely. The transferred strain takes root in the recipient’s body, altering their physiology and capabilities to match the chosen lineage.]

[Grandmaster Magic Attunement: It grants the host the essence of a lifetime of cultivation, foundation, and peak power of a Grandmaster Mage.]

"T-This is!" As Lucian looked at the description, he was shocked. The skills like Forest Sense and Photographic Memory were something that would help him, but the last two were a shock to him. The Grandmaster Attunement was the reason why he was suddenly filled with power right now, and he didn’t expect to get a reward like that, but the last skill amazed him even more.

It was nothing like the mindless curses of old stories, where a bite passed on an affliction whether you wanted it to or not. This was a power he commanded fully: he picked exactly what to share, and when to share it. Right now, three distinct strains rested within him: the Tideborn lineage, the Arcanthropy that let him take the form of a werebear, and the strange beast-like transformation born from the original curse laid upon this castle. He could not yet be certain if that final strain was stable... but even if it were not, the other two possibilities were already world-changing.

Possibilities bloomed in his mind, he could raise a loyal guard of warriors gifted with the strength and resilience of the werebear form but now... was not the time to plan armies. He pushed the thoughts aside and decided it truly was time to rest.

There was still one thing he needed to do about the glowing white sphere resting in the corner of his room.

_____

The following morning dawned bright and busy.

The entire castle hummed with activity. Maids, butlers, knights, and apprentice mages hurried through halls and courtyards, scrubbing, hanging, and arranging everything for the coronation. After months lying abandoned and fallen into disrepair, every corner had been scrubbed clean. Faded banners were replaced with bright new ones, rich crimson carpets lined every corridor, and the great throne room stood polished and ready for the ceremony.

Cogsworth marched purposefully down the hallway toward Lucian’s chambers, carrying a wooden hanger draped in the royal attire prepared for the day. He stopped before the door and knocked firmly.

"Who is it?" Lucian’s voice called from inside.

"It is I, Cogsworth, Your Majesty," he answered promptly.

"Come in."