The Regressed Heir of Ravencrest

Chapter 48: The One

The whisper faded into the night.

"He’s the one, huh..."

A fair-skinned man who appeared no older than his late twenties stood atop the rooftop. Golden eyes shone beneath the darkened sky, while long silver hair drifted lazily in the northern wind.

His attention lingered on the quiet room where Ethan Ravencrest slept.

Below him, Northwatch continued as though nothing unusual had happened. Guards patrolled the walls, merchants closed their stalls, and weary adventurers made their way home after another day fighting the monsters.

He stood there openly, yet the world itself seemed to overlook his existence.

After several silent moments, he finally shifted his gaze away from the window.

"So..."

"It finally begins."

His figure dissolved into countless silver motes that scattered into the wind before vanishing completely. There was not a trace of his presence left , as though he had simply ceased to exist.

Far beyond the borders of the Empire...

Beyond even the lands recorded on any known map...

Space suddenly rippled.

The fabric of reality folded inward before splitting apart without a sound.

A lone figure stepped calmly through the distortion.

The same silver-haired man stepped through the distortion as though crossing an ordinary doorway, the fractured space sealing itself behind him the instant his feet touched the ground.

Around him stretched an endless expanse of darkness.

There was no sky. No wind. Even the stars seemed unwilling to cast their light there.

Only an ancient silence that had endured for longer than civilizations themselves.

He slowly raised his head toward the distant north.

His golden eyes seemed to look through mountains, kingdoms, and continents, settling upon someone impossibly far away.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"It seems..."

"...the thread of fate that broke eons ago has finally mended."

His voice echoed softly through the empty world before disappearing into the endless darkness.

He closed his eyes briefly.

Countless invisible threads spread throughout his senses.

Some were brilliant.

Others had already withered away.

One...

One thread alone shone brighter than all the others.

A single strand that had once been severed.

Now, it shone once again.

The smile on his face deepened ever so slightly.

"Not yet... he still needs to grow stronger." The man wispered into the void.

Strange dark energy drifted across tens of thousands of kilometers without dispersing. Then, without warning, a crimson glow bled out from its center.

A black blade began forming in his hand, strange runes circling the edge, different forms of energy pouring into it without resistance. He raised it once.

Heavenly Rakshasa Art.

Fifth Form—

Demon King’s Descent.

The surrounding mist trembled — the way something ancient trembles in front of an old, familiar enemy — and for dozens of kilometers, it simply ceased to exist.

Silence returned as though the world itself had forgotten the mist had ever existed.

Ethan woke suddenly, eyes going straight to the damaged window latch, then to the rooftop where the silver-haired man had stood minutes earlier.

The same feeling as this evening. He was certain, now, that someone had been watching him.

He drew on the Night Sovereign Art’s first form, Shadowless Breath, merging into the shadows, moving through the outer districts with the same technique’s silent footwork to avoid drawing any attention. He reached the spot within minutes.

He searched every rooftop, every alleyway, every shadow that could conceal a watcher. He found nothing no matter how much he looked. He finally resigned himself maybe it was my imagination...maybe not... but for now I can’t do anything.

He let himself believe it enough to go back to sleep.

Dawn broke over the Winterveil range, and Ethan had already been awake for more than an hour by the time the light cleared the peaks properly. He made his way to the training grounds off the second street in the outer district — laps, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, the basic sword movements — finishing with a full run through the Northern Heaven War Art’s first three forms.

The Blood Essence hasn’t come in yet. He sheathed the Eternal Sovereign Blade, turning the thought over. It’s taking longer than usual this time.

Thousands of kilometers away...

Within the Valerian Dukedom, not far from the capital city of Valoria, an enormous tower pierced the heavens.

Its white marble exterior reflected the morning sunlight while countless magical formations shimmered faintly beneath its surface. Mages wearing azure robes entered and exited through its massive gates, each bearing the emblem recognized throughout the Empire.

The Ocean Tower.

On one of its highest floors, Sarah Azureveil stood quietly before a pair of enormous doors, her sapphire hair flowing gently in the wind.

She had arrived on behalf of Elena Ravencrest nearly four months earlier, but the Tower Master had entered closed-door cultivation shortly before her arrival.

Unable to meet him directly, she had finally decided to present Elena’s proposal to the person temporarily overseeing the Ocean Tower.

Vice Tower Master Meredith.

The elderly woman sat calmly behind an ornate desk, several ancient tomes spread open before her. Her sharp eyes studied the documents Sarah had handed over before placing them aside.

Silence filled the room.

Finally, Sarah spoke.

"Vice Master Meredith, I don’t believe the Tower Master will emerge from seclusion anytime soon. As you know, this proposal has remained unanswered for nearly four months."

Sarah maintained her respectful tone.

"House Ravencrest wishes to establish an Ocean Tower branch within the Northern Frontier. Lady Elena is prepared to personally oversee its administration until Ocean Tower appoints its own representatives."

She paused briefly before continuing.

The branch itself will be funded entirely by House Ravencrest. In return, Ocean Tower will receive priority access to monster specimens, rare northern herbs, and selected portions of House Ravencrest’s magical archives for research and academic exchange."

"Lady Elena believes this partnership will strengthen both Ocean Tower and the Empire’s Northern Frontier."

Meredith remained expressionless.

Then she looked up.

"Sarah."

"I know you’re considered one of the most talented mages of this generation."

"You awakened an SS-Rank Talent."

"And an SSS-Rank Mana Core."

Her voice suddenly became noticeably colder.

"But..."

"Don’t you think you’re looking down on Ocean Tower a little too much?"

Sarah frowned slightly.

"I don’t understand."

Meredith leaned back.

"Do you think Ocean Tower is something that can simply establish a branch in that barren wasteland?"

"A frozen land overrun by monsters."

"A land filled with barbaric knights who believe brute strength can replace true knowledge."

The atmosphere inside the room instantly changed.

Sarah’s expression gradually cooled.

"Miss Meredith..."

"I think you should choose your words carefully."

"Oh?"

Meredith smiled mockingly.

"And why is that?"

Sarah met her eyes without the slightest hesitation.

"Are you confident you could repeat those same words in front of the Sword of the North?"

Silence filled the room.

"As far as I know..."

"Apart from the Mage Saint herself..."

"...not even your Tower Masters have ever been able to look him directly in the eye."

"So tell me..."

"Are you truly qualified to speak so lightly of the people guarding humanity’s northern border?"

Meredith’s expression darkened.

"What did you say?"

"I believe you heard me clearly."

Sarah’s voice remained calm.

"If you’re thinking of doing something irrational..."

"...you should first be prepared to bear the consequences."

A wave of pressure spread through the room.

Meredith slowly rose from her chair.

"And what consequences would those be?"

Sarah didn’t move.

"Just because Elena Ravencrest treats you like a daughter..."

"...don’t mistake yourself for being her actual daughter."

"Even if something happened to you..."

"I doubt the Sword of the North would personally come here."

Sarah stared at her silently.

Then...

She reached beneath her cloak.

A silver crest engraved with the soaring raven of House Ravencrest appeared in her palm.

She placed it gently on the table.

The room fell completely silent.

Meredith’s pupils contracted.

"...You..."

Sarah looked directly into her eyes.

"Do you know what this means?"

"If anything happens to me while carrying this crest..."

"...the entire Northern Frontier will regard it as an attack upon House Ravencrest."

"The North..."

"...will declare war on Ocean Tower."

For the first time since the conversation had begun...

Meredith’s confidence cracked.

"You..."

"You and Elena are both insane."

"How could she possibly entrust her family crest to you?"

Sarah simply retrieved the crest and fastened it back onto her cloak.

Without another word...

She turned and walked toward the exit.

The massive doors closed behind her.

Meredith remained frozen until the doors shut.

Only after she had completely disappeared did Meredith slam her hand against the desk.

"Damn barbaric women!"

"Just because the previous Tower Master showed that woman Elena Ravencrest a little consideration..."

"...she thinks she can do whatever she wants."

Her expression twisted with frustration.

"It’s already been ten years..."

"Ten years..."

"...and she’s still trapped in the same realm."

"Meanwhile..."

"I became an Archmage."

"And Vice Tower Master."

Yet despite the anger in her voice...

The image of the Ravencrest crest resting on the table refused to leave her mind.

——

Sarah stepped out of Ocean Tower and let out a long breath.

"...Hah."

"That was stressful...."

She rubbed her temples before looking back at the tower that stretched into the clouds.

No wonder Madam Elena specifically told me not to deal with Vice Tower Master Meredith.

She had expected negotiations to be difficult.

She hadn’t expected Meredith to insult the Northern Frontier to her face.

How did someone with such narrow-minded thinking even become an Archmage...?

The thought genuinely puzzled her.

After everything House Ravencrest had done to hold back the monster tides for centuries, dismissing the North as nothing more than a frozen wasteland bordered on ignorance.

Sarah shook her head and began descending the long staircase leading away from Ocean Tower.

The young master should have grown quite a bit by now...

A small smile appeared on her face.

I already miss him.

I wonder how much he’s changed.

"Let’s head back."

She looked toward the northern horizon.

"We’ll have to think of another solution."

"If Ocean Tower refuses..."

"...then we’ll simply find another path."

A Few Weeks Earlier – Ravenhold

The morning sky above Ravenhold was unusually clear.

Adrian Ravencrest stood alone on the eastern balcony overlooking the fortress. His eyes remained fixed on the endless northern wilderness, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Tomorrow.

The Sword Saint would arrive.

For the first time in years, the Emperor had personally dispatched one of humanity’s greatest powers to the Northern Frontier.

Soft footsteps echoed behind him.

Elena stepped onto the balcony.

"Are you worried?" she asked quietly.

Adrian smiled faintly.

"I didn’t expect His Majesty to send Sir Reiner personally."

"The Emperor hasn’t called upon the Sword Saint in nearly two years."

"And yet..."

"He’s coming because of this."

His expression became solemn.

"Whatever this corrupted energy may be..."

"...it may be far more complicated than either of us imagined."

Elena rested a hand lightly on the stone railing.

"Perhaps."

"But Sir Reiner will see the truth for himself."

"We’ve already done everything we could."

A brief silence settled between them.

Then Adrian asked,

"Any word from Marcus?"

Elena shook her head.

"Nothing yet. Hope Ethan is adjusting well."

" Marcus will take care of him." Adrian said.

Elena nodded slowly.

"...I know."

Beyond the walls of Ravenhold, a cold northern wind swept across the mountains.

Tomorrow...

The Sword Saint would arrive.