After steeling his resolve, Lucian anxiously waited. He remained on guard however, unwilling to blindly trust a stranger.

  The red-eyed woman smiled before she spoke. “How much do you know about Londo?”

  He was caught off guard by the sheer simplicity of her question, but chose to respond earnestly. Londo was divided into four main districts: the east and west being the worst, the upper-class residing in the south, and him in the north. It was fairly equal, although certain gaps in status were inevitable.

  ???? ????????????, ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????????????????????????.

  “I like to think I know more than the average person, but I am admittedly lacking in some areas.”

  “You're honest, good.”

  Her words irked him somewhat, but he opted to put on a smile. The truth was, his knowledge of the city was indeed limited for the son of a Great House. As despite being his only successor, his father hadn't taught him much.

  The reason he knew as much as he currently did was all thanks to his mother and Hector.

  ??????????????????????, ??'?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ????????.

  It wasn't much, but it was all he had.

  A portion of it came from attending important meetings with his father's advisors. His mother had also worked hard to garner support for his eventual succession. As part of this, she took him on patrols into the poorer districts to offer aid. All in an effort to win the hearts of the people.

  ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????, ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????. ???? ?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ????????-?????? ??????????, ???????? ???? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ??????????????????, ???? ???????? ???? ??????????.

  He wasn't proud of it, but there wasn't much he could do — at least, that was what he kept telling himself.

  The red-eyed woman, who had been silent, finally spoke up. “If my eyes haven't deceived me, you will make a fine Harbinger. However, there's only one way to find out for sure, here.”

  At that moment, she slid the box towards him. Lucian picked it up and examined it carefully.

  “Umm, red... Sorry. How should I address you? And what exactly am I supposed to do with this?” Lucian asked. Even though he knew what it did, he had no idea how to use it.

  The red-eyed woman chuckled and said, “Do you believe in miracles?”

  He didn't respond immediately.

  As far as he knew, miracles had only ever been associated with the Church of Ianthe. When his mother had fallen ill, he had prayed to the goddess once, only to lose faith when his plea went unanswered. Nevertheless, this did not change the fact that it remained the dominant faith in the Empire.

  ?????? ???? ??'?? ?????????? ????????????, ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????????????????? ????.

  His skepticism was not solely based on personal bias; he had simply never seen a miracle firsthand. He ultimately shook his head, eliciting an amused smirk.

  ?? ???? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ????????????. ?? ?????????? ????????'?? ?????????? ???? ????????????????, ??????????? ????????, ??????'?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ????, ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????????

  The majority of these tales were widely considered myths!

  “So he didn't tell you. Well then, rather than explaining, I could just show you.”

  “How will you do that?”

  “Simply close your eyes, focus solely on the box, repeat in your mind what I tell you, and try to envision it. Find your Moon.”

  ????????... ???? ????????.

  Following her instructions, Lucian concentrated on the box, initially feeling nothing. This led him to question the woman's sanity until, suddenly, he felt it.

  “What is... Ah—Aaagh!!”

  Lucian screamed as he fell to the ground, clutching at his heart.

  It felt like everything within him was cracking, while a hot knife was being driven into his brain. He did anything to lessen the pain, even repeatedly slamming his head into the ground until it started to bleed. All while, unconsciously clutching the box in his hand.

  “Gah... I feel nauseous... I don't know what's happening. The only thing I know... is that if I lose focus—I will die.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Through the agony, he could make out the red-eyed woman's tranquil voice, “Relax. Though it may feel otherwise, you're not dying. Just accept what it gives you and try to make it yours. If it's too much, the rest will be locked away.”

  As she spoke, memories flooded in, his entire life replaying before him. Lucian could feel his body changing, his flesh and soul transforming and melding with alien knowledge. All this to make him stronger, to help him understand, to make him worthy... To make him a Harbinger.

  ????????. ?????????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ????... ???????? ??????????????????... ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????...

  At that moment, a familiar voice rang in his mind. The voice of the person he hated the most—his father.

  “How disappointing. Why have you not taken it in yet?”

  ????, ???? ??????'?? ???? ??????. ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????!

  In his vision, a figure cloaked in mist materialized. While its features were indistinct, the emotionless voice was unmistakable.

  “At least you have a strong soul. If you want to know the truth, get stronger...”

  ?????? ?????????????????

  ???????? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????, ?????? ????????????????? ????, ?? ??????????????'?? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?? ????????.

  ????????????, ????????. ??'???? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????. ????????, ??'?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????.... ?????? ???????? ?? ????, ??'?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????, ???????? ???? ????'?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??'???? ???????? ????. ?????? ??????????????!

  “...Very well.”

  The apparition vanished instantly as Lucian lunged at it. After falling to the ground again, he closed his eyes and focused. Gradually, the pain began to lessen until it completely disappeared, signaling that he had succeeded.

  He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling with tired eyes, the pain still fresh in his mind.

  “With that, the pact is sealed.”

  ???????? ?????? ????????.

  After hearing the red-eyed woman's words, Lucian exhaled.

  Once again cursing his father, he decided to reevaluate the deck, only to realize that it was gone. Despite this, he didn't panic as a part of him knew that it was still with him.

  ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????????? ?????????

  As if reading his thoughts, the red-eyed woman replied, finally providing some answers.

  “Now that that's settled, let me tell you about our future arrangements. Your teammates and I will be taking up residence in your fine home as of tonight. Additionally, I will assign you different tasks that will not only help you grow, but should also allow you to learn more about your father.”

  “Why can't you just tell me what you know about him now?”

  “Well, I don't know the whole picture. Your father was a very secretive and cautious man. Also, why would I give up my leverage against you?”

  ???????? ????????????.

  “Wait, did you say teammates? And why are they living here?!”

  The red-eyed woman ignored him, uninterested.

  Seeing this, Lucian could only accept the situation. Then, his gaze wandered to the large window behind his father's desk. More accurately, the large black circle in the night sky where the moon had once been.

  He learned that it had been like this since the Cataclysm five thousand years ago. This caused the nights to become longer, with only eight out of the twenty four hours being daytime.

  There were those who said it was a curse from the gods, while others said it was a sign of the future apocalypse. However, he now speculated that it was connected to the pact he had just made.

  “Ugh...young... master?”

  Upon hearing a weak voice, Lucian turned his head and saw that Hector had regained consciousness. He hastily rushed over to see how he was doing.

  Immediately forgetting that the red-eyed woman was still in the room, whom Hector instantly noticed.

  “Who... Who is that behind you? Ah, you're bleeding. I shall retrieve a first aid kit...”

  ??????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????!

  “No, I'm fine. You're not.”

  “But, it's my—”

  “Enough. Get some rest, that's an order. Just... go to sleep for a bit.”

  At those words, Hector's brown eyes clouded over.

  Lucian was startled, but he caught the old man and set him down gently. Then, studying the butler closely, he confirmed from his steady breathing that the man was indeed sound asleep.

  ????????, ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??????. ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????...

  ????????????!

  The strange dimming of the room caught his attention. It was the red-eyed woman who now loomed above him.

  “What dedication. It's hard to find such loyalty these days.”

  “Er, yeah. He's a hard worker.”

  “I see. I hope you are too. In any case, tomorrow I'll tell you a bit more and introduce you to the others, so I hope you're prepared. Do you recall the pain you felt when forming the pact?”

  ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????

  Lucian held back his sarcasm and simply nodded.

  “Good, remember it. You'll suffer plenty from now on, so you better get used to it.”

  “Oh. Alright then, I'll... try?”

  ???????? ??????????'?? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ??????!

  ???? ???????? ???? ????????.

  ?????? ????'?? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????.

  After letting out a self-deprecating laugh, he made a fist with all his strength. Although it came at a cost, he was alive and now had a goal.

  ??????????, ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ??????????. ???? ?? ???? ????????, ??'???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????????????.

  He was, of course, also curious about the red-eyed woman's motives. He wondered what she had gained from this deal, apart from moving into his house.

  With that thought, Lucian tried to sneak a cautious glance at her.

  Only to realize she had been staring at him, sending a chill down his spine.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Her gaze remained fixed on him as she said in a calm voice, “No, it's just that your power is not one I'm too familiar with, so I'm a little curious as to how much you've improved. But I suppose there's only one way to find out... A little durability test.”

  Before he could speak, he was cut off by a sharp pain in his chest, as though his heart was being torn apart.

  Followed by flashes of pain in his stomach, legs, jaw and collarbone.

  “GAAAAGH!”

  The pain he felt, while weaker than when he first formed the pact, still caused him to let out an agonizing scream.

  “You... Cough! Cough!”

  “Hmm, it seems it's more impressive than I thought. Ah, I never told you my name, did I? Apologies. My name is Lihit, you may call me boss, though I'm more like your manager. Nice to meet you.”

  In his fleeting moments of awareness, Lucian could make out the golden rays of dawn.

  “Rest well, my King.”

  And the voice of the red-eyed, no, the voice of Lihit, his new manager.