Evelyn had distanced herself from the other members of the Fourth Training Ground who were discussing Theo's progress. Even when Julius casually dropped by, she pretended not to notice.

*“Everyone will learn of it naturally once the Ceremony of Emergence is over.”*

She had faith that Theo would achieve outstanding results, so she deliberately kept her distance to avoid worrying over him unnecessarily.

One day, during the third phase of the Ceremony of Emergence, an unexpected visitor came to the Fourth Training Ground—a woman who introduced herself as Theo’s biological mother.

*“I wanted to thank you personally.”*

*“There’s no need to be so grateful. I believe that Theo would have flourished even without my guidance. I merely accelerated the process slightly.”*

Evelyn’s words were genuine. Although she had helped refine Theo’s swordsmanship, she felt he would have eventually made a name for himself without her intervention.

But Cecilia responded with an enigmatic smile.

*“Now I see why my son was able to rise again.”*

*“Pardon me, but what do you mean?”*

*“I think I understand now, why my son was able to shine so brightly. It’s not just because of talent or swordsmanship, but also because of the care you have shown him, Evelyn.”*

Cecilia’s smile was tinged with sadness.

*“You may have heard rumors, but I have not been much of a mother. I am a sinner who failed to give my son the love he deserved.”*

*“…”*

*“Yet, at some point, my relationship with my son began to improve. It felt like magic. And now that I think about it, it was around the time my son met you.”*

Evelyn felt a weight settle on her heart.

Cecilia spoke as if Evelyn had saved Theo.

*“So I wanted to thank you.”*

*“I am just an ordinary, one-armed swordswoman. There’s no need for such gratitude…”*

As Evelyn tried to respond modestly, Cecilia abruptly took her left sleeve in her hand with a slight frown.

*“Please, don’t say that.”*

*“What…?”*

Evelyn blinked in confusion.

*“My son will rise to greater heights and shine brightly. His teacher should not bow so low.”*

*“…!”*

*“And… you, Evelyn, are a person of such grace and strength. Why do you hide yourself?”*

*Thump.*

For the first time, Evelyn felt her heart pound.

“You’re beautiful.”

The words captivated her completely.

*“It won’t do. Do you have time to go somewhere with me?”*

*“Where…?”*

*“Where else? To a place where you can shine as you were meant to. I’ll personally see to it that you understand how radiant you are.”*

* * *

Looking back, Evelyn realized she had spent most of her life hiding herself.

She had been taught that humility was a virtue for a swordswoman.

And after losing her left arm, this mindset had only grown stronger.

So she had chosen to retreat…

*“I hope you realize how radiant and beautiful you truly are…”*

The new left arm she had now was a gift from Cecilia.

*Whirrr—*

Evelyn’s partner, *Rangus*, soared through the blue sky, its wings slicing the air with ease. It seemed happy to be with her again after so long.

The flight washed away some of the bitterness and frustration that had lingered in her heart.

“…That’s how I was able to hold the reins once more.”

Theo sat behind her, gazing at her metal prosthetic with a faint smile.

*“I should have thought of this sooner. That’s my failure as a student.”*

He had only considered how Evelyn could help him, never how he could help her.

At the same time, he was immensely grateful to Cecilia for her support.

“Does it feel natural?” he asked.

Evelyn focused on her prosthetic hand, the metal fingers moving slightly.

“Not entirely, but I’m improving. They say with further adjustments, it will reach 80% functionality.”

Her voice held a faint trace of hope.

“I’m glad. That’s a relief.”

“It’s all thanks to Lady Cecilia and Master Kirson. His skill is truly as remarkable as they say.”

Though Kirson had grumbled about losing money, the craftsmanship of Bask’s Workshop had indeed lived up to its reputation.

“…But enough about me. Have you decided which wyvern you’ll choose for your test?”

Embarrassed by the attention, Evelyn quickly changed the subject.

Holcus and Erica had each gone off with their own mentors, Selperd and Arin, for their aptitude tests.

“Not yet.”

Theo looked down at the rugged landscape below, dotted with sharp peaks and the nests of numerous wyverns.

*‘That’s the Nest of White Dragons.’*

In Ragnar, wyverns trained by the White Armored Dragoons were called *White Dragons*, though they were also known as *flying dragons*.

All the wyverns in the area technically belonged to Ragnar, but not all of them were trained.

Most were still wild.

“What kind would you recommend?” he asked.

“They each have distinct traits based on their species, so your personal preference matters most. Do you see those wyverns with red bands around their necks?”

“Yes. I also see blue and black ones.”

“Right. Wyverns are divided into four major species.”

Evelyn proceeded to explain the four wyvern species:

- *Beast Wyvern* (*Optirex*): The largest among wyvern species, known as the tyrant of the skies. It could grow up to 15 meters in length and boasted powerful claws and jaws capable of crushing its prey. Its brown scales were tough enough to deflect most blades.

- *Poison Wyvern* (*Abyalae*): Small but agile, with a long, snake-like body and tail. Known for its volatile nature, it had a venomous sting on its tail potent enough to kill a bull and could even emit a purple mist when threatened.

- *Blade Wyvern* (*Sigia*): The most docile of the wyverns, it preferred plants over meat and burrowed underground. Its wings served as makeshift arms, and the wing membranes could harden into blades, allowing it to ambush prey from below.

- *Swift Wyvern* (*Velociraptor*): The smallest of the species, rarely exceeding 3 meters, it moved in packs and had a keen intellect. Known for its exceptional speed and ability to breathe fire, it was a natural hunter.

“We use the bands to distinguish them by species—red for Beast Wyverns, black for Poison Wyverns, blue for Blade Wyverns, and yellow for Swift Wyverns.”

Theo nodded, aware that the White Armored Dragoons organized their squads based on wyvern types.

“So your preference matters most. Often, your choice aligns with compatibility, increasing your chances of finding a match.”

“My preference, huh…”

Theo scanned the wyverns below, narrowing his eyes.

*‘Still can’t see it…’*

He had been keeping an eye out for a specific wyvern since arriving at the Nest.

*‘Shadow Serpent Wyvern. If I remember right, it should be around here… its appearance is distinctive, so it should stand out.’*

About six years after the Great War began, a disaster would hit Winterer.

A mutated wyvern would attack the White Dragon Nest, killing dozens of wyverns that the White Armored Dragoons had raised.

Despite the efforts of numerous Ragnar warriors, the creature escaped. Its ability to blend into shadows made it difficult to track and deadly intelligent.

The day it attacked, it burned eight villages and killed dozens of warriors.

Ragnar classified it as a Level 2 disaster and issued an extermination order.

This creature became known as *Umbra*, the Shadow Serpent Wyvern.

*‘And it took the White Armored Dragoon Captain and the Plum Blossom Lord to finally bring it down.’*

It had required two of the Nine Dragons to subdue.

Afterward, the intelligence division traced the wyvern’s origins and discovered something surprising.

The first discovery was that Umbra had once been part of the White Dragon Nest.

*‘Grayish scales and skin, and larger than most Beast Wyverns… but I can’t see it. Where could it be?’*

Theo wasn’t just looking for a strong partner—he was curious to see Umbra in person.

The second discovery was that Umbra had been an outcast among the other wyverns.

*‘Could my memory be off? No, that’s impossible.’*

As someone who had personally written the report, Theo knew Umbra’s habits better than anyone.

*‘It was cast out because of its unusual appearance… just like me in my past life.’*

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

“Evelyn, could we check the outskirts?”

“We can, but the further out we go, the closer we get to the Abyss, so we can’t venture too far.”

“Please, I’d appreciate it.”

Evelyn tilted her head, puzzled by his indecision, but nodded.

Usually, choosing a partner was an instinctive decision.

Rangus ascended higher and glided toward the edge of the White Dragon Nest.

As they passed several peaks, Theo’s eyes lit up.

*‘There it is.’*

In the distance, a group of wyverns had surrounded a large, grayish wyvern, hissing and snarling at it.

*‘Kaaah!’*

“Oh no… not again,” Evelyn muttered, her face creasing with concern.

It seemed

 she recognized the creature.

“Do you know that gray wyvern?” Theo asked casually.

“Yes. Even before I left the White Armored Dragoons, it was an outcast. The unit tried isolating it and even switching its groups, but…”

“It’s been like that for years, then.”

Evelyn sighed deeply.

“It’s a sad creature. It lost its mother at a young age and was ostracized for its unusual appearance. It’s come close to death more times than I can count. If not for its size and strength… ha!”

Theo understood without needing further explanation.

But there was something he hadn’t known.

“It lost its mother?”

“Yes. Due to a difficult birth. It shouldn’t have survived at all.”

“What do you mean?”

“It didn’t have a wyvern for a father. Its father was a Bifur.”

Theo’s eyes widened.

“Bifur? A Level 1 monster from the depths of the Abyss? But how could it breed with a wyvern… aren’t they different species?”

Level 1 monsters were classified as natural disasters, powerful enough to destroy whole areas.

The Bifur, known for lurking in the shadows of the Abyss, was one of the most feared.

“I don’t know the full story, but its birth caused a major stir within the Dragoons.”

Theo stared at Umbra.

Although larger than most wyverns, it bore numerous scars from its frequent battles with the pack.

*‘Just like me.’*

Its isolated existence reminded him of his own, from a previous life spent circling the outskirts, never fitting in.

*‘That’s why I felt drawn to it, even back then…’*

Theo clenched his jaw, his telekinesis gently activating.

*‘Then I’ll help you live a different life.’*

*Swoosh—*

Four *Deathbeats* floated around him, hovering in mid-air.

*‘Just like I’m doing now.’*

“What’s its name?” he asked.

Evelyn, who had been ready to intervene, looked back at him, startled by his expression.

“It’s called ‘Umbra.’”

The ancient word for *shadow*.

“Shadow… a good name.”

“Young Master, you’re not thinking of…”

“Yes, I am. Umbra will be my partner. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Evelyn didn’t even have a chance to question him further.

Theo had already leaned over and was free-falling toward the ground.

And then—

*Boom!*

Theo leaped forward through the air, using the *Deathbeats* as stepping stones.