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Volume II: The Funeral, The Bear, & The Heir's Duel

SPOILER WARNING — VOLUME II

This page contains a full chapter-by-chapter plot breakdown and major spoilers for Volume II: The Heir of Viremont (as well as events from Volume I). Read at your own discretion!

Timeline: 506 A.G.E (Five Years After Volume I — Late Autumn to Early Winter)
Character Ages: Aelira Viremont (11), Lysric Viremont (16), Cassian Viremont (18), Lucien Viremont (40s)
Primary Settings: Viremont Manor & Seashore (Isenvale), The Northern Forest, Kalrid (Bodr's Tavern), The Royal Palace of Aerium
Core Theme: Familial rot beneath grief; psychological manipulation, awakening true combat instinct, and the duel for the Hero's succession.

Prologue: The Funeral Boat of Elda Viremont​

Five years after Zaek Evarard took up residence at Viremont Manor to train Aelira Viremont, Volume II opens on a chill late-autumn day along the rocky seashore of the Viremont estate:

  • The Sea Cremation: Lady Elda Viremont—wife of Celdric Viremont and mother of Cassian and Lysric—has succumbed to illness. Dressed in pure white, her body rests atop a wooden funeral boat. Following a strained eulogy by Patriarch Sylas Viremont and a broken public apology from a red-eyed Celdric, a black-robed priest invokes the goddess Elyndra, and Celdric looses a flaming arrow that sets the drifting vessel ablaze.
  • Condolences & Envoys: At Zaek's gentle prompting, eleven-year-old Aelira offers her condolences to a grieving, defensive sixteen-year-old Lysric. Meanwhile, Zaek briefly exchanges words with a sharp-presenced woman in a deep purple cloak, and an imperial courier delivers a letter of condolence from First Prince Louis von Aerium.
  • Return from the Ursus Wall: Watching from a distance are two late arrivals from the Ursus Wall: eighteen-year-old Cassian Viremont—who was exiled to the northern wall as a child because he could not even lift a wooden sword, and who watches his own mother's pyre with an unnerving, sociopathic calm—and his uncle Lucien Viremont, an anxious, nail-biting Hero in his forties.
  • Sylas's Ultimatum: Behind closed doors, Sylas rages over Imperial tax demands while resources at the Ursus Wall dwindle against the Giant threat. When Lucien admits he still cannot wield the white Imperial katana Nixviel—and Cassian confirms that even outside specialists failed to alter the sentient blade—Sylas realizes the house's survival rests solely on producing a new Hero: "Then it’s down to Aelira… or Lysric."

Chapter 1: The Broken Family & The Heartbeat of Nixviel​

Part 1: The Weight of Battle Aura​

Waking early at Viremont Manor, Zaek finds eleven-year-old Aelira swinging a wooden sword in the garden to cope with the household's grief. When Aelira begs him to teach her how to fight for real, Zaek refuses—pointing out that while she knows sword fundamentals, she wastes far too much mana when casting or attempting body reinforcement.

  • A Fraction of a Hero's Pressure: When Aelira accuses him of making excuses, Zaek picks up a tree branch and releases a tiny fraction of his battlefield aura. The sheer pressure crushes Aelira's lungs and freezes her in place before he even takes a step. Dispelling the aura, Zaek comforts her and announces he must leave the manor temporarily on urgent business in the north.

Part 2: The Disastrous Breakfast & The Sword's Call​

A morning family breakfast spirals into chaos: Vivianne Viremont scolds Wilkram for flirting at the funeral, Sylas orders servants to physically drag a kicking and screaming Lysric out of bed to the table, and once Sylas departs, Celdric and Vivianne trade vicious accusations over executed maids and Lucien's incompetence as a "Hero."

  • "ENOUGH!": Unable to bear the venom a day after Aunt Elda's funeral, eleven-year-old Aelira slams her small fists on the table and screams "ENOUGH!" before fleeing to the garden in tears and asking her nanny Aisha to leave her alone.
  • The Pulse in the Garden: Sitting alone, Aelira feels a deep, rhythmic heartbeat ("Badum") pulling at her core. Following the resonance behind the hedges, she discovers Lucien sitting on a fountain with the white katana Nixviel across his knees while Cassian whispers to him: "You know what needs to be done. Before she ruins everything."
  • Cassian's Conspiracy: When Aelira steps out and innocently admits she followed a strange "wave" calling to her, Cassian realizes Nixviel has chosen Aelira. Hiding his alarm behind a warm smile, he makes her promise to keep it "our little secret," then immediately goes to Celdric to propose eliminating Aelira before she claims the Hero title.

Chapter 2: Old Wolves in Kalrid & The Slap​

Zaek & Vahram at Bodr's Tavern​

Zaek arrives alone at a freezing, nearly empty tavern run by Bodr in the northern town of Kalrid, where a Giant has descended from the mountains and killed two locals. Bodr bitterly recounts how during the last giant attack years ago, House Viremont promised to send their Hero Lucien—who never showed up, leaving villagers to be eaten.

  • A Boisterous Reunion: Vahram Kaelgrin, the muscular Hero of House Kaelgrin, bursts into the tavern. The two old friends brawl, laugh, drink expensive northern liquor, wreck the tavern furniture, and discuss Zaek's former disciple (Rael) and his pride in Aelira.

The Library Secret & Lucien's Panic​

Back at Viremont Manor, Aelira visits the library (where her nanny Aisha admits she is illiterate) and reads Secrets of the Swords (Page 38), confirming the white blade is the Dwarven-forged Imperial Sword Nixviel.

  • Aisha's True Colors: When Aelira slips away toward Lucien's quarters, Aisha's gentle expression vanishes into a cold, lifeless stare as she mutters that she must report Aelira's movements to Lady Vivianne immediately.
  • The Slap: Drawn by Nixviel's relentless heartbeat ("Badum") under Lucien's bed, Aelira pulls the katana out and unsheathes it just as Lucien enters. In a terror-stricken panic that Sylas will discard him, Lucien snatches Nixviel away and slaps Aelira hard across the face. As Aelira flees in tears (lying to Aisha that she fell), Lucien curls up on the floor biting his nails until they bleed, later choking Cassian during a nervous breakdown.

Slaying the Warrior Giant of Kalrid​

The next morning in Kalrid, screams echo outside Bodr's tavern as an over 6-meter-tall Warrior Giant—lanky, bloated, bearded, and wearing a rag skirt—chases a couple down the snowy street:

  • Two Heroes Unleased: Vahram shields the couple with | Rising Blaze |, while Zaek strikes from mid-air with | Naim Style: Flowing Wind |. The giant shrugs off the shallow cut and shatters the stone street with a counter-punch.
  • Howling Fire & Concrete Slash: Vahram staggers the beast with | Rising Phoenix | and | Kaelgrin Style: Howling Fire |, before Zaek appears behind the charging monster with overwhelming pressure and cleaves deep through its spine using | Naim Style: Concrete Slash |.
  • The Giant's Dying Prophecy: Bleeding out in the snow, the giant laughs and speaks in the human tongue: "Humans… Don’t think so highly of yourselves… We giants… we’ll rise again. Soon… you’ll remember your place... in our stomachs." Zaek coldly drives his blade into its skull.

Chapter 3: Ellyssia's Garden & The Hunt for Isengrim​

Part 1–3: Reconciliation & Cassian's Trap​

  • Ellyssia's Garden: Lucien apologizes to Aelira for slapping her and reveals that her favorite garden once belonged to his late sister Ellyssia Viremont, noting Aelira shares her gentle heart. Soon after, Zaek returns from Kalrid, shooting Lucien a frigid glare at the gates before confronting a bespectacled Sylas in his office—forcing Sylas to admit he secretly sent an army to Kalrid years ago to cover up Lucien's cowardice.
  • Planting Hatred in Lysric: Zaek and Aelira witness Lysric sparring with terrifying, murderous hatred against his instructor Telgit while his caretaker Josef watches in alarm. A flashback reveals that Cassian exploited Lysric's habit of waking up thirsty at night to stage an overheard conversation with Celdric—convincing Lysric that Nixviel had chosen Aelira, that Vivianne would seize the clan, and that Celdric would not survive unless Lysric defeated Aelira.
  • Setting the Bait: Even after Celdric begs Lysric to stop pushing himself, Cassian manipulates his younger brother further, deliberately "warning" him not to hunt the monstrous bear near the village.

Part 4: The Forest of Isengrim​

While Cassian intercepts Zaek to keep him busy consoling Lucien, Lysric convinces Aelira to sneak out into the northern forest to gain "real combat experience" against Isengrim—a gigantic, magical white-furred, black-legged bear—using Josef's fake heart attack to distract the guards and expensive Ursus Salmon as bait.

  • Betrayal in the Snow: When the towering Isengrim ambushes them and relentlessly targets Aelira, Lysric recalls the northern belief that Isengrim attacks the weaker prey first. Seizing the chance to let the monster eliminate his rival, Lysric abandons Aelira in the snow.
  • Awakening Body Enchantment: Smashed against a tree with bleeding ribs and a lost sword, Aelira teeters on the brink of death as Lysric's conscience finally breaks and he runs back to save her. Remembering Zaek's words ("You’re putting too much power into it—your body can’t handle that. Be gentler… let it flow"), Aelira awakens true mana body enchantment. Moving at blinding speed, she retrieves her blade, slashes Isengrim's hind leg, blasts its chest with |Fire Ball|, and executes the beast by driving |Ice Lance| through its wounded leg—kneeling afterward to apologize to the dying creature.
  • The Duel Challenge: When Lysric arrives to find Isengrim dead, Aelira confronts him for leaving her to die. Refusing to let their toxic rivalry drag the family down further, she demands they settle everything at the manor gates before Sylas and the entire household: an official duel in one week, where the loser permanently forfeits all claim to become the Hero of Viremont.

Chapter 4: The Three Caster Types & Dark Preparations​

During the one-week countdown to the succession duel:

  • The Truth of Isengrim: Cassian privately informs Lucien of the truth Lysric misunderstood: Isengrim only attacks the weak as a distraction—it focuses on whoever it perceives as the greater threat, proving eleven-year-old Aelira was already deadlier than sixteen-year-old Lysric.
  • The Three Caster Types: Zaek teaches Aelira the continental classification of magic casters:
    1. Stable Type (Zaek): Maintains a steady casting speed regardless of battle duration.
    2. Burst Type (Aelira): Casts with explosive speed at the start, but slows down the longer the fight drags on.
    3. Reverse-Burst Type (Lysric): Starts slow, but casting speed accelerates the longer magic is channeled.
  • Telgit's Impaling: Discovering Josef was fired for helping him sneak out, Lysric is ruthlessly mocked by his instructor Telgit (who was secretly bribed by Cassian). Driven into a berserk rage, Lysric impales Telgit through the stomach and shoulder with Reverse-Burst | Ice Pillars | before Cassian steps in to stop the killing blow.
  • "Don't Think While Casting": Realizing Aelira's analytical mind is interfering with her instincts, Zaek gives her the key to mastering her body enchantment and aggressive swordplay: "Don't think while casting." That night under the moonlight, Zaek confronts Sylas in the garden, where Sylas coldly declares: "Only the survivor can lead the rest."

Chapter 5: The Succession Duel — Aelira (11) vs. Lysric (16)​

Before the assembled knights, drummers, and family at the renovated estate arena:

  • Cassian's Psychological Sabotage: Moments before the match, Cassian corners Aelira and begs her to lose on purpose, claiming her victory will unleash Vivianne's bloody ambition and tear the family apart.
  • Zaek's Roar: Paralyzed by doubt and hallucinations of Cassian's words, Aelira fights passively and is knocked to her knees by Lysric's ferocious assault—until Zaek's thunderous roar echoes across the arena: "DON’T THINK ABOUT WHAT OTHERS TELL YOU! DO WHAT YOU WANT!" Glancing at the stands, Aelira sees genuine worry on Vivianne's face, reigniting her will.
  • The Turnaround: Slicing Lysric's cheek, Aelira declares she refuses to lose even if it tears the family apart. She scorches Lysric's sleeve with |Fireball|, and when Lysric stomps on her pinned blade with a smirk, Aelira punches him square in the face, sending him tumbling across the dirt.
  • Foresight Against Reverse-Burst: Pushed to the edge, Lysric unleashes |Ice Pillars!|. Remembering Zaek's lesson that Reverse-Burst spells accelerate on consecutive casts, Aelira predicts the faster second volley, dodges at the last split-second, and places her steel at Lysric's throat: "You lost."

Chapter 6: The New Heir & The Scent of Rot​

  • Proclamation of the Heir: Patriarch Sylas officially proclaims eleven-year-old Aelira the Heir to the Hero of Viremont and praises Vivianne. In his bedroom, a weeping Lysric is hugged by Celdric, who apologizes and swears Vivianne will never harm him.
  • Asoth & Abigail: Rescued from the cheering crowd by Aisha, Aelira is pulled into a boisterous knights' celebration by Asoth, the bearded Vice-Captain of the Viremont Knight Order, who tells her about his energetic daughter Abigail—a girl Aelira's age who loves pranks and dreams of becoming a knight.
  • Zaek's Warning: Zaek kicks open Sylas's office door, furious at how the children were manipulated into nearly dying. When Sylas tells him to stay out of Viremont affairs, Zaek replies: "Well, my nose smells something rotten here. And I intend to follow it."

Epilogue & Short Stories​

  • Epilogue:
    1. Vahram & The Purple-Haired Woman: Dining at a tavern, Vahram discusses eleven-year-old Aelira's triumph over Isengrim and Lysric with the dark-purple-haired woman from Elda's funeral, noting Zaek believes Aelira could surpass King Laius, while the woman silently thinks: "So Elda’s kid lost, huh?"
    2. The Crown's Eyes: In Aerium, King Charles receives word of Aelira's victory, orders surveillance on Sylas and Aelira, and dispatches a message to Julian Evarard.
    3. Shadow Conspirators: A man with long black hair in a black robe meets a green-haired figure in a white cloak (Cassian), refusing to intervene against Aelira until there is greater merit.
  • Short Story 1 — Behind The Smile (Cassian POV): First-person account of Cassian's sociopathic detachment at his mother's funeral, his fear of Zaek's sharp instincts, and how he orchestrated Lysric's eavesdropping and Telgit's provocation after Celdric and Lucien refused to murder Aelira directly.
  • Short Story 2 — Prince’s Burden (Prince Louis POV): First-person account of Prince Louis being woken by his butler Heinz, enduring a toxic royal breakfast with King Charles, his despised stepmother Queen Daria, and his polite half-sister Princess Linnea, where Daria announces Louis's political engagement to Rin Maoyari. Later, while sparring with his swordmaster Albert von Heinrich, Louis learns of Aelira's duel victory and reflects on his 0–9 losing record against her.