Reborn Financier-Chapter 42: Winter’s Warmth

A year passed by in the blink of an eye, and that lost boy who had vanished into thin air was now thirteen years old and about becoming an adult taking.

Despite the swirling rumors of his strength, his calm, blindfolded form was again a familiar sight in the city of Aschel. Nonetheless, the city itself... it was no longer the same.

The land once ridiculed as "the land of waste" was now slowly being transformed into the land of miracles.

Under Duke Arin’s firm grip and Commander Steven’s strong determination, Aschel was booming. Its lands were greener than ever before, its markets busier and noisy, and its inhabitants where surprise over the massive change. Its formerly empty streets were now bustling with life and laughter and resolve. Merchants traveled far and wide to come and trade under the gates of the city, and the bountiful resources which had long gone unmined were being uncovered with accuracy. Even the Everwood palace was paying attention to it now.

Steven, the previously battered captive who was once at the edge of death was now a confident 7th grade martial expert. His eyes had a quiet ferocity to them, and his name was also known outside of borders: Steven was unwavering loyal to the Valtorin family—and everyone in Aschel was well aware of it: if you wanted to harm this city you’d have to pass through Steven first.

As for Kaidën... for the first time in years, he had lived a life of peace.

A full, uninterrupted year of quiet days. It was like an overdue rest after a three-year-long war—a year where he woke up without blood on his hands, without a battlefield for a bed. He trained, he read, he explored his own home again. He played with his baby sister, who was now learning to crawl, and even snuck treats from the kitchen with Elena like a mischievous child again.

And in spite of that peace, that blindfold that Kuro had gifted him—divine silk and bound with ancient magic...When Duke Arin had attempted to remove it gently once, in case it was hindering his son’s growth, Kaidën had simply smiled.

"I like it," he stated. "I’ve become accustomed to seeing without it."

And so the blindfold stayed on

****

Winter had come once again.

The air was cold carrying flakes of snow and sharp breezes down from the north. Due to its nearness to the polar region and dense surrounding mana, Aschel had colder winters than other places did. Ice held roofs in a coating of icing sugar, and misty white plumes issued from chimneys everywhere in the city.

Inside the great Valtorin dining hall, candles fought against the cold with warm light. In the middle of the room was a long oak-carved rectangular dinner table with golden-leafed etchworks. Around it sat the heart of the family that composed the Valtorins.

Kaiden sat at the far end of the table, relaxed in his chair, fork lazily poking at a juicy slice of roasted steak. His blindfold remained over his eyes, though no one mentioned it now. It was just Kaiden now.

Duchess Sofia sat beside him, feeding mushy pumpkin to the little ball of fluff in her lap—Kaidën’s baby sister, who cooed with every bite. Duke Arin was sitting at the far end of the table, cutting his food with his characteristic calm and razor-sharpness. Elena hung back in the distance, fussing sometimes, doting on Kaidën like a mother hen.

The room was filled with the savory smell of roasted cow meat, spiced vegetables, and hot spiced cider.

"Ahh. I miss Christmas," Kaidën muttered to himself, the words spilling from his lips involuntarily.

"Cris-mask?" Elena furrowed her brow in puzzlement as she looked at him. "What is Cris-mask, young master? Combat of some unknown sort or some concealed spell?"

Kaidën chuckled and waved it away with a quick motion. "Don’t overthink it. It’s just. a saying from a long way away."

"Ohhh, it is a spell," replied Elena gravely, making notes in her pretend notebook.

The entire table burst out laughing.

Hardly had the celebration died down than Duke Arin interrupted the peace.

"Kaiden," he said evenly, "You’ll be fourteen in a year from now. That’s just two years from being a full-grown adult in the kingdom’s eyes. It’s time that we talked about school."

Kaiden inhaled, pausing is meal mid-bite. "School?"

"Yes," Arin continued. "The Emberforge Academy in the Iron fist empire. The most famous academy in the Western Continent—at least in the top fifteen in the entire world. They teach magic, martial arts, alchemy, and even scholarly pursuits. The entrance exams begin next year. February."

Kaidën sighed, chewing on a piece of meat. "So... both practicals and written?"

Arin nodded. "of course."

Kaiden slumped back and let out a dramatic moan. "I just arrived home. Can’t I at least get a few more years before I’m haunted with homework again?"

The Duke hadn’t even had a chance to reply before Sofia playfully hit his arm. "Come on, Arin! He’s just come home from being away for three years and your go-to response is to ship him out yet again?"

"Exactly!" Kaidën grinned, turning to her. "Finally, someone who understands!"

The whole table broke into laughter again—even the baby squealed as if in agreement.

****

As the evening passed, the family continued to talk and laugh and dine in the warm golden light of winter candles. It wasn’t dinner—it was a memory being created. An impermanent state of tranquility in which nothing on the outside mattered.

The years of war were far from Kaidën. For a little while, he could close his eyes to the demons, the fighting, the hurt... and be a boy once more.

But deep inside, he knew.

This peace was not long to remain.

Not on the earth Not in HIS account

****

Three months passed quickly and it was now time for kaidën to head towards the iron fist empire.

The cold air of dawn blanketed Aschel with a thin mist. Snowflakes drifted silently from the sky, kissed by the mana that saturated the region. The castle courtyard, usually bustling, stood still—just like the family that gathered there to bid their son farewell.

Kaidën stood dressed in a fitted, charcoal travel robe. The blindfold still wrapped around his eyes. His presence calm, almost unnaturally so.

Elena sniffled beside his satchel, checking it for the third time. "I packed extra winter coats, mana-imbued gloves, and... and your favorite dried apple chips." Her voice cracked. "Don’t skip meals."

"I won’t," Kaidën said softly.

Steven stood off to the side with his arms crossed, acting like he wasn’t emotional, though the twitch in his jaw betrayed him. "You better make a name for yourself out there, young master."

Kaidën smiled. "You just don’t want me to beat your ranking when I get back."

"Hmph."

Sofia stepped forward quietly. Her elegant winter coat couldn’t hide the nervous tremble in her fingers. She reached up, touching his cheek. "My boy... don’t lose yourself in that place. Promise me."

Kaidën’s voice softened. "I’ll return stronger. But I’ll return as me."

She hugged him tightly. No words, just the weight of years behind her embrace. Then she stepped back, letting Arin approach.

The duke said nothing at first. Instead, he handed Kaidën a scroll sealed with golden wax bearing the Valtorin crest.

"Only open this... if your heart forgets the way."

Kaidën nodded, tucking it inside his robe.

Then—his baby sister let out a coo from Elena’s arms. She stretched her tiny hands, grabbing onto Kaidën’s finger.

He stood frozen for a second, then gently kissed her head. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

And with that, he turned.

Zarel and Steven escorted him to the city’s edge, to a teleportation ring carved into the earth and glowing with pale runes.

Zarel grinned. "Young Master, you sure you want to go alone?"

"I have to. This is a path I must walk myself."

And with one last breath, Kaidën stepped into the circle.

The light swallowed him.

****

The light faded—and the world revealed itself.

Kaidën opened his senses to a new realm. The Emberforge Academy stood upon layered plateaus floating in the sky. Giant towers pierced through clouds, surrounded by transparent bridges, waterfalls of glowing mana cascading down in streams of blue and gold. Statues of war gods, dragon slayers, and ancient mages loomed around the central city, each one emanating pressure as if their souls still lingered.

Students from across the continents gathered in the courtyard. Elves, beastkin, humans, and even dwarf

The obsidian gate ahead stretched hundreds of feet high. Its archway glowed with ancient runes. Carved at the top, in bold silver:

"Only Those Who Conquer Themselves Shall Conquer the World."

Kaidën took one step forward—and the world watched.

CLACK!

Suddenly kaidën happens to bump into someone, due to him being lost in the city.

A new world for kaidën was about to begin.

And a new encounter might just change his life for ever

To Be Continued...