Chapter 143: The Treasury

Evelyne’s expression froze for a brief moment. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Andras.

"Where did you hear that?"

"Headmistress Calista mentioned it."

Evelyne remained silent for several seconds before letting out a quiet sigh.

"I was her student when I attended Ambrose Academy."

Andras waited, but she did not continue.

"That’s all?"

"That’s all you need to know."

Her voice was not cold. There was simply no desire to continue the subject.

"It was a long time ago, Andras. That period of my life wasn’t particularly pleasant, and I have no reason to keep revisiting it."

Andras studied her for a moment before giving a small nod.

"I understand."

Evelyne’s expression softened slightly.

"I didn’t keep it from you intentionally. You never asked, and I never thought it mattered."

"Fair enough."

Andras leaned back in his chair. There was no reason to press her further. If Evelyne considered that period of her life unpleasant enough to avoid discussing it, he had no particular interest in forcing the subject open.

After a brief silence, he remembered the other matter he wanted to address.

"Mother."

"Yes?"

"Give me the key to the treasury."

Evelyne raised an eyebrow.

"The treasury?"

"Yes."

She reached into her storage ring. A faint shimmer appeared beside her hand, and a small bundle of dark metallic keys materialized in her palm. Each one carried a different pattern carved into its surface. Evelyne placed them on the table.

"Why do you need access to the treasury?"

"For Lyra."

Her gaze shifted briefly toward the door.

"Lyra?"

"She has been training with Battle Energy. Her current weapon won’t be sufficient for much longer. She needs something better suited to her fighting style."

Evelyne considered that for a moment.

"Have you already decided what weapon she should use?"

"She said a spear would suit her better, so I’ll let her choose one herself."

"That sounds reasonable."

Andras picked up the keys and slipped them into his storage ring.

"I’ll take a look tomorrow."

"Alright. Just don’t take anything you don’t need."

"I won’t."

Evelyne smiled faintly.

"Good night, Andras."

"Good night, Mother."

Andras left the study, closing the door quietly behind him.

---

By the time he returned to his room, the estate had settled into its usual nighttime silence. The mana lamps along the corridor cast a warm glow across the polished stone floor, while the faint scent of the oils used throughout the estate lingered in the air.

Lyra was already waiting inside.

She had prepared hot water for his bath, and his fresh clothes had been placed neatly beside the bed.

"Young Master."

Andras nodded.

"You’re prepared as always."

Lyra gave a small bow.

"Your bath is ready."

Andras entered the bathing room and lowered himself into the warm water. The heat eased the remaining stiffness in his muscles, though the healing potion had already dealt with most of the damage from the residual will.

After bathing, he changed into fresh clothes and returned to his room. Lyra soon followed with his meal, placing the tray on the table before stepping aside.

"Here."

"Thank you."

Andras sat down and ate in silence. Once he finished, he reached into his storage ring and placed the treasury keys on the table.

Lyra’s eyes immediately fell on them.

"Tomorrow, I’ll give you your weapon, as I promised."

She looked at the keys, then back at him, saying nothing. Instead, Lyra walked around the table and stopped beside him. Before Andras could speak, she leaned down and kissed him.

When she pulled away, a faint smile touched her lips.

"Yes, Young Master."

Andras watched her for a moment before giving a slight nod.

"Get some rest."

"Yes."

The rest of the night passed in private.

---

Morning arrived beneath a clear sky.

After washing and dressing, Andras found Lyra already prepared. Her long sapphire hair was tied back neatly, and she had changed into practical clothing more suited to movement than her usual maid attire.

Andras glanced at her.

"Ready?"

"Yes, Young Master."

They left his room together and made their way toward the lower levels of the Darkmoor estate.

The treasury was located deep beneath the main residence, beyond a series of passages that became increasingly reinforced as they descended. The walls were built from dark stone layered with mana-conductive material, while protective formations had been carved into the floor at regular intervals.

Eventually, they reached a massive metal door.

There was no handle or visible mechanism apart from a circular lock surrounded by several intricate runes.

Andras retrieved the keys Evelyne had given him and examined them briefly before selecting one. He inserted it into the lock and turned it.

A deep vibration passed through the door. One rune after another illuminated across its surface before the enormous door slowly began to open, releasing a wave of cold air from within.

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly.

Beyond the entrance stretched an enormous underground chamber.

The Darkmoor treasury was far larger than she had imagined.

Towering stone pillars supported the ceiling, while mana lamps embedded throughout the chamber bathed the room in pale light. Weapon racks occupied one side of the treasury, arranged into separate sections for swords, axes, spears, halberds, bows, and other weapons.

The opposite side contained artifact cases protected by transparent magical barriers. Inside were rings, necklaces, bracelets, staffs, pieces of armor, and countless other objects whose purposes Lyra could not immediately identify.

Further inside stood rows of reinforced chests and containers filled with mana crystals ranging from pale blue to deep violet. Other compartments held rare metals, monster cores, unusual stones, and materials that seemed to carry traces of mana despite appearing completely inactive.

Several enormous sealed doors stood at the far end of the chamber, each covered in a different magical formation.

Lyra looked around in silence.

"This is..."

"The Darkmoor treasury," Andras said.

There was no pride in his voice. To him, it was simply another resource belonging to his family.

The treasury represented generations of accumulated wealth and power—weapons inherited from previous members of House Darkmoor, artifacts acquired through battles and political exchanges, rare materials collected from dangerous regions, and countless other treasures that had gradually found their way into the family’s possession.

Andras had no interest in most of them.

He had come for one thing.

A weapon for Lyra.

They passed several rows of swords before entering the axe section, followed by the racks of halberds and bows. Eventually, they reached the spears.

Dozens of weapons stood there, each secured within specially reinforced supports. Some had wooden shafts reinforced with metal, while others had been forged entirely from rare materials. Several spearheads carried faint magical inscriptions, and a few were covered by protective seals designed to prevent accidental activation.

Andras stopped and looked toward Lyra.

"You said a spear would suit you better."

Lyra nodded.

"Yes."

"Then try these."

She stepped toward the nearest rack and lifted the first spear. Its weight immediately became apparent, forcing her to adjust her grip before making a controlled thrust.

The balance wasn’t right.

She returned it and reached for another.

This one was lighter, with a dark metal shaft and a narrow spearhead. Lyra tested it with several movements, rotating the weapon through her hands before performing a sweeping strike.

She shook her head.

"No."

Andras nodded.

"Next."

The process continued for several minutes.

Some spears were too heavy. Others lacked the balance she needed. One had excellent mana conductivity but felt awkward in her hands. Another moved smoothly but lacked the weight necessary for the fighting style she was developing.

Andras watched without interfering.

A weapon’s rank alone did not determine whether it was useful. Weight, balance, length, reach, mana conductivity, and the wielder’s own physical abilities all mattered. A powerful weapon could become a burden if its characteristics did not match the person using it.

Lyra eventually moved toward another rack.

Her hand stopped over a spear that looked almost plain compared to the others.

It was slightly longer than the surrounding weapons, with a smooth dark-gray shaft and a narrow silver spearhead. There were no gemstones or elaborate decorations, and even the inscriptions were minimal.

Lyra wrapped her fingers around the shaft and lifted it from the rack.

She paused.

Andras noticed the change immediately.

"How does it feel?"

Lyra tightened her grip.

"Different."

She shifted her stance.

The spear moved naturally with her body. A controlled thrust flowed into a rotation, followed by a sweeping strike that carried far more speed than her earlier movements. Her Battle Energy moved through her muscles and gathered in her arms, and the spear responded with a faint vibration.

Lyra stopped and looked down at it.

Then she tried again, this time moving faster.

The weapon followed every movement without resisting her.

Andras’s gaze settled on the spearhead.

This one might actually suit her.

"Try a few more movements."

Lyra nodded and tightened her grip around the shaft.

Then she stepped forward and began again.