Chapter 60: A Promise for the Future

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: A Promise for the Future

Seven days passed in a blur of blood, sweat, and focused preparation.

Once his enchanted shadow-drake scout armor was returned from the boutique smithy, gleaming like new with reinforced seams, supple conditioning oils, and freshly tuned kinetic dampening wards, Eric had returned straight to the jagged passes of the Parva Mountains.

He hunted with cold, calculated discipline. Avoiding reckless risks and bypassing high-level territorial beasts, he honed his evasion while systematically harvesting crystalline cores and Soldier-grade beast parts from solitary predators.

By the end of the grueling week, Eric had stockpiled enough Soldier-rank mana stones to feed Coal’s steady cultivation for at least three full months. More importantly, he hit his financial target with room to spare, easily accumulating another million credits to add to his prior reserves.

*Five million credits,* Eric thought, glancing down at his encrypted digital wallet as he strode along the cobblestone avenue toward the residential quarter.

From everything he had researched regarding the elite institutions across Auremont, domestic currency became practically obsolete past the campus gates. High-tier academies operated on closed internal merit economies, academic contribution credits earned through research, combat honors, and tournament placings. Those merit tokens were the only currency accepted for classified Soldier-grade cultivation arts, private gravity chambers, and rare elemental evolution catalysts.

Stashing a mountain of common credits would serve him very little once he entered the institution’s walls.

*Transferring the entire sum to Emily is the smartest play,* Eric calculated. *It completely secures Sunshine Home’s property taxes, food supply, and heating for years, covers the kids’ upcoming schooling fees, and gives Emily enough capital to purchase high-grade marrow-cleansing potions. If she can breach the Mortal threshold and establish a Soldier-rank foundation, Riverdale’s underworld will never dare lay a finger on our family again.*

Suddenly, the silver smartband cinched against his left wrist vibrated with a sharp, resonant chime.

Eric’s heart skipped a beat.

A glowing gold banner cut across the holographic projection:

`[ADMISSION PORTFOLIOS: OFFICIAL DECISIONS RENDERED]`

Slipping beneath the canvas shade of an alley awning, Eric tapped the interface with a steady hand, his breath catching in his throat.

The portal loaded:

CENTRAL EXAMINATION REGISTRY: DECISION ROSTER

Central Research Institution (Status: ACCEPTED)

Aurum City Academy (Status: REJECTED)

Xenos City Academy (Status: REJECTED)

Eric stared at the screen, a wide, breathless smile spreading across his face.

"Hell yes!"

The two red rejection stamps from Aurum and Xenos didn’t register in his mind for a single microsecond. They had naturally passed on his application due to his combat trial placement, but none of that mattered. In shimmering emerald script, the *Central Research Institution* had officially opened its doors to him.

"Let’s go!" Eric laughed softly, throwing caution aside as he channeled a pulse of intent into his spiritual sea.

*FLASH.*

Coal materialized directly atop Eric’s shoulder, and Eric instantly swept his arms up, pulling the dark crow into a fierce, jubilant embrace. "We did it, buddy! We actually made it!"

*Cawww!*

Feeling the volcanic surge of joy, relief, and validation rushing down their shared soul tether, Coal didn’t squirm or peck. He let out a resonant, cheerful cry, spreading his three-foot obsidian wings wide against the alley breeze as if claiming the sky itself.

It was an undeniable turning point. The desperate days of scraping through frontier mud, looking over his shoulder for predatory debt collectors, and surviving as an overlooked commoner were officially behind them.

"First things first," Eric grinned, settling Coal comfortably back onto his leather pauldron. "We’re celebrating properly tonight. Let’s deliver the news to Sis."

He hurried directly toward the central merchant pavilion, bypassing the basic food stalls and heading straight into the awakened district. He purchased thick cuts of prime, mana-infused horned-ox sirloin, fragrant highland aromatics, fresh sweet-tubers, and a massive wicker hamper loaded with assorted honeyed biscuits, dried sun-fruits, and sweet glazed pastries.

Arms loaded with parcels, Eric jogged up the familiar timber steps of Sunshine Home and nudged the front door open with his knee.

"Kids! Look what I brought!"

A thunder of frantic, tiny footsteps shook the hallway floorboards.

"Big brother’s home!" Mark shouted, leading the charge with Alex right on his heels.

The twins, Jake and Mili, practically slid across the polished hardwood in their socks, while Lily peeked shyly from behind the living room archway, her round eyes sparkling.

"Did you get the fruit pastries?! Did you get the honey biscuits?!" Alex cheered, jumping in place.

"A whole crate of them," Eric laughed, resting the massive hamper onto the entryway bench as the children swarmed it with shrieks of pure delight. "Don’t ruin your appetites, though, we’ve got real horned-ox steaks for dinner tonight!"

Stepping out from the kitchen wiping her flour-dusted hands on her apron, Emily smiled warmly. She had taken off early from her shift at the neighborhood diner, her eyes filled with quiet, anxious hope.

"Eric..." Emily looked at his bright, beaming expression, her hands trembling against the fabric. "Did the notices arrive?"

Eric looked at his older sister, the woman who had sacrificed her youth, health, and own cultivation to keep their fractured family fed when their world collapsed, and flashed a brilliant, victorious grin.

"I’m in, Sis. Central Research Institution accepted my application."

Emily’s hands flew to her mouth, a choked gasp catching in her throat. Tears instantly welled along her lashes and spilled down her flushed cheeks before she rushed forward, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him into a tight, trembling embrace.

"I’m so proud of you, Eric," Emily whispered, her voice breaking with overwhelming emotion. "I always knew you would do it. I always knew."

Dinner that evening was the loudest, warmest, and most joyful gathering Sunshine Home had ever witnessed.

The rich, savory aroma of searing mana steak filled every corner of the house. The children laughed until their bellies ached, and even Coal was treated to his own private platter of tender marrow bones by the hearth.

Later that night, the house finally settled into peaceful silence. The children were tucked into their cots, fast asleep and dreaming sweet dreams of sweets and soaring eagles.

Down in the small sitting parlor, Eric found Emily resting by the hearth, sipping warm herbal tea.

Stepping forward, Eric pulled up his smartband, synchronized their digital profiles, and authorized an immediate direct transfer.

*PING.*

Emily glanced casually down at her wrist interface, and the color instantly drained from her face.

"Eric... w-what is this?!" Emily gasped, her voice trembling violently as she stared at the glowing seven-digit balance. "Five million credits?! No... absolutely not! You already cleared our debts with the loan sharks and funded the building repairs! That was already more than enough! I can’t take this from you, Eric, this is your life’s blood—"

"Am I a stranger to this family now, Sis?" Eric asked softly, his voice firm and resolute as he stepped closer.

Emily froze, looking up at him with wide, glistening eyes.

"You can’t take anything more from me? Sis, I’m doing this for us," Eric said, kneeling beside her armchair so their eyes were level. "Is taking care of you and the kids wrong? I’m leaving for the provincial capital soon. I’ll be gone for months, maybe even an entire year at a stretch. Mark, the twins, Alex, Lily, they’re all growing fast. They need proper nutrition, winter coats, and formal schooling."

He reached out and gently rested his hand over her trembling fingers.

"Take the money. Keep Sunshine Home safe and warm. And more than that, use it for your own foundation. Purchase high-grade marrow-cleansing elixirs, hire a certified tutor, and push past the Mortal threshold to reach Soldier rank. When you’re strong, no one in Riverdale can ever threaten our family while I’m away."

Fresh tears brimmed in Emily’s eyes and cascaded down her cheeks. Overwhelmed by the fierce love and unyielding maturity of the boy she had raised from a toddler, she let out a broken sob, pulling his knuckles against her forehead.

"Okay... okay, Eric," she choked out through her tears, squeezing his hand with all her strength. "I will. I’ll do my absolute best for them... and for myself. But you have to give me something in return."

Eric smiled gently. "Name it."

"Promise me you’ll come back home at least once a year," Emily sniffled, looking directly into his dark eyes with fierce, maternal pleading. "I know you’ll be buried in research, cultivation, and rifts. I know you’re destined for great things out there. I’m not asking for much... Just promise me you’ll come home once a year to let us see you. Promise me, Eric."

Eric looked at the glowing embers in the hearth, at the creaking wooden floors of the house that had sheltered him through his darkest winters, and at the sister who had given everything so he could survive.

"Yeah, Sis," Eric whispered, his voice steady and unwavering. "I promise."