Raphael didn’t fall. That was the important part.
His legs were still shaking, his breathing was a mess, and he was pretty sure every muscle in his body hated him, but somehow, he had managed to remain standing.
Vanessa looked satisfied, Elena looked entertained, and Raphael looked like he needed another three days of sleep.
"Enough," Vanessa finally said.
Raphael immediately sat back down on the bed. "Thank God."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"You survived a simple test."
"Survived?" Raphael looked at her. "I nearly collapsed twice."
"And yet you remained standing."
"Because you wouldn’t let me rest."
"Precisely."
Raphael sighed. There was no winning against this woman. Vanessa turned toward the window again.
"I have reached my conclusion."
Raphael raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
"You are weak."
"Wow."
His expression dropped. This might have been the fifth time she had mentioned how weak he was. At this point, Raphael was certain even a fly could give him a good beating.
Vanessa continued without hesitation.
"Your physical condition is inferior. Your mana is unstable. You possess no apparent combat ability, and your understanding of your own power is almost nonexistent."
Raphael stared at her.
"You’re really good at making people feel confident."
"But..." She glanced back at him. "There is something within you."
Raphael became quiet.
Vanessa’s expression was serious.
"I cannot identify it. I cannot determine its origin. But your soul possesses a density that should not belong to an ordinary human."
"You mentioned that..."
Before Raphael could ask anything further, a translucent window suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Hidden Requirement Fulfilled.]
[Condition: First Knight has acknowledged the Host’s potential.]
[Reward Available.]
Raphael’s heartbeat quickened.
’Reward?’
The system responded immediately.
[Unique Sovereign Ability Unlocked.]
Raphael’s eyes widened.
’Already?’
A new panel appeared.
[ABILITY ACQUIRED]
[Sovereign’s Eye]
[Description:]
[An authority possessed by the Sovereign.]
[Allows the Host to perceive information regarding beings connected to the Throne of Knights.]
Raphael stared at the description. So this wasn’t a combat ability. It was information, but somehow, he had a feeling it was much more important than it looked.
’How do I use it?’
[Activate by focusing upon a valid target.]
Raphael looked toward Vanessa.
’Like her?’
[Confirmed.]
He hesitated. Then focused his attention on her. Something changed. His vision sharpened, and for a brief moment, Vanessa’s body seemed to become transparent... not physically. It was as though layers of information were appearing over her existence.
A new window unfolded before his eyes.
[SOVEREIGN’S EYE ACTIVATED]
[Target: Vanessa Fencer]
[Race: High Human]
[Class: Saintess]
[Rank: A]
[Level: 87]
[Potential: SS]
[Loyalty: 3]
[Current Emotion: Irritation]
[Unique Ability: ???]
[Hidden Information: ???]
’Whoa.’
Vanessa immediately turned toward him, apparently sensing his gaze.
"What?"
Raphael quickly looked away.
"Nothing."
"You are looking at me strangely," she said, narrowing her eyes.
"I’m not."
"You are."
"I’m really not."
She took one step toward him. Raphael activated the ability again. The information reappeared.
[Current Emotion: Suspicion]
Raphael nearly laughed.
That’s useful.
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed further.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
"You keep saying that."
"Because I’m doing nothing."
Her expression became even more suspicious. Raphael looked back at the screen. There were several things he hadn’t known about her, yet the most interesting parts remained hidden. So even the Sovereign’s Eye had limits.
He smiled slightly.
’Not everything is going to be handed to me.’
The thought strangely excited him. Until now, Raphael had felt like he was stumbling through the dark. The system gave him answers, but never enough. Vanessa was powerful, but mysterious. His own abilities were unknown. Even his reason for being chosen remained classified.
Now he had something that could help him slowly uncover those mysteries. It wasn’t a weapon, nor was it something he could use to destroy a monster, but it was his.
His first ability. The first ability that belonged to him.
Raphael looked at Vanessa again. She was still staring at him.
"Why are you smiling?"
"I just got something useful."
Her eyebrow lifted.
"What?"
Raphael paused. There was no reason to tell her everything about the system, not yet.
"Nothing important."
Vanessa stared at him for several seconds. Then she sighed.
"Your evasiveness is becoming irritating."
Elena suddenly spoke from the doorway.
"So, you’ve finally awakened an ability?"
Raphael froze. She was still holding her coffee. Vanessa also turned toward her.
"Your expression changed."
Elena shrugged as Raphael stared at her with apprehension. This woman noticed everything.
"How much did you see?"
"Nothing."
Raphael narrowed his eyes, while Elena just smiled.
"That’s the problem with watching someone who keeps making suspicious faces."
Raphael sighed.
"Can everyone here stop being so observant?"
"No."
Elena and Vanessa answered almost simultaneously.
"Great."
A notification appeared.
[Ability successfully integrated.]
[Sovereign’s Eye is now bound to the Host.]
[Current Evolution Path:]
[Sovereign’s Eye]
↓
[King’s Eye]
↓
[Emperor’s Eye]
↓
[Divine Eye]
↓
[Eye of the Sovereign]
Raphael’s eyes widened.
’It evolves?’
[Confirmed.]
’What determines the evolution?’
[Authority.]
Raphael stared at the final message. Authority. Everything came back to that- his strength, his throne, his knights, his kingdom, and even his eyes. All of it was connected to Authority.
He looked at the small number displayed on his status.
[Authority: 1]
Raphael sighed.
"One step at a time."
Vanessa tilted her head.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
She frowned, but Raphael ignored her.
For the first time since he had awakened, he wasn’t thinking about becoming strong. He wasn’t thinking about defeating monsters. He wasn’t thinking about proving himself to anyone. He just wanted to know.
Who was Vanessa? What was hidden behind those question marks? What was the Throne of Knights? Who created it?
And most importantly... Why had it chosen him?
Raphael had spent his entire life being the person nobody noticed. Now, something had placed a throne in front of him. Maybe he didn’t understand why. Maybe he wasn’t ready for what waited ahead. But he had one thing now that he hadn’t possessed before.
A way to look beyond what was visible. And perhaps... That would be enough to begin.
[New Ability Acquired.]
[Sovereign’s Eye.]
[The first authority of the Sovereign has awakened.]