Darell tiptoed down the hallway, careful not to make any noise.

 

His clothes were torn and covered in dirt, but he managed to sneak back into his room unnoticed.

 

He sighed in relief after entering his room and quickly took off his clothes and threw them in the trash and hurriedly entered the bathroom for a refreshing bath.

 

After taking a bath, he picked a few clothes in his wardrobe and wore them while also, styling his hair like he wanted.

 

After making sure that he looked the part of a Baron's son, he stepped out of his room confidently.

 

He wandered around the courtyard and glanced at the maids and servants who were busy decorating it.

 

Then, he remembered. A banquet was about to happen tonight.

 

He had forgotten about it in the excitement of receiving a quest by the system.

 

He checked the clock on the wall and noticed that the banquet was a few hours away, meaning that he had a bit of time to spare.

 

Having just returned from an arduous hunt, he was feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in.

 

He knew he needed to rest, to recharge himself before the festivities began.

 

He walked to the garden outside of the mansion and looked around for a suitable spot to sit.

 

He saw a bench in the quiet corner of the garden and walked toward it.

 

He sighed as he sat and closed his eyes while breathing deeply.

 

The sounds of the nearby fountains and the gentle rustle of the leaves in the trees above pulled him into a peaceful state, making him relax completely.

 

A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and glanced at his surroundings.

 

He looked at the bustling courtyard in the distance and saw the maids and servants hard at work, preparing for the grand banquet that was to be held.

 

He took another deep breath and he smelled the aroma of exotic spices and sweet pastries.

 

A few maids and servants noticed him looking at them from the garden and they politely bowed as they greeted him.

 

He returned their greeting with a warm smile, pleased to have their attention.

 

With a wave of his hand, he motioned for them to continue with their work, not wanting to disrupt their focus.

 

He noticed some of the younger maids looking at him and he couldn't help but feel a sense of fondness for their innocence and youthful energy.

 

He noticed them waving excitedly at him and he waved back, his smile growing wider at their playful enthusiasm.

 

They then, hurriedly resumed their work when the older maids glared at them for playing between work.

 

It was moments like these that made him appreciate the small community that existed within the walls.

 

Growing up, he was raised with a deep sense of respect and compassion for all members of their household, including the maids and servants.

 

In their family, discrimination or violence against anyone, regardless of their status, was not tolerated.

 

He and his sister had enjoyed playing with the children of the maids and servants, who were welcomed as part of the extended family.

 

It was during one of these moments that he overheard a maid whispering to her friend about the difference in treatment between other noble houses and theirs.

 

However, they were grateful to work for his family, knowing that they were treated with kindness and fairness.

This knowledge filled him with a sense of pride, knowing that the helpers worked for them not out of obligation, but rather because they genuinely enjoyed working alongside his family.

 

The gentle breeze swept past him, causing his hair to sway and dance in the wind.

 

The cool air was invigorating, and he breathed it in deeply, feeling refreshed.

 

The rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the birds in the distance created a harmonious melody that soothed him.

 

Suddenly, he heard a voice calling out to him.

 

He turned and saw his father, Ralph approaching him.

 

He stood up and greeted him, "Good evening, Dad! Do you want my help in anything for the banquet?"

 

"No, I have already prepared your attire for the banquet. It's waiting for you in your room. However...", his father's tone changed, and his eyes narrowed, causing Darell to feel a sense of unease.

 

"Dad?", Darell asked, sensing that something was amiss.

 

His father continued to observe him, and Darell's anxiety grew.

 

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, his father's expression softened.

 

"You look good. Did you prepare for the banquet ahead of time?", Ralph asked, his voice betraying nothing of the earlier tension.

 

Darell sighed in relief inwardly after his father found nothing unusual about his appearance.

 

However, a nagging thought tugged at him, and he couldn't resist the temptation to use his unique ability to inspect his father's level.

 

When his father looked away at the maids, Darell's eyes briefly glowed red, unnoticed by his father.

 

A status interface appeared in front of him and he excitedly looked at it.

 

 

When he looked at the rows of '?' of his father's status interface, he was frustrated.

 

He wanted to find out how powerful his father truly was because every time they went to a higher noble's banquet, they treated his father with respect even though he was just a mere Baron.

 

This had puzzled him greatly since the same nobles didn't even glance in the direction of the other Barons.

 

But, looking at how even the system couldn't decipher his father's level, he knew that he wasn't an ordinary human.

 

He quickly closed the status interface and tucked the info in his mind while his respect for his father deepened even further.

 

After conversing with his father for a while, Darell excused himself and made his way back to his room.

 

There, he was greeted by a team of 'eager' younger maids who assisted him in donning an elegant and ornate attire.

 

Once he was dressed, he paused in front of the mirror, admiring his reflection.

 

He looked every bit like a prince from a magnificent and grand kingdom.

 

The detail in the clothes and his grooming was impeccable due to the exceptional work of the 'eager' younger maids.

 

The time for the banquet had come.

 

Darell arrived at the grand hall where the banquet was taking place.

 

He took a moment to compose himself, inhaling deeply to calm his nerves before striding confidently into the room.

 

When he stepped inside, all eyes were instantly drawn to him.

 

Despite the intense scrutiny, he remained unfazed.

 

He was no stranger to being in the spotlight and had grown accustomed to the attention.

 

He calmly walked toward his family's table, where they were seated, waiting for him.

 

Darell's family was small, consisting of just four members.

 

While walking toward them, he thought, 'Let's see how strong my mother and my sister are.'

 

He activated his Inspect skill and looked at their status interfaces.

 

First was his mother, Isabella Rogers.

 

She had a similar interface like his father, indecipherable.

 

Then he turned his attention to his younger sister, Lilith, whose status interface surprised him.

 

 

Lilith noticed Darell's gaze on her and playfully pouted, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.

 

"What's the matter, brother? Haven't seen your dear sister in a while?", she teased mischievously.

 

Darell's attention was drawn back to his sister Lilith away from her status interface, who was pouting and playing with her hair.

 

When he looked at her, he was amazed by how stunning she appeared.

 

Her light brown hair cascaded down her waist, her face was chiseled to perfection, and her hazel eyes were captivating against her smooth, pale skin.

 

Amazed, he smiled warmly at her and complimented her, "You look absolutely beautiful, Lili."

 

Lilith blushed and complimented her brother, "You look quite impressive. How did you manage to transform from a rugged barbarian into an elegant man?"

 

Darell flipped his hair and smirked at her, "What do you mean? I have always been dashing and attractive."

 

Lilith responded playfully, "Oh? I guess the clothes I picked out for you helped enhance your natural good looks."

 

Darell's smile froze when he realized his sister's mischief.

 

He playfully pinched her cheeks, "Ah, I see what you did there. You set me up, didn't you?"

 

"Come now, stop bickering and meet the guests. They are waiting," Isabella reprimanded her children with a stern voice.

 

Darell's gaze shifted to his mother, who was adorned in a luxurious gown that accentuated her regal aura.

 

Her long, light-brown locks cascaded down her back like a gentle waterfall, complementing her light hazel eyes and unblemished, pale skin.

 

Despite her age, she exuded an air of youth and grace that was truly remarkable.

 

Ralpn, on the other hands, walked over to the stage to make an announcement.

 

The hall quieted down as they waited for him.

 

With a tap of his glass, Ralph began to speak, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am grateful for your presence at this banquet. Today, we celebrate my son's 18th birthday, and I am proud to announce that he possesses the rare Space innate ability."

 

Everyone in the hall was stunned into silence when they heard Ralph.

 

His son has the Space ability?!

 

The ability that was lost for 10,000 years?!

 

How is this possible?!

 

He must be lying!!

 

Ralph smirked as he glanced at the varying expressions of the nobles.

 

He knew that they were assuming that he was lying, so he came up with a plan.

 

He continued, "Furthermore, I would like to allow my son to demonstrate his ability before you all today."

 

Gesturing toward Darell, Ralph asked him to come forward.

 

Darell approached one of the tables and used his skill.

 

In an instant, the table disappeared.

 

The guests gasped in surprise.

 

Seconds later, the table reappeared as if nothing had happened.

 

"As you can see, that was the legendary skill, Space Arsenal," said Ralph., "It allows the user to store items in a special pocket dimension accessible only to them."

 

Darell felt a surge of excitement as he scanned the room.

 

He realized that this was the perfect opportunity to showcase Lilith's innate ability.

 

So, he cleared his throat and spoke, "I have an announcement to make as well."

 

As all eyes turned towards him, Darell pointed towards his little sister and said, "My sister has something she'd like to share with all of you."

 

Lilith was shocked by the sudden development but she understood that Darell was doing this for her.

 

Even though her hands trembled as she stepped forward, she held her head high and concentrated on her power.

 

Suddenly, the room was filled with a burst of energy as Lilith unleashed her ability.

 

Gasps and murmurs filled the hall as people marveled at Lilith's incredible display.

 

Even Ralph and Isabella, who had thought they knew everything about their daughter, were stunned by the power she had just unleashed.

 

People started to crowd around Darell and Lilith.

 

The hall was filled with a cacophony of cheers and whispers, as well as a few marriage proposals that were thrown in for good measure.

Darell gently took hold of his sister's hand, concern etched on his face as he saw a group of boys starting to surround her.

 

He didn't want to subject Lilith to the same unwanted attention he was experiencing from some overeager girls, so he quickly led her away from the crowd all the while feeling their hungry gazes on his back, towards a quieter part of the hall where they could have some privacy.

 

When Darell and Lilith walked towards a secluded area of the hall, they were met by a group of three people who were already waiting for them.

 

One of them spoke teasingly, "Looks like you were enjoying all of the attention."

 

Darell's lips curled into a smirk as he recognized the voice, "Come on, Emma. You knew how much 'attention' I got during the preliminary test."

 

Emma let out a harrumph as she approached Darell, "I wore this expensive dress for someone special, but it seems he was too busy showing off in front of everybody else."

 

Darell's face flushed with embarrassment at Emma's remark. "I'm sorry, Emma," he quickly apologized, "I didn't mean to neglect you."

 

Emma turned towards him and replied, "Your apology is not enough,"

 

Darell realized he had to do something to make it up to her.

 

"You look exceptionally beautiful today, Emma," he offered, hoping to appease her.

 

Emma rolled her eyes and said, "As if I will acknowledge that half-baked compliment."

 

Darell took her hand, gazing deeply into her eyes. "I know I have much to make up for, but I promise you this: I will ask for your hand in marriage after we graduate from the Academy."

 

Emma's cheeks blushed deeply, and she took Darell's arm, pulling him into a tight embrace.

 

When Emma and Darell finished their conversation, the group was relieved when the tension subsided.

 

A boy from the group of three standing nearby commented, "Glad that this lover's quarrel is over."

 

Darell immediately turned to face him, his eyes narrowed and he grinned wickedly.

 

"When are you going to ask for Ariel's hand in marriage, Eric?", he asked.

 

Eric's eyes widened with panic as he looked at Ariel, who was giving him a piercing glare.

 

"Umm...T-That will be done in the future," he stammered.

 

Ariel's patience quickly ran out when she heard Eric's response and she smacked the back of his head.

 

She took Lilith's hand and furiously said, "Let's go dine somewhere else and leave this idiot by himself."

 

Lilith let out a light-hearted giggle as she watched them quarrel and they made their way to an unoccupied table.

 

As they sat down, the attentive servants began to serve them an array of delectable dishes, and they eagerly began to dine, enjoying the sumptuous food and engaging in lively conversation.

 

While eating, Darell looked at his friends and thought to see how strong they were when compared to him.

 

So, he activated Inspect and looked at their status interfaces.

 

 

Darell looked at the status interface and then at his girlfriend, Emma, taking in every detail of her appearance.

 

As he looked at her, he couldn't help but be reminded of her noble heritage, as the daughter of the Duke of Zukvar.

 

He knew that her exceptional stats were a result of the rigorous training and education she received, along with her inherent talent.

 

 

Eric's impressive stats could be attributed to his rigorous training from a young age, as well as his noble lineage as the son of the Viscount of Narva.

 

 

Ariel's extraordinary stats were not surprising given that she was the daughter of the powerful Count of Telemark, and had been rigorously trained from an early age.

 

Their friendship was a subject of wonder to many who knew them, and many wondered how they came to be friends.

 

The answer, however, was quite simple.

 

Their parents had attended the same academy and were comrades-in-arms who had fought side by side in many battles.

 

This created a strong bond between them, and they remained friends even after leaving the academy.

 

In most cases, high nobility would never allow their children to associate with lower nobility unless there was some selfish motive behind it.

 

But in the case of Emma, Darell, Eric, Ariel, and Lilith, their parents' strong bond had allowed the five of them to meet on numerous occasions at various banquets and other social events.

 

Over time, this led to the formation of a deep and unique friendship that transcended social class and status.

 

As the night wore on, Darell and his friends savored the last of their sumptuous meals, but eventually, they had to come to terms with the fact that the venue was coming to a close.

 

The guests gathered their things and made their way to their respective carriages.

 

Darell walked Emma to her carriage and helped her inside.

 

He smiled affectionately at her and said, "I'll see you in a month at the academy, Emma."

 

Emma leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before responding, "Un!"

 

With a final wave goodbye, Darell watched as the carriage drove away, disappearing into the night.

 

Darell felt a mix of emotions - excitement for the upcoming academy term, anticipation for their next meeting, and a hint of longing at the prospect of being apart.

 

Eventually, he shook his head as he turned and made his way back inside the grand mansion, eager to rest after a long day.