In the Astrios family’s training hall, the sound of thunder could be heard every day.

“Here I come!”

“Yes!”

My youngest half-sister, Andromeda, pointed her longsword at me as she prepared to leap forward.

The distance between us was more than thirty meters.

But I knew that distance would close in less than a tenth of a second.

Crackle—crack, crackle!

Blue sparks flared from the crown of Andromeda’s head, racing down along her spine before spreading to both her legs.

Rumble!

The next instant, thunder exploded beneath her feet, and her body shot forward like an arrow.

Swaaak!

At that speed, an ordinary person wouldn’t even have time to react before their torso was cleaved in two.

But I was different.

“Hah!”

I focused, gathering mana in both eyes.

White sparks flared around my hair and eyes, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down.

The Astrios bloodline wielded a psychic power known as Electro Arts—the art of controlling lightning.

Through it, we could stimulate our nerves to heighten physical ability, release electricity to attack enemies directly, or even fire metal bullets at tremendous speeds. It was a versatile art.

Right now, Andromeda’s blade was closing in, aimed precisely at my waist.

Her speed was truly lightning-fast.

Crackle!

Amidst the burning pain shooting through my nervous system, I matched her movement.

Lowering my stance, I angled my sword downward.

As her blade came sweeping toward my waist, I stepped forward instead—guiding her sword to slide up along mine.

Clank! Her blade met my cross guard with a sharp sound.

At that instant, I twisted my body and swung my sword upward in a powerful arc.

Her sword was deflected past my back.

Whoosh!

She stumbled backward as if thrown, unable to withstand her own momentum.

“Uwah!”

“Phew.”

I held my breath and drew up the mana I had saved.

Crackle!

Blue sparks flared from my left elbow, gathering at my fingertips before firing forward in a blinding flash.

Kzzzzk!

Lightning struck her square in the back.

“Kyaaaah! I surrender! I surrender!”

Andromeda trembled violently and fell.

“Young Master!”

I threw my sword aside and hurried to help her up.

****

On the bench beside the training hall.

“Are you all right?”

“Of course I am. I’m a direct descendant, remember? No matter what kind of electric attack hits me, it just feels tingly.”

We took a short break.

Andromeda untied her hairband, letting the breeze pass through her long navy-blue hair.

A humid wind blew at just the right time, cooling our bodies heated from sparring.

I surrendered myself to the pleasant chill.

“Ah! My hair’s going to get tangled!”

“Hahaha.”

Andromeda hastily gathered her loosened hair.

Watching her flustered reaction, I allowed myself a calm smile—just enough not to make her self-conscious.

Her bangs cut at brow level, side locks layered along her jawline, and long navy hair that gleamed in the light.

Eyes noble and radiant with iridescent brilliance.

A proud forehead, a high-bridged nose, and lips as red and translucent as flower petals.

A beauty whose vivid impression struck like lightning—impossible to forget once seen.

Andromeda of Peleusnata Astrion Astrios.

“Allow me to tie it again for you. Please turn around.”

“Oh? You’re quite attentive. Thanks a lot!”

The Astrios family’s heir apparent.

And my half-sister.

“Is it too tight?”

“Just right.”

I gathered her hair together and tied it up neatly.

Andromeda tilted her head a few times, then smiled in satisfaction and stood up.

“Our Kyrie can wield a sword well, use Electro Arts well, tie hair well, and has a handsome face… Is there anything you can’t do?”

“I can’t betray or rebel. Those things don’t suit my nature. Oh—and I can’t be humble. I know I’m good.”

“Cute, aren’t you.”

She picked up her sword again.

“I’m in a good mood. Hey! Once my Constellation Oath Ceremony’s over and I officially become the family heir, I’ll have you adopted. Whether under Father’s name or one of the elders who doesn’t have a son—either way, I won’t let you stay an illegitimate bastard forever. Trust your sister, all right?”

She turned halfway toward me and winked.

“I’m unworthy of such honor.”

I considered kneeling on one knee but decided against it.

Andromeda was the type who valued familiarity more than excessive formality.

“But the other brothers and sisters won’t like me.”

“Who cares? If they’re upset, they can prove they’re stronger and take the heir’s seat themselves. A direct descendant who can’t even summon lightning at fifteen ought to be ashamed.”

“You’re absolutely right. But, well… I can’t summon lightning either.”

“That’s true. Then it’ll be hard to adopt you into the main line. Damn, I really wanted us to be real siblings. Having a brother like you would feel reassuring.”

As I expected, her tone brightened even more.

“Isn’t being cousins good enough? They say real siblings fight more often anyway.”

“True, cousins are fine. And those brats would just make a fuss if you became my brother, so maybe this way’s better. Anyway, I’ll find you proper parents soon, so look forward to it. That’s a promise in the heir’s name—I’ll keep it!”

I kept my poker face, feigning humility, but inside, I was thrilled—my fist clenched tight.

I felt like shouting curses at fate itself in triumph.

‘Finally, I can get rid of that wretched label—fatherless, motherless bastard.’

If I found decent adoptive parents and had the heir’s backing, I could live comfortably with a solid position.

A training commander or outer fortress captain would be perfect.

The inner defense captain would be fine too.

Anything with authority but little responsibility suited me well.

I wasn’t even disappointed that I wouldn’t be adopted into the main family.

‘The direct line are monsters among monsters.’

I knew my place.

The only reason I could spar with Andromeda now was because she was practicing close combat. In terms of raw ability, I was no match.

Before I could even draw my sword, I’d be burned to ashes by lightning from above, swept away by a perpetual tide, or blown apart by a massive electric blast.

That was the difference between the direct line and the branch families.

Of course, that didn’t mean I felt inferior, or jealous, or held any twisted feelings toward Andromeda.

‘It doesn’t matter. I’ll just do my part from where I stand.’

I was a realist.

I knew my limits and strove to do my best within them.

‘Ambition’s nice, but dying because I overreached isn’t.’

Eat three good meals a day, get paid on time, sleep in on holidays—what more could I want?

I wasn’t meant to lead this family; I was meant to follow.

I never wanted to compare myself to the direct line.

Even as an illegitimate child, I was part of the Astrios family—one of the Empire’s Six Great Houses—and a swordsman personally acknowledged by the heir.

That was already an objectively fine position. I had no reason not to be content.

At the very least, I didn’t need to keep comparing myself to people greater than me and tear myself apart over it.

‘You don’t need to go to the Academy to live a good life. You don’t need a knighthood to live a good life. You don’t need a mansion to get married and live a good life. But if you start comparing your life to others in high society, your mental health is doomed.’

That was what the branch family youths often said these days.

And they were right.

Be content with what you have and enjoy your daily life.

That, truly, is the key to happiness.

I would always do my best within the bounds given to me.

Realistically.

“Alright! Shall we start again?”

“Yes!”

Andromeda raised her sword once more.

I too lifted mine to face her.

****

Our sparring continued until sunset.

“Good work today.”

“You too! Really, that must’ve been tough, humoring me all day.”

“Humoring? Not at all, Lady Andromeda—no, Young Master—you fought well.”

“Andromeda.”

“Yes, sister.”

“That’s better.”

We sat on the bench, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.

One by one, colorful stars began to appear in the sky above.

“It’s already next week, huh—the Constellation Oath Ceremony.”

Andromeda murmured faintly.

“What will you swear?”

“As the heir, I should keep it simple. Something like, ‘I’ll offer a tribute worth a few gold coins every year.’ What about you?”

“I’ll probably make a similar vow. There’s no point in overdoing it.”

The Constellation Oath Ceremony (Geis).

When members of the Astrios family turned eighteen, they would swear a taboo to the family’s guardian star in exchange for amplified power.

As Andromeda said, the vows ranged from mild—almost without restriction—to impossibly difficult ones like vowing never to use one arm again or to slay a dragon as tribute.

The harder the vow appeared to the guardian star, the more power it granted.

In theory, even a distant branch relative could gain strength rivaling the direct line if they took on several difficult vows.

But if a vow was ever broken, the star would reclaim all its granted power—and tear the violator’s soul to shreds.

So, most people wisely chose mild vows.

“Can’t you push yourself just a little?”

“That’s how people die pointless deaths. Remember the direct descendant who vowed never to drink alcohol? He accidentally ate a chocolate laced with liquor and died instantly.”

“That’s because he could’ve been adopted into the main line. If you outclassed those idiot adoptees, you could easily rise beside me.”

“What if I became too strong and started aiming for your heir’s seat? What then?”

“Then I’d have a cool rival, wouldn’t I?”

“Rivalries usually aren’t cool. They look cool from the outside, but for the people involved, it’s pure madness.”

I refuted her teasing firmly.

“Mm. True. Thinking about those adopted idiots trying to sneak into my seat makes me crazy too. I wish some skilled swordsman would hurry up and stab them all out of it.”

“I have no idea who that might be.”

“Pretend all you want. But if the star told you to become heir, what would you do?”

Andromeda grinned brightly as she asked.

“There’s no way that would happen.”

It was a question that stopped my words cold.

I could answer—but whatever I said before the heir would sound small.

“Why not? They say the Thunder-Star favors dreamers.”

“That’s true.”

At that point, we both naturally turned to face the city center.

Above even the lord’s manor rose a grand dome.

The guardian constellation of the Astrios family.

The star that had bestowed the Electro Arts—Raemyeongseong, the Star of Thunder.

The being who bore a five-character True Name.

That was where one would meet it.

“Though rare, I’ve heard sometimes the star itself imposes a condition rather than accepting the person’s vow.”

Unusually, I spoke without hesitation.

“And everyone who’s met the star directly left their names in history. You know that, right?”

Andromeda smiled knowingly, as if she’d caught on to something.

“Still, it’s not like it would ever tell me to become the family head.”

“What about emperor, then? Or ruler of the entire continent?”

“Just hearing that makes my chest tighten. The chance of failure—and having my soul shredded—must be over ninety-nine percent.”

“But the power you’d get in return would be insane, right? Practically divine descent.”

Her laughter was bright and breathtaking.

And that’s when I realized something I’d been avoiding.

“Well, if you vow to become emperor, I’ll gladly help.”

I couldn’t even imagine fighting Andromeda for real.

She was the one who treated me kindly despite my illegitimate birth and acknowledged my skill.

‘I know she expects me to serve as her sword someday, but kindness is still kindness.’

Even if I could never repay her, I could never betray her.

Just then, a servant arrived to summon Andromeda for the evening banquet.

Naturally, she grabbed my arm.

“You’re coming too.”

“Thank you.”

It was so routine that I didn’t even think to politely refuse.

I looked up at the sky one last time.

A star shimmered—somewhere between blue and gold.

A proverb from the East came to mind.

“Words become seeds.”

A truly troublesome saying.

Hoping it would turn out to be nothing but idle talk, I followed after Andromeda.

Chapter 1

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