Path of the Elemental sage (2)

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"Who is this… Lyrium Blackwood?"

In the Path of the Elemental Sage, there was no mention of a character named Lyrium Blackwood.

Yet…

"That surname, Blackwood… it feels strangely familiar—"

SLAM—!

Lyrium's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a door opening forcefully.

Someone had entered the room, though he couldn't see who.

'Probably a doctor. I must be in a hospital,' he mused, glancing around.

A woman hurried into the room and approached the bed where Lyrium sat upright.

Without a moment's hesitation, she positioned herself directly in front of him.

Her gaze, filled with an intense mixture of love, relief, and pent-up worry, locked onto his face.

Her deep—blooded red eyes shimmered with unshed tears as her lips trembled, forming a soft, barely audible word:

"Lyrium…"

To him, however, the woman before him was nothing more than a stranger.

Her delicate features bore the unmistakable signs of exhaustion—faint lines of worry carved into her soft face, as if sleepless nights had taken their toll.

White Hair, lightly streaked with Silver but not visible, framed her face elegantly, while her slender hands, swollen and red from overuse, quivered as she reached out to him.

Before Lyrium could react, the woman bent down and gently wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace.

A flood of unfamiliar sensations overwhelmed him.

The warmth of her touch and the tenderness of her actions stirred something in his chest, yet his mind was blank, tangled in confusion.

'What is this feeling?'

For a fleeting moment, Lyrium allowed himself to remain still, captivated by the foreign sense of security she offered.

But his rational side kicked in, and he hesitantly pushed her away, his voice faltering.

"M-Ma'am… do I… know you?" Lyrium asked, his eyes scanning hers for some hint of familiarity.

Her expression froze, as if his words had struck her like lightning.

Her lips parted slightly, and disbelief flickered across her face.

"What are you saying, Lyrium?" she whispered, her voice tinged with both confusion and sadness.

Just then, a figure stepped into the room—a man wearing a white lab coat and round glasses. He couldn't have been older than 30.

"Please, don't be alarmed," the doctor said calmly. "This isn't a case of amnesia. After being in a coma for over a week, it's natural for his memories to feel fragmented and disorganized. His recollections will return gradually, but it might take some time for his mind to fully adjust."

The woman nodded slowly before returning her gaze to Lyrium. Her trembling voice broke the silence.

"I'm your mother, Lyrium… Lilian Blackwood."

Lyrium's eyes widened in shock.

'Lilian Blackwood? No way… the same Lilian Blackwood who's the mother of one of the heroines in Path of the Elemental Sage? The wealthiest woman in Eldodria? The owner of the Crimsonwood Estate?'

His thoughts spiraled as he stared at the woman before him.

''I… I remember now. M-mother?''

But an unsettling doubt crept in.

The original Lyrium Blackwood from the story—how had he addressed her? Surely not "Mother"? Had he made a mistake?

Lilian, noticing her son's uncharacteristic use of the word, looked at him in utter disbelief.

"…What did you just call me?" she asked softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

The doctor smiled faintly and turned to leave.

"I'll give you two some privacy, but don't take too long."

As the door clicked shut, Lilian reached out, pressing the back of her hand to Lyrium's forehead.

"Do you have a fever, Lyrium?" she murmured, her voice laced with worry.

Lyrium blinked at her touch, his confusion mounting, when suddenly, an unfamiliar sight materialized before his eyes:

[SYSTEM]

⟩ Synchronization Initiated ⟨

› Progress: 0% ‹

'What the hell is this?!'

The glowing screen startled him, his thoughts racing as he instinctively touched his chin, frowning in confusion.

Oblivious to the turmoil in his head, Lilian spoke again, her tone casual.

"Did you receive the academy's message?"

Lyrium gave a hesitant nod and held up his phone in response.

"Mhm."

Lilian was a minor character in Path of the Elemental Sage.

In the novel, she had been portrayed as a cold and ruthless woman—her very presence was enough to send chills down the spines of others.

But the Lilian standing before him now seemed like a completely different person.

Her icy, aloof demeanor had been replaced with warmth and gentleness.

Her kind smile radiated an energy that could brighten even the gloomiest of days.

Her mere presence exuded a comforting aura that made the entire room feel alive.

'How… how is this the same person?'

A buzzing sound interrupted his thoughts.

Lilian's phone vibrated in her pocket. She hesitated, ignoring it, but Lyrium gestured toward the device.

"Mom, you should answer it. It might be important."

Lilian's eyes softened at his words, and she retrieved her phone, answering the call.

"Hello? What is it, Alfred?"

[Lady Lilian, the board meeting is about to start.]

At those words, her entire demeanor shifted.

The warmth in her expression faded, replaced by a sharp intensity that made Lyrium's skin crawl.

Her blood eyes darkened, and her voice, once soft, became low and authoritative.

She massaged her temples, visibly irritated, before ending the call.

"Lyrium," she sighed, her tone softer again.

"The academy begins in two weeks, correct?"

"Y-Yeah," he stammered, still unnerved by the sudden transformation.

"Good. I've already transferred 300 billion Uber into your account. Use it for your academy expenses or anything else you may need. I'll be traveling to Eldodria for a meeting."

"…Oh, and don't forget to contact your sister."

Before leaving, she leaned down and kissed his forehead—a gesture so tender it left him stunned.

"Take care, Lyrium. I'll see you soon," she said, waving before stepping out of the room.

The moment the door closed, Lyrium slumped back, sighing in disbelief.

"She just handed me 300 billion Uber like it's pocket change…"

He turned his attention back to the glowing screen in front of him.

[SYSTEM]

⟩ Synchronization Ongoing ⟨

› Progression: 10% ‹

"What the hell is this thing supposed to be?"

Lyrium muttered, staring at the strange display in both fascination and apprehension.

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