The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

The monster's flesh sizzled where Alex's blade struck, rune-enhanced steel slicing through scales that should have been impenetrable. Around him, the other members of Éclair's Third Division fought with practiced precision, containing the rift-born creatures that had emerged on the outskirts of Talen village.

"Left flank, Lionhart!" Commander Elira called, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Alex pivoted instantly, catching a serpentine creature as it lunged toward one of his teammates. His sword flashed, separating head from body in a single stroke. As the monster dissolved into particles of light, Alex felt the familiar warmth of increased power flowing through him. Another kill, another increment of strength.

The familiar chime sounded in his mind.

[+1 DEX for defeating Rift Serpent]

A slight smirk touched his lips, though he quickly suppressed it. These small increases added up over time. Every mission, every monster—they all brought him one step closer to his goal. One step closer to surpassing Klaus.

"That's the last of them," Commander Elira announced, cleaning her blade with practiced efficiency. "Good work, especially you, Lionhart. Quick thinking on that flank."

Alex nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Commander."

He had been assigned to Éclair's Third Division immediately after joining the armed group. Captain Yenova—his aunt—had placed him there personally, claiming it would provide the perfect balance of challenge and opportunity for growth. Alex suspected she also wanted him under the watchful eye of Commander Elira, an experienced officer known for her strict adherence to protocol.

"Secure the perimeter," Elira ordered the team. "We'll rest in Talen tonight before returning to headquarters."

As the team dispersed to their assigned tasks, Alex sheathed his sword and surveyed the aftermath of their battle. The yellow-class rift had been relatively minor—a small tear in reality that had spewed forth a modest number of monsters before they'd managed to seal it. Standard procedure for Éclair, especially for a veteran like Elira who had been closing rifts for over a decade.

For Alex, however, every rift closure, every monster subjugation, was a precious opportunity. Unlike many who joined armed groups for prestige or duty, Alex had a singular focus: power. As Pride's Apostle, he benefited from the Arkdieu system—the notifications that appeared in his mind with each victory, granting him stat increases no ordinary human could achieve. He was grateful to Pride for choosing him, for elevating him above others. These missions weren't just duty—they were his path to surpassing Klaus.

The sun began to set as they made their way to Talen, a modest trading hub known for its wooden architecture and warm hospitality. The local inn had clearly been warned of their arrival; rooms were prepared, and a hot meal awaited the tired Éclair team.

"To another successful mission," Elira said, raising her mug in a toast. The team responded in kind, spirits high after their victory.

Alex participated in the celebration, but his mind remained focused on calculating his gains for the day. Three monsters, three minor increments of power. Not his best result, but satisfactory given the scale of the incursion.

As the evening progressed, he found himself at a corner table, content to observe rather than participate in the increasingly boisterous celebration. It was there, in that moment of quiet reflection, that he first heard the name that would change everything.

"—complete destruction of Northwatch," a merchant was saying at a nearby table, his voice hushed yet carrying in the crowded room. "Nothing left but ash, they say."

Alex's attention sharpened. Northwatch? The northern outpost by the Eternal Rift?

"Can't be true," his companion argued. "An entire city doesn't just disappear."

"I heard it from a messenger who came straight from the capital," the merchant insisted. "The Eternal Rift is gone too—vanished completely."

Alex set down his drink, a chill running through him despite the inn's warmth. The Eternal Rift, gone? Impossible. It had been a fixture of the northern territories for over a century, its swirling energies visible for miles even in clear weather.

He moved closer to the merchants' table, his curiosity overriding his usual reserve. "Pardon me," he interrupted. "This news about Northwatch—when did this happen?"

The merchant looked up, initially annoyed at the interruption, but his expression changed to one of deference when he noted Alex's Éclair uniform. "Three days ago, sir. Word's just starting to spread."

"And the official explanation?" Alex pressed.

"Catastrophic barrier failure is what they're saying. Something about the containment systems malfunctioning." The merchant leaned closer, lowering his voice. "But there are rumors... stranger rumors."

"Such as?"

"That it wasn't an accident. That something... or someone... caused it deliberately."

Alex thanked the merchants and returned to his table, mind racing. Three days ago, he and the team had been deep in the eastern forests, tracking the rift that had eventually opened near Talen. They'd been completely cut off from communication networks, focused entirely on their mission.

Now, returning to civilization, he found the world fundamentally changed. If what the merchant said was true—if Northwatch and the Eternal Rift were truly gone—the implications were staggering.

"Troubled thoughts, Lionhart?" Commander Elira had approached without his notice, a sign of how deeply the news had affected him.

"Have you heard about Northwatch, Commander?" he asked.

The slight tightening around her eyes was answer enough. "Rumors only. We'll receive a proper briefing when we return to headquarters."

"But you've heard that it's gone? That the Eternal Rift has disappeared?"

She nodded, settling into the chair across from him. "That much seems to be confirmed, though the specifics remain unclear."

"How is that even possible?" Alex wondered aloud. "The Eternal Rift has been stable for over a century."

"Which is precisely why we should wait for official information rather than speculate based on tavern gossip." Elira's tone was gentle but firm. "Rest, Lionhart. We leave at dawn."

Sleep eluded Alex that night. His mind kept returning to the Eternal Rift, to Northwatch. He had visited the city once, years ago, accompanying his father on a diplomatic mission. He remembered standing at the observation platform, staring into the swirling violet energies of the Rift, feeling its strange pull even through the protective barriers.

The idea that such a fundamental fixture of Runiya's landscape could simply vanish was more than troubling—it was terrifying. Rifts were unpredictable by nature, but the Eternal Rift had been the one constant, the exception to the rule. Its stability had been the cornerstone of countless theoretical frameworks about rift behavior.

If it could disappear... what else might change?

Morning came too quickly, the team assembling in the village square as the first rays of sunlight crested the horizon. They traveled in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Alex noticed that he wasn't the only one affected by the news—several team members had clearly heard the rumors as well, their expressions troubled as they journeyed back to headquarters.

Éclair's main facility was a marvel of imperial architecture, its white stone walls gleaming in the afternoon sun as they approached. Unlike other armed groups that maintained separate headquarters, Éclair operated from a specially designated wing of the imperial military complex, a privilege that reflected their status as the First Army.

Captain Yenova was waiting for them in the main courtyard, her expression unreadable as always. She acknowledged the team's return with a brief nod, then gestured for Alex to follow her while Commander Elira led the others to the debriefing hall.

"Aunt," Alex began as soon as they were alone in her office.

"I know what you're going to ask," she interrupted, settling behind her desk. "And yes, the rumors are true. Northwatch is gone. The Eternal Rift has disappeared."

Despite expecting confirmation, the blunt statement still landed like a physical blow. "How?" he managed.

"That," Yenova said, sliding a sealed folder across her desk, "is where things become complicated."

Alex accepted the folder, noting the high-level security seal. "This is..."

"The official report, compiled from the only two survivors recovered from the site." Yenova's expression softened slightly—a rarity for her. "Alex, before you open that, you should know... Klaus and Alexandra were there."

The world seemed to tilt beneath Alex's feet. "What?"

"They were the survivors. White Lion Teams 55 and 27 were dispatched to investigate a communication disruption at Northwatch. Something happened—something catastrophic. Only Klaus and Alexandra returned. Klaus remains unconscious at the main estate. Alexandra is recovering."

Alex's hand froze on the folder's seal. Klaus and Alexandra? Both his cousins involved in this? Alexandra, who had joined White Lion two years ago, and Klaus... his cousin from the collateral line who had become the youngest Swordmaster on the continent. The same Klaus who had consistently defied expectations, who had somehow emerged from the Annex Mansion to challenge Alex's position as the Lionhart prodigy despite not being part of the direct line.

"Why were they sent?" he asked, his voice tight. It wasn't his concern, not really, but the fact that his cousins were involved in something of this magnitude... "Neither Team 55 of White Lion nor Team 27 seems appropriate for this kind of mission."

"That decision wasn't mine to make," Yenova replied, her tone making it clear she shared his sentiment. "White Lion operates independently, as you know."

Alex took a deep breath, forcing his emotions under control. His fingers broke the seal, opening the folder to reveal the detailed report within. As he began to read, his expression shifted from concern to disbelief.

Homunculi replacing an entire city's population? A Duke transformed into some hybrid creature? And Klaus, supposedly possessed by an entity called "Gluttony" that somehow erased the Eternal Rift from existence?

"This can't be serious," he said, looking up at his aunt.

"Alexandra was adamant," Yenova replied. "Her account never wavered under questioning, and she bore no signs of head trauma or psychological delusion that might explain such an elaborate fantasy."

"And Klaus?"

"Remains unconscious in the Frost Chamber. Raphael is doing everything he can, but..." She left the sentence unfinished.

Alex closed the folder, his mind struggling to process the implications. If Alexandra's account was accurate, then something had happened to Klaus—something related to his status as Gluttony's Apostle. Alex had known Klaus was an Apostle, just as Klaus knew about Alex's connection to Pride. But this... this was different. This was power beyond what Alex had imagined possible.

A strange pressure built behind his eyes, a distant ringing in his ears. As he rose to leave, the pressure intensified. The ringing became a voice—Pride's voice—faint but distinct, speaking with unmistakable urgency.

Apostle.

He stumbled, catching himself against the wall. The voice faded as quickly as it had come, leaving Alex with the uncomfortable realization that there was more to being an Apostle than he had understood. More than the stat increases he had so diligently cultivated. More than the superiority he had always felt over others.

What was truly happening to Klaus? And what did it mean for Alex himself?