Morning came too quickly.
A pale golden light spilled across the towering walls of the palace, illuminating marble pillars and vast courtyards that seemed almost too grand to belong to the world of men. The air was cool, crisp, and filled with the faint hum of mana that never truly left this place.
Leon stood alone in one of the palace training arenas.
The arena was massive, far larger than anything he had trained in before. Smooth white stone formed the circular platform, etched with faint runic patterns designed to absorb impact and stabilize mana fluctuations. Around it rose tiered platforms where nobles often gathered to watch duels.
But today—
It was empty.
No watching eyes.
No whispers.
No pressure.
Just silence.
Leon rested his wooden sword across his shoulder and stretched lazily, rolling his neck from side to side.
"…Why does everyone here wake up so early?"
His voice echoed slightly across the empty arena before fading.
No answer came.
For the first time since arriving at the palace, Leon felt… alone.
And strangely—
He liked it.
He stepped forward, his bare feet pressing lightly against the smooth stone, and began practicing.
At first, it was nothing special.
Simple swings.
Basic footwork.
The kind of drills he had repeated countless times before.
But something was different.
Each movement felt lighter.
Sharper.
More controlled.
Leon slowed down.
"…Wait."
He swung again.
The wooden blade cut through the air with a clean, precise sound.
Not rough.
Not clumsy.
Perfect.
Leon frowned slightly.
"…It's happening again."
That feeling.
The same one from before.
From the fight with the guard.
From his clash with Prince Vael.
From the brief, terrifying exchange with Kael.
He lowered the sword slowly.
Then closed his eyes.
"…Alright."
"Let's try this properly."
He inhaled deeply.
Then exhaled.
And instead of resisting that strange sensation—
He leaned into it.
The world changed.
Not physically.
Not visibly.
But fundamentally.
Leon could feel it.
Everything.
The flow of mana drifting through the air like invisible currents.
The faint vibration beneath his feet as energy pulsed through the palace grounds.
The subtle shift of wind brushing against his skin.
Even his own heartbeat—
Slow.
Steady.
Controlled.
"…What is this…?"
His breathing became calm.
His mind cleared.
And when he opened his eyes—
The world was no longer the same.
It wasn't brighter.
It wasn't darker.
But it was clearer.
Every detail stood out.
Every motion, every fluctuation, every subtle change in the environment revealed itself to him.
Leon raised his sword slowly.
Then swung.
WHOOSH.
The air split cleanly.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
More precise than ever before.
Leon stared at his own hand.
"…This is insane."
"You're finally touching it."
The voice came from behind him.
Calm.
Familiar.
Leon turned.
Aether stood at the edge of the arena, watching silently as always.
Leon scratched the back of his head.
"…Touching what?"
Aether walked forward, his footsteps light but steady.
"Your bloodline ability."
Leon frowned.
"…That Sovereign thing?"
"Yes."
Leon sighed.
"I still don't get it."
Aether stopped a few steps away from him.
"You will."
There was no doubt in his voice.
Only certainty.
Aether raised his hand slightly, gesturing toward Leon.
"What you are experiencing…"
"…Is a heightened state of perception."
Leon blinked.
"…So I just see things better?"
"Yes."
Leon tilted his head.
"That doesn't sound that impressive."
Aether didn't respond.
Instead—
He moved.
In an instant, he closed the distance between them.
His sword struck.
Leon's eyes widened.
But—
His body moved.
Instinctively.
CLACK.
He blocked.
Perfectly.
The impact echoed through the arena.
Leon froze.
"…I reacted to that?"
Aether stepped back calmly.
"Yes."
Leon looked at his hands again.
"…So I'm faster now?"
"Yes."
Leon grinned.
"…I like this."
Aether's expression remained unchanged.
"But it is incomplete."
Leon's smile immediately dropped.
"…Of course it is."
Aether continued.
"You are only perceiving."
"…Not controlling."
Leon frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Aether raised his sword again.
"This."
He attacked again.
This time—
Faster.
Much faster.
Leon saw it.
Clearly.
Every movement.
Every shift of muscle.
Every trace of mana flowing through Aether's body.
But—
His body couldn't keep up.
BAM.
The strike connected.
Leon was pushed back violently, sliding several meters across the arena floor before regaining his footing.
He exhaled sharply.
"…Okay."
"That's annoying."
Aether lowered his sword slightly.
"You understand now."
Leon nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
"I can see everything."
"But I can't fully react to it."
"Yes."
Leon rolled his shoulders, tightening his grip on his sword.
"So what do I do?"
Aether answered without hesitation.
"Train."
Leon groaned.
"I knew you were going to say that."
Aether didn't argue.
Didn't elaborate.
He simply raised his sword again.
"Again."
Leon sighed.
Then stepped forward.
"Fine."
"This time—"
"I'll keep up."
Aether attacked.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike came faster than the last.
Each movement more precise.
More refined.
More deadly.
Leon struggled.
At first, he barely kept up.
His blocks were late.
His dodges imperfect.
His counters slow.
But something was changing.
Each time he failed—
He learned.
Each time he was pushed back—
He adapted.
His breathing steadied.
His movements sharpened.
His reactions improved.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
The gap began to close.
From the outside—
It would have looked impossible.
A boy who had only recently awakened his power—
Keeping up with someone like Aether.
But inside that moment—
Inside that heightened state—
Leon could see it.
The path.
The flow.
The answer.
Aether struck again.
A downward slash.
Fast.
Heavy.
Precise.
Leon moved.
Not late.
Not early.
Perfectly.
He stepped to the side.
Lifted his sword.
And blocked.
CLACK.
For the first time—
The impact didn't push him back.
Aether's eyes flickered slightly.
Leon didn't stop.
He moved forward.
Twisted his body.
And struck.
Aether stepped back.
Avoiding the blow.
But for the first time—
He paused.
Silence filled the arena.
Leon stood there.
Breathing heavily.
Sweat dripping down his face.
But smiling.
"…Did you see that?"
Aether nodded once.
"Yes."
Leon laughed.
"I'm getting better."
"Yes."
High above—
Unseen—
Someone watched.
Caelus Aurelion stood silently, observing from the shadows beyond the arena walls.
His golden eyes were fixed on Leon.
Unblinking.
Measuring.
"…Faster than expected."
Below—
Leon tightened his grip on his sword.
Because now—
He could feel it clearly.
That power.
That presence.
That will.
It wasn't just perception.
It wasn't just speed.
It was something deeper.
Something greater.
Something that refused to kneel.
Leon exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
"If this is my power…"
He raised his sword again.
"Then I'm going to master it."
Above—
Caelus Aurelion turned away.
"The storm accelerates."
And in the vast, silent arena—
The illegitimate prince continued to train.
Unaware—
That every step forward he took…
Was shaking the very foundation of the empire.