The heavy iron doors of the library vibrated as a surge of mana rippled through the palace. Leonardo stood before the open grimoire, his heart pounding. He had just unlocked a secret buried for centuries, and he knew his life would never be the same.
Princess Aurora looked at him, her face pale. "My father is coming. He can feel the seal breaking. You need to leave, now!"
But before Leonardo could move, the blue screen flickered with a sudden, sharp warning.
[Detection Alert: S-Rank Presence Detected!] [Identity: King Silas von Aethelgard]
The doors burst open. King Silas entered, his golden armor reflecting the magical light of the room. Behind him were twelve elite knights, their hands on their swords. The King's eyes were like burning coals, scanning every corner.
"Aurora!" the King roared. "What was that energy? Who is this boy?"
Leonardo felt a crushing pressure. He felt like his bones were about to break under the sheer weight of the King's mana.
Princess Aurora stepped in front of Leonardo. "Father, this is the boy who defeated Captain Boros. I was testing his potential."
The King narrowed his eyes, stepping closer to Leonardo. He grabbed Leonardo's chin, forcing him to look up. "A boy with no mana defeating a Silver Knight? Impossible. Either he is a demon in disguise, or he is hiding something."
Suddenly, the [Broken Hero's Blade] at Leonardo's hip let out a low, vibrating hum.
"Wait," the King muttered, his eyes falling on the rusted hilt. "That sword... where did you get it? Keep him in the palace guest wing. Tomorrow, he will face the Royal Trial. If he survives, he stays. If he fails, he dies."
As the King marched out, Aurora turned to Leonardo, her voice a whisper. "The Royal Trial is a death trap. We have twelve hours, Leonardo. We need to train."