The training ground remained eerily silent. Not a single knight dared to speak, not even Darius. Everyone was still processing what had just occurred.

  But Marshal Reynard, standing tall in his usual composed stance, did not show any reaction. His face was as cold as ever, betraying none of the thoughts racing through his mind.

  Inside, however…

  "Is this even possible?"

  He had trained countless warriors, witnessed the rise of prodigies, and guided future legends. But never had he seen someone like this.

  "What kind of monster will he become?"

  He stole a glance at Commander Darius, who was still staring at the severed post in disbelief. The knights muttered in hushed voices, some afraid, some awestruck.

  Lucius stood before him, his expression unreadable, his sword still firm in his grip.

  Reynard’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.

  "Now you are eligible for swordsmanship at the elite level."

  His tone was cold, emotionless. It wasn’t praise. It wasn’t encouragement. It was simply a statement of fact.

  But within his mind, doubt lingered.

  "Lucius is not supposed to be on their level… not yet. But at this rate… he may surpass Cassius. He may surpass Julius. If he continues to grow like this… he may even take the family name for himself."

  Reynard exhaled slightly and turned away. He could not allow himself to show his thoughts.

  "Your training starts early morning tomorrow. Be ready."

  Lucius simply nodded, his amber eyes unwavering.

  Lucius, his breathing steady, simply nodded. But Reynard could see it in his eyes—the fire of someone who had only just begun to rise.

  "No," Reynard thought to himself. "He’s not just trying to be strong. He’s trying to crush every obstacle in his way."

  Then, after a brief pause, his gaze turned even colder.

  "Don’t take him lightly," he warned the knights, referring to Lucius' upcoming duel against Commander Darius.

  With that, he turned and left, concealing the unease stirring in his chest.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  As the sun dipped below the horizon, the corridors of Ardentis Manor filled with a quiet hum of whispers.

  The knights still spoke in awe. The servants carried urgent messages across the halls. The news of a mere nine-year-old creating an Aura Blade had spread like wildfire—not just within the estate but across the empire itself.

  And in the center of it all was Lucius.

  Inside his chamber, he sat in quiet contemplation when a soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

  "Young Master," came the familiar voice of Elise, his personal maid.

  She stepped inside, her usually calm face holding a hint of unease. Her violet eyes locked onto his as she spoke in a hushed voice.

  "The Duke has summoned you for dinner."

  Lucius blinked. "Dinner?"

  Elise nodded, but her voice turned sharp. "There will be no one else at this meal. Just the two of you."

  "Dinner? With the Duke? Alone?"

  Elise continued, her voice dropping even lower. "Be very careful, Young Master. This kind of dinner... has only ever happened to Cassius and Julius. Even Lord Adrian was never invited."

  Lucius narrowed his eyes. That meant he was the third sibling to be invited—something unheard of.

  "Why now?"

  He didn’t ask questions. He simply nodded and followed her down the dimly lit hallways of the estate.

  The dining hall was vast, its golden chandeliers casting a dim, almost ominous glow over the long oak table. The scent of fine wine and lavish food filled the air, but none of it mattered.

  At the head of the table sat Duke Magnus Ardentis.

  His presence alone made the entire room feel suffocating. A pressure unlike anything Lucius had ever felt before.

  As soon as he stepped into the room—it hit him.

  The sheer, overwhelming aura of the Duke.

  Lucius's steps halted, his breath caught in his throat. It wasn’t just intimidation.

  It was power.

  A force that bore down on him like a titan staring at an ant.

  "This pressure… it wasn’t like this before. The last two times I dined with the family, it wasn’t this strong."

  It was deliberate.

  The Duke was testing him.

  Lucius gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move forward, each step slow but steady.

  Then—

  "Sit."

  A single word.

  But it crashed against Lucius like a thunderclap.

  His body shivered from the sheer force of that voice, as if the very air around them obeyed the Duke’s command.

  Lucius clenched his fist under the table to stop his hands from shaking.

  For the first time in nine years, the Duke had spoken directly to him.

  He wasn’t sure whether to feel honored or terrified.

  With a deep breath, he sat down—but this time, directly opposite the Duke.

  The silence stretched.

  The meal was lavish, as always. Exotic meats, the finest wines, delicacies from the farthest reaches of the empire.

  But Lucius barely tasted any of it.

  The Duke ate in silence, each movement measured and calculated. Lucius followed suit, not daring to break the quiet.

  Beyond the walls of the Ardentis Manor, the story of Lucius Ardentis and his Aura Blade at the age of nine spread at an unprecedented speed.

  In the grand halls of the Imperial Court, advisors whispered amongst themselves.

  In the training grounds of rival noble houses, warriors scoffed in disbelief.

  In the shadows of the Ardentis family's enemies, spies carried urgent messages.

  "The youngest of Ardentis… has done the impossible."

  "A nine-year-old wielding an Aura Blade? It must be a lie."

  "No… if the Duke has acknowledged him, then it is the truth."

  Across the empire, nobles and warlords alike turned their eyes toward the forgotten son of Ardentis.

  And not all of them wished him well.