Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Duke Thermion, a warrior known as the ‘Black Wave.’

A man who became a hero alongside ‘Blue Storm’ Aken Sogres during the war against the Drennic Empire.

The reason he left the capital and traveled south wasn’t just to celebrate the seventh birthday of Dain Sogres, the youngest son of Count Sogres.

‘Hmm. I think it would be a good idea to bring up the engagement story in today’s conversation.’

Owen Thermion, the eldest son.

The most skilled person in the Imperial Academy’s fencing department.

The true intention of this visit to Count Sogres is to discuss the marriage of his eldest son.

The target is Arabel Sogres.

She is also the most talented person in the academy’s magic department.

‘Will the union of these two families create such a formidable influence that even the royalty would struggle to control?’

Duke Thermion didn’t pay much attention to politics.

This was similar to Count Sogres.

However, it was necessary to respond to the imperial family, which kept every noble family in check as their prestige and popularity grew after the war.

That method is marriage.

Of course, he didn’t want to force an arranged marriage. It’s something he wanted to discuss after seeing his close friend.

Count Sogres is not the type to follow exactly what he dictates.

Duke Thermion decided to enjoy the Southern atmosphere.

“The morning air is so pleasant. After all, I like the southern air.”

It was when Duke Thermion was strolling through the garden of Count Sogres’s castle, lost in many thoughts.

“Mmm.”

A strange sound was heard.

Instead of the dew forming and the sound of insects chirping, the sound of waves and cheers persisted in his ears.

It was very faint, but he could hear it.

He thought the guards of Count Sogres were training in the morning, but the only sound he could hear was that of a person.

Duke Thermion walked in that direction without realizing it.

If it was Count Sogres, he was planning to tell the story secretly while he was out.

“Eh.”

However, Duke Thermion, who discovered the source of the sound, couldn’t help but exclaim.

It wasn’t Count Sogres.

It was Dain Sogres, the youngest son of Count Sogres.

“Haap.”

A stab that unfolds in a brief and intense burst of energy.

Although he is only seven years old, his posture is oriented at a certain angle, and the spear he throws stops at the exact point every time.

‘Oh.’

Duke Thermion was impressed by the movement and concentration that were completely insensitive for a seven-year-old.

How could he do that?

As if a child was born to hold a spear, the strike he made with his little hand was excellent.

In terms of simple stabbing, it’s a level that even spear users who have been on the battlefield for several years would have to give up.

“Count Sogres has finally found a successor.”

He had heard that Count Sogres was very worried because his eldest daughter, Arabel, and his younger daughter, Claire, went the path of magic and summoning.

But it doesn’t seem like there is anything to worry about.

The potential and talent of Count’s youngest son, Dain Sogres, can already be felt through the stabbing with a single spear.

“They say he already showed great talent when he was a year old…”

He dismissed it as just a rumor, but was it true?

At that moment, a posture suddenly caught his attention.

Duke Thermion squinted.

“Did you learn how to handle a sword…?”

Even swordplay at such an early age?

But curiously, it felt familiar to him.

Where did he see it?

’I think I saw it clearly…’

If what he was holding was a sword and not a spear, he would have recognized it immediately.

“I don’t know who it is, but I think it would save face if you go out and see instead of hiding.”

At that moment, a bold voice was heard.

Duke Thermion felt embarrassed for a moment, but then he burst out laughing and left.

“That’s really cheeky.”

Dain found Duke Thermion and bowed as if he had been waiting.

Dain Sogres meets Duke Thermion.

It seemed like he had received proper training in etiquette.

It’s also impressive that even though his whole body was soaked in sweat at this moment, he didn’t tremble at all.

Not because he had already created a magic core at that age, but anyway, he was an incredible child.

“From morning, I was absorbed for a moment as I watched the precious scene of Sogres’ divine training. I didn’t mean to spy on you, will you forgive me?”

“I forgive you.”

Duke Thermion burst into laughter again. He was starting to like this bold kid in front of him.

“The stabbing was great. You really inherited the talent. Mmm. The spear you hold is no ordinary object… Can I look at it?”

Surprisingly, Dain handed over the spear without hesitation.

Towards the handle, not towards the blade of the spear.

Duke Thermion smiled.

The etiquette for handing over weapons is also clear.

“It’s a very good spear. I can feel the affection of Count Sogres.”

“I know my father worked hard to prepare it, and I’m grateful that you recognize it.”

That’s a very good answer.

It’s like his own son, Owen, the eldest son of the duke, is not inferior in manners or skills, but it wasn’t like that when he was young.

‘Is this something I should consider for an engagement?’

Duke Thermion thought of his youngest daughter, Leyla.

Although she is the youngest and too young to talk about marriage, he thought it would be good to look to the future with this kind of talent.

Of course, he has to say that he likes his daughter.

“My daughter also practices swordsmanship. Since they are the same age, they’ll be good friends if you ever enter the academy. By the way, I’m leaving tomorrow, so I think it would be good to meet and talk before that date.”

Dain remembered the day before when he met Leyla in the garden but didn’t bother to mention it.

“Yes, Duke. I will.”

“Haha. I’m glad the response is refreshing. By the way, you were training, and I interrupted you for a long time.”

Duke Thermion, who had spoken until that moment, remembered Dain’s posture and movements he had seen before.

And, just in case, he asked.

“Have you ever trained with a sword?”

For a moment, Dain’s hands, which had been clasped politely, trembled. But soon Dain shook his head as if he didn’t know what was going on.

“I’ve read a textbook on swordsmanship, but I’ve never practiced it.”

“Mmm. I see.”

However, what Duke Thermion saw in Dain’s spear skill was clearly the posture and habits of those who used swords.

Infused with a raw smell.

Could it be… the smell of the battlefield?

“That can’t be possible.”

For a 7-year-old to have the smell of the battlefield.

Duke Thermion chuckled at the idea of going too far.

“Well, if you don’t want to reveal it, there must be a reason.”

Duke Thermion decided to pretend not to notice.

“Wow, I’ve been taking too much for a walk. Well then, I’ll see you later when I bid you farewell.”

“Yes, Duke. Please come back and take a look.”

“Alright. And if you ever come to the capital, look for me. For the hospitality I received here at Count’s castle and because I have personally become interested in you.

Interest.

Dain was startled by those words, but he responded without showing it.

“I will definitely come to visit.”

Duke Thermion left the training ground, leaving behind Dain, who bowed his head.

There was a happy smile on his lips.

“I came here to talk about marriage, and I ended up seeing something more interesting.”

Meeting a boy named Dain seemed to be the greatest benefit of this trip south.

***

“Wow.”

Duke Thermion was overwhelming. It wasn’t just about unleashing magic against a child; he had recognized my sword skills just by observing my stance. Of course, I had no reason to hide it. However, when learning new skills, it’s necessary to conceal old habits. Though I tried to learn the stabbing stance from my father without revealing the habits of my past life, he found out.

“Is a duke always a duke?”

One of the 6 Hexa-level talents in the Altheon Empire. Among them, the man considered the strongest alongside my father. Duke Thermion, who had just chatted with me as if he were the uncle next door.

“Will he remember me?”

I couldn’t ask due to the strangeness, but if I were training with a sword instead of a lance, maybe he would have recognized me. Maybe. That’s why my heart was pounding.

“I will win this time in this life.”

It’s not a feeling of revenge. Could it be considered a secondary goal? To defeat the one who defeated me and fight again. “I can do it,” step by step, one by one.

Among them, he is a man considered the strongest alongside my father.

But now I’m in a very good environment that can’t be compared to my past life.

Anyway, what is Leyla doing?

I thought about Leyla, who last night seemed strangely lonely as she watched me receive gifts one after another from my family.

Since you said all your older siblings are at the academy, maybe you feel lonely?

It’s not something I can guess, but…

“I would like to meet you for a moment before I leave.”

Let’s start with training.

Anyway, I only stopped using the lance after practicing the thrust to a level I was satisfied with.

“Wow.”

And when I suddenly felt a presence, I turned around and saw Herman standing there.

I felt like he was so focused that he didn’t even notice.

“Herman. Were you waiting?”

“My task is to always serve you as a shadow.”

Maybe he took assassination classes, or rather, hiding.

As I came up with that thought, I asked, wiping off sweat with the cloth Herman gave me.

“How are you? Everyone seems busy, right?”

“Everyone seems busy preparing for tonight’s second banquet.”

Herman added then:

“And it seems that other nobles are arriving one after another. It’s difficult for all the nobles to arrive on time.”

For reference, at this banquet, which is also my birthday, more than 30 noble families will visit the Castle of Sogres one after another.

Due to the distance, only the nobles who can afford to visit will come, but if you include attendees, the number will probably be huge.

“By the way, your sisters say they arrived safely.”

“I see.”

My sisters gave me a gift, stayed for a while, and then left early in the morning.

This time we opened the teleportation gate and headed to the academy.

I think my younger sister insisted on returning on the wyvern, but my mother easily restrained her, telling her to go with her sister.

Anyway, I guess she had no choice because the academy’s midterms were just around the corner.

As soon as I have time, I’ll have to look at the gifts my sisters gave me.

“Let’s go, Herman.”

So I returned to the castle with Herman, and after bathing, I put on clean training clothes and left the room.

I didn’t forget to bring my short lance.

If I’m armed, it’s not a threat, and my father advised me to always carry a weapon anyway.

As a birthday banquet was being held, I didn’t mind taking a break and going out before the evening banquet, but it was to practice using magic as my older sister had told me.

“I do it from time to time, but… After all, I guess I’ll have to invest more time, right?”

Being brimming with talent can sometimes be complicated. Because I still don’t know what to focus on.

For now, I’m doing everything I can, but there hasn’t been any “great progress” in magic and summoning yet.

There are many people at this age who can’t even feel magical power or contact summoned beasts.

So today, I was going to analyze the magical power of flowers as my older sister told me.

It was said that the source of magical energy is nature and that flowers contain the greatest magical energy of nature.

“I’m here.”

I looked at the flowers that bloomed abundantly in the garden, full of spring energy.

When I looked at the flowers that gardener Mr. Dreno had so beautifully cared for, I strangely felt at ease.

It’s amazing to think about my past life when I wondered if a flower could be used as medicinal herbs.

“This is the magic of flowers.”

I didn’t notice it when I passed by without thinking, but when I focused, I could see a vague flow of magical power.

Proof that Dain Sogres’s body has tremendous magical affinity. Because I can see with my eyes what others feel with their senses.

“This… She told me to bring it toward my own flow.”

When I was about to throw it away, I took out the short lance I had on my back, placed it next to me, and concentrated my mind.

The magical power of nature.

She said that making the flow yours is the beginning of true magical training.

I really haven’t started to imitate my older sister’s magical obsession when she was young, just because of my affinity.

I focused on the flow of magical power inside the flower. I can’t believe such a small flower has such a huge flow.

If you feel this flow of natural magical energy, make it yours, and finally let it settle inside your body, turning it into a circle.

Of course, it’s easier said than done. My older sister says that only a very small number of people can do it.

But I have a feeling that I’ll probably be included among them.

Indeed, having a high magical affinity is a great advantage.

It didn’t take long after I found the magic of the flower that I almost understood its flow.

“Like this… if…”

And finally.

“I did it.”

I followed the flow of the flower’s magic with astonishing simplicity and unfolded it in my hands.

“That’s it.”

There is a quiet joy in the air.

The magical power that was only vaguely visible becomes clearer.

If you do this one by one, creating a circle won’t be a task.

‘What should I do if I create a circle and a core at the same time?’

Well, let’s think about it later.

The important thing now is to use my talents to the fullest without spoiling them.

“Let’s try again.”

That was the moment when I was leaning towards another flower.

“Oh, I’m bored. As soon as my father arrived, he was busy talking. What is this?”

“It took a month to arrive.”

“But the garden here is really beautiful, isn’t it?”

“He has turned into a little kid and says things like how beautiful the garden is… Oh, I’m so bored. Is there anything interesting?”

A voice came from the path inside the garden, and two kids appeared.

For a moment, my hands trembled.

The boys walked on the flowers.

Bajak, Bajak.

The flowers that had been carefully cultivated were being mercilessly crushed.

“Uh, I don’t think there’s a path there.”

“What do you think? Someone will say something if he stepped on this.”

I laughed out loud.

“Ah.”

They seemed to be the children of a noble family who visited the Count’s castle today.

“Anyway, when will this damn garden end? It’s not some kind of maze. Where the hell is the exit?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Maybe this way?”

“Ah, this idiot. It’s the path we passed before!”

“Right. Hahaha.”

And as soon as they found me, they shouted:

“Hi! What do you think? Or not… Are you a gardener? Anyway, please show us the way out of here!”