The count stepped forward, his polished boots clicking against the stone floor as he approached Ignis. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, his voice warm and filled with praise. "You fought beautifully, Ignis. Kaelen has been training for nearly three years, yet you defeated him with such ease. It's clear that you're a genius, and having someone like you in Ravenwood County is a blessing. Who knows? Perhaps your talent will bring prosperity to our lands."
Ignis bowed politely, his expression calm and respectful. "Thank you, my lord. Your words honor me."
With their purpose at the count's mansion fulfilled, Evan, Alenna, and Ignis prepared to leave. After exchanging a few courteous words, the family departed, leaving the count and his household to reflect on the spar.
After Evan, Alenna, and Ignis departed from the training ground, the count's attitude underwent a noticeable change. He turned to Kaelen, his voice low and tinged with disappointment. "You've disappointed me, Kaelen. I didn't expect you to lose."
Deep down, the count knew the truth. Ignis was a prodigy, a rare talent that surpassed even the most diligent of trainees. Kaelen hadn't lost because of laziness or lack of effort—he had trained hard, and the count was well aware of that. But admitting this aloud would only plant seeds of doubt in Kaelen's mind. Instead, the count chose to use this moment as motivation. If Kaelen saw Ignis as a rival, someone to surpass, it would drive him to train even harder. Defeating Ignis could become a powerful goal, one that would push Kaelen to new heights.
Kaelen clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he absorbed his father's words. Anger and shame burned within him. How could he, the older and more experienced trainee, lose to someone two years his junior? The humiliation stung, but it also ignited a fierce determination. He vowed to himself that he would never let this happen again.
The count's plan had been clear from the start. He had hoped that by pitting Kaelen against Ignis regularly, his son would establish dominance and superiority in Ignis's mind. The count had been confident in this strategy—after all, Kaelen was older, had trained longer, and was the heir to Ravenwood County. But the outcome had been the opposite of what he had envisioned. Ignis had not only won but had done so decisively, shattering the count's expectations and leaving Kaelen to grapple with the aftermath.
The count left the training ground without another word, his expression unreadable. Lady Seraphina and Lyra followed quietly behind him, their faces betraying nothing. The air in the training ground grew heavy as Kaelen stood alone, his fists clenched and his chest heaving with frustration.
Lady Evelyne, his mother, approached him with a gentle yet firm demeanor. She placed a comforting hand on his head, her voice soft but filled with resolve. "Don't lose heart, my son. I know this defeat is hard to bear, but you mustn't let it break you. You have the potential to overcome this. You can defeat Ignis—I believe in you. But you must believe in yourself as well. Work harder, train smarter, and never give up. If you sulk or slack off, your father's disappointment will only grow, and your standing in this household will suffer. You must earn back the respect you lost today."
Kaelen's eyes burned with determination as he listened to his mother's words. The sting of defeat still lingered, but it was overshadowed by a fierce resolve. He was the heir of Ravenwood County, and he would not let this setback define him. He would train harder, push himself further, and one day, he would defeat Ignis. That much, he swore to himself.
----
In stark contrast to the count's somber mood, Evan was brimming with pride and joy after Ignis's victory over Kaelen.
He placed a hand on Ignis's shoulder, his voice warm and filled with admiration. "You've shown incredible strength today, son. I couldn't be happier."
Ignis nodded, a small smile playing on his lips, though his eyes flickered briefly toward the count's direction, as if weighing his father's words.
Alenna stepped closer, her eyes shining with affection. "You've done so well, Ignis. Did you see Lady Evelyne's face? She didn't seem pleased at all after your victory. It seems your earlier prediction might have been right—the count likely wanted to unsettle you, but you turned the tables on them."
Evan's expression grew serious as he considered her words. "This match has given us a clearer picture of the count's intentions. We'll need to be more cautious moving forward."
His words lingered in the air, and for a moment, the joy of the victory was tempered by a shared understanding of the challenges ahead. Ignis's triumph had not only proven his skill but also exposed the count's true motives, giving Evan and Alenna valuable insight into what lay ahead.
----
Time passed swiftly, like a galloping horse. After his first defeat, Kaelen challenged Ignis to a sparring match every year, determined to prove himself. But no matter how hard he trained or how much he improved, the results never changed. Kaelen lost every single time. It wasn't for lack of effort—he poured his heart and soul into his training, pushing himself to the limit. Yet, each defeat seemed to come faster than the last, a testament to Ignis's growing strength and skill.
Ignis, with his perfect coordination and the vast experience of his past life, was simply on another level. For someone like Kaelen, who had only trained for seven, eight, or even nine years, defeating Ignis was an insurmountable challenge. Ignis's movements were precise, his strategies flawless, and his understanding of combat unparalleled. Each sparring match only reinforced the gap between them.
But eventually, the sparring matches came to an end. By the time Ignis turned ten and Kaelen twelve, Kaelen's mana circuits had fully formed, allowing him to harness and use a small amount of mana. Ignis seized the opportunity as the perfect excuse to step away from their annual matches. With a tone of genuine respect, he explained that it would be unfair to fight someone who could now harness mana—a power that granted strength far beyond that of an ordinary adult. The count, though visibly displeased, couldn't argue with the logic. Pressing the matter further would only make him appear unreasonable.
For Ignis, this was an ideal outcome. It allowed him to gracefully bow out of the matches without causing unnecessary tension or revealing the true extent of his abilities. He had no interest in humiliating Kaelen further or drawing unwanted attention to himself.
Over the years, Ignis had meticulously monitored the progress of the Hogyoku, the mysterious artifact tied to his past life. Just as he had predicted, it was steadily absorbing energy, inching closer to completion. By his calculations, it would reach its full potential by the time he turned twelve. The anticipation of its activation filled him with quiet excitement. He hoped it would be the key to unlocking his true power—a bridge to the abilities he had once wielded as Yamamoto Genryusai.
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