Ater Grim left, Empress Alexia stood at the window for a long time. The garden below was empty save for a few gardeners tending to the flowers, but she wasn't really looking at them. Her mind was elsewhere.
"Just like Caius," she murmured to herself, a small smile playing on her lips. "The same boldness. The same disregard for rules."
She walked back to her desk. Opened a hidden drawer to reveal a worned out painting. A man with skicked back hair and a cocky smile. Caius van Ambrose in his prime.
"You would be proud of your great-grandson," she said to the image. "He has your spirit. Your arrogance too."
All the stories she'd heard about Caius over the years - his battles, his conquests, his legendary sword techniques - they had shaped her understanding of what made House Ambrose special. And now, she saw those same qualities emerging in young Grim.
"But will he be enough?" she asked the empty room. "Will he grow strong enough, fast enough?"
She put the sketch away and picked up a report from her desk. It detailed strange activities at the southern border. Non stop rain for a week. And loud rumblings through the southern hills.
"We need you, Grim van Ambrose," she whispered. "More than you know."
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"I have to go to training now before my father gets mad," Grim told Liona as they reached the main hallway.
The princess pouted but nodded. "Remember our deal. A whole day together."
"Yeah, yeah. I remember," Grim said, already walking away. "See you later."
As soon as Liona was out of sight, Grim picked up his pace. He wasn't actually late for training - he just wanted to get away from the clingy princess.
[She really does like you,] the voice commented.
"Not my problem," Grim replied in his head. "So, how hard is it to form more mana hearts?"
[After your first mana heart, it depends on how you are with mana,] the voice explained. [The more used your body gets to collecting mana, the easier it'll be. But also, the number of mana hearts you can have is set at birth.]
"What's my limit?" Grim asked, curious despite himself.
[Hard to say exactly,] the voice replied vaguely. [More than most, less than some.]
"That's not a fucking answer," Grim said.
[It's the only one you're getting for now,] the voice replied. Grim thought that the voice had a hint of happiness in it's s voice. [Focus on forming your second heart first before worrying about your tenth.]
Grim grumbled but let it drop. He had more immediate concerns anyway. Like getting through today's training with Rowan while pretending he hadn't just gone behind his father's back to the Empress.
---
"You're distracted," Rowan said, watching Grim stumble through a sequence of movements that should have been simple.
"I'm fine," Grim insisted, correcting his stance. "Just thinking about something."
"A warrior who thinks about 'something' during training ends up dead in battle," Rowan said firmly. "Focus on the present. Nothing else matters."
Grim nodded and tried again. This time he forced his mind to clear, concentrating only on the flow of mana through his body.
[He's right, you know,] the voice chimed in. [But your distraction could be useful. While you're training your body, we could work on your second mana heart.]
"I thought that took special focus," Grim thought back.
[It does. But you've been gathering and cycling mana for months now. Your first heart is stable. The groundwork is laid. We just need to direct excess mana to where your second heart should form.]
Grim considered this while executing a series of slashes with his practice sword. The wooden weapon felt even more inadequate now that he knew real training blades waited for him in the armory.
"Fine. Tell me what to do," he thought to the voice.
[Keep training as normal. But each time you draw in mana, direct a small portion to the spot below your first heart. Imagine a second vessel forming there, slowly filling with each breath.]
For the next hour, Grim followed these instructions. On the outside, it looked like he was just going through his regular forms. But internally, he was focusing intently on that spot below his first mana heart, willing a second one to take shape.
It was harder than he expected. The mana wanted to flow to his already formed heart, not create a new one. Sweat started to drip on his forehead.
"Stop" Rowan said, noticing Grim's exhaustion. "Take a break, then we'll continue with mana training after."
Grim nodded and sat down. Still trying to catch his breath. He could feel something happening. Inside of his chest it felt like a thousand small bubbles coming together on one point.
[Good progress,] the voice said. [You've created a foundation. Now we need to stabilize it.]
When training resumed, Grim continued the process. Draw in mana. Send some to the forming second heart. Hold it there. Repeat.
By late afternoon, the pressure had grown. It wasn't painful exactly, but it was uncomfortable, like something inside him was stretched too tight.
"One more set," Rowan instructed, seemingly unaware of Grim's internal struggle.
Grim nodded and took his stance. As he began the sequence, he felt the pressure build to a breaking point.
[Now!] the voice commanded. [Push everything you have into that spot!]
Grim's next breath drew in as much mana as he could handle. Rather than channeling it to his limbs for the technique, he forced it all to that tightly stretched bubble below his first heart.
A sharp pain shot through his chest. His practice sword clattered to the ground as he doubled over, gasping.
"Grim!" Rowan was at his side instantly, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong?"
Grim couldn't answer. The pain was intense but brief. It faded almost as quickly as it had come, replaced by a warm, pulsing sensation.
[You did it,] the voice said, sounding genuinely impressed. [Second mana heart formed. Crude and small, but formed.]
"I'm fine," Grim finally managed to say, straightening up. He couldn't keep the grin off his face. "Better than fine, actually."
Rowan's eyes widened as he sensed the change in his son. "You... formed a second mana heart? Just now? During basic training?"
Grim nodded, feeling smug. "Guess I'm just that good."
Instead of praising him, Rowan frowned. "That's extremely dangerous, Grim. Forming a mana heart isn't something you do casually during practice. The process should be carefully controlled, with proper supervision."
"Well, it worked, didn't it?" Grim shot back, irritated by his father's reaction.
"This time, yes. But rushing your development could lead to unstable hearts or damaged conduits." Rowan shook his head. "We'll need to spend time stabilizing this new heart before we continue with anything else."
Grim scowled but didn't argue. He could feel his new heart, still small and weak compared to his first, but definitely there. A second mana heart at age five. That had to be some kind of record.
[Not quite a record,] the voice commented, reading his thoughts. [But impressive nonetheless. Your great-grandfather formed his second at four, and the girl in the shop already has two at eight.]
"But hers took three more years to form," Grim pointed out mentally. "I'm ahead of schedule."
[True. But quality matters as much as speed. Your second heart is barely formed. It will take time to strengthen it.]
"Who asked you?" Grim thought irritably.
For the rest of the day, Rowan had Grim sit in meditation, focusing on stabilizing his new mana heart. It was boring work, but Grim could feel the difference it was making. With each cycle of mana, the second heart grew a little stronger, a little more defined.
By evening, Grim was exhausted but satisfied. Two mana hearts at age five. Even his father had to admit that was impressive.
"You continue to surprise me," Rowan said as they walked back to their quarters. "But promise me you won't attempt to form a third without proper preparation. The risks increase exponentially with each new heart."
"Fine," Grim agreed, though he had no intention of waiting if the opportunity arose.
That night, as he lay in bed feeling the gentle pulse of his two mana hearts, Grim found himself wondering about the voice's vague answer regarding his limit.
"You really won't tell me how many hearts I can form?" he asked silently.
[I've already told you more than I should,] the voice replied. [Some things you need to discover for yourself.]
"Then what's the point of having you in my head?" Grim grumbled.
[To keep you alive long enough to find out,] the voice answered simply.
Grim snorted and rolled over, pulling the blanket up.
"Two mana hearts down. Who knew how many more to go." Grim said.
For once, the future actually looked interesting.