The cold remnants of last night's rain still clung to the earth, the scent of damp soil and wet bark filling the crisp February air. Pale sunlight flickered through the skeletal branches of the surrounding trees, casting uneven shadows across the clearing where two figures stood. The ground beneath them was still soft from the rain, but neither seemed concerned.
Elsera Kelyndor adjusted her stance, exhaling as she steeled herself. She was tall for a woman, standing at 173 cm, her frame lean but deceptively strong. Her long, violet hair, normally pristine, was now loosely tied back, stray strands clinging to her face from sweat and exertion. Unlike the elaborate gowns she usually wore as the bastard daughter of a noble, today she had dressed for battle. Her outfit consisted of a fitted black tunic with silver embroidery tracing the edges, snug leather gloves, and dark trousers tucked into knee-high boots. Over her tunic, she wore a deep blue waistcoat, cinched tightly to her frame, marked with the subtle sigil of her house. The outfit balanced functionality and status, allowing her to move freely without abandoning her noble identity.
Across from her stood Darius Bane, He was 178 cm tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with a confidence that came from years of experience. His striking red hair, loosely tied at the back, cascaded over his pauldrons, framing his sharp crimson eyes. Eyes that gleamed with unshaken composure. Unlike Elsera, he remained utterly untouched by exertion. His pristine white tunic, adorned with black and gold armor, bore the symbol of the royal order. Every part of him, from his attire to his presence, exuded the aura of a warrior far beyond her reach.
Elsera wiped sweat from her brow. Her breathing was uneven, but her resolve was unshaken. She raised her hands, Essentia surging to life at her fingertips.
"Again," she said.
Darius exhaled through his nose, the closest thing to amusement he ever showed.
"You're stubborn. But fine. Show me what you've learned."
Elsera didn't waste a second. With a flick of her wrist, a sharp blade of wind tore through the air toward him. It was nearly invisible, moving fast enough to cut through steel. But Darius merely tilted his head, sidestepping it as though he had predicted it before she even cast it.
She clenched her fists. The moment his feet touched the ground, she followed up, sweeping her hand forward. A torrent of water surged from her palm, twisting mid-air as it transformed into jagged spears, aimed straight for him.
Darius finally drew his sword. With a single, effortless swing, the glowing blue runes along the blade shimmered, cutting through the water as if it were nothing. The force of his swing sent a shockwave outward, rippling through the clearing.
Elsera barely managed to shield herself, raising a wall of wind to absorb the impact. Even so, she skidded back, boots digging into the damp soil.
Her heart pounded. This wasn't a fight.
It was a lesson.
And she hadn't even managed to make him move yet.
Darius lowered his sword, expression unreadable.
"You're improving. But if you want to survive against real threats, you'll have to be faster. More precise. Less predictable."
Elsera grit her teeth.
"Then hit me seriously."
Darius tilted his head.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
In the next instant, he vanished.
Elsera barely registered the hilt of his sword slamming into her gut before the world blurred. Her breath hitched, and before she could react, Darius was already behind her. A sharp strike to the neck, not enough to break anything, but more than enough to knock her unconscious.
Her vision darkened.
The last thing she heard before the world faded was his voice, low and certain.
"You keep improving day by day."
Uh… I lost again.
I knew the difference in ranks was unimaginable, but I never thought the gap would be this overwhelming. Even though I told him to take me seriously, Darius didn't hesitate to land his blows. He got used to hitting me so quickly…
At least let me hit you once, damn it.
My body aching, the taste of blood faint on my tongue. I really am weak…
My name is Elsera Kelyndor, and I am eighteen years old.
Eight months ago, I received one of the nine marks.
Beran Kelyndor, a middle-rank noble, is my father. My mother was just a maid in his household. When she discovered she was pregnant with me, she panicked. She didn't know if my existence would be tolerated, whether I'd be discarded or used. So, she tried to run.
But my father found out before she could escape.
Even though he let her stay, my life wasn't an easy one. A bastard child, no matter how noble her blood, is still just a stain in the eyes of the aristocracy. People looked down on me from the moment I could understand their whispers. But my father couldn't just ignore me—his reputation wouldn't allow it. Instead, he did what nobles do.
He turned me into an investment.
From a young age, I was trained relentlessly. He brought in instructors, hoping I'd awaken my Essentia Core and prove my worth. When I became a Novarion at the age of seven, he was ecstatic. He paraded me around, boasting to other nobles. After all, awakening that early wasn't common.
And when I advanced to Idem at nine, wielding two elements, the whispers changed. Genius. Prodigy. A rising star.
But then… I stopped.
No matter how much I trained, I couldn't progress further. My talent, once praised, became meaningless. The same people who once called me a prodigy began looking at me with pity. Or worse, disdain. My father no longer had a reason to boast. And just like before, my mother and I were pushed aside.
Then, eight months ago, everything changed.
I was chosen.
One of the nine marks appeared on my skin, a mark that grants its bearer the right to compete for the throne. No one fully understands these marks, but rumors say they accelerate one's growth, pushing them beyond their limits.
And maybe there's some truth to it.
Since receiving the mark, I've changed. I feel stronger. Even Darius, my assigned Scion, admitted I'm different from before. But it's not enough. I still can't break through.
And because of this mark, countless people have come for my life. Assassins. Mercenaries. Even other nobles.
But I didn't hide.
I didn't run like some of the others did.
I chose to stay in the light and push forward.
Now, only four months remain until the one-year mark.
I have to break through.
"Sera…"
A voice?
"Is… to wake…"
"Elsera."
Her eyes snapped open, a sharp gasp tearing from her throat. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, the lingering echoes of unconsciousness leaving her body heavy.
"How long was I out?" Her voice was hoarse.
Darius's voice was firm, steady.
"Hmm, around thirty seconds."
Elsera exhaled sharply, trying to steady her breath. Sweat clung to her forehead, her muscles burning from exertion. She had pushed herself harder than before, yet it still wasn't enough.
"That was longer than before."
Darius, standing tall with an easygoing expression, smirked. (She's improving.)
He replied, rolling his shoulders,
"I hit you a little harder this time."
Elsera shot him a cold glare.
Darius simply chuckled, completely unbothered.
Her irritation flared. Even after all this training, the gap between them remained insurmountable. A faint breeze swirled around her fingers, her Essentia instinctively responding to her frustration.
Darius raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
She still has enough left to fight?
But before she could unleash her next attack, an eager voice interrupted.
"Lady Elsera! That last move was incredible! One moment, mist covered everything, and then you just…"
Elsera sighed, cutting him off.
"Oh, Rowan. You were watching?"
Rowan beamed. "Yes! Me and the others saw everything! You were amazing! And Sir Scion Darius. What was that technique? I swear you disappeared for a second!"
Darius laughed.
"You're full of energy, Rowan."
Rowan straightened, puffing his chest.
"Yes, sir!"
Darius, amused by the boy's enthusiasm, laughed even harder.
The moment of levity didn't last.
Elsera's voice turned sharp.
"Rowan. If you have time to chat, you should be training. You're close to breaking through to Idem, but you haven't yet. Focus."
Rowan stiffened, his excitement fading.
"Yes, Lady Elsera. You're right. I'll go get the others and resume training."
Darius sighed.
"You should let them rest, Elsera. They've been pushing themselves without pause for eight months..."
Elsera hesitated. Before she could respond, Rowan cut in.
"No, sir. Lady Elsera is right. We're not here for a vacation. I'll return to training immediately."
Both Elsera and Darius exchanged glances. They knew Rowan's dedication, but also how close he was to breaking
Elsera's voice softened.
"Wait, Rowan. Darius is right. Resting is just as important as training. You need to recover your Essentia, too."
Darius nodded.
"That's right. Let's take the rest of the day off. We leave in two days, anyway."
Elsera exhaled, relenting.
"Fine. Let's get something to eat and call it a day."
Rowan hesitated, uneasy at the idea of rest, but nodded.
"Alright. I'll tell the others."
Suddenly, Darius's usual warmth disappeared, his expression turning dark.
"Before that," he muttered, "We have something else to deal with."
Rowan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Darius turned away from them, his tone sharp.
"You. Hiding behind the trees. Come out."
Silence.
Elsera's stance shifted, unease creeping in. She hadn't sensed anyone nearby, but Darius had.
Darius sighed, his hand drifting to the hilt of his sword.
Rowan's eyes widened. Someone had been watching them?
A hum filled the air as blue Essentia flickered along the blade's edge.
Slash.
A single swing tore through the air. Despite the distance, over twenty meters, the force of the strike cleaved through everything in its path. Trees splintered, and dust swirled around them.
Elsera's narrowed eyes shifted to the wreckage.
"Did you kill them?"
Rowan stood frozen, unable to speak. He hadn't even seen Darius unsheathe his sword.
Darius exhaled deeply.
"No. Just one person. I didn't aim to kill."
Elsera scanned the debris.
"Come out now."
Another pause.
Then, a faint movement.
A boy appeared from behind the fallen trees.
He was around Elsera's height, but his crimson eyes were the first thing to catch her attention—sharper than even Darius's. His blonde hair was matted with dirt, unkempt as though he'd been in the wild for months. His clothes were torn, hanging off his malnourished frame.
Elsera broke the silence first.
"Just a kid…"
"Hey, Darius… did you just try to kill a kid?"
Darius blinked. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally, he muttered,
"I… didn't sense the presence of a kid…"
Elsera softened, her gaze lingering on the boy.
"What's your name?"
Silence.
Darius sighed.
"Sorry, kid. Can you tell us your name?"
More silence.
Then, the boy spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Vani."
The name hit them all like a wave.
Elsera's brows furrowed.
"Is that your name?"
The boy met her gaze unwaveringly.
"Yes. My name is Vani."