Six months.
To the outside world, six months was just a changing of seasons. The snow melted, the flowers bloomed, and the wars in the Human Empire ground to a bloody stalemate.
But in the Sacred Grove of the World Tree, six months was a lifetime.
Under the crushing pressure of the ancient mana density, weak bodies were broken and rebuilt. Naivety was sweated out. Fear was burned away.
And today, the training ended.
.................
[The Sacred Grove - Central Clearing]
"Are you ready, Nephew?"
Queen Aelinor stood in the center of the clearing. She wasn't wearing her royal robes. She wore a simple, tight-fitting combat suit made of woven spider-silk. Her hands were empty, but her presence filled the entire forest.
She looked at the young man standing opposite her.
Damien had changed.
At twelve-and-a-half years old, he stood six feet tall. His baby fat was completely gone, replaced by lean, corded muscle that looked like it was carved from marble.
