What you need right now is a strong body, a sharp mind, and proper control of Shadow Energy."
Abaddon's voice hummed from within Jude's shadow, sounding far too calm for someone lecturing an exhausted eight-year-old.
Jude didn't reply. His breath came in quick, controlled bursts as he continued the drilling exercises Abaddon had assigned. Sweat streamed down his face, soaking his shirt and dripping onto the training ground.
Push.
Step.
Strike.
Repeat.
The wooden sword felt twice as heavy as usual. His shoulders burned. His lungs felt tight. But he didn't stop.
Until—
Footsteps approached him.
Jude paused mid-movement, straightening slowly. Vin and Vex were walking toward him, not aggressively but with a strange seriousness Jude wasn't used to seeing on either of them.
He lowered his sword. His expression hardened.
"What do you want?" Jude asked, voice steady, almost cold.
Vin swallowed. "I… I mean… we—"
Jude cut him off sharply. "Are you two picking a fight right now?"
Vin flailed his hands quickly. "No! It's not like that!"
"Then tell me what you want," Jude said. "Or leave me alone."
A brief silence.
Vex stepped forward this time, gaze firm. "We'll be leaving the outer estate soon."
Jude's brows lowered. "…And?"
At ten, the children who qualify are taken to the main house to begin official training. The rest are sent back home.
Jude stared at them, expression unreadable. "And you're telling me this why?" His tone remained serious, almost stern.
Vin inhaled deeply. "Be ready, Jude. Because when you get back… we'll be stronger than you." His gaze sharpened with determination. "Don't you dare slack off before you return to the main house."
Then both brothers spoke together, voices loud and unwavering.
"We will be the strongest knights Avernus has ever seen."
Jude blinked.
He hadn't expected that.
Not from them.
Not with that sincerity.
When did they grow up?
When did they develop eyes like that?
Eyes that faced forward rather than downward?
They weren't being arrogant.
They weren't mocking him.
They were acknowledging him—openly—as a rival, someone they would chase. Someone worth surpassing.
Jude felt something warm in his chest.
He smiled slightly. "You two are just getting a head start," he said confidently. "That doesn't mean I'll fall behind. So wait for me, brothers… for the one who will be the strongest—"
His eyes sharpened.
"—is me."
From his shadow, Abaddon muttered, "A touching moment between brothers, I suppose."
Vin, Vex, and Jude held each other's gaze for a long moment—three brothers silently promising the future would be different from the past.
Then the moment ended.
Vin and Vex turned and walked away.
Watching their backs, Jude felt something heavy lift from inside him.
In his past life, his siblings treated him like he was trash—something beneath their notice.
But now… things were changing.
He looked down at the dark silhouette stretching at his feet.
"…Hey, Abaddon."
"What now?" the phoenix spirit replied lazily.
"If I become a four-star mage… will I be able to learn Shadow Walk?"
Abaddon burst out laughing. "Kid, you might've become a three-star mage in a ridiculously short time—fine. But reaching four stars in a small amount of time? Impossible. Absolutely not happening."
Jude narrowed his eyes. "You wanna bet?"
"…You can't be serious."
Jude stared straight ahead, unwavering. "In a year, I'll reach four stars. And after that, you'll teach me."
There was a long pause.
Then Abaddon spoke again, voice amused and dangerous.
"Fine, kid. If you manage to become a four-star mage in a year, I'll teach you Shadow Walk. But if you fail… you'll do anything and everything I instruct you to do. Without question."
Jude didn't hesitate. "Deal."
Abaddon snorted. "You'll regret that."
Jude returned to his stance and resumed drilling immediately.
Sweat flew from his hair.
His muscles roared in protest.
But he swung, stepped, and pushed with more determination than before.
He had a goal now.
A real one.
The day passed.
Morning drenched into noon.
Noon faded into evening.
And dawn rose again.
The next day, the courtyard was full of movement.
Vin, Vex, and the other qualifying children stood at the gates, bags packed.
Guardians checked their ranks.
Knights stood ready to escort them.
Only ten children qualified to move to the main house.
Thirty others failed and were escorted away, stripped of their chance to join the main household entirely.
Some cried.
Some accepted it silently.
Some clung to guardians until they were pulled away.
The outer estate grew quieter with each departing step.
Vin and Vex turned back one last time, both raising a hand to Jude from afar before joining the procession.
Then they were gone.
Jude watched silently, then exhaled slowly.
He still had two more years before he would join them.
Two years to grow.
Two years to harden.
Two years to chase strength without hesitation.
He tightened his grip on his training sword.
"…Time to begin."