The following morning, Aedan was at the training grounds, his figure a whirlwind of motion. He had utterly devastated the entire area; craters marked the earth and targets were splintered. A group of servants stood at a safe distance, cheering loudly for him, and their adoration brought a proud smile to his face. He loved the praise—everyone spoke highly of his talent.
He quickly manifested a magnificent ice bow in his hands, created an arrow of frozen magic, and infused it with Air Magic. The arrow launched with a whistling sound, ripping through the practice target and embedding itself deep into the stone wall behind it. Aedan smirked, sharing a look of satisfaction with the applauding servants.
However, accolades no longer satisfied him. He craved real combat. He turned to the Knight standing closest to the field and boldly asked him to duel.
The Knight was startled, his eyes widening. He stammered slightly. "Prince… are you truly sure you wish to duel? We mustn't risk you being injured."
A wave of frustration washed over Aedan. He instantly conjured a Fire Sword and pointed it directly at the Knight's chest, his voice sharp with authority.
"I am the Prince. You will follow my order. And do not hold back or show me any leniency. Use your full power."
The Knight, recognizing the command in the boy's eyes, bowed and stepped onto the training ground.
The Knight, in his mind, had already dismissed Aedan as a threat, assuming the sheltered Prince lacked any knowledge of real-life combat. But the moment Aedan's Fire Sword slashed and collided with his own, the Knight's eyes went wide with shock. He stumbled back a step. The pressure from the Prince was immense. He immediately struggled to defend himself.
He swiftly activated his Strength Magic. All Knights of the Vesperia family were at Level 4 or higher, so Aedan found himself facing his first real challenge. But instead of being deterred, Aedan grew excited. He channeled more energy, increasing his own strength, and began unleashing a flurry of multiple strikes. Simultaneously, he wove in Ice Magic, using it to disrupt the Knight's footwork and balance.
The Knight was overwhelmed. Aedan saw his opportunity, zeroed in on the man's weakness, and executed a precise attack that ended the duel. The Knight fell, defeated.
The man quickly rose, bowing deeply with newfound respect. "Prince, you are truly powerful. You can fight opponents above your own level."
Aedan smiled faintly at the compliment.Tired but pleased, he made his way back inside the palace. He entered his private chamber, and immediately, Seraphina was there, wrapping him in a warm hug.
"Aedan, what happened? Are you tired?" she asked gently.
He buried his face in the comforting crook of her neck. "Yes, Mother, I'm exhausted. I practiced a lot today, and I even fought a Knight."
Seraphina frowned slightly. She led him to the bed, lay down, and pulled him beside her, stroking his hair with deep affection. "Aedan, I told you not to practice so much. You are a Prince, not a warrior."
Aedan looked down. "But Mother, I must become powerful. I need to protect our Kingdom from enemies, and I must protect you from those who would harm you."
His words pierced Seraphina's heart. Tears pricked her eyes as she squeezed him tightly. "My Aedan. You are so good."
Aedan placed his mouth against her breast. "Mother, I feel so tired," he whispered.
Seraphina understood. This was the effect of pushing his limits in his training. She exposed her large, heavy breast and offered it to him. Aedan quickly latched onto the nipple, drinking the milk greedily. After a few minutes, his exhaustion vanished, replaced by the warm, revitalizing
surge of Magical Energy flowing into him.
As he nursed, Aedan caressed her breast gently and spoke. "Mother, it's been thirteen years. Why hasn't Father returned yet? Is the war still going on? Do the people outside truly hate us so much?"
Seraphina's face grew sad. She spoke in a quiet voice. "Aedan, your father is fighting for all of us out there. And as for hate, they are attacking us because they want our resources and seek to destroy us."
She reassured him quickly. "But don't worry. Your father will never let that happen. He is very strong."
Aedan's excitement returned. "How strong is he, Mother? Tell me, what Level is Father?"
"He is at the Master Level," she replied. "Our family has had even more powerful individuals, but your father cannot Level Up further due to an illness. Still, he is strong enough to protect us."
Aedan was astonished. Master Level. He had read about it in books—it came after Level 9, followed by the Grandmaster Level. A fierce resolve hardened in his young heart. He vowed to himself that he would reach Level 8 before he turned eighteen.
Meanwhile, on the distant battlefield, King Alaric sat inside his tent. One of his arms had been severed, yet his face showed no sign of pain or reaction. His General and Marshal, however, were deeply worried.
The General bowed low. "My King, you must return to the castle immediately and receive treatment. We will manage the war."
"No," King Alaric stated with absolute conviction. "I am not going anywhere. I will fight. I am the King, and it is my duty to protect my people. If I leave, the morale of the soldiers will shatter, and I will not allow that."
His confident words restored the resolve of his General and Marshal.
"My King," the General pressed cautiously. "You should at least inform the Queen about your hand. She worries about you."
King Alaric's expression softened with sorrow. "No. There is no need to tell her this. If she knew, she would be afraid. She is the Queen. If her spirit weakens, she will not be able to manage the Kingdom." The General understood and said no more.
Time passed relentlessly. Five more years went by. Aedan continued his rigorous practice, climbing to Level 4. He now fought and defeated the Knights daily. With the consistent intake of his mother's magical milk, his innate magic grew stronger every day.
But on the battlefield, the dance of death intensified. Soldiers on all sides were dying, but the Eldoria Kingdom was suffering the heaviest losses. Finally, the worst fear became reality. The combined forces of the Beasts and Humans managed to slay King Alaric.
Terror swept through the Elf soldiers, shattering their will to fight.
The second line of the Eldoria army swiftly retreated to the Human Race's territory, bringing back their deceased King and the wounded soldiers just in time. When the news reached Seraphina, she was instantly shocked and devastated. Yet, beneath the grief, she felt a profound sense of pride that her husband had died defending his Kingdom.
As for Aedan, his eyes held no tears, only a burning, blazing fire of vengeance.