On one of those evenings when the training grounds lay empty—as they so often did—Varik stood alone, sweat pouring down his skin, his sword in hand as though it were an extension of his own body.
He did not train for anyone's approval.
He did not seek praise.
He fought only to silence the suffocating years that had choked him.
With every strike, the shadows behind him shifted. Not ordinary shadows—but entities shaped from his own magic, mimicking his movements, guarding his back… without a single command.
From afar, the head butler, Eldran, watched.
A man with a strong build, straight posture, and unwavering loyalty to the lord of the house.
When he saw it, he froze.
A sword resonating with darkness?
Control without incantations?
That boy whom everyone had deemed a curse?
---
That night, Eldran stood before the door of the lord's study. He entered and bowed before the master of the manor, who sat before the fireplace, his sharp eyes fixed on the dancing flames.
In a low but charged voice, Eldran said,
"My lord… I saw young Master Varik in the training yard."
Thio von Reinhardt raised an eyebrow without turning, replying coldly,
"And has he begun sneaking out of his wing without permission?"
Eldran shook his head.
"Perhaps… but what I witnessed, my lord, deserves more than punishment."
Silence filled the room.
He continued, his voice firmer now:
"He was practicing with a sword. But not as any ordinary boy would. His movements were precise—but more than that… he merged dark magic with his strikes. Not recklessly… but like a blade that pierces with shadow and defends with stillness. He looked as though… he was born for battle."
Thio did not answer at once.
Then, in a voice quiet yet heavy as ice, he said:
"You claim Varik is using darkness? After all these years?"
Eldran stepped closer.
"He is not using it… my lord. He is controlling it. As though it were part of his soul."
For the first time in days, Thio rose from his seat.
He stared at the shadows flickering along the firelight and murmured,
"If what you say is true… then isolating him may no longer be possible."
After a pause, he added, almost unwillingly:
"Perhaps… he inherited more than we thought."
---
Training Grounds – Sunset
The sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the yard in shades of gold and crimson.
Sweat dripped from Varik's brow as he swung his blade among scattered wooden dummies. His steps were light—but edged with sharp power.
As he executed a complex movement, he heard soft applause behind him.
He turned swiftly.
A girl stood not far away—crimson-red hair swaying in the gentle breeze, an elegant dress shimmering under the fading light. Her violet eyes sparkled with curiosity as she smiled faintly.
"What impressive skill."
She stepped closer, studying him with interest before adding,
"You seem nothing like the rumors describe. I thought you were merely a hopeless weakling."
"But… it seems our eyes have deceived us all."
She tilted her head playfully.
"Who knows… perhaps you've been hiding your strength all this time, haven't you?"
Varik, unused to praise, looked away slightly and muttered dryly,
"I don't care what people say."
She laughed softly, raising a brow.
"Perhaps… but I prefer discovering things for myself rather than hearing them from others."
A brief silence settled between them before she added with a teasing smile,
"Would you mind if I watched you train for a while? I might learn something."
---
The quiet was broken by hurried footsteps.
A young maid approached, dressed neatly, her expression caught between seriousness and embarrassment.
She stopped beside the red-haired girl and said, slightly out of breath,
"I've been looking everywhere for you… We must return before night fully falls."
The girl nodded calmly, clearly accustomed to such reminders. She turned back toward Varik before leaving.
Before following, she paused and gave him a small, polite bow.
"Ah, I almost forgot… My name is Rose Hartfilia. I'm here for training as well… It's a pleasure to meet you, Varik."
Varik lifted his gray eyes to her briefly, reflecting the glow of the sunset, but responded only with a slight nod.
Rose smiled gently before walking away with her maid, leaving the training yard bathed in the quiet colors of dusk.
---
Training Grounds – After Sunset
The final golden light scattered across the yard as Varik stood steady, his breathing slowing after his intense practice. Sweat glistened on his brow; his sword still hung loosely in his grasp.
Footsteps echoed softly from the stone corridor.
Varik looked up to see the head butler approaching, dressed in his elegant black attire. Eldran bowed slightly.
"Young Master… your father awaits you at dinner tonight."
Varik's gray eyes lingered on him briefly before he gave a short nod.
He wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve and slowly sheathed his sword, as though sealing his emotions within the blade.
"Let's see… what he wants this time," he murmured as he followed.
---
The Grand Dining Hall
The family sat around the long dining table. Candlelight shimmered across silver dishes and crystal glasses. Though appearances were calm, the atmosphere was tense.
One of the Reinhardt twins raised his voice with a sly smile:
"Father… shouldn't we decide who will be the next to enter the Leonhart Magic Academy?"
Silence fell.
Thio gently set down his glass.
"Yes. The time has come."
He looked around the table.
"As you know, the academy accepts only three members from each noble house. We have already used two slots for your older brothers. Only one remains."
Whispers rose.
He tapped the table lightly, restoring silence.
"Therefore… I have decided to follow our family's tradition."
Varik spoke calmly, without looking away from his father.
"You're proposing a duel between us brothers."
Thio paused, slightly surprised that Varik spoke first. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Exactly. There will be a duel… in the training hall, one week from today."
Laughter erupted from the twins.
"Stay calm before you embarrass yourself, little brother."
"An idiot weakling like you can barely hold a sword. How do you expect to stand against us?"
Varik's expression did not change.
"Speak as much as you like… after one of you wins."
Their faces tightened.
"And you think you'll defeat us?"
In a tone as cold as night, Varik replied,
"I will be the one to claim that academy seat."
Silence fell heavy over the table.
From the far end, a soft laugh sounded.
Rose, observing quietly, commented gently,
"It seems the young master has quite a bit of confidence."
Internally, without betraying emotion, Varik muttered,
"I forgot she was here."
---
Thio von Reinhardt's Study – After Dinner
Candles cast dancing shadows across old shelves and hanging maps.
Thio stared at the report Eldran had placed before him, brows furrowed.
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes today, I would not have believed a word of this."
He turned his glass slowly in his hand.
"It seems Varik… has been hiding his strength from us all this time."
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"In any case… he now has my attention."
Wind brushed faintly against the closed windows.
---
The Castle Corridors – On Varik's Way to His Room
Varik walked silently through the dim corridors, moonlight spilling through tall windows.
His fist clenched as he whispered to himself,
"I must enter that academy… I must prove to them all that I am not the monster they believe me to be."
Anger and bitterness swelled inside him.
He stopped by a window, staring at his reflection in the glass.
"Training alone won't be enough… I need to become far stronger."
At that moment, a decisive thought formed in his mind.
He looked toward the dark horizon beyond the estate—the dense forest stretching behind his family's lands. The Dark Forest. A land of danger and the unknown.
A faint, almost cruel smile touched his lips.
"The Dark Forest… only there will I find the power I need."
Without hesitation, he began planning his secret journey—determined to return as someone no one would ever dare mock again.