Chapter 16: Towards the Capital
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It had been three years since Nicks visited the Capital to receive his Grace.
Two years since it was Jenna's turn.
And now—Leon was up next.
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Bartfort Family Fields
Two Hours Before Departure
Omni POV
Leon, now ten years old, was currently doing push-ups in the middle of the grassy fields behind the Bartfort estate.
The same fields he and Luxion used to sneak away to whenever they wanted a break from chores, responsibilities, and nosy sisters.
Sweat dripped from Leon's face as he continued without pause. "Sir, if you continue this, your mother will scold you again," Luxion said calmly while hovering nearby.
Leon didn't stop. "What else am I supposed to do?" he complained between breaths. "I finished preparing hours ago, and now Dad says I have to wait another two."
"You could engage in an activity that does not involve excessive physical exertion," Luxion suggested. "Research, for example."
"No thanks," Leon replied immediately. "Two hours isn't enough time for proper research."
A grin spread across his face. "But it's more than enough time for a workout."
"So that is your reasoning?" Luxion asked.
"Exactly."
Luxion remained silent for a moment before speaking again. "Are you certain this has nothing to do with the fact that since Master Nicks obtained his Grace, your sparring matches have become overwhelmingly one-sided?"
Leon immediately stopped mid push-up. "…That has nothing to do with this."
"Besides, I think I still put up a pretty good fight."
"Your current record stands at fifty-nine losses and zero victories," Luxion replied mercilessly. "I remain uncertain whether I should praise your persistence or pity your delusions of victory."
Leon clicked his tongue in annoyance before falling onto his back in the grass.
"And your sister has also been defeating you consistently," Luxion added helpfully.
"…You really enjoy kicking people while they're down, huh?"
Still—Hearing about his siblings made Leon's expression soften slightly. "…I really miss those two."
"I was under the impression they receive periodic leave from their respective training branches," Luxion replied.
"Yeah, they do visit sometimes," Leon admitted quietly. "But it's not the same anymore."
His gaze drifted toward the open sky. "We barely hang out like we used to."
Obtaining one's Grace was only the beginning.
After awakening it, a person still needed years of training to properly learn how to control and develop their abilities.
Children from noble families usually attended specialized Grace Academies, and it was mandatory for first and second born children to go.
Commoners often joined the military instead.
And for those who could afford neither—There was always home training.
Luxion floated slightly closer. "It will soon be your turn, sir," he said. "Have you decided what you intend to do afterward?"
Leon let out a small sigh. "I'm the third son, so there's no way Zola's going to spend even a single coin on my education."
He crossed his arms behind his head as he looked up at the sky. "And honestly, I'm not interested in joining the army yet either."
A brief pause followed before he continued. "So I'll probably just have Dad train me at home while studying whatever information you have on Grace usage."
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"What did I tell you about staying presentable?" Luce complained while pinching Leon's ear hard enough to make him wince.
"I'm sorry, Mom!" Leon protested through the pain.
"Honestly," Luce sighed, though the smile at the corner of her lips ruined any real intimidation. "You're leaving under the eyes of the entire town, and here you are smelling like sweat and grass."
"You kids never change."
Leon rubbed his ear miserably while Balcus quietly looked away, clearly unwilling to involve himself.
"Come on," Luce said. "We're already late enough. There's no time for you to change now."
††
When Nicks had left for the Capital, the entire family had been there to see him off.
When Jenna departed, it had been much the same.
But now—Neither of them were here for Leon.
Nicks was still attending a mid-level Grace Academy, and honestly, the only reason Zola had agreed to pay for it was because noble law required first and second sons to receive proper education and Grace training.
Otherwise, Leon doubted she would have spent a single coin on it.
Jenna, meanwhile, had somehow been personally scouted by an academy.
How? Why?
Leon had absolutely no idea.
Whenever he asked, both Balcus and Luce awkwardly avoided the topic entirely.
Which only made it more suspicious.
At this point, Leon genuinely couldn't tell whether they were hiding something from him—Or whether they were just as confused as he was.
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A Few Hours Later
Aboard the Airship
Omni POV
Luxion floated upward before stopping beside Leon's right shoulder. "Have you completed the scan?" Leon asked quietly.
"Yes," Luxion replied. "And I must say, there is very little aboard this vessel worth mentioning."
Leon frowned immediately."…Seriously?"
He glanced around the massive military airship.
"There's no way a flying warship has nothing interesting inside it."
"I am serious, sir," Luxion replied flatly. "Compared to my technology, everything here is extremely primitive."
"The magical circuits are simplistic." "The engines are inefficient." "And the defensive systems are laughably outdated."
Leon clicked his tongue. "Alright then, just show me the specs."
Several holographic windows immediately appeared through Leon's lenses. He began scrolling through them carefully.
Wind-based propulsion systems. Mana crystal energy conversion. Basic magical control circuits.
The deeper he looked— The more disappointed he became.
"…There really isn't anything special here," Leon admitted with a sigh. Which, admittedly, was an absurd conclusion considering he was currently standing inside a flying warship.
Unfortunately— Both Leon and Luxion had spent years surrounded by technology so advanced that it made the kingdom's greatest achievements look primitive by comparison.
Their standards were hopelessly distorted.
Leon continued scrolling through the data before suddenly pausing.
"…Wait."His eyes narrowed slightly. "So the ship moves using wind magic, powered by mana crystals, and controlled through magical circuits…"
"…but what exactly keeps something this massive floating?"
Luxion paused.
Then added "Oh, those are gravity stones they archive an anti gravity effect"
Leon immediately straightened slightly."What?"
"A Gravity Stone," Luxion repeated casually. "Its the same mineral responsible for keeping the floating islands suspended in the sky."
Leon stared at him."…And you said that like it's normal."
"It is relatively unremarkable and common, sir."
Leon nearly choked. "HOW is anti-gravity 'unremarkable'?!"
Luxion tilted slightly. "I assumed you were already aware such minerals existed, how else did you think the islands stayed afloat"
"That doesn't make it LESS insane! And I thought that it was some messed up Otome game logic"
Leon immediately pulled up the data again, eyes practically glowing with curiosity. "Do you know how it works?"
"…No," Luxion admitted after a brief pause.
Leon slowly turned toward him.
Then a grin spread across his face.
"…Luxion."
"Yes, sir?"
"We're taking this thing apart."
Luxion remained silent for a moment.
"…Please refrain from dismantling military property during transit."
And just like that—The two of them were no longer bored for the rest of the journey to the Capital.
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A few days Later
"Come on, we got here way too soon," Leon complained as he walked toward the observation deck. "I wasn't anywhere near satisfied yet."
"It has been one and a half weeks since our departure, sir," Luxion replied calmly while floating beside him.
Leon blinked."…Wait, seriously?"
"It would appear you once again allowed your interests to consume your perception of time."
Leon rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I couldn't help it," he admitted. "Back in my old world, anti-gravity was the kind of thing people only saw in science fiction."
His eyes lit up slightly just thinking about it again.
"So of course I wanted to understand how it actually worked."
Luxion paused briefly before speaking. "I still fail to understand how the people of this world never attempted to further develop the technology."
"They rely on Gravity Stones for nearly all aerial construction, yet continue destroying floating islands to acquire them."
His mechanical eye narrowed slightly. "With proper research, more efficient alternatives could likely have been developed centuries ago."
Leon shrugged. "Don't think too hard about it. It's probably just broken otome-game logic."
"There's nothing we can really do about that."
Eventually, the two arrived at the observation deck.
Or rather—Leon arrived.
Luxion remained invisible to everyone except him.
Balcus was already waiting there for him
"Leon, you're late," he said. "Hurry up or you'll miss the view."
Leon waved him off dismissively.
"What could possibly be so amazing about a vie—"
The words died in his throat.
His eyes widened because Far beyond the clouds—.
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[Chapter Image]
I am writing my A Levels this year so I'm already stumped and if you add the time I use writing I think I'm entitled to POWER STONES sooooooo give them to me
P.S
Let it be known that the Story is undergoing a Rewrite, hence if you read the unedited chapters its on you, they are no longer part of the story.