Morning arrived quietly on the frontier.
The rising sun painted the mountains gold, while a thin mist drifted through the forest below.
Leon woke to the sound of steel cutting through air.
SWISH.
SWISH.
SWISH.
He sat up quickly.
A short distance away, Aether was practicing sword strikes.
Each movement was smooth.
Silent.
Precise.
The black blade of the Void Sword moved so fast it almost seemed to disappear.
Leon rubbed his eyes.
"You've been awake for a while?"
Aether stopped mid-swing.
"Yes."
Leon stretched his arms.
"What time is it?"
"Early."
Leon sighed.
"Of course it is."
The campfire had already been extinguished.
Aether tossed Leon a piece of dried meat.
"Eat."
Leon caught it.
"Thank you."
He bit into it while watching his guardian.
"Are we hunting again today?"
"Yes."
Leon chewed thoughtfully.
"More giant wolves?"
"Perhaps."
Leon didn't look excited about that.
After breakfast, Aether led Leon down the rocky cliff and into the forest.
The deeper they went, the darker the forest became.
Tall trees blocked most of the sunlight.
The sounds of birds and insects echoed around them.
Leon walked carefully.
"Are we looking for monsters?"
Aether shook his head.
"No."
Leon blinked.
"Then what are we doing?"
Aether suddenly stopped.
"Listening."
Leon looked confused.
"Listening?"
"Yes."
The Void Sword closed his eyes.
"Monsters do not simply appear."
"They move."
"They breathe."
"They disturb the environment."
Leon frowned slightly.
"So I should listen for those things?"
"Yes."
For the next hour, they moved through the forest silently.
Leon tried to copy Aether's footsteps.
But it was difficult.
Every step seemed to crunch leaves or snap twigs.
Meanwhile, Aether moved like a shadow.
Eventually Leon whispered,
"How do you walk so quietly?"
Aether replied calmly.
"Experience."
Leon sighed.
"That answer again."
Suddenly Aether raised one hand.
Leon immediately froze.
From the bushes ahead came a faint rustling sound.
Leon's heart began beating faster.
Aether leaned slightly closer and whispered.
"Your prey."
Leon swallowed.
"Another wolf?"
"Smaller."
Leon slowly approached the bushes.
He carefully pushed the branches aside.
Inside was a creature that looked like a small reptile.
About the size of a large dog.
Its scales shimmered faintly green.
Leon whispered.
"What is that?"
"A forest drake."
Leon blinked.
"That's a dragon?"
"A very small one."
Leon looked relieved.
"That's better than the wolf."
Aether stepped back.
"You know what to do."
Leon tightened his grip on the wooden sword.
He slowly approached the creature.
The drake hadn't noticed him yet.
Leon took a deep breath.
Then he struck.
CRACK.
The wooden blade hit the creature's head.
The drake screeched and lunged at him.
Leon quickly jumped back.
The creature snapped its jaws.
Leon moved instinctively.
For a moment…
That strange sensation returned again.
His perception sharpened.
The drake's movements seemed slower.
Leon sidestepped and struck again.
This time the blow landed perfectly.
The drake collapsed.
Aether walked forward.
"Good."
Leon wiped sweat from his forehead.
"That was easier than the wolf."
"Because you were calmer."
Leon looked down at the drake.
"So this is how I'll train?"
"Yes."
Leon smiled slightly.
"Hunting monsters every day."
"That is only part of it."
Leon groaned.
"I knew you'd say that."
Aether studied Leon carefully.
"You felt it again, didn't you?"
Leon nodded.
"Everything slowed down."
Aether crossed his arms.
"The ability is activating more frequently."
Leon tilted his head.
"Is that good?"
"Yes."
"But you still cannot control it."
Leon sighed.
"Of course not."
Aether looked toward the deeper forest.
"That will change soon."
As they continued walking, Leon noticed something unusual.
Several trees nearby were damaged.
Claw marks.
Deep ones.
Leon frowned.
"That doesn't look like the wolf."
"It isn't."
Leon felt uneasy.
"What made those?"
Aether answered calmly.
"Something much stronger."
Leon stared at the claw marks again.
"They're huge…"
Aether continued walking.
"Which means your next battle will be more difficult."
Leon groaned.
"I was hoping you wouldn't say that."
Far away in the Imperial Palace, a powerful presence continued observing.
Within a quiet chamber sat **Caelus Aurelion.
His eyes were closed.
But his senses stretched across the empire.
He could feel the faint fluctuations of Leon's bloodline.
Each battle…
Each moment of danger…
Was slowly unlocking the boy's hidden power.
The ancient ruler smiled faintly.
"Yes…"
"Grow stronger."
Because if Leon's ability fully awakened…
The world itself might begin to change.
Back on the frontier, Leon and Aether suddenly stopped.
A deep roar echoed through the forest.
The ground trembled slightly.
Leon's eyes widened.
"That definitely doesn't sound like a small monster."
Aether's expression remained calm.
"No."
Leon slowly turned toward his guardian.
"…Please tell me I'm not fighting that."
Aether began walking toward the sound.
"Yes."
Leon sighed dramatically.
"Of course I am."
But despite his complaints…
Leon followed.
Because the path of the forgotten prince had already begun.
And it would only become more dangerous from here.