Farewell

After the twelfth birthday party ended, the days flew by, and it was soon time for Lucas to leave for his adventuring journey. Our parents, ever the doting figures, made sure to spend as much time as possible with him before he departed.

"Lucas," my mother said, her voice trembling as she embraced my older brother tightly. Tears glistened in her eyes, and despite Lucas's efforts to maintain a stoic expression, his features softened with emotion. No matter how mature he tried to act, he was still just twelve years old, and the weight of the moment was heavy.

"Take this," my mother said, pressing a small, ornate ring into his hand. My eyebrows furrowed as I noticed the intricate runes inscribed on the band.

'A ring for protection?' I wondered. But my assumption was soon corrected.

"This is a spatial ring," my mother explained, her voice tinged with both pride and concern. "Inside, there is an artifact for disguising yourself and another artifact that will help you in danger. This ring is also connected to my own, so I will know if you are ever in trouble."

Lucas's eyes widened slightly as he slipped the ring onto his finger, the gravity of the gift clear on his face. He looked up at our mother, his voice wavering, "Thank you, Mother. I promise to be careful."

My father stepped forward, placing a hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Remember, son, your life is more important than any merit you can earn out there."

Lucas nodded, his resolve firming as he looked between our parents. "I won't forget. I promise."

Standing a little apart, I watched the exchange with mixed feelings. Pride swelled in my chest for my brother's courage, but a pang of worry gnawed at me. As Lucas turned to leave, our eyes met, and I gave him a small nod of encouragement.

"Take care of yourself, Lucas," I said, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling within me.

He gave me a confident smile. "I will, Lancelot. And I'll be back stronger than ever."

With that, Lucas turned and walked away, the spatial ring gleaming on his finger. Our family watched him go, a mixture of pride, worry, and hope etched on our faces.

Elara stood quietly to the side, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions. She stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly. "Lucas," she called softly.

He turned to her, his expression softening even more. "Elara."

She hesitated for a moment before rushing to hug him tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You better come back safe," she whispered fiercely. "I can't lose my twin brother."

Lucas hugged her back just as tightly, his voice thick with emotion. "I promise, Elara. I'll come back stronger and make you proud."

Elara pulled back, wiping her tears and trying to smile. "You already make me proud, Lucas. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will," he assured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Take care of everyone while I'm gone, especially Lancelot."

"I will," she echoed, her voice steady despite the tears.

'Who will take care of who now?' I mentally sighed, a soft smile gracing my lips as the doors of the carriage closed behind Lucas, marking the beginning of his journey.

My parents had initially wanted to find a mentor for Lucas, someone who could guide him through the perils of adventuring. However, their efforts had been in vain. Anyone within their financial reach or social connections simply lacked the necessary skill and experience, potentially placing Lucas in even greater danger.

'I just hope Lucas doesn't dwell too much on what I showed him that night,' I thought, a twinge of regret surfacing. 'I demonstrated too much, hoping to spur his growth, but in hindsight... it may be impossible for him to ever reach that level of swordsmanship, even if he devoted his entire life to it.'

This was the peril of geniuses, especially child prodigies. There were varying degrees of talent, and the level of skill I had displayed to Lucas was something that even a genius like him might struggle to attain.

As the carriage disappeared into the distance, I couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and concern. Lucas was undoubtedly talented, but the expectations he placed upon himself were immense. I just hoped he wouldn't be crushed by the weight of those expectations and the lofty goals he set for himself.

The quietude after Lucas's departure was palpable. Elara stood beside me, her eyes fixed on the horizon where the carriage had vanished. She reached out and took my hand, her grip firm yet comforting.

"We'll be okay, Lancelot," she said softly, her voice tinged with a mixture of determination and reassurance. "Lucas will come back stronger. We just have to believe in him."

I nodded, squeezing her hand gently. "Yes, he will. And we'll be here, waiting for him, ready to support him in any way we can."

I turned back to see my father hugging my mother from the side as she wiped her tears with her hand. 'You better show me something worthwhile next time I see you, Lucas,' I thought as I headed back inside with my family.

"Lancelot," my mother called out as Elara and I followed our parents from behind.

"Yes, Mom?" I asked as she suddenly turned around, her blue eyes meeting my red ones.

"Are you tired of being in this estate as well?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly.

'So she noticed,' I thought. She had realized that I had a yellow mana core now. It was a justified worry. Even though she didn't know the extent of my skill with swordsmanship, having a yellow core at just eight years of age marked me as an undeniable genius.

"What are you saying, dear?" my father asked, his voice tinged with shock.

"You already have a yellow core," my mother said, her hands gripping her dress tightly. "I don't want to hold you back, but I don't know what to do to ensure you can grow to your fullest potential."

"Mother," I said after a moment of silence, "I want a spearmanship teacher. That is all."

My parents exchanged a look, processing my request. My father nodded thoughtfully. "A spearmanship teacher, you say? That's a reasonable request."

My mother's eyes softened, her worry lines easing. "We'll find the best teacher for you, Lancelot," she promised, her voice steadying. "We want you to grow strong and skilled, but also safe."

As I understood it, sword mastery and spear mastery shared similar milestones, yet reaching those milestones was a vastly different journey due to the distinct nature of each weapon. The sword and spear required different approaches, techniques, and mindsets.

I had been training with the knights at the estate, and while my spearmanship was improving rapidly, I knew I couldn't rely on them forever. My growth had outpaced their teachings, and I needed more advanced instruction. Moreover, the theoretical knowledge of spearmanship I possessed was limited to the basics, insufficient for the level of mastery I aimed to achieve.

If I had to describe the levels of spearmanship based on what I knew of swordsmanship, they would be: spear blood, spear heart, spear intent, and spear domain. These stages represented the evolution of skill and understanding, each one more profound than the last.

These stages were independent of mana core and a separate addition to the combat power of an individual outside of mana.

Of course, I hadn't even reached spear blood yet. Achieving spear blood was considered a significant milestone because it marked the point where the spear became an extension of the body, allowing for a dramatic increase in mana conductivity. Mastery at this level meant a seamless blend of body and weapon, an intimate connection that elevated combat potential significantly.

My current training environment couldn't support the leap I needed to make. I required a mentor who could guide me through these stages, someone who had traversed the path themselves. The knights were skilled, but their knowledge and expertise in spearmanship were limited. I needed more than just practice; I needed deep, specialised training.

I wasn't expecting a master who had achieved spear domain or spear intent, but even someone with spear blood would be a massive boon to me.

Well, I had to see if this was possible with my family's resources.