Chapter 10: "The Road Ahead"

Several weeks passed, each day pushing me closer to my limits. My training with Kaine was relentless, a gauntlet of physical and magical tests that left me bruised and battered but undeniably stronger.

Under his guidance, I refined my body and mana control to a degree I hadn't thought possible in such a short time.

My strikes were sharper, my movements quicker, and my endurance extended far beyond what it had been when I first arrived at the Varyon estate.

One of the most critical breakthroughs came in the form of mana layering—a technique I had devised in my past life but which no one in this era seemed to know.

It involved reinforcing my body with overlapping layers of mana, each tuned to a different frequency, granting unparalleled resilience and speed.

Kaine noticed the technique immediately, his sharp eyes narrowing as he adjusted his own training to counter it. While I had yet to perfect it, the progress was undeniable.

Kaine was a stern but fair instructor, his praise rare but genuine. "You're learning," he said once, after I managed to block one of his strikes that had previously been too fast for me to see. "But learning isn't enough. You need to surpass."

Beyond combat, my training expanded to include advanced mana circulation techniques.

The Varyon family's archives held secrets of their own, and I poured over old texts in the evenings, devouring knowledge about magical theory and combat strategy.

Marcus, surprisingly, had been the one to point me toward the texts, though his interaction with me since then had been minimal.

Marcus's avoidance didn't go unnoticed. He watched from the sidelines as I trained, his gaze intense and inscrutable.

Though he rarely spoke to me, his presence was a constant reminder of the rivalry brewing between us.

Today, however, wasn't about Marcus, Kaine, or even my training. Today was about proving myself—and earning my freedom.

I stood outside Adrian's office, my hand poised to knock. My heartbeat thrummed in my chest, but my resolve was unshaken. The weeks of preparation had led to this moment.

"Come in," Adrian's voice called from within.

Stepping inside, I found him seated at his desk, surrounded by papers. His sharp, calculating gaze landed on me, and he leaned back slightly.

"Elias," he said. "What brings you here?"

I didn't hesitate. "I'm here to ask you again to let me leave the estate and join the Adventurer Guild."

His expression darkened slightly. "We've had this conversation before. You're not ready."

"Then let me prove I am," I countered. "Let me fight Kaine. If I can land three clean hits on him—"

Adrian raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Three hits, and he'll only be on defense?"

I nodded firmly.

Silence hung in the air as Adrian studied me. Finally, he leaned forward. "Very well. If you can manage it, you'll have my approval. But don't think for a second Kaine will make it easy for you."

The news spread quickly. By the time I reached the training field, nearly everyone in the manor had gathered to watch.

Kaine stood in the center, his arms crossed as he waited. His presence was as commanding as ever, a silent challenge that demanded respect.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted Marcus near the front of the crowd, his arms folded and his gaze locked onto me. There was something unsettling in his expression—an intensity that made it clear he wasn't just observing but dissecting my every move.

"You ready for this?" Kaine asked, his tone calm but laced with expectation.

I nodded, drawing my training sword.

"Three hits," he said, smirking faintly. "Let's see if you've got what it takes."

The fight was a storm of motion and mana. Every strike I made was precise, calculated, and infused with the techniques I had honed over the past weeks.

Kaine, however, was a wall—unmoving, unyielding, his defense impeccable.

I activated the Veinforge technique, pouring mana into my limbs to enhance my speed and power. My sword lashed out in a flurry of strikes, each aimed at a weak point in Kaine's stance. He deflected them all with infuriating ease.

"Too predictable," he said, sidestepping another attack.

Grinding my teeth, I shifted tactics. Using mana layering, I boosted my body's agility, feinting left before pivoting right. My blade struck toward his shoulder in a blur of motion.

Clang! His gauntlet intercepted the strike at the last second.

The crowd gasped, murmurs spreading through the onlookers.

Kaine's eyes narrowed. "Clever," he admitted. "But not clever enough."

I pressed on, refusing to relent. Sweat dripped from my brow, my muscles screaming in protest as I pushed myself harder than ever before.

My strikes became faster, more unpredictable, and finally, I saw an opening.

Feinting exhaustion, I slowed my movements, luring Kaine into a false sense of security. Then, with a burst of mana, I surged forward, my blade striking his chest cleanly.

The first hit.

The crowd erupted into cheers, but I didn't let the moment distract me. I had two more to land.

The second came moments later, a quick thrust to his arm that caught him off guard.

My final strike was a gamble. With one last burst of energy, I spun into a low attack aimed at his leg. Kaine's gauntlet moved to intercept—but he hesitated, just for a moment. My blade connected.

Three hits.

The field erupted into cheers, but I could barely hear them over the pounding of my heartbeat. And thinking about why did Kaine Hesitated? He saw it, He could've evaded it.

Kaine stepped back, lowering his arms.

"You've earned it," he said simply.

Adrian approached, his expression unreadable. "You've exceeded my expectations, Elias. You're free to go. From now on, you'll carry the name Varyon. You'll be representing this house wherever you go—don't forget that."

The weight of his words settled over me. Carrying the Varyon name wasn't just an honor—it was a responsibility.

I would be expected to uphold their values, to act as a symbol of their strength and integrity.

As I packed my belongings, Marcus appeared in the doorway of my room.

"You're leaving, then," he said, his tone devoid of emotion.

I paused, glancing at him. "I am."

Marcus's gaze hardened. "You've earned this, but don't think for a second that I'll stop pushing myself. The next time we fight, I'll be the one surpassing you."

A faint smile tugged at my lips. "I'd expect nothing less."

Celia joined me as I made my way to the Adventurer Guild. Her cheerful demeanor was a welcome contrast to the bittersweetness of leaving the estate.

"I'm coming with you," she announced suddenly.

"No," I said firmly. "It's too dangerous."

She laughed. "Too dangerous? Have you forgotten who you're talking to?"

Despite my protests, she insisted, nagging me until I finally relented. Her determination was admirable, even if it frustrated me.

At the guild, we registered under the guidance of a sharp-eyed receptionist. The process was straightforward until it came time to test our stats.

Celia's results showed a remarkable aptitude for healing magic, though her other stats were average. When it was my turn, the crystal shattered beneath my touch, drawing gasps from everyone present.

The receptionist hurried to retrieve a larger crystal. This time, my stats were displayed in full: my mana capacity and control were off the charts, and even my physical attributes ranked at A or higher.

The room buzzed with whispers, the other adventurers clearly surprised—and more than a little wary—of a 12-year-old with such overwhelming potential.

Afterward, I returned to the estate one final time to bid farewell to Lady Celestia.

"I'll be leaving," I told her. "I'll continue my journey at the Luminaris estate while adventuring."

She studied me for a long moment before nodding. "You've chosen your path. Walk it with conviction."

With her blessing, I set off with Celia by my side.

As we stood at the edge of the road, the uncertainty of the future loomed large in my mind. Was this the right choice? Or was I running toward something I didn't fully understand?

The answers would come in time. For now, all I could do was move forward.