The Coming-of-Age Ceremony

The grand courtyard of House Baron was alive with activity as nobles from across the region gathered to witness the coming-of-age ceremony. Ornate banners bearing the Baron crest fluttered in the breeze, and an air of anticipation filled the crowd.

Today was a significant day for the Baron siblings—the heirs of Duke Reinhardt Baron .

Yet, amidst the murmurs of admiration for the eldest son, Alexander Baron , and the ever-talented second daughter, Selene Baron, there was another name spoken in hushed tones.

Ethan Baron.

The third son. The forgotten child. The weakling.

But recent whispers painted a different tale. A hidden transformation. A power yet unseen.

And today, those whispers would be put to the test.

The Ceremony Begins Duke Reinhardt Baron stood at the forefront, his presence commanding silence as he addressed the gathered nobility. His deep purplish-blue eyes—a signature of the Baron bloodline—swept over the crowd before settling on his children.

At his side, Alenander and Selene stood with practiced poise, each carrying the weight of their family's reputation.

Then, there was Ethan.

His midnight-black hair framed sharp features that bore an uncanny resemblance to his late mother, yet his father's piercing eyes shone through—deep, purplish-blue, holding a newfound intensity.

Many noble guests frowned in confusion.

"That's the third son?"

"Why does he look… so different?"

"Wasn't he the weak one?"

But Ethan paid them no mind. He had endured their whispers for years.

Today, they would see the truth.

The ceremony required each heir to showcase their strength, magic, or talent to prove their worthiness.

Alexander, the eldest, was first. He stepped forward and unsheathed his greatsword, infused with golden energy. With a single swing, he cleaved a boulder in two.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Next was Selene. With a flick of her wrist, ice and lightning intertwined in a breathtaking display of magical control. Her spellwork was precise, elegant—a testament to her genius.

More applause followed.

Then, all eyes turned to Ethan.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

"What could he possibly do?"

"Surely, he can't compare to his siblings."

Ethan exhaled. He had nothing to prove to them.

Yet, he would show them nonetheless.

Without a word, Ethan raised his hand.

A moment later—he disappeared.

Gasps filled the courtyard.

"Where did he go?!"

"Teleportation? No, that was… speed!"

Before anyone could react, Ethan reappeared behind the judges' platform. His movements had been so fast they seemed instantaneous.

Then—he moved again.

With blinding speed, Ethan drew two black swords, their aura crackling with raw power. He executed Black Moon Severance, unleashing an arc of pure destruction toward the stone targets.

BOOM!

The stone structures shattered instantly, the very ground beneath them torn apart.

Silence.

Then, a noble burst into applause. Others soon followed, their disbelief turning into awe.

Ethan Baron was no longer the frail third son.

He had become something else entirely.

Yet, not everyone was pleased.

A sneering noble stepped forward—Edward Valthorne, heir to House Valthorne.

"Impressive. But raw power alone is meaningless." He smirked. "Let's see if you can actually fight."

The crowd murmured in excitement. A duel between heirs was unusual, but it was within the rights of nobility to challenge one another.

Ethan glanced at his father, who gave no indication of approval or disapproval. This was his battle.

"I accept," Ethan said.

Edward lunged, his rapier piercing forward at blinding speed.

But Ethan was faster.

His past-life instincts took over. With a single step, he sidestepped effortlessly, leaving afterimages in his wake.

Edward's eyes widened. He had never seen such movement.

Before he could react—Ethan struck.

Demon's Shadow Step.

In the blink of an eye, Ethan was behind him.

With a swift motion, he disarmed Edward, sending his rapier flying. A heartbeat later, Ethan's sword hovered at Edward's throat.

The duel was over in an instant.

Edward staggered back, pale-faced and sweating.

"I… I didn't even see him move…"

The nobles erupted into thunderous applause.

From the stage,Duke Reinhardt Baron's gaze lingered on Ethan, his expression unreadable.

"This boy… he has surpassed all expectations."

With his victory cementing his place, Ethan completed the final preparations for his departure to the Royal Academy.

For five months, he had honed himself in secret, training relentlessly.

Now, the world knew.

But this was only the beginning.

At the Academy, he would face rival noble heirs, powerful prodigies, and unseen forces working in the shadows.

And he would use every opportunity to rise above them all.

As the Ravenshadow estate faded behind him, Ethan's deep purplish-blue eyes burned with determination.

He had spent a lifetime being overlooked.

Now, it was time for the world to kneel before him.