Chapter 3: The Path to Strength

Pain.

That was the first lesson Eryndor learned in combat training.

Every morning, before the sun had fully risen, his father dragged him to the training yard, a cold wind whipping through the Valeria estate as the young boy struggled to keep up with the harsh drills.

At just four years old, Eryndor was pushed to his absolute limit.

Sword strikes against training dummies until his arms felt like lead.

Running laps around the yard while wearing weights.

Dodging blows with a wooden sword that felt heavier than it should.

It hurt.

Every night, his body ached, his muscles screamed, and he sometimes wondered—was this worth it?

But then, he would remember the system's words.

[Quest: Path of the Sword in Progress…]

Objective: Train under an expert until recognized.

Progress: 14%

Reward: [Basic Swordsmanship]

His goal wasn't just to be strong. It was to rule.

And a ruler must be able to stand on the battlefield, to lead armies, to conquer.

So he endured.

And as the weeks turned into months, something changed.

A Noble Child… Turned Warrior

Eryndor was no longer struggling in training.

He could swing the wooden sword without losing his grip.

He could run faster than the other noble children.

He could spar with the estate guards and hold his own.

By the time he turned five, even the older knights in the estate noticed his improvements.

His father, Lord Alaric, though strict, had a glint of approval in his eyes whenever Eryndor held a blade.

"Your form is improving," he admitted one morning after a spar. "But you are still too slow."

Eryndor smirked. "Then I'll just get faster."

His father chuckled. "Good. That's the attitude of a warrior."

And then, the system responded.

[Quest Complete!]

+1 Strength

+1 Combat Reflex

New Skill Unlocked: Basic Swordsmanship

A wave of knowledge surged into Eryndor's mind.

It was as if he had trained for years. His hands naturally adjusted his grip on the sword, his stance corrected itself, and the movements that once felt awkward now felt instinctual.

The system had engraved experience directly into his body.

This was real power.

Magic Training Begins

While his father trained him in combat, Eryndor knew he couldn't neglect magic.

And so, every night, in the darkness of his room, he trained in mana control.

At first, it was simple things:

Summoning small orbs of light. Feeling the mana in the air around him. Strengthening his body with raw energy.

But then, one night, something changed.

[System Notification]

[New Milestone Achieved: Intermediate Mana Control]

[Skill Unlocked: Mana Enhancement]

Eryndor's eyes widened.

Mana Enhancement?

He focused, pulling mana into his right arm—and immediately, his muscles felt stronger, more explosive.

His punches were sharper, his grip stronger, and he could move faster than before.

"This… this is the real deal."

With this ability, he could combine swordsmanship and magic, creating an entirely new way of fighting.

But before he could celebrate there was a knock at the door.

"Eryndor. I know you're awake."

It was his mother, Lady Isolde.

His heart skipped a beat.

Did she see me using magic?

Slowly, he opened the door, only to be pulled into a tight embrace.

She whispered into his ear, "I've been watching you."

Eryndor stiffened. "…What?"

His mother smiled softly. "You have magic. And you've been training it… alone."

She knew.

His pulse quickened. Would she forbid him from training? Would she tell his father?

But then, she held out her hand and a small flame flickered to life in her palm.

"Eryndor," she said, "let me teach you."

Secret Magic Lessons

From that night on, Eryndor trained in magic under his mother's guidance.

Unlike his father's brutal training, Lady Isolde was patient, guiding him carefully through the principles of mana.

She taught him how to calm his mana flow, preventing instability. How to cast minor elemental spells, like fire, wind, and water. How to sense magic in others, detecting their power levels.

And then, one night he learned his first real spell.

[NEW SPELL UNLOCKED: MANA BOLT]

His mother smiled proudly as he formed a small orb of blue energy in his palm.

"You're truly gifted," she whispered. "But you must keep this hidden for now. The other nobles… they would not take kindly to someone as young as you holding this power."

Eryndor nodded. He understood.

Power must be used wisely.

By the time Eryndor turned six, his name was starting to spread beyond the Valeria estate.

The knights whispered about his unnatural discipline and combat skill.

The servants gossiped about his early magical awakening.

His father watched his progress with silent approval.

And then one day, a messenger arrived.

A royal invitation.

A Summons from the Capital

At the breakfast table, a royal knight presented a sealed letter to Lord Alaric.

Eryndor's father read it carefully, his expression grim.

Then, he turned to his son. "Eryndor. The king has summoned us to the capital."

Eryndor's heart pounded.

The king? Why?

His father sighed. "Your reputation has reached the royal court. They want to see if the rumors of your talents are true."

Eryndor clenched his fists.

This was it.

His first step onto the political stage.

And he was ready.