all eyes on me

Days had passed since the court incident.

Rumors had spread like wildfire, slithering through the noble houses and reaching the far corners of the kingdom. Whispers of treachery, death, and a terrifying show of dominance from the Ravenhert family painted the halls of aristocracy with unease.

Some nobles were stunned.Some were angry.And some… were scared.

When the news reached the royal capital, it didn't take long for it to reach the ears of one particular boy.

A lavish chamber sat at the heart of the capital's royal palace, its high, vaulted ceilings adorned with golden trim and hanging silk banners. At the center, in front of a gilded mirror taller than the boy himself, stood a nine-year-old child.

Prince Frey.

He was dressed in an embroidered white tunic and black trousers, a silver chain resting loosely around his neck. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his pale blue eyes stared critically into the mirror as he adjusted his collar.

A maid approached quietly, her head bowed as she leaned toward his ear and whispered something.

Frey's reflection curled into a smile.

"Well, would you look at that," he murmured, brushing a hand through his dark locks. "Looks like I should pay them another visit."

His smile widened.

A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.

The Ravenhert Estate

The spacious training hall echoed with the rhythmic sounds of footfalls and labored breathing.

Golden light filtered through the large windows, illuminating the floating dust particles. The walls were scarred with the remnants of countless battles—deep grooves from swords, jagged cracks from broken stone, and the blackened stains of old burn marks. Training dummies lined one side of the hall, some standing, others battered beyond repair, their wooden frames splintered from repeated punishment. The floor, made of reinforced stone, had been built to endure the harshest of training.

At the center of the room, two figures stood shirtless.

Zed's body had changed. Though still lean, his muscles were more defined now, his frame shaped by months of relentless training. His arms were toned, his shoulders broader, and his stance sharper. His dark hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat, while faint trails of steam rose from his skin—evidence of Rhu burning through his body. Despite the progress, he still appeared small compared to the figure standing across from him.

Sir Jaeger.

Jaeger's physique resembled that of a war god. His muscles rippled beneath his scarred skin, his broad shoulders and thick arms covered in old battle marks—reminders of countless victories and near-deaths. His mere presence was oppressive, his gaze sharp enough to cut stone. Even standing still, he radiated an aura of dominance, the air around him seemingly weighed down by his presence alone.

Zed's chest heaved as he steadied his breath. Rhu pulsed beneath his skin, circulating through his veins like liquid fire. His hands gleamed faintly, wrapped in an aura of condensed energy, strengthening his bones and muscles. The same energy pooled around his legs, making his movements lighter, faster.

He narrowed his eyes.

And moved.

In a single breath, Zed vanished.

He reappeared behind Jaeger in an instant, his palm shooting toward the man's head with deadly precision. His intent was clear—knock him off balance, create an opening—

But before he could make contact—

A hand clamped around his neck.

Zed's eyes widened.

What—?!

A crushing force squeezed his throat. He couldn't breathe.

And then—

A fist slammed into his stomach.

The impact knocked the air from his lungs, his body curling inward from the sheer force. Before he could recover, he was lifted effortlessly off the ground and slammed into the stone floor with a sickening crack.

Pain exploded through his back. His vision blurred as his body screamed in protest. He gasped, coughing violently as saliva and blood splattered onto the cold stone beneath him.

Jaeger stepped back, rolling his shoulders casually. "Not bad, young master. You've improved." He turned toward the exit. "That's enough for today. You did well."

But just as he reached the threshold—

"Wait."

The voice was strained, but filled with resolve.

Jaeger's brow lifted slightly as he turned his head.

Zed pushed himself up on shaky elbows, his breath still ragged. His body trembled from the pain, but his eyes…

His eyes were burning.

"I'm not done yet," Zed said firmly.

Jaeger's gaze sharpened. "Young master—"

"I'm not done."

Zed pushed himself to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. He wobbled, nearly collapsing—but forced himself to stand tall. His fists clenched, veins bulging beneath his pale skin.

"If I quit now… then I didn't learn anything today."

Jaeger's eyes narrowed.

Stubborn.

But it made sense. Zed had mastered Rhu circulation through his body in a single day—a feat that took even the most talented mages years to perfect. Within weeks, he had learned to manipulate Rhu for both physical enhancement and spellwork. His progress was nothing short of monstrous.

But he had weaknesses.

His swordsmanship was average at best. His raw strength couldn't match seasoned fighters. Even with Rhu reinforcing his body, his attacks lacked the crushing power that true warriors possessed.

And Zed knew this.

He hated it.

No matter how hard he trained, it felt like his body was shackled—like heaven itself refused to let him grow stronger.

Jaeger sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "As you wish, young master. But don't blame me for what happens next."

In a blink—

Jaeger disappeared.

Zed's senses screamed—he twisted his body, instinctively raising his arm to defend—

Too late.

A sharp pain struck the back of his neck. His vision blurred as his body seized up.

Darkness flooded his mind.

As consciousness faded, he barely registered the sensation of being caught before he could hit the ground.

Jaeger's arm secured him effortlessly, holding him up like a limp doll.

The knight shook his head with a tired sigh. "Even a dragon needs rest, young master…" His gaze softened. "And you… are just a human."

Adjusting Zed's unconscious body over his shoulder, Jaeger walked toward the exit. His heavy footsteps echoed through the silent hall.

Behind them, the light streaming through the windows began to dim.

The dim glow of lanterns flickered along the stone walls as Jaeger strode through the long corridor. His heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet halls. Zed's limp body rested over his shoulder, his breathing steady despite the bruises forming across his chest and arms.

As Jaeger rounded the corner, he came across Aurora standing near the entrance of Zed's room. Her arms were crossed, her black hair cascading over her shoulders, and a knowing smile curled at the edges of her lips. Her piercing blue eyes gleamed under the lantern light.

"So," Aurora said, tilting her head. "Did he push himself again?"

Jaeger let out a low chuckle. "Yes, my lady. Hard to believe this is the same boy I once had to drag to training."

Aurora's smile widened. "And now you have to force him to stop."

At that, Jaeger let out a booming laugh, the sound reverberating through the hallway. "That's true, ha!"

Aurora stepped aside as Jaeger carried Zed into the room. The space was simple yet elegant. Dark wood furniture lined the walls, and a large window overlooked the moonlit courtyard. A shelf of books sat by the bedside, their spines worn from frequent use. A faint trace of lavender lingered in the air—a subtle fragrance Aurora often used to calm Zed's restless sleep.

Jaeger lowered Zed onto the bed with surprising gentleness, adjusting his head on the pillow. Aurora leaned over, pulling the blanket up to his chest before brushing aside the damp strands of black hair that clung to his forehead.

"You two have been at this for days," she said softly, her fingers lingering for a moment on Zed's temple. "How about taking a break? It'll help Zed recover… and reduce my workload with these bandits."

Jaeger's gaze darkened. "Bandit activity has increased?"

Aurora nodded, her playful demeanor fading slightly. "The raids have been growing more frequent. Small villages near the border have been attacked. If we don't act soon, the damage will spread to the inner territories."

Jaeger's knuckles cracked as his hands curled into fists. His gaze sharpened, the battle-hardened warrior surfacing beneath his calm exterior. "Leave it to me, my lady. I'll make them regret it."

Suddenly—

A low mumble came from the bed.

"I'm not… done yet… I can fight… hnn…"

Aurora's gaze softened. She covered her mouth as a small giggle escaped her lips. "Even in his sleep…"

Jaeger glanced down at Zed, shaking his head with a tired smile. "That kid… he's going to be trouble."

Aurora's smile widened. "Yes. But he's our trouble."

A quiet warmth settled over the room. Aurora and Jaeger—two people who had long carried the weight of responsibility on their shoulders—allowed themselves this rare moment of ease. Between them lay Zed, stubborn even in his dreams, the quiet force that had unknowingly become the light guiding them through the darkness.

Jaeger crossed his arms, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Still… he's going to need more than sheer willpower to survive the path ahead."

Aurora's eyes glimmered beneath the soft candlelight. "Then it's a good thing he's not walking it alone."

For the first time in a long while, the future didn't seem so dark.

Highvale Road – Early Morning

The morning sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows as the caravan rolled along a narrow woodland path. The trees swayed gently, their emerald leaves whispering with the cool breeze. Birds chirped in the distance, and the occasional rustle in the undergrowth hinted at small creatures scurrying away. The rhythmic creak of the chariot's wheels over uneven dirt mixed with the steady clink of armor from the mounted knights flanking the caravan.

Inside a well-crafted chariot lined with dark velvet, Zed leaned out of the window, his dark hair tousled by the wind as he watched the passing scenery. His sharp blue eyes flicked from the swaying canopy above to the line of armored knights riding alongside them. His fingers tapped idly against the edge of the window frame, his expression calm—but the slight crease in his brow hinted at quiet calculation.

After a long stretch of silence, he turned toward the man riding beside the chariot.

"So why are we going to Highvale?" Zed asked, resting his chin on his hand. His tone was casual, but his eyes glinted with quiet interest.

Sir Jaeger, seated atop his massive black warhorse, kept his gaze forward. His towering frame looked even more imposing on horseback, his battle-hardened features set in their usual stern expression. His broad shoulders were covered in reinforced leather armor, and the great sword strapped across his back glinted faintly in the morning light.

"Lady Aurora assigned me a task," Jaeger replied, his deep voice cutting through the morning calm. "We need to capture a few bandits and deliver supplies to the city."

Zed raised an eyebrow. "Bandits? Seems a little… beneath you."

He's Sir Jaeger. As much as I've seen and heard, he should be on a battlefield—or at least commanding an army. But here he is… catching pickpockets.

Zed's gaze sharpened. A flicker of cold calculation passed through his eyes before his expression relaxed again. "And the supplies?"

"Food, medicine, and equipment," Jaeger said. "Highvale's market district was hit hard by the raids. Lady Aurora wants to make sure the people are taken care of."

"Hm." Zed's gaze drifted back to the forest beyond the window. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the dirt road in soft gold and green. His lips curled into a slight smirk. "Seems awfully generous for a Ravenhert."

We take so little tax from our people—and we provide funds when asked. Just a few days ago, we handed out fifty thousand gold to the barons, viscounts, and countless mayors. Still… sending supplies like this? It doesn't make sense.

Zed frowned. "Even after providing so much… why is our tax so low and uneven? We take care of everything—security, infrastructure, relief funds—and yet the tax returns are pathetic."

Jaeger's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he turned forward once more. His hand brushed over the hilt of his sword.

"You'll understand soon enough."

What is there to understand, Mister Big Guy? it obvious we are just wasting funds Zed thought, narrowing his eyes slightly. But he quickly masked it with a playful smile. "Then why am I coming along? I should be training. I can't waste my time like this."

Jaeger let out a short chuckle. "Consider this part of your training. You'll be helping us catch the bandits." He glanced at Zed with a knowing smirk. "They're just low-class thieves. With some physical enhancement or magic, you should have no problem handling them."

Jaeger let out a short chuckle. "Consider this part of your training. You'll be helping us catch the bandits." He glanced at Zed with a knowing smirk. "They're just low-class thieves. With some physical enhancement or magic, you should have no problem handling them."

Zed's lips curled into a sharp smirk. "Can I kill them?"

Ah, killing. Zed's thoughts drifted lazily. I know I'm technically a teenager at heart, and killing should probably terrify me… but you know, when you kill bad guys, there's this pleasure, this satisfaction that no drug can match.

It's like that rush you get when the hero in a manhwa finally kills an annoying villain—but ten times better. The dopamine hit when you take down someone who deserves it? Incredible.

He paused, a flicker of doubt creeping in.

Wait… does that make me homicidal?

No way. I only kill bad guys. That makes me a good person, right? So… I guess that makes me a good homicidal person?

…Yeah, that doesn't make sense.

Jaeger's amusement vanished. His sharp gaze cut toward Zed, his tone turning cold. "No. We need them alive for information. No killing."

Zed leaned back into his seat, sighing dramatically. "Fine. Can I break some bones? Maybe make them handicapped?"

Jaeger exhaled through his nose, his brow tightening. "Young master, why are you so fixated on torturing them? Just knocking them unconscious is enough. You don't need to go that far."

Zed grinned. "Come on, I should at least rough them up a little. They are criminals."

Jaeger rubbed his temples, clearly annoyed. "What kind of nine-year-old talks like this?"

"The smart kind," Zed said with a shrug.

Jaeger shook his head, but a small smirk tugged at his lips. "Just don't go overboard."

Zed let out another exaggerated sigh. "Fine, fine. I'll just knock them out."

Jaeger gave him a sideways glance. "That sigh of yours doesn't exactly inspire confidence."

Zed's smirk widened as he rested his head against the window, his gaze flicking toward the sun-dappled treetops. No promises.

The chariot continued down the path toward Highvale, the peaceful morning air betraying none of the chaos that waited ahead.