A Duel of Instincts

The midday sun cast long shadows over the training grounds. The scent of steel, sweat, and earth filled the air as knights and squires continued their drills. The rhythmic clash of weapons echoed through the courtyard, a constant reminder of the world Leon had been reborn into.

He stood at the center of the sparring ring, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted to his younger body. His performance earlier had proven that his instincts and skill remained intact, but there was still a noticeable difference—his physical strength and endurance had regressed.

That was unacceptable.

He needed to push himself, to force his body to adapt to the knowledge and combat experience his mind carried.

And what better way to do that… than facing Selene Vermillion?

Across from him, the crimson-haired warrior stood with her arms crossed, her sharp golden eyes fixed on him with the intensity of a predator evaluating its prey. She looked completely at ease, yet Leon knew better.

Selene was always dangerous.

"I wasn't expecting to fight you so soon," she admitted, tilting her head slightly. "But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You don't seem the type to avoid a challenge."

Leon smirked. "You're the one who said I wasn't worth acknowledging yet. I'd rather prove you wrong now than later."

A slow chuckle escaped her lips. "Confident. I like that."

She turned to one of the nearby squires. "Bring me a sword."

The boy scrambled to grab a wooden training blade, handing it to her with shaky hands. Selene took it without a word, testing the weight in her grip before spinning it once in an effortless motion.

Then, she set her gaze back on Leon. "Are you ready?"

Leon exhaled slowly, gripping his own practice sword. He could feel the weight of dozens of watching eyes around them. Knights, squires, even a few noble onlookers. The Vaelcrest heir dueling a high-ranking imperial warrior? Of course, they were curious.

He didn't care.

His world, in this moment, was only Selene.

"Whenever you are," he said.

Selene's smirk widened. "Then don't disappoint me."

She moved.

Fast.

Leon barely had time to react before she closed the gap between them in an instant, her blade slicing through the air in a diagonal arc.

Too fast.

His instincts screamed at him, but his body—his sixteen-year-old body—was still catching up. He managed to parry, but the sheer force behind her strike sent a tremor through his arms.

Selene didn't stop. She flowed into the next attack with terrifying precision, her movements honed through years of battle.

Leon sidestepped, ducked, and countered—but she was relentless. Every strike pushed him back, forcing him onto the defensive.

His breathing remained steady. Analyze. Adapt. Exploit.

Selene fought with a brutal efficiency, her attacks designed to overwhelm, to dominate. But that meant she had patterns.

And patterns could be broken.

Leon saw it—the fraction of a second where she shifted her weight forward before committing to a downward slash.

Now.

He moved, twisting his body at the last moment. Selene's blade whistled past his shoulder, missing him by inches.

And then, before she could recover, Leon struck.

His sword lashed out, aiming for the exposed opening in her stance. A perfect counterattack—one that should have landed.

Should have.

But it didn't.

Because Selene grinned.

Shit.

Her foot slammed into his abdomen, sending him staggering backward.

The impact knocked the wind out of him, and before he could regain his balance—

Selene was already in front of him.

Her wooden blade stopped just short of his throat.

The world seemed to pause.

The gathered knights murmured among themselves, but Selene's expression remained unreadable. She studied him for a moment, then pulled back, resting her sword on her shoulder.

"Not bad," she said, amusement lacing her tone. "You saw an opening and took it. But openings aren't always real."

Leon exhaled slowly, steadying his breath. "You baited me."

She smirked. "Of course. You think I got this far by playing fair?"

Leon chuckled despite himself. Fair. Right. Selene never played fair.

She extended a hand toward him.

He eyed it for a second before grasping it firmly.

Her grip was strong—warm, calloused, the grip of a warrior who had bled on the battlefield.

As he stood, she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so only he could hear.

"You'll be interesting to fight when you're stronger," she murmured. "Try not to die before then."

Leon met her gaze, golden against gold.

"I don't plan on dying at all," he replied.

Selene laughed.

For some reason, that sound felt dangerously familiar.

Leon exhaled slowly, shaking off the lingering ache from her counterattack. His instincts had been sharp, his execution precise—but it wasn't enough.

His body was still too slow.

If this had been a real battle, if they had been fighting with steel instead of wood, he would be dead right now.

The realization sent a ripple of frustration through him. He wasn't used to losing. Not anymore. In previous lives, he had stood at the pinnacle of power, commanding armies, slaying monsters, even challenging beings that called themselves gods.

And yet, in this body, in this timeline, he had just been bested.

Selene sheathed her training sword behind her back, stretching her arms casually as if she hadn't just wiped the floor with him. "I'll admit, I thought you'd be worse," she mused. "Most noble brats don't know how to fight. They only know how to command people who do."

Leon smirked despite himself. "I'm full of surprises."

Selene tilted her head, watching him with something bordering on curiosity. "So tell me, Leon Vaelcrest," she mused. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

Leon stilled.

Careful.

The way she asked—not in a casual or dismissive way, but with genuine curiosity—was dangerous. If he said the wrong thing, if he revealed too much, it could set off suspicion.

Selene was no fool. She was sharp, perceptive.

Leon shrugged, keeping his expression relaxed. "I grew up in a house full of knights," he said. "I learned by watching."

Selene narrowed her eyes slightly, as if weighing his words.

Then, she smirked. "Watching, huh?"

Leon smiled but didn't respond.

Let her make her own conclusions. It's safer that way.

Selene studied him a moment longer before finally turning away. "Well, whatever the case, you'll need to get stronger if you want to keep up with me." She glanced over her shoulder. "Think you can handle that?"

Leon chuckled. "Try me."

Selene laughed again before striding off, her crimson hair catching the sunlight as she left the training grounds.

Leon exhaled, running a hand through his damp hair.

He had confirmed it now—this body was still far from what he needed.

If he wanted to regain his peak, he needed to accelerate his training.

And he had an idea on how to do that.

Vaelcrest Manor – Leon's Chambers

The warm glow of candlelight flickered against the stone walls of his room as Leon studied himself in the mirror.

Sweat still clung to his skin from the duel, his breath steady but his body aching from the strain. He rolled his shoulder, testing his flexibility. His muscles were lean, his form athletic, but he lacked the density of strength that had once defined him.

His golden eyes sharpened. That has to change.

If he wanted to regain his peak faster, he couldn't rely on conventional training. He needed something more extreme.

Leon moved to his desk, rummaging through the drawers until he found what he was looking for.

A small, black vial.

A relic from his past lives.

The knights of Vaelcrest had always used training enhancers—medicinal elixirs designed to push the human body beyond its normal limits. In one timeline, Leon had refined the formula himself, making it even more potent.

The downside? It was agonizing.

His smirk returned. Perfect.

He pulled off the cork and downed the liquid in one gulp.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

Fire.

It spread through his veins like molten steel, searing every nerve, every muscle. His body rebelled against the unnatural acceleration, tendons straining, bones creaking under the sheer force of the change.

Leon gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out.

Pain is temporary. Strength is permanent.

His fingers dug into the floor as waves of agony crashed through him. He could feel it happening—his muscles breaking down, tearing apart on a microscopic level, only to rebuild stronger, denser, more efficient.

This was the method he had developed in a past life.

A forced evolution.

A brutal way to train, but it was the fastest way to adapt his body to the combat knowledge stored in his mind.

His breathing became ragged as his heart pounded violently against his ribs. Every pulse sent a fresh wave of fire coursing through him, and for a moment, his vision blurred.

His body felt too small—like a cage barely containing something larger, something greater.

Leon shut his eyes, controlling his breathing. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. He had done this before. He knew how to endure.

The pain didn't fade, but he adjusted to it.

Slowly.

Good. This is good.

He forced himself upright, staggering toward the desk, gripping its edge for balance. His limbs trembled, but already, he could feel the first signs of adaptation.

His senses sharpened. The candlelight flickered, but now, he could see every movement in the flame, every subtle shift in the air. The sounds of the manor outside his room—footsteps, distant voices, the rustling of fabric—all became clearer.

It was working.

The enhancer was forcing his body to catch up to his mind.

A smirk tugged at his lips. It won't be enough. But it's a start.

A sharp knock on his door snapped him out of his thoughts.

Leon turned his gaze toward the entrance, his golden eyes still gleaming from the rush of the enhancer.

"Young Master Leon," Gerald's composed voice came from the other side. "The Duke has requested your presence immediately."

Leon exhaled, straightening his posture. The pain was still there, lurking beneath his skin, but he had already begun to master it.

"Understood," he replied.

As he moved toward the door, his steps were already stronger, sharper, faster.

Vaelcrest Manor – The Duke's Study

The study was dimly lit, the scent of old parchment and burning oak filling the air.

Duke Aldric stood near the window, his gaze focused on the courtyard below, where knights continued their training. His posture was rigid, arms crossed behind his back—a stance Leon had seen too many times before.

A man deep in thought. A man preparing for war.

Leon closed the door behind him. "You called for me."

Aldric didn't turn immediately. "You fought Selene today."

Leon's lips twitched. "Word travels fast."

His father finally turned, blue eyes scrutinizing him. "She was impressed."

Leon didn't react. He simply met his father's gaze, waiting.

Aldric exhaled through his nose. "The Empire's envoy arrives tomorrow."

Leon nodded. He already knew that. Aurelia Solis. Leo.

His father's gaze darkened slightly. "Do you understand what this means?"

Leon tilted his head slightly. "That depends. Are you asking about politics… or something else?"

Aldric studied him for a moment before speaking. "Aurelia Solis is no ordinary noble."

Leon knew that far better than anyone else.

"She is the rising power within Solmaria," Aldric continued. "A woman destined for the throne."

Leon remained silent.

"In most circumstances, the Empire would not send someone of her status for a simple political visit." Aldric's voice was edged with something close to… caution. "Which means this is not a simple visit."

Leon's gaze sharpened. "What do you suspect?"

Aldric leaned forward, resting his hands on his desk. "She is testing us."

Leon exhaled. So it begins.

Aurelia had always been a tactician. She did not waste time with meaningless pleasantries or ceremonial formalities. If she was coming here personally, then it meant she had an agenda.

Leon's mind immediately ran through the possibilities.

Was she already aware of something?

Had his regression—his very presence—already begun shifting the course of this timeline?

His father's voice pulled him back. "This means you must be prepared, Leon."

Leon smirked. "When am I not?"

Aldric's lips twitched slightly before he straightened. "See to it that you don't disappoint me."

Leon inclined his head slightly. "I wouldn't dream of it."

As he turned to leave, a thought settled in his mind.

Tomorrow, he would see Aurelia again.

For the first time… and for the hundredth time.