Chapter 7: The Path of Steel and Fire

*Chapter 7: The Path of Steel and Fire*

The first light of dawn barely touched the horizon when **Leonhardt Valerian Everhart** was already on the training grounds. The cold morning air carried the scent of damp earth and steel, mixing with the distant scent of pine from the nearby forest.

His sword—**a weapon heavier than any child should wield**—felt natural in his grip, as if it were an extension of his very being.

Across from him, his father, **Damian Aurelius Everhart, the strongest swordsman in the empire,** watched with a gaze sharp as a honed blade.

*"Again,"* Damian commanded.

Leonhardt didn't hesitate. He moved.

His body blurred, a **flash of movement too fast for an ordinary human**. His sword cut through the air in a perfect arc, aiming for his father's side. But before the blade could land, Damian's sword was already there—**blocking it with effortless precision.**

*"Too predictable."*

Leonhardt twisted his wrist, shifting his stance mid-strike, attempting to overpower the block. **A feint. A trap. A kill strike.**

Damian barely lifted an eyebrow before countering.

The next instant, a shockwave rang through the air.

Leonhardt's sword vibrated violently as his father's strength pushed back against his attack. He gritted his teeth, **feeling his feet slide backward against the gravel.**

He refused to yield.

Planting his heel into the ground, he redirected the force of the clash, using it to spin into another attack. This time, his blade went low, aiming for Damian's legs.

A loud **clang** echoed as Damian blocked once more.

Then he moved.

A powerful downward strike came toward Leonhardt in an instant—**a blow that could have split a knight's shield in half.**

Leonhardt barely dodged in time.

The impact of Damian's sword hitting the ground sent a **shockwave of dust and gravel flying**. The sheer force cracked the stone beneath their feet.

Leonhardt **rolled, rebounded, and launched another attack.**

Each exchange was faster than the last, their swords clashing in a deadly rhythm. Sparks flew. Air pressure howled around them. The world faded away, leaving only **the battle.**

Then—**Damian struck with real intent.**

Leonhardt's instincts screamed.

At the last second, he managed to parry, but the sheer strength behind the blow **sent him flying backward.** His body skidded across the training ground, stopping only when he slammed a hand into the dirt to stabilize himself.

His breath came in slow, controlled exhales. **His arms throbbed from the impact.**

Damian lowered his sword, watching him. **For a moment, silence filled the air.**

Then—**a nod of approval.**

*"You're getting stronger."*

The words were simple, but from **Damian Aurelius Everhart**, they carried weight.

Leonhardt only gave a short nod, rising to his feet without complaint.

*"Again."*

---

### **The Price of Power**

After morning training, Leonhardt returned to his chambers, where his personal attendants quickly removed his sweat-drenched tunic and replaced it with formal attire. **His day was far from over.**

A noble's education did not end on the battlefield.

Politics. Strategy. History. Diplomacy. **Every lesson was another weapon to wield.**

But as the hours passed, Leonhardt's mind remained elsewhere. **His true battle lay in the depths of the castle, in the hidden chamber where he sought forbidden power.**

When night fell, he would return there.

He would continue to push his limits, because **he had no other choice.**

The seal had to be broken.

And for that, he needed strength beyond mortal understanding.

---

### **An Unseen Threat**

That evening, as he prepared to slip away unnoticed, a presence stopped him.

**A powerful one.**

He turned his head slightly—**and saw his mother.**

**Selene Aurelia Everhart.**

The **only human Ninth-Class magician in the world.**

She stood in the corridor, watching him with calm yet knowing eyes. **It was impossible to hide from her.**

*"Going somewhere?"* Her voice was gentle, but firm.

Leonhardt knew lying was pointless.

*"A walk,"* he replied simply.

Selene tilted her head slightly. Her silver hair **cascaded like moonlight**, and her gaze—so much like his sister's—studied him with quiet intensity.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, she sighed. *"You don't have to do everything alone, Leonhardt."*

He remained silent.

*"I know you seek power."* Her voice was soft, but her words **carried an undeniable weight.** *"But power comes with a price. One you may not be prepared to pay."*

Leonhardt met her gaze evenly. **He had already decided long ago—he would pay any price necessary.**

Seeing his unwavering expression, Selene closed her eyes for a moment. Then, without another word, she stepped aside.

She would not stop him.

But her words lingered in his mind as he walked away.

*"Power comes with a price."*

He already knew that.

**The question was: how much was he willing to pay?**

---

### **The Night's Ritual**

Beneath the castle, in the depths of his secret chamber, Leonhardt **stood before the altar once more.**

Dark runes glowed in the air, pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. The shadows twisted, alive with ancient whispers.

He closed his eyes, focusing.

Then—he reached out.

A surge of **pure, raw power** erupted around him. The air trembled. The ground cracked beneath his feet. The very fabric of reality **shuddered** as the magic coiled around him like a living entity.

**Stronger. Faster. More.**

But it was still not enough.

Leonhardt clenched his fists, his fiery red eyes burning with determination.

He would break this seal.

**No matter the cost.**