Valentine stared at Veda with his usual plain expression.

The training ground became quiet except for the occasional rustling of leaves from the trees beyond the stone walls. Several servants stood at a respectful distance while Stoke and the Duke’s personal guards remained stationed around the area without making a sound.

Despite the calm atmosphere, Valentine could clearly see the excitement hidden beneath Veda’s composed appearance.

There was also tension.

A lot of it.

After all, standing in front of the Head of the Ashenlocke Family was one thing.

Sparring against him was another.

"You may begin."

Valentine spoke slowly as he shifted into a fighting stance.

The movement looked simply, since there was no flashy display or any intimidating burst of Cognis.

Yet the moment he settled his footing, Veda felt a strange pressure.

It was as if a mountain had suddenly appeared before him.

"Okay."

Veda replied.

The moment the word left his mouth, Cognis surged through his body.

His muscles tightened.

His senses sharpened.

And he immediately rushed forward.

The stone floor cracked slightly beneath his shoes as he accelerated, then he sharply shifted to Valentine’s right side.

The movement was fast.

Fast enough that most ordinary people would only see a blur.

The instant the tip of his foot touched the ground...

Veda launched himself into the air.

His body twisted.

His fist shot forward toward Valentine’s face.

The punch carried enough force to shatter stone.

But before it could even come close...

Grab!

Valentine’s hand moved.

A simple and effortless move.

His fingers wrapped around Veda’s wrist when the punch was barely an inch away from his face.

Then, in one smooth motion, he turned his waist and threw Veda away.

It looked almost casual.

As if he had tossed aside an empty bag.

Veda’s eyes widened.

His body spun through the air before he landed several meters away.

His shoes scraped violently across the ground.

Dust scattered around him as he nearly lost his balance.

Only after taking several hurried steps backward did he finally stabilize himself.

A drop of sweat slid down the side of his face, while his eyes remained locked on Valentine.

His eyes caught my attack immediately.

The thought appeared in Veda’s mind.

No...

He didn’t just catch it.

He read it. And so easily at the same time.

Veda exhaled slowly.

For a moment, he didn’t know how to approach again.

"You are being too conscious, boy."

Valentine glanced at him.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"What happened to the boy who fought his sister for the position of Young Lord?"

His voice remained flat with no sign of mockery in it.

Only a simple question.

"Haha... Haha..."

Veda scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"My bad."

More Cognis surged through his body.

The hesitation slowly disappeared.

I should stop thinking so much about how to approach this fight, since I’m not the tactical type anyway.

I should just trust my instincts and fight with all I’ve got.

He released a slow breath.

The nervousness.

The excitement.

The pressure.

Everything gradually faded with only focus remaining.

The next moment...

Veda disappeared from his spot.

BOOM!

A powerful punch slammed toward Valentine’s face.

Valentine calmly raised his palm and blocked it again, but this time the collision created a dull explosion of air.

Wind burst outward.

The servants watching from the side immediately turned their heads.

Even Stoke and several nearby guards shifted their attention toward the spar.

Veda’s punch carried immense force.

Yet Valentine didn’t move an inch.

Not even half a step.

Valentine pushed the fist aside.

The strength behind the motion almost sent Veda flying backward again.

But this time Veda was prepared.

His feet dug into the ground, as he lowered his center of gravity and immediately transitioned into a low kick.

Cognis flowed evenly throughout his body.

Every muscle.

Every joint.

Every movement.

His leg swept toward Valentine’s left foot.

But...

Valentine reacted before the attack arrived.

He lifted his leg.

The kick passed harmlessly beneath him, then his other leg shot upward.

A high kick.

Fast, clean and precise.

The attack sliced through the air toward Veda’s face.

Even through he was suppressing his strength, Valentine still moved with terrifying fluidity.

Veda’s pupils contracted as he immediately leaned backward.

The kick passed over his face by less than an inch.

His hair was blown backward by the force.

He could even feel the pressure brushing against his skin.

Veda rolled away.

The instant his shoulder touched the ground, he pushed himself back up.

Without pausing, he rushed forward again.

Punch.

Kick.

Punch.

Elbow.

Kick.

The attacks flowed continuously, like waves crashing against a cliff.

Yet every single strike was blocked.

Every single attack was redirected.

Every opening was closed.

To the ordinary servants, the fight had already become impossible to follow.

All they could see were afterimages.

Blurred movements and occasional impacts.

But among the two fighters...

One fact remained obvious.

Valentine was overwhelmingly faster.

From the start of the spar until now...

He had not even moved from the spot where he originally stood.

Not even once.

Meanwhile, sweat was beginning to cover Veda’s forehead.

His breathing gradually became heavier while his fists moved.

His legs moved.

And his Cognis flowed continuously.

Yet none of his attacks could break through Valentine’s defense.

Then suddenly...

A different idea appeared in his mind.

Veda stomped downward.

Boom!

His foot smashed into the ground where Valentine’s foot had been.

But Valentine had already moved it away.

Now the Duke stood balanced on one leg, and at that exact moment...

Veda’s left fist shot forward from point-blank range.

The air shifted violently as Valentine’s hand moved to intercept the incoming punch.

But just before the strike could land on his palm, Veda suddenly withdrew his fist.

The movement was sharp and clean.

A feint.

The real attack came immediately afterward.

His other fist shot forward.

A straight punch aimed directly at Valentine’s face.

The transition between the fake and real attack was smooth enough that most opponents would have been forced to react to the first strike.

Valentine, however, remained completely relaxed.

A quick feint.

He thought to himself calmly while his cold black eyes remained fixed on the first punch Veda had pulled back.

He didn’t even glance at the real attack.

Then his body moved.

Without warning, Valentine leaned backward.

The motion was so smooth that it resembled a pendulum swinging away from impact.

Veda’s real punch sliced through empty air.

His fist passed mere inches from Valentine’s face.

The sudden movement caused Veda’s eyes to widen, because the dodge had happened so naturally that it almost looked impossible.

Then, before Veda could recover...

Valentine’s body swung forward again.

Like the same pendulum returning to its original position.

The leg he had shifted backward suddenly exploded forward with speed.

Veda instantly felt the danger.

At his current position, dodging properly would be difficult, since his body was already committed to the punch.

Retreating wasn’t an option anymore.

So, he reacted purely on instinct.

The hand that had missed Valentine’s face immediately dropped.

Grab!

His fingers wrapped around Valentine’s leg.

The force behind the kick still carried him upward.

His feet briefly left the ground.

Yet Veda didn’t panic.

Instead, his second hand quickly joined the first.

Holding onto the same leg, he used the momentum to pull himself higher.

His body twisted in midair, then both legs shot forward simultaneously into a double kick.

BOOM!

The impact echoed through the training ground.

Dust rose from the stone floor.

Valentine had calmly raised his arm and blocked.

The side of his forearm absorbed the entire attack with the force traveling through his sleeve.

His coat fluttered slightly.

Yet his feet remained rooted to the same spot.

The next moment, he pushed forward with a simple movement.

Nothing flashy.

Yet the force behind it sent Veda flying backward.

Veda spun once before landing heavily on both feet.

His shoes scraped against the stone floor.

His balance almost collapsed again, but he took two hurried steps backward before finally stabilizing himself.

His chest rose and fell steadily.

Sweat trickled down his temple.

Despite everything, a grin briefly appeared on his face.

The fight had been short.

Yet every exchange had taught him something.

"That’s enough."

Valentine’s deep voice echoed through the training ground.

The spar immediately ended.

Veda straightened his posture.

Then he respectfully placed his right fist against his left palm and bowed.

"Thank you for the spar, Lord."

His voice carried genuine respect.

No matter the result, the opportunity alone was valuable.

Although...

Throughout the entire fight, Veda had still failed to make Valentine leave the spot where he had originally started.

The Duke hadn’t taken a single step.

Not even one.

This clearly showed the difference between them was still enormous.

"Veda."

Valentine glanced at him calmly.

"Although I said your Cognis control is good, after this fight I realized that if I compare you to other geniuses I have seen around your age, you are still behind them by quite some distance."

His words were direct.

Just as always.

No comfort, no unnecessary encouragement.

Only the truth.

Veda quietly listened.

"Your battle instincts are good."

Valentine continued.

"The reflexes you displayed during the fight were also impressive."

His gaze lingered on Veda.

"You reacted correctly several times without needing to think."

He paused briefly.

"And your physical abilities are strong enough that they can compensate for some of the shortcomings in your Cognis control."

After speaking, Valentine signaled to the servants to bring the throw pillows.

Several servants immediately moved with practiced efficiency, as they quickly placed the pillows back in position.

Valentine sat down.

"Yes, Lord."

Veda bowed again.

His expression remained respectful.

"Val truly trained you well."

Valentine rested comfortably on the throw pillow.

"But to be honest..."

His gaze settled on Veda again, expressionless.

"I still cannot acknowledge the fact that he gave you a Ninth-Grade Ese."

A maid approached quietly.

The coat Valentine had removed before the spar was returned to him, then another maid walked gently standing behind him with a fan.

Even though he wasn’t sweating in the slightest, she began fanning him.

Valentine folded his arms.

"If your sister had received that Ese instead..."

His voice remained calm.

"She would have already begun constructing her fourth star."

Veda remained silent.

The words stung.

Not because they were insulting, but because they were true and he himself knew that.

Valentine rested his cheek against his knuckle, while his elbow sat comfortably on his lap.

"Even after receiving a top-quality Ese, you only managed to reach the Meister Rank."

His eyes remained fixed on Veda.

"That alone shows the limits of your natural talent."

The servants nearby lowered their heads, not daring to react.

"And you already know this."

Valentine continued.

"As time passes, the effect of the Ninth-Grade Ese will gradually weaken."

His voice remained steady.

"Eventually, the truly talented individuals will continue growing."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"And the chances of you falling behind become very real."

The words sounded harsh, cold and merciless again.

Yet Veda knew better than anyone that Valentine wasn’t lying, with every word being a true future reality.

Valentine continued staring at him.

Waiting and watching.

He wanted to see if Veda’s heart would shake after hearing the truth.

Whether doubt would appear, or whether fear would emerge, or whether resignation would settle in.

But none of those things appeared.

Veda’s eyes remained unchanged.

He already understood his limitations.

He also already understood the gap between himself and monsters like Vera.

He already understood that his talent wasn’t exceptional.

Yet despite understanding all of that...

His eyes never carried the look of someone who had accepted defeat, not anymore.

Instead...

They carried the determination of someone who intended to break through that reality.

Someone who refused to accept destiny simply because others declared it impossible.

For the first time during the conversation...

A faint smile appeared on Valentine’s face.

"Your determination is good, Veda."

Valentine’s faint smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

"But even determination and hard work can only take a person so far."

He lazily pointed a finger toward Veda while remaining seated.

The gesture looked casual.

Yet the weight behind his words wasn’t casual at all.

"So, I hope you can keep up the pace."

The training ground became quiet.

Only the sound of the wind brushing across the stone floor could be heard.

Veda listened carefully.

Every word Valentine spoke was something he took seriously.

Not because the man was the Duke.

Not because he was the Head of the Family and also his father.

But because Valentine was one of the few people whose strength stood at the absolute peak of Britannia.

"Yes."

Veda immediately bowed with a bright smile appearing on his face.

"I will do my very best not to fail my conviction, Father."

His answer came without hesitation.

There wasn’t even a trace of uncertainty in his voice.

Valentine looked at him for a moment before shifting his attention elsewhere.

"Speaking of Vera..."

His brow raised slightly.

"Where is she?"

He turned toward the maid standing beside him.

The woman continued fanning him with steady movements.

"Lord Duke, the Young Lady left the Estate not long ago."

The maid lowered her head respectfully while continuing her work.

Valentine’s brow lifted a little higher.

"She left?"

"Yes, Lord Duke."

The maid nodded.

"The information arrived while you were sparring with the Young Lord."

Valentine rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"That girl..."

A faint sigh escaped him.

For a brief moment, even Stoke looked away.

Everyone who knew Vera understood exactly what Valentine was feeling.

Trying to predict Vera’s movements was often a waste of time.

Since she always did whatever she wanted.

And somehow...

She usually had a reason that only made sense to her.

Valentine stood up.

The maid immediately stepped back.

His coat settled naturally against his shoulders as he adjusted the cuffs.

"You are dismissed, Veda."

He waved a hand casually and the conversation ended like that.

"Yes, Father."

Veda bowed again.

Valentine turned around and walked away.

The maid quickly followed behind him.

Then Stoke.

Then the other servants, assigned to accompany the Duke.

Their footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Only a few servants remained behind to clean the training ground again.

Some began sweeping away the dust created during the spar.

Others inspected the cracks left on the stone floor.

The once lively atmosphere quickly returned to normal.

Veda stretched both arms above his head.

His joints popped softly, then he rolled his neck from side to side.

The fatigue from the spar was finally beginning to settle into his muscles.

"I wonder where she went."

He muttered to himself before leaving the training ground.

***

Far away from the main Ashenlocke Estate.

In a peaceful district surrounded by rich greenery and carefully maintained roads.

Large mansions stood throughout the area.

Each one sat on vast stretches of land, separated by gardens, fences, and rows of decorative trees.

The neighborhood was quiet.

Peaceful.

The kind of place where only wealthy nobles and successful Alchemists could afford to live.

At the entrance of one of those mansions...

A large Steam-Truck stood parked.

White steam escaped from several metal pipes attached to its sides.

Workers moved back and forth carrying furniture, boxes, decorations, and various household supplies.

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed repeatedly across the front yard.

"Please be careful with that."

Lucy pointed toward a group of workers carrying an expensive cabinet.

Her voice remained polite.

Yet there was enough authority behind it to make the workers straighten their backs immediately.

"Yes, Miss Lucy!"

The workers hurriedly adjusted their grip.

Lucy nodded in satisfaction.

Since arriving at the mansion, she had practically become the supervisor of the entire moving operation.

Furniture entered.

Boxes entered and Decorations entered.

After confirming another delivery had been completed properly, she turned toward the final piece of furniture still waiting outside.

A long couch.

One of the largest ones among all the deliveries.

"Master."

Lucy approached and bowed slightly.

"They want to carry the couch inside."

On top of the couch...

Ezra was lying comfortably.

One arm supported his head.

One leg rested over the other.

His posture was so relaxed that he looked as if he were enjoying a vacation rather than moving into a new mansion.

"They should carry it."

Ezra replied flatly.

He didn’t even open his eyes.

The workers froze, then they looked at Lucy.

Then at Ezra.

Then back at Lucy.

Lucy simply nodded.

"The Master’s orders."

The workers looked helpless.

Ezra finally opened one eye.

"Don’t mind me."

He adjusted his position slightly.

"I’m simply testing the softness."

His tone remained completely serious.

As if he were conducting an important scientific experiment.

The two workers exchanged confused glances.

Neither knew how to respond.

Eventually, they shrugged.

One grabbed the front.

The other grabbed the back.

Then together they lifted the couch.

The moment they did...

Both men blinked.

"Huh?"

The couch felt normal.

Completely normal.

The weight was exactly what they expected.

It was almost as if Ezra wasn’t lying on top of it at all.

The two workers glanced at each other again.

Then at Ezra.

Then back at each other.

Meanwhile, Ezra remained comfortably stretched across the couch.

Not moving and not caring.

As the couch carrying him slowly disappeared into the mansion.