The next morning, an announcement was made: a duel between Kael Ardyn and Aria Ardyn.

In a tavern, voices rose over clinking glasses and low laughter.

"Does that pig think he can win?"

"I almost feel pity for him... but Lady Aria is clearly the better heir."

"No need to feel pity for him."

"Hey, I heard he’s not fat anymore."

"Are you serious right now?"

Meanwhile, something else was unfolding inside the Duke’s mansion.

***

In the morning, a soft groan escaped Kael as he stirred awake.

I had such a good dream for the first time in a long while... I really miss Rin and June.

Today was the duel.

Where is Luna? Did she leave while I was asleep?

And why was the system so noisy today?

"System."

[Goddess of Love has sent you a gift.]

[Aspect: Ether Authority]

[A mana form untouched by elemental alignment.]

.....

"What! Why!"

[.....]

"Oh great goddess of love thank you.

[are you not saying I love you this time.]

"....."

He changed the subject.

"You didn’t explain Villain Halo last time."

[You will understand when you use it.]

"If I have Ether Authority... doesn’t that mean I can cast any spell?"

[Yes, if you have enough mana.]

Kael fell silent for a moment, thinking.

"...Alright. Let’s try Aether Step."

He stepped forward...and walked onto thin air.

"Woah... that’s actually amazing."

[New skill acquired: Aether Step]

[Due to Ether Authority, Mana Heart level have been increased.]

Kael smiled faintly.

"Alright... time for today’s duel. Let’s crush everyone’s hopes."

Name: Kael Ardyn

Title: Trash of the Family

Level: 4

Class: [NONE]

Aspect: Ether Authority

Divine Skill: Villain Halo

Active Abilities: Fireball / Wind Blade / Basic Mana Pulse / Hell’s Fire

Passive Abilities: Infinity Mana Breathing

Traits: Mana Veins

Mana Heart: Silver first-grade

***

A scene was unfolding in the main hall.

"I could never put anyone as my equal at all. And now, I am tired of seeing anyone being called a genius, when in truth, they are not."

My voice had gone cold. Louder without meaning to be.

"I have been holding back. That ends now. The gap between us will keep growing but that statement wasn’t meant for you alone, sister. It was meant for everyone. No one surpasses me."

Silence settled over the main hall.

It was a bold thing to say. An embarrassing thing, if he couldn’t back it up.

Let them think I was only ever a jerk because no one had the right to stand beside me. If I can beat Aria, the rest writes itself.

"What do you mean by that, Kael?" Lucian’s voice was controlled, but only just. "We all know your strength. It’s fortunate we are the only ones here, because if this had happened outside..."

"There, there, father. I can understand how you will feel, seeing the genius daughter you nurtured lose to your so-called pathetic son. But that’s just life isn’t it? There will always be a bigger fish in the sea. I mean, you understand that more than me, right?"

It was a precise strike and everyone present knew it. Lucian was the tenth Swordmaster of the empire powerful by any measure, except one. There was a person he had never beaten. Had never come close to beating. That fact lived somewhere behind his eyes and never fully left.

His daughter, whom he thinks is a genius, is his only way to redeem himself, to nurture her and turn her into the strongest mage of the empire.

Kael had just said it out loud.

"I have wasted enough time." He turned back to Aria. "Shall we start, sister? If I lose, I disappear. No more trouble, for anyone. Or you can step aside now and let me have the throne."

Aria hadn’t moved.

Why have you become like this? The thought sat somewhere behind her expression, quiet and unresolved. You used to be different. I always thought you would come back to that. Maybe I was wrong.

After a moment her lips parted.

"You promise? That if you lose, it stops. All of it."

"I do," Kael replied, a slight smirk on his face. He had no intention of losing.

Aria closed her eyes for a second.

"Alright. I accept."

"Then go to the arena." Seraphina’s voice was calm, but her hands were folded too carefully in her lap. "If this is what you both want."

Whatever happens, I will find a way to help you. Whether from the Duke’s house or my own family. That much I can promise.

They moved to the arena. A duel like this couldn’t happen in the main hall not because the hall couldn’t hold it, but because this wasn’t just a fight between siblings. This was the succession. People needed to see it. Needed to know who was going to sit on that throne and what they were capable of.

The Duke walked ahead. The Duchess, Kael and Aria followed.

A knight was sent to clear the arena floor.

As they walked, Kael glanced at his sister once.

Serene. She looks completely serene. Don’t mistake that for weakness.

She was silver grade mid tier. But he was a level above. On paper the gap was small. In practice she had spent years refining her skills while he had spent years doing nothing at all.

Which left one option.

Make something she hasn’t seen before. A skill of my own.

Every spell in this world had been built the same way mana shaped by clear intent, imagination turned solid through focus. If the image in your mind was precise enough, the mana followed. That was the foundation all magic came from.

What Kael had that Aria didn’t was all elemental affinities, untrained but present.

If my focus holds, I can win this. And with Ether Authority backing it...

They reached the arena. Both of them stepped onto the stage. The Duke and Duchess took their seats at the highest point overlooking the floor.

Lucian’s voice carried across the space without effort.

"This duel will decide who sits on the throne of this dukedom. The winner becomes the heir. That is final."

A pause.

"Begin."