Luzbel awoke in an unfamiliar and luxurious room. He pushed Ember, his faithful companion, away from his head and slowly sat up, still disoriented by the situation. His eyes rested on a nearby mirror, and in his reflection he noticed that the joy that used to inhabit his face had been replaced by a serious and distant expression. A feeling of uncertainty came over him.
At that moment, Vlad, the butler, knocked on the door of the room. "Master Titus wishes to see you," he announced in a serene and respectful voice.
Luzbel answered immediately. "Understood," he exclaimed, as he dressed in the clothes he had brought with him and left Ember in the room, making sure she was comfortable and safe.
The butler and Luzbel walked silently down the hallway until they reached Titus' study. Upon entering, they found Titus sitting at his imposing desk, reviewing papers. As he looked up and laid his eyes on Luzbel, he said solemnly, "According to Roland's letter, you possess great talent in both swordsmanship and magic. From now on, you will train every morning with one master of magic and one master of swordsmanship."
Luzbel nodded, grateful for the opportunity. Then, he made a request to Titus with determination in his voice. "Sir, I wish to join the army so that I may quickly grow stronger."
Titus was silent for a moment, pondering Luzbel's request. "You are very young, Luzbel. Normally, the youngest new recruits are at least fourteen years old. However, given your great ability, I can make an exception, but I need to test your mettle," Titus replied cautiously.
Wasting no time, Titus and Luzbel made their way to the mansion's spacious courtyard. The place was adorned with majestic trees and crystal clear water fountains, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
In the middle of the courtyard, they prepared to face each other. Luzbel demonstrated all the knowledge he had acquired under Roland's tutelage in the art of swordsmanship. With grace and dexterity, he swung his sword and displayed precise and agile movements. In addition, he unleashed the only spell he had learned, launching a powerful fireball towards Titus.
However, to Luzbel's surprise, Titus parried all of his attacks with seemingly supernatural ease. The weapons master blocked every blow with his hand, showing unmatched mastery.
Luzbel, exhausted and recovering from the combat on the courtyard floor, listened to Titus' words of praise. "You are good, I can tell you have learned much from Roland in your sword technique. You were lucky to be instructed by the Storm Knight, Luzbel," the master declared admiringly.
Surprised by the title mentioned, Luzbel could not contain his curiosity and asked, "Storm Knight, was that Roland's title?"
Titus nodded solemnly and proceeded to tell the story of the legendary knight. He explained how Roland had been one of the finest warriors in the empire and arguably the most skilled swordsman in terms of mastery. His exploits on the battlefields were renowned, as he faced his enemies in the midst of storms and hurricanes, unleashing his unparalleled fury. However, despite his prowess with the sword, Roland lacked talent in the wielding of mana, which kept him limited to the rank of knight throughout his life.
As time went by, Roland discovered his limit and decided to dedicate himself to being an instructor, sharing his vast knowledge and experience with those who awakened his talent. It was in this context that Roland and Titus met, and young Titus became one of the legendary knight's best disciples.
Upon finishing his tale, Titus fixed his gaze on Luzbel and voiced his assessment. "You are good at swordsmanship and possess outstanding talent having awakened earlier than most. However, you lack knowledge in mana handling and, most importantly, experience. If you wish to join the army, I will assign you to the initiate squad, where awakened children join and learn together," Titus proposed.
Luzbel nodded, grateful for the opportunity. The conversation concluded with Titus' resolution, "From now on, you will have your training in the mornings with two masters, one for swordsmanship and one for mana handling. The rest of the day you will receive training in the initiate squad."
After finishing the conversation, Luzbel headed for the baths to take a shower. Despite his initial resistance, the maids, persistent in their desire to help him, finally convinced him and attended to him delicately, leaving his hair clean and shiny.
Once groomed and elegantly dressed in his noble attire of black and gold, Luzbel made his way to the dining room where the three members of the family were having breakfast. Titus, Placida and Morrigan .
***
As the sun's golden rays filtered through the dining room windows, the family gathered to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Titus, Placida, Morrigan and Luzbel took their places around the table, each immersed in their thoughts and emotions.
Morrigan, with her childlike face of captivating beauty, could not take her eyes off Luzbel. The young man, now clean and attired in a noble garment of black and gold, radiated an elegance that attracted the gaze of all present. His refined appearance made him an imposing figure, as if he were the most gallant prince that had ever existed on the entire continent.
Morrigan's eyes rested shyly on Luzbel, unable to resist the attraction she felt towards him. It was as if their gazes met in a world apart, filled with curiosity and fascination. In silence, Morrigan contemplated every detail of his face, every gesture that showed his personality and every change in his expressions. In her mind, dreams and fantasies formed that only a young girl's heart could harbor.
Although Luzbel was focused on his breakfast and the animated conversations going on around him to which he coldly replied, he could feel the intensity of Morrigan's gazes. The soft gleam in her eyes revealed a sincere and deep admiration. Although his own youth made it difficult for him to fully understand the feelings Morrigan aroused in him, he could not ignore the effect her presence had on his heart.
As breakfast wore on, Luzbel found himself enveloped in a strange duality of emotions. On the one hand, he was immersed in his growing commitment to training and finding his place in the world. But on the other hand, he couldn't help but feel an emerging curiosity towards Morrigan, an inexplicable connection that seemed to transcend words and manifest itself through his heart.
The atmosphere in the dining room was filled with a complicit silence, interrupted only by the sound of cups gently clinking and the whispers of scattered conversations. Morrigan continued to capture fragments of Luzbel's image in her mind, constructing an idealized portrait of the handsome young man who had come into her life.
And so, between the delights of breakfast and the glances that intertwined, destiny began to weave invisible threads between Luzbel and Morrigan. A special connection was forming, ready to defy the trials and challenges that awaited their path. In the days to come, the medieval fantasy world would take them on unimaginable adventures and a path that would be forged bit by bit, as their destinies intertwined in an epic story that was yet to be written.