A two-story abode could be seen, emitting a noble presence. Within its stone walls, ornate windows could be seen, covered in curtains, and a roof that seemed to touch the heavens.
Perched atop the house, catching the first light of dawn, was a magic wand unlike any other. Crafted intricately, it consisted of two interwoven snakes that made a heart shape at the top, with their mouths touching on a big blue diamond stone placed perfectly between them.
Their jeweled eyes were glinting with an eerie charm. Attached to the wand were two dark-colored, magnificent wings. This structure spun with the cold breeze. This was a seraphic wind vane, a symbol of high status among the Duskcrowned family.
An azure light enveloped the entire house, casting an otherworldly glow. Within its walls, a young boy pursued his training. His snow-white hair reminded me of freshly fallen snow, and his piercing blue eyes held an innocence absent in others his age.
Amidst the beautiful scenery and the sprawling estate's well-kept lawn, the boy trained with an unwavering resolve. The world around him seemed to fade as he kept pushing his body to its limits.
With his hands shaking and the sweat dripping like rain on the grass below him, he kept training as if planning to nurture the whole lawn with his sweat.
With each push-up, he started losing the feel of his hands; he could hear the pounding of his heart in his ears like a restless drum. The pain was a consistent reminder of how weak he was.
He could feel his body protesting, threatening to collapse, but he wasn't willing to bend his knees before the exhaustion. He had a promise to keep—not to his mother or anyone else, but to himself.
This time, he was not willing to break it, no matter what. He would not stop until he paid back those who had made his mother suffer. The intensity of his training increased as he remembered the scene that kept him awake for many days.
"Maam, you can't hide this from Amon forever. It is something he should know. He deserves to know about his father." He was approaching his mother's room when he heard a low voice familiar to him.
"What do I tell him? Tell him that his father has already passed away due to a conspiracy of higher-ups in the clan."
A quiet sniff followed, and he paused, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"Madam, I understand the pain you're going through," a familiar voice, Melusina, spoke with gentle firmness. "But please, try to control your emotions. You can't let others see you like this."
His mother's voice quivered as she replied, "Melusina, you don't understand. He was everything to me. I can't bear this pain."
"Ahhhhh." Every set was a battle of willpower and defiance against his limitations. The world around him blurred as sweat and determination stung his eyes.
His hands shook uncontrollably, vibrating like a guitar's string. "Not now; there is still some energy left." He summoned every ounce of strength left in him. His hands screamed in protest as he completed the last set.
Finally, he had nothing left. Gasping for breath, he collapsed onto the grassy ground, his body trembling with exhaustion. He turned and looked at the sky, covered in dark blue clouds.
It's been a week since he heard the conversation between his mother and Melusina. He gritted his teeth, and his eyes became moist. His hands raised as he looked at them; he could see invisible handcuffs binding him. That stopped him from getting stronger, despite giving his all and training for day and night only, taking small breaks.
The best he had managed was to increase his stamina and strength a little. "How will I get stronger if I continue like this? Some elders of the Duskcrowned have lived more than a thousand years."
"How can I defeat those old fogies that have mastered their skills for such a long time? Why does it all look impossible?" He said this as he looked at his hands.
"No, there must be a way."Unwilling to give up, he thought about his choices.
"That power. If I can use Prana, there might be a possibility." He said this as the glow on his face returned.
"But I can't control that power. I may not even be able to use it if I try; that time, I succeeded due to a life-death situation." He sighed as he clenched his hands.
He looked at the sky for some time and started thinking about a solution. His eyelids closed the next moment, and countless thoughts came into his head.
It was as if he was lost in the never-ending loop of his thoughts. It was then that a figure appeared in them. It was different from every other person he had seen in the Duskcrowd family.
A dark brown-skinned muscular man appeared in his thoughts. He was also a Nephilim, but the other bloodline he had was that of an Oni demon. "Why was my father a human?"
"Couldn't he have been from a stronger species? What did my mother like about him? He would not have died if he were strong, leaving my mother alone. I will never forgive him." His mood worsened as he thought about him.
"Should I ask that guy I met on the training ground, but will he teach me? What if he refuses?" He was in a dilemma about whether to approach him or not.
Thinking about it for a moment, he facepalmed himself. "What's there to be afraid of? The worst he can do is refuse me. I will look for a different way if I fail."
He stood up slowly and started moving toward the training ground. It was not a place he liked, but he had no choice this time. The person he wanted to meet was most likely to be there.
For the first time in his life, he willingly went to the training ground without being forced by his mother. Thoughts about ignoring it clouded his mind constantly, but he suppressed them and continued.
Two figures could be seen watching his every moment from the topmost window. Melusina looked at the smile on her madam's face and asked, "Was it necessary?
"He has completely changed; I have not seen him rest for even five hours daily. His body will not be able to take this much burden; I am already surprised at how he is able to move," she added.
"It was; don't you see how hard he is working? He now has a purpose; he will try his best to become stronger. As for his body, don't worry; it's also not the same." A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
"Maam, his heart will break when he knows the truth," said the scarlet-eyed woman as she looked down.
"I know; that's why I want you to ensure he never knows. His father's secret should never be revealed. Even I don't know what he will do when he knows the truth." A trace of concern appeared in her eyes as she looked at the figure disappearing from her view.