The boy woke again, finding himself in the same place, on the same day. The familiar gush of wind greeted him, stirring memories of the power he felt before. Ecstasy washed over him momentarily, but he quickly subdued his emotions.
Abel sensed a significant improvement in his body. He could now move his arms and limbs effortlessly. As he rose and stretched, he was astounded by the difference. He felt young, strong, and brimming with vitality. His transformation was undeniable.
After his light stretches, he walked around the bed and ventured further, reaching out to touch the enormous tree. The contact sent a wave of calming energy through him.
Suddenly, a shadow fell behind him, startling him.
"The young prince has awakened, it seems," a man dressed in a simple robe stated.
Startled, Abel gave a small nod.
"It's quite remarkable," the man exclaimed. "Who knew the prince had awakened his latent talent?"
Abel's voice was slightly hoarse as he muttered, "Did I win?"
"During your battle with the young prince," the man explained, "he unleashed not just power, but his unique talent. Though he barely used half of it, you, someone barely at the threshold of martial arts, managed to momentarily disable him. Something within him ran amok, causing his energy to become unstable, hindering his ability to gather power. Then, you lost consciousness."
Abel muttered, "So... I lost?"
The man replied slowly, "Unfortunately, yes."
Abel closed his eyes, seemingly accepting his fate. He wondered what would become of him. Would he be banished?
"That's why I'm here," the man explained. "I'm instructed to escort you to the Duke."
"An audience with the Duke?"
"Indeed."
As they walked together, they passed numerous guards and servants, yet strangely, no one seemed to notice or even look at them. Abel found this puzzling, but he swallowed his confusion and followed the robed man diligently.
After a while, they arrived in a majestic room adorned with bright purple carpets and expansive space. At the end of the room, a figure sat cross-legged, seemingly floating gently in the air.
The robed man turned to Abel, nodded, and disappeared.
Abel stood alone, facing the floating figure. After a while, the man's eyes opened, sending an oppressive shockwave throughout the room that momentarily forced Abel back.
"Abel," the man addressed him.
"Yes, Your Highness Grand Duke," Abel replied, using the man's official title. However, he couldn't bring himself to bow his head.
"You have lost," the Grand Duke stated.
"I am aware," Abel replied calmly.
"Do you comprehend the consequences?" the Grand Duke inquired.
"..."
Abel remained silent.
With a sigh, the Grand Duke found himself and Abel suddenly seated at a circular table with tea laid out before them. The sudden change startled Abel momentarily.
"According to tradition," the Grand Duke explained, "you will be banished and stripped of your direct lineage to the throne. However, you will be granted a fiefdom to rule with full authority."
"I am most grateful for your consideration, Your Highness Grand Duke," Abel replied clearly.
"No need for gratitude," the Duke said. "I merely follow tradition."
"So..."
Suddenly, they found themselves in a different location: a vast library overflowing with bookshelves. This unexpected shift made Abel squint his eyes.
The Duke, flipping through a book, posed a question. "So, what was that power you displayed earlier? Hmmm? Is it the bloodline fire? No, your heart hasn't been transformed. Perhaps a spiritual cultivation technique? No, your consciousness seems too immature to affect your surroundings. What is it? Hmmm, what is it?" he muttered, his voice laced with curiosity. The Duke, sporting a small reading glass, continued flipping through the pages, searching for an answer.
"Do you know what you just did, Abel?" the Duke inquired, his tone turning serious.
"I am unaware and clueless about how I activated that power," Abel replied firmly, "nor do I remember the rest of the fight. Forgive me, Your Highness."
Abel decided to conceal as much as possible, fearing the repercussions of revealing his secrets.
"Just call me Father, as usual," the Duke remarked casually.
"Y-yes... Father..." Abel stammered.
"Congratulations, though," the Duke continued, a hint of excitement in his voice. "It seems you've successfully awakened an incredible ability."
"Ability? What ability?" Abel asked, intrigued.
"The Spiritual Eyes," the Duke revealed. "It's a simple yet powerful ability that can be incredibly beneficial to the user. Some possess the ability to see fortunes, others can glimpse someone's fate, and some even claim to see the 'other side' of the world, where they can summon terrifying creatures from that realm."
Spiritual eyes? Abel mused. His ability to see the codes seemed to align with what the Duke described.
"How did you know?" Abel inquired, confused since he hadn't mentioned his newfound ability to anyone.
"Simple," the Duke replied enigmatically.
Abel's confusion deepened. "Simple?"
The Duke stopped his task, his gaze locking onto Abel's eyes. They seemed to hold an unnerving ability to pierce through any veil, revealing secrets. A shiver ran down Abel's spine.
'Could he be...!? No, it can't be!' Abel thought in a panic.
He felt exposed, as if every secret he held lay bare under the Duke's scrutiny. This unsettling revelation fueled his desire to escape.
'Should I run...? no, Can I even escape this person?' his mind raced with these questions.
"Because..." the Duke began, leaving Abel hanging.
"Because...?"
"Because I'm strong," the Duke concluded with a smirk.
"..."
Abel was speechless. The unexpectedness of the statement left him utterly bewildered.
"Haha... As expected of the revered patriarch of Reysmith," Abel managed a strained laugh.
"Naturally," the Duke agreed. "Now, what ability did you gain?"
"Honestly, I don't know," Abel admitted. "I haven't the slightest clue how to activate it, Father."
"Activate? Isn't the Spiritual Eyes passive?" the Duke mused, pondering the conundrum.
Perhaps this individual might have the answer, Abel thought hopefully.
"Do you know how to activate these Spiritual Eyes, Father?" he inquired.
The Duke answered promptly: "Usually, the Spiritual Eyes don't require activation. Once acquired, they remain active. However, your case seems... unique."
"Since your situation is unique," the Duke continued, "we can follow the rules from the old world. First, to activate something, you must focus and clear your mind. Second, feel the energy flowing through your body. And finally, believe in yourself."
Abel closed his eyes, his chaotic thoughts gradually quieting. His senses heightened, allowing him to hear even the Duke's shallow breaths. After a while, he felt a cool sensation in his eyes. Calmly, he opened them.
Upon opening his eyes, Abel once again saw the worm-like codes swimming throughout the room.
'Wow...' Abel couldn't help but admire the intricate details of his surroundings once more.
"Look at that! Your eyes changed from gold to white," the Duke exclaimed excitedly. "It seems you've successfully activated your ability."
"Thank you for your guidance... Father," Abel replied, genuinely grateful.
As the Duke looked at his son, he was filled with shock and surprise. The moment Abel activated his ability, his instincts, honed through countless battles, screamed at him to run. This was the first time he had ever felt such a primal urge. Even when facing beings bordering on godhood, his most potent instinct was to dodge
The Duke, however, felt a thrill of excitement coursing through him instead of fear. He couldn't help but wonder what the future held for this enigmatic "Abel" whose blood was his.
"Here, take this," the Duke said, tossing a small, obsidian-like ball towards Abel. "It may prove helpful in your future endeavors."
Abel gingerly caught the object, marveling at its smooth, cool surface. He wanted to ask about its purpose, but a sense of unspoken understanding held him back. Perhaps the Duke had his reasons, and time would reveal them.
"Three days from now," the Duke continued, "you will depart for your fiefdom. You needn't worry about your safety; I have assigned someone to ensure your well-being."
With a sharp snap of his fingers, the Duke brought Abel back to his original room. Standing alone, Abel couldn't help but marvel at the enigmatic power his father wielded.
'He seemed like such a stern and intimidating figure,' Abel mused, 'yet he was a surprisingly nonchalant and easy-going person'