Six months later....
Warm sunlight streamed through the curtains, bathing Naz's bed in a soft, golden glow as he slowly awoke.
The chirping of birds outside filled the morning air, creating a peaceful atmosphere that made him want to stay in bed a little longer.
He stretched lazily, a yawn escaping his lips.
"I could sleep like this forever," he thought to himself, reveling in the cozy warmth that enveloped him.
Knock, knock.
"Young master, are you awake?" a voice called from outside his door.
"Yeah, I'll be out soon," Naz replied, his voice still heavy with sleep. He knew that soon he would have to leave for the academy, and the thought made him sigh.
It had been a while since he last saw his brother, Adrian, and he couldn't help but wonder how he was doing.
After getting dressed, Naz headed out to the training ground where he had been rigorously training his body over the last six months.
He had committed himself to a strict routine of stamina and strength training, determined to be well-prepared for the academy's grueling courses.
As he worked out, pushing his body to its limits, he felt a sense of accomplishment and readiness.
After finishing his workout, he sat down on a bench to catch his breath. A maid approached him, her steps hurried.
"Young Master Adrian and the other children from the branch families are arriving today," she informed him.
Naz's face lit up with excitement at the news. He had missed his brother dearly and was eager to see him again.
But as the initial happiness subsided, a thought crossed his mind, and he asked, "Why are they all coming today?"
The maid seemed uncertain as she replied, "I'm not sure of the exact reason, but it seems to be for some kind of vacation."
"Oh, I see," Naz replied, his curiosity piqued but not fully satisfied.
As the day wore on, Naz found himself restless, eagerly anticipating Adrian's arrival. He wandered around his room, his thoughts constantly drifting to his brother.
Then, finally, the sound of cars pulling up outside reached his ears. His heart skipped a beat as he rushed out of his room and hurried to the main entrance.
When he reached the entrance, his eyes immediately spotted Adrian stepping out of one of the cars.
Without a moment's hesitation, Naz ran toward him, his joy overflowing.
He threw his arms around Adrian in a tight hug, exclaiming, "Bro, I missed you so much!"
Adrian smiled warmly at his younger brother, lifting him off the ground in a playful manner, giving him a brief ride in the air.
At three and a half years old, Adrian had grown noticeably stronger since they last met.
Naz could sense the difference in Adrian's mana. 'He must have been working hard at the academy.' Naz thought to himself.
With Naz still in his arms, Adrian said, "Let's go inside first, and then we can catch up."
As they walked together, Naz noticed the cold, disdainful stares from the children of the branch families.
He knew they harbored resentment, but he tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the joy of being with his brother again.
On their way inside, Naz's curiosity got the better of him, and he began to pepper Adrian with questions. "Can I call you 'bro' instead of 'Brother Adrian'?" he asked innocently.
A smile spread across Adrian's face as he nodded, clearly pleased by the request. "Of course," he said.
"So, why are the other children here?" Naz asked, his tone betraying his slight annoyance at their presence.
Adrian's expression grew more serious. "Every four years, our family holds a special training event. Everyone above the age of twelve can participate."
"Oh, I see," Naz replied, pretending to understand fully, even though a look of confusion lingered on his face.
Once they reached their respective rooms, they parted ways until dinner. Adrian knew he had some time to prepare himself for what lay ahead.
He had been perfecting his body's ability to adapt to mana, knowing that more rigorous training awaited him.
After changing into more comfortable clothes and fixing his hair, a maid entered Adrian's room, bringing him a cup of tea.
But as she approached, Adrian's instincts kicked in. 'I've never seen her before.' he thought, though he made sure not to let any suspicion show on his face.
He acted as if everything was normal, refusing the tea politely before heading out of the room.
Meanwhile, in his own room, Naz was practicing mana cultivation techniques from his past life, though the memories of that life remained a mystery to him.
Despite the uncertainty of who he was before, he knew the knowledge he possessed was incredibly valuable. He understood that to survive in this harsh world, he needed to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
"Okay, first, sense the mana around you," he told himself, focusing intently as he began to draw in the ambient mana.
Slowly, with each breath, he felt the energy filling his body, a warm, tingling sensation spreading through him.
The air around him began to shimmer with fine, colorful particles as he inhaled more deeply, drawing the mana in through his mouth.
The scene was almost otherworldly, as if a great being under a divine influence was awakening.
When Naz finally opened his eyes, the room was filled with the soft glow of mana, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.
"I'm getting stronger," he thought, determined to continue his training.
Adrian, on the other hand, decided to visit the training ground to work on his combat skills.
He picked up a wooden sword from the arsenal and began to practice, his movements calculated and precise. He activated a training robot, methodically striking from different angles, envisioning various scenarios and how he would counterattack each one.
Suddenly, a boy approached, placing a hand on Adrian's shoulder. "Look at this trash trying so hard to improve," the boy sneered. "It should have been me, not you, born into the direct Zelias family."
Adrian recognized the voice instantly, and a deep rage brewed inside him.
In an instant, a dark, intense aura surrounded him, suffusing the air with a sense of foreboding. It was as if death itself had descended upon the training ground, and for a moment, it felt like someone was going to die today.
### Chapter 8-End ###