The Awakening Ceremony was just a week away, but Eckert had something important to do before that monumental event. He had spent two long hours in the royal palace, enduring the formalities and discussions, but now, he was heading somewhere far more personal.
He entered a secluded area of the palace grounds, a place few knew about and even fewer dared to visit. The space resembled an ancient battlefield, as if a forgotten war had once been waged there. The ground was uneven, with patches of scorched earth and jagged rocks scattered around. Crumbling stone walls, overgrown with vines, stood like silent sentinels, marking the boundaries of this private arena. The air was thick with the scent of dust and sweat, the remnants of countless battles fought here, though they were mere training sessions.
At one end of the arena, a series of straw dummies stood arranged in a precise formation. These dummies, dressed in tattered armor, had seen better days; they were covered in slash marks and puncture wounds, evidence of the relentless practice sessions that had taken place. Their lifeless forms cast eerie shadows in the fading light, making them seem almost like real soldiers waiting for battle.
As Eckert approached, a sweet, yet firm female voice broke the silence.
"Pick your weapon," she instructed.
Eckert didn't bother replying. Instead, he walked directly to the weapon rack, his eyes scanning the various implements of war that lined the shelves. His hand hovered for a moment before he made his choice—a spear for his left hand and a sword for his right. The spear was long and balanced, its shaft crafted from a rare black wood, while the sword gleamed with a razor-sharp edge, its hilt wrapped in worn leather.
"I'm ready, Angel," he said, his voice steady.
"Don't joke today, Eckert. This will be our final practice session before you head to the academy," she reminded him, her tone serious.
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Yeah, that one you see is my personal maid, Mornica, who I affectionately call "Angel." The same one who fusses over me during my bath, but here, in this arena, she's different. I've commanded her to train me, though, if we're being honest, it's more of a duel than a training session. She doesn't hold back, and that's exactly how I like it.
You see, most people don't realize that tempering the body before the Awakening can maximize your mana absorption rate. It's a secret, one that most people overlook, because they're too focused on the ceremony itself. How did I figure this out?
Well, it's just a theory I stumbled upon in an old, forgotten book written by a maniac Aura scientist. This guy was ahead of his time, conducting bizarre experiments long before human freedom was even a concept. His ideas were considered radical, and his work was largely ignored after humans broke free from demon rule. But I think he was onto something.
The scientist believed that by tempering the body before Awakening, one could optimize the absorption of mana and, in turn, achieve greater power. It's risky, though. Push too hard, and you could damage your body permanently. But if you succeed... well, the rewards could be unimaginable.
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Eckert tightened his grip on the weapons, feeling the familiar weight in his hands. He knew this was it—his final test before stepping into the academy, where everything would change. The stakes were high, and the pressure was mounting, but that only fueled his determination. He wasn't just preparing for the Awakening; he was preparing to become something more than just another prince. He was preparing to become a force to be reckoned with.
The arena fell silent, the anticipation hanging thick in the air. Eckert could feel the energy crackling around him, a reminder of the power he was on the brink of unleashing. This wasn't just practice—it was the beginning of his journey, a journey that would take him far beyond the confines of this palace and into the very heart of Etha's greatest challenges.
And he was ready.