[A/N: I'll be uploading single chapters from now on]
[Aiden POV]
As soon as the feast wrapped up and the adults started talking about things I had no interest in, I knew I needed a break. The whole day had been… a lot. From the cheers of the crowd to the sparring in the arena and then sitting at that long table with all those important people, I was exhausted.
I could barely sit still, and I was glad to have made it out without knocking over my drink or something embarrassing.
I spotted Celeste before I even made my move. She looked about as fed up with all the formalities as I was. So, without much thought, I nudged her and whispered, "Fancy a walk in the garden?"
She looked up, eyes lighting up in a way that said she'd been waiting for an excuse to escape. She nodded eagerly, and we slipped out of the hall, unnoticed. Well, mostly unnoticed. Seraphina probably saw us, but she didn't say anything.
The cool evening air hit me as soon as we stepped outside, and I breathed it in deeply. The stars were out, and the palace garden was bathed in moonlight, with the occasional lantern lighting the pathways.
Everything was so peaceful, a stark contrast to the noise and excitement inside. I let out a long breath I didn't even realise I was holding.
"Finally," I muttered, grinning. "Some fresh air."
Celeste laughed softly beside me, "You've had quite the day, huh?"
I smirked. "You could say that. I didn't think turning ten would feel like… this."
We wandered down the stone path for a while, the flowers swaying gently in the night breeze. It felt good to just walk, no one staring at me, no grand speeches or loud declarations. Just me and Celeste, away from all the noise.
After a few minutes, Celeste tugged on my sleeve, stopping us by a large oak tree near the centre of the garden. She seemed a bit nervous, which was weird because Celeste was never nervous.
"I've got something for you," she said, a bit shyly, which only made me more curious.
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out what could make her act like this. "What is it?"
Celeste fumbled with something in her pocket, then pulled out a small wrapped item and held it out to me. "Happy birthday, Aiden. I… made this for you."
I stared at the gift, completely caught off guard. I mean, sure, I'd gotten gifts all day — but this felt different. More personal. Slowly, I took it from her, feeling its weight in my hands. "You didn't have to—"
"I wanted to," she interrupted, her eyes fixed on the ground. "I thought you'd like it."
I carefully unwrapped the gift, trying not to tear the paper too much. Inside was a small, hand-carved wooden figure. It was simple but detailed, a tiny replica of the royal scout insignia — two wings, one white and one blue, crossed over each other.
It was beautifully crafted, with intricate detailing on the feathers. I recognised the work; Celeste had always been good at crafting things with her hands.
My chest tightened a little as I looked down at it. "You made this?" I asked, a little dumbfounded.
Celeste nodded quickly. "Yeah, I figured you'd want something… I dunno, something to keep with you. A reminder of what you're meant to do one day. Plus, I know you like tinkering and making stuff, so I thought you'd appreciate it."
I turned the little figure over in my hands, feeling its smooth surface. I couldn't help but smile. "This is… really cool, Celeste. Seriously, thank you."
She shrugged, but I could see the pride in her eyes. "It's nothing fancy. Just something small."
"It's perfect," I said firmly, catching her gaze. "I'm keeping this with me everywhere I go."
For a second, we just stood there, the weight of the day and the gift settling between us. The garden felt quieter now, like it was just us and the stars.
Celeste broke the silence, her voice soft. "You've got a lot ahead of you, you know? Being the prince, the future king… everything."
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Don't remind me."
She smiled. "You'll handle it. And I'll be here, you know? If you ever need someone to talk to… or, you know, someone to craft cool wooden figures."
I laughed at that, slipping the figure into my pocket. "I'll hold you to that."
We stood there a bit longer, just talking about everything and nothing, before eventually making our way back to the palace.
I wasn't in any rush to go back inside, but knowing I had friends like Celeste made the weight of being the prince feel a little lighter.
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2 years later~
Over the past few weeks, Aiden had been diving into Paradis' military history as part of his princely studies.
His head was filled with stories of ancient wars, the rumbling, and the brave souls who had once defended the nation from monstrous titans.
But one particular thing stuck out to him — the Omni-Directional Mobility (ODM) gear.
He remembered it from his previous life, how incredible it looked in the anime he used to watch. Soldiers flying through the air, slicing titans with precision and skill, relying on nothing but the gear attached to their bodies.
He hadn't seen anything like it in this world since he was reborn into Paradis, and it felt like such a waste.
One day, Aiden sat in the royal library, surrounded by books about the old scout regiments and their gear. He tapped his fingers on the table as a question kept bouncing around his head. After some thought, he decided to ask Alaric about it, hoping to get a better understanding.
Later that afternoon, Aiden found Alaric overseeing a training session in the royal courtyard. The captain of the royal guard was as intimidating as ever, his stature and reputation making him the most respected fighter in all of Paradis.
Aiden waited until the session ended before approaching him.
"Alaric, can I ask you something?" Aiden said, walking up to the towering figure.
The captain nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Of course, Your Highness. What's on your mind?"
Aiden looked around, making sure they were alone. "It's about the ODM gear. I've been reading a lot about it lately, and I'm curious why it was discontinued. Why don't the scouts use it anymore?"
Alaric gave a small chuckle, the kind that said he'd heard this question before. "The ODM gear? It was a remarkable tool back in the day, especially during the time of the titans. But, Your Highness, there haven't been titans to fight for a very long time. Without the threat of titans, the gear became obsolete. We don't need it for regular combat."
Aiden furrowed his brow. "But surely there's still value in it? I mean, just because there aren't titans doesn't mean the technology can't be useful. What about its potential in regular warfare? Or even in scouting? Being able to move quickly and across difficult terrain could still give Paradis an edge."
Alaric smiled slightly, clearly impressed with the young prince's thinking. "You're not wrong, Aiden. The gear was incredibly effective for what it was designed for, but over time, as technology advanced and the need for such mobility diminished, it was shelved. It simply didn't have a place in modern combat anymore. We have other tools now."
Aiden nodded, though the answer didn't fully satisfy him. It still felt like there was untapped potential in the ODM gear, something that could be reimagined for the modern era.
That night, the idea kept circling his mind. What if he could bring back the ODM gear, but with improvements? He had the resources, the knowledge, and most importantly, the drive to make it happen.
His knack for tinkering and building was more than just a hobby now—it was a passion. And he knew just the person to help him.
The next morning, Aiden went to see Dr Eric Brown, the head scientist of Paradis and a brilliant mind when it came to engineering and innovation. The doctor was known for pushing the boundaries of what was possible, always experimenting with new technology to improve the nation's military and infrastructure.
Aiden found Dr Brown in his lab, surrounded by blueprints and strange gadgets, the scent of oil and metal filling the air.
"Ah, Your Highness," Dr Brown greeted warmly as he saw Aiden enter. "What brings you here so early? Some new project, I presume?"
Aiden grinned, knowing the scientist was always up for a challenge. "You could say that. I've been reading up on some old military history, and I think it's time to bring back something… well, something old, but with a new twist."
Dr Brown raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly do you have in mind?"
"The ODM gear," Aiden said, watching as the doctor's face lit up with recognition. "I want to redesign it. Make it better. Faster. Stronger. I think it can still be useful in our military—just not in the way it was originally intended. I have a few ideas on how to modernise it."
Dr Brown's eyes twinkled with interest. "Now that's an ambitious project. The ODM gear was revolutionary for its time, but you're right. With modern tech, we could make significant improvements. What are you thinking?"
Aiden pulled out some rough sketches he had drawn up the night before. "For starters, I think we should look at the gas propulsion system. It was good, but we have access to better, more efficient power sources now. Something that doesn't rely on gas canisters, something that doesn't run out so quickly."
Dr Brown studied the sketches, nodding thoughtfully. "Electricity could be a solution. A compact energy source that can recharge itself, or at least last much longer. And the grappling hooks—they could use a more refined mechanism for quicker retraction and more accurate aim."
"Exactly," Aiden said, excited that they were on the same page. "We can use materials that are lighter and stronger than before. The soldiers using it need to be agile, not weighed down by bulky equipment."
Dr Brown set the sketches down and clapped his hands together. "Well, Your Highness, it seems we've got ourselves a project. I'll gather the necessary materials and start working on the first prototype. This might take some time, but I'm confident we can make this work."
Over the next few months, Aiden spent every spare moment working with Dr Brown in the lab. They experimented with different designs, tested new materials, and ran countless simulations.
Aiden's passion for tinkering shone through, and he often scavenged around the capital for additional parts, wanting to put his own personal touch on the project.
Max would occasionally check in on his son's progress, offering to supply any materials Aiden needed, but the young prince always insisted on finding his own. He liked the challenge of it, the feeling of putting something together from scratch.
It gave him a sense of accomplishment, and he knew that once the new ODM gear was ready, it would be something truly unique.
Finally, after months of hard work, the first prototype was ready. It was sleeker, more efficient, and far more advanced than the original ODM gear. Aiden couldn't wait to test it out in the field, to see how his creation would perform in the real world.
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