The cool morning air wrapped around Ryn as he stood in the training courtyard, gripping his practice sword. The familiar weight of the weapon in his hand brought back years of memories—painful, frustrating memories of failure and ridicule. But now, something was different. He wasn't the same Ryn from a few days ago. The inheritance had given him more than just strength—it had given him hope.
Ryn's new training regimen played out in his mind like a well-rehearsed routine, though it wasn't entirely unfamiliar. It followed the Redmond family's traditional methods in many ways, but with subtle differences that made the techniques feel more refined, more efficient.
The first segment focused on full-body exercises that pushed his muscles to their limits. His body strained under the pressure, sweat dripping from his brow as he executed each movement with precision. Every muscle group worked in harmony, the exercises designed to build strength and endurance while reinforcing the foundation of his form. Unlike his past attempts, this felt like real progress, though it left him more exhausted than ever before.
As soon as the first segment ended, the second began—sword training. The Redmond family had always prided itself on its swordsmanship, and Ryn had trained in their techniques since he could first hold a sword. Yet, despite all the years of practice, he had never been able to fully grasp the complexity of the style. His body had always felt too slow, his mind too clouded.
But now, everything was different.
With each swing, the sword felt like an extension of his body. The movements were sharper, the strikes more precise. His physicality, enhanced by the inheritance, allowed him to train with a fluidity and grace he had never known. The style itself, while still rooted in the Redmond tradition, seemed sharper—improved. It was as though the grimoire had taken the family's techniques and perfected them, polishing them to a point of mastery that Ryn had never thought possible for himself.
The final segment of his training was unlike anything he had ever done before: meditation to enhance his aura core. Sitting in the center of the courtyard, Ryn closed his eyes and breathed deeply, focusing on the energy all around him. With each breath, he could feel the natural energy of the world flow into him, gathering in his chest where his aura core pulsed steadily.
With every beat of his heart, the aura spread throughout his body, flowing through his bloodstream like a second life force. His entire being felt alive with power, each cell vibrating with the energy that coursed through him. It was as if the very air around him was feeding his strength, turning him into something far greater than he had ever been before.
For the first time in his life, Ryn could see real improvement. His muscles grew stronger, his mind sharper, his aura core more stable. The joy that filled him was unlike anything he had ever felt. All the years of struggle, of being dismissed and ridiculed, now felt like a distant memory. He was becoming something new, something powerful.
Rosalia watched from the sidelines, her heart swelling with pride as she saw the happiness on Ryn's face. He had worked so hard for so long, and now, at last, he was seeing the fruits of his labor. She smiled, overjoyed to see him so full of life.
But their peace wouldn't last.
---
Days passed, and Ryn's training continued. His progress was steady, his strength growing with each session. But one morning, as he was running laps around the courtyard, a shadow loomed over him.
Caine, his eldest brother, stood nearby, watching with a sneer on his face. The contempt in his eyes was unmistakable.
"How dare he look so… happy?" Caine thought, his fists clenching as jealousy and anger twisted inside him. He had always been the oldest, but despite his position, he had been constantly overshadowed by Alex, the middle brother. Alex was the true genius of the family, excelling in swordsmanship and becoming the youngest aura wielder in the kingdom. Caine, in his frustration, had always turned his anger on Ryn—the weakest and most vulnerable of the three.
Seeing Ryn train with such enthusiasm, something in Caine snapped. He strode over to Ryn, his expression darkening with each step.
As Ryn rounded the corner, Caine shoved him to the ground.
"What do you think this will accomplish?" Caine sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "No matter how much you try, how much you struggle, you'll never improve. You'll always be Ryn the weakling."
Ryn, used to his brother's taunts, lay there quietly, his face pressed against the cold stone. Caine's words stung, but they were nothing new. He had heard them his entire life.
Rosalia, seeing the scene unfold, rushed over, trying to intervene. "Caine, please stop! Leave him alone!" she pleaded.
But Caine turned his venom on her as well. "You're pathetic too," he spat, shoving her aside. "Always defending this worthless excuse for a swordsman."
When Ryn saw Rosalia stumble and fall, something snapped inside him. The one person who had always cared for him, the only one who had believed in him, had been hurt because of Caine. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Ryn shouted, pushing himself up from the ground. His voice was filled with a newfound strength. "You're the pathetic one, Caine. Not me."
Caine's face twisted in rage. "What did you just say to me?" he growled, his aura flaring as he prepared to attack. He had always been able to bully Ryn without consequence, but this time, he had gone too far. He would make sure Ryn never spoke back to him again.
But before Caine could strike, a third figure appeared—Alex.
"Enough," Alex said coldly, stepping between them. His presence was commanding, his aura crackling with barely contained power. "Leave him, Caine. You've made your point."
The tension in the courtyard was palpable as Caine glared at Alex, his fists trembling with barely suppressed rage. He wanted to fight, to show Alex and Ryn that he wasn't the weakest. But he knew better than to challenge Alex head-on.
With one last glare at Ryn, Caine turned and stormed off, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
Alex turned to Ryn, his expression unreadable. "Don't waste your time with him," he said quietly before walking away, leaving Ryn and Rosalia standing alone in the quiet courtyard.
Ryn's heart raced as the confrontation ended, but something inside him had changed. He was no longer the weakling Caine could push around.
His journey was just beginning, and the path ahead would not be easy.
But now, for the first time, Ryn believed he could walk it.