Ragnariel turned to the knights. "Well, what do you think? Shouldn't you feel proud to serve a family that grows stronger every day? Who's willing to try again?"
Without hesitation, more knights raised their hands.
"Good! That's the spirit. Twenty knights, step forward!" Ragnariel commanded.
The twenty knights climbed into the arena, forming a line against Serenya.
"All combatants, prepare yourselves. Begin!" Ragnariel shouted.
The twenty knights charged as one. Serenya, undeterred, skillfully navigated through their ranks, targeting those who were off-balance or unprepared. Her strikes were relentless and precise, one after another falling until only she remained standing.
Five minutes later, Serenya was breathing heavily, but victorious.
"The winner is Sister Serenya!" Ragnariel announced with a proud smile.
The knights began murmuring among themselves.
"Unbelievable! What kind of training do they undergo to make such a graceful lady so ferocious?"
Ragnariel, overhearing, smirked. "If you're curious about our training, come to the training grounds tomorrow morning. If you can endure the same rigorous sessions, I guarantee you'll become many times stronger than you are now."
***
Back to the present.
"And that's how they all looked completely stunned after being defeated by an 8-year-old girl," Ragnariel thought to himself, laughing inwardly at the memory.
Suddenly, Lilia, Ragnariel's personal attendant, approached him with a polite but urgent tone. "Young Master, the head of the family wishes to see you."
"Alright, I'll head there immediately," Ragnariel replied, his expression shifting to one of focus as he began walking toward Valerius' office.
Ragnariel arrived in front of Valerius' office. Knock-knock.
"Father, it's me, Ragnariel."
"Come in, son," Valerius responded from inside.
Ragnariel stepped in and stood before his father's desk. "Good afternoon, Father. Why did you call for me?"
"Good afternoon, son. I summoned you because I need your opinion on something," Valerius replied.
"Regarding what, Father?" Ragnariel asked curiously.
Valerius leaned back slightly in his chair. "Duke Kaelthorn will be visiting our estate soon to conduct the coming-of-age ritual for his daughter, Selene Kaelthorn. He's requested someone around her age to accompany her during her stay. I'm torn between sending you, Serenya, or Kaelen. What do you think?"
Ragnariel considered the matter for a moment before asking, "When will the Kaelthorn family arrive, Father?"
"In a month," Valerius answered.
A smile spread across Ragnariel's face. "This is an easy matter, Father. Coincidentally, I've been meaning to propose something to you. Would you be willing to hear me out?"
"Go ahead," Valerius replied with interest.
Ragnariel began explaining, "Here's the situation, Father: We've been training for three months now, with an additional month of intensive sessions for the knights. Their skills have improved drastically. I want to give them some real combat experience by taking them to hunt the monsters in the Drakonashen Mountains. I've already promised them that we would depart in one month, right when Duke Kaelthorn is set to arrive. This way, you won't have to decide who should accompany the Duke's daughter because all of us will be leaving together."
Valerius raised an eyebrow, processing Ragnariel's proposal.
Valerius raised a question, "What if Duke Kaelthorn decides to venture deeper into the mountains? Who will accompany them?"
"Of course, I will, Father. After all, I'm the strongest," Ragnariel replied confidently.
Valerius smiled. "Very well then. But may I join you to observe their progress?"
Ragnariel smiled back and said, "Of course, Father. In fact, I was going to ask you to come along so you could see firsthand how much our forces have improved. You and Sir Garran are the only ones who truly understand the quality of our knights from before."
Valerius laughed heartily. "Hahaha! You really know how to please your old man, don't you? Alright, I'll send word to all the divisions to prepare for the expedition to the Drakonashen Mountains."
"Thank you, Father. I'll leave it to you," Ragnariel said with a slight bow.
Valerius nodded with a thoughtful hum, still smiling. Ragnariel then asked, "If there's nothing else to discuss, I'll return to my training."
"Yes, carry on with your training," Valerius replied.
Ragnariel left the office, closing the door behind him. Valerius's expression shifted to one of seriousness. He spoke softly, as if to someone unseen, "What do you think? Is it possible my son's soul has been taken over by someone else?"
A figure materialized beside him, bathed in faint blue light. The man's body was wrapped in black bandages, his presence otherworldly.
"I sense no signs of soul distortion in your son," the man replied. "It seems what you told me about his explanation is true."
Valerius exhaled deeply, relief washing over him. "That's a relief. I feared someone had possessed his body and was hiding within him. So, Veynrir, what do you see in my son?"
Veynrir's glowing eyes seemed to narrow as he spoke, "Do you know how strong your son is?"
Valerius replied thoughtfully, "From what he's shown and told me, he's no stronger than our commander, Sir Garran."
Veynrir suddenly laughed, his voice carrying an unsettling weight. "Hahaha! It seems your son is wary of you suspecting anything unusual, so he's hiding his true strength."
Valerius frowned. "What do you mean?"
Veynrir explained, "Let me put it this way: I, the greatest assassin on this continent, had to use every ounce of my skills and power to even come close to killing him."
Valerius's eyes widened in shock. "You mean to say… you couldn't defeat him?"
"As I said," Veynrir continued, "I had to give it my all and that's against him as he is now, at just five years old. Do you understand what that means?"
Valerius leaned back, astonishment and pride mingling in his expression. "So you're saying… Ragna, one day might become the strongest person in the world?"
Veynrir replied, "Not just the strongest in the world, but exactly as he said four years ago, that the world would bow before him. That's the kind of power I felt radiating from him. His presence… it's as if his soul is unimaginably deep, like someone who's lived for thousands of years."
Valerius pondered for a moment before speaking. "Could it be the enlightenment he gained from that remarkable person?"
Veynrir nodded. "Most likely, yes. Whatever the reason, congratulations. To have a child as extraordinarily gifted as him… You know, even if a child is taught how to conquer the world, it doesn't mean they'd actually succeed. But your son… he can."
Valerius chuckled, his voice filled with pride. "Haha, thank you. And the truth is, my other three children are just as brilliant as him. I can't wait to witness the future they'll create."
Veynrir smiled. "I feel the same way. It seems serving my savior was the best choice I've ever made. That being said, I'll keep an eye on their training."
Valerius, still smiling proudly, said, "Alright."
With that, Veynrir faded from sight, passing through the door of Valerius's office. However, as soon as he stepped outside, he froze. Ragnariel was standing casually across from the office door.
Ragnariel locked eyes with Veynrir, even though Veynrir was invisible. Speaking telepathically, Ragnariel said, "Follow me."
Feeling an overwhelming pressure, Veynrir muttered inwardly, "What? Did he just speak to me… telepathically? I guess I have no choice but to follow him for now."
Ragnariel walked at a steady pace, leading Veynrir deep underground to their storage chamber. They walked in silence for what felt like an eternity before Ragnariel finally stopped.
Turning to face him, Ragnariel spoke. "I know you're one of my father's servants, so I'll get straight to the point. What's your specialization?"
Caught off guard, Veynrir hesitated to respond.
But Ragnariel didn't wait. His sharp voice rang out again, "Don't even think about lying. I'll know if you're telling the truth."
The subtle authority in Ragnariel's words make Veynrir shiver. He had faced countless powerful beings in his life, yet this boy radiated a pressure unlike any other. For the first time, he, the greatest assassin, found himself unsure of how to proceed.
Veynrir took a deep breath, calming his nerves. "Assassination," he finally said. And then continue, "My specialty is eliminating targets swiftly and cleanly, no matter the circumstances."
Ragnariel spoke firmly, "I know you're an assassin. I overheard your conversation with my father. What I want to know is your abilities."
Veynrir swallowed hard, feeling the overwhelming pressure radiating from Ragnariel. In his mind, he thought, "This child isn't a genius… he's a monster."
Gathering his composure, Veynrir replied, "My abilities include shadow manipulation. I can also teleport using shadows, and my special ability is Soul Seeker. I can sense the strength of someone's soul and determine if it truly belongs to their body."
Ragnariel's gaze sharpened. "And what do you see in my soul?"
Veynrir answered cautiously, "Your soul is bright, dense, and brimming with incredible power."
Ragnariel continued his questioning. "Then what does a soul look like when someone's body has been taken over by another soul?"
Veynrir hesitated for a moment before explaining, "If a body is taken over by another soul, the soul usually trembles because the body doesn't align with it. In some cases, the body may align with the soul, but the soul itself doesn't fit perfectly in its place. Imagine a small stone placed in a hole on a wall, there's still a gap surrounding it."
Ragnariel nodded slightly, digesting the information. "I see. Now, tell me, have you practiced the breathing technique you've been observing for the past two months?"
Veynrir's heart sank. So, he's known I've been watching him all along? he thought. Maintaining his composure, he replied, "No, young master. I haven't attempted it."
Ragnariel smirked faintly. "Good. Now, one last question: How loyal are you to my family?"
Without hesitation, Veynrir deactivated his invisibility, stepping into full view. He knelt before Ragnariel, bowing his head low. "I am a loyal servant of Lord Valerius, and I have no ties to the Caeltheris family, young master."
Ragnariel's expression didn't change. "What if I wanted you to serve me instead?"
Without a moment's pause, Veynrir declared, "It would be my honor to serve you, young master."
Ragnariel could feel the sincerity and unwavering loyalty emanating from Veynrir. After a brief silence, he spoke. "Good. Now, assume the lotus position."