Seven closed his eyes.
In this world, swordmen and mages often relied on their ability to sense the vibrations in the air around them, a skill that allowed them to read their opponents without seeing them directly.
This was known as the flow of energy—both aura and mana
For Seven, the artifact he wore 'Theia's Eye' allowed him to perceive this flow.
But overusing it could leave him at risk.
'Focus.'
Seven thought inward as he imagined the faint aura of the first gate. Again, though faint, it was enough for him to begin sensing the world around him.
Shifting his focus to the Archduke, his presence was overwhelming as usual.
His aura wasn't just chaotic.
It was controlled chaos. It swirled around the Archduke, yet never left his body.
"Now, send out some aura."
Seven focused on his first gate and tried to send out his aura. But it didn't work. The aura just swirled around his body and refused to leave.
Sweat began to bead on his temple.
"Hah..."
He tried again.
Then, finally, a thick wave of aura began to extend outward like a rope stretching from his core.
But it stayed in place.
"Think of your aura as a ball of yarn."
Seven groaned, but he followed the suggestion and pictured a ball of yarn in his mind.
Then, with a strained effort, the aura began to crawl along the ground.
Slow but steady.
It inched its way away from Seven's body.
"Slowly discharge the aura as if you're pulling out a thread of the yarn."
Little by little, the pace quickened as Seven forced more control over it.
The aura, now a fine thread, slithered into the forest before it circled around a tree trunk and crawling upward.
"...?!"
Seven flinched.
"Did you reach it?"
"Yes, father. I can feel it."
"What do you think it is?"
Seven took a deep breath.
"I think it's a tree."
He couldn't see anything with his eyes closed, but as the aura line curled around the tree, something began to take shape in his mind—a faint sketch, barely perceptible.
"It has six branches. No, seven."
"Good."
The Archduke praised.
"Now, search that vicinity."
With the sketch in his mind, he sent the aura farther and probed the space around it, feeling the vibrations in the air.
In the process, something didn't feel right.
But the Archduke's voice kept him focused.
"Keep your attention sharp."
Seven groaned as the line of aura stretched further.
"Slowly."
"...Okay."
He slowed the pace and let the aura flow with more control.
Thud.
Then, it hit something.
His breath caught as the aura connected with something ahead. Just like before, he guided it to circle the target, tracing its form in his mind.
But this time, the shape that emerged wasn't a tree.
"...?!"
Seven's eyes fluttered open.
"A wild wolf?! …Or is it a boar?"
The Archduke didn't respond. He only stared at Seven.
Seven's focus returned to the sketch of an image forming in his head.
"It has stiff fur, a long body, and a broad skull that narrows into a sharp muzzle. It feels like… a wolf."
"...Yes, it's a wolf."
He clenched his fist in a small, triumphant gesture—the kind of gesture that screamed 'I did it'.
Then, the Archduke's eyes narrowed at him.
Unimpressed.
For some reason.
"...At first, I wasn't sure I could guess it from this distance too."
But Seven didn't mind his father's expression.
"I'm gifted with a body that carries your blood, after all."
He smirked.
It was the kind of self-assured smirk as he glanced back.
"This much is not a big deal for me."
"Then go hunt it."
"...What?!"
The Archduke didn't reply, nor his cold gaze wavered.
'Hunt... it?'
Though Seven was confident that he could hunt it, wolves usually travel in packs. Yet, he was told to hunt it alone.
Slowly, he glanced at the forest where the wolf waited.
The faint aura sketch still lingered in his mind—a long, lean body, stiff fur, and the predatory menace of something that wouldn't go down without a fight.
'Fudge.'
Step.
The first step was quiet. Seven didn't rush in blindly. He crouched low and kept his breathing steady.
Every sound mattered.
The rustle of leaves.
The creak of branches.
The faint vibration of the wolf ahead.
Seven closed his eyes briefly and sent out a thin line of aura again, tracing the wolf's movements.
But the wolf did nothing but circle the ground, cautiously. It seemed to detect a danger.
'Smart.'
Seven smirked.
This wasn't some mindless wolf; it was hunting him as much as he was hunting it.
He reached for the sword at his side.
"Hah…"
With a deep breath, his heart pounded against his ribs as he stepped into the clearing where the wolf lurked.
Then, a blur of motion as it saw him.
Growl.
The wolf lunged.
Seven barely had time to react. He ducked low and the wolf's claws raked the air above his head.
He slashed the sword upward.
But the wolf was too fast.
Growl.
Now, it stood across him with a drool coming out of its mouth.
'Fudge it.'
Seven leaped backwards.
"Hah…"
Again, he took a deep breath, forcing his aura to focus. He visualized it—the very technique he created from the vow of the original Seven.
The wolf charged again.
And this time, too,Seven didn't retreat.
"Eclipsing Blade."
Instead, in that split second, he disappeared. The wolf staggered as confusion flashed in its eyes.
'Now.'
Seven didn't waste the opening.
He brought the sword down with all his might, aiming for the vulnerable spot between the wolf's neck and shoulder.
The stab connected.
Growl.
But before the wolf fell to the ground, its body got cut in half.
Seven strikes, and it's first form.
Again, it was a delayed one-step flash slash designed to give opponents a chance to say their final words.
Funny enough, it worked on the wolf as well, giving it one last chance to growl.
"Hah…"
Seven wiped off the sweat from his brow.
"Clean kill. That… wasn't so bad."
Expected.
It was the first time the Archduke saw Seven's original technique, and it might as well also be his last time too given his current health.
"Now, bring it back."
Seven glanced down at the massive wolf.
Sigh.
He had no choice but drag it himself as the Archduke was injured.
Drag.
Seven hauled the wolf out of the forest.
When he got out, he saw a fire already crackling to life, along with pieces of wood as fuel and a sharpened stick lay prepared for grilling.
Seven knew what to do then.
Slash.
The wolf was skinned and prepped, now turning slowly over the flames, its meat roasting.
The Archduke locked his gaze at Seven.
"When did you learn to prepare hunted animals?"
Seven glanced down.
He couldn't exactly admit he had learned it from binge-watching mukbangs and hunting tutorials on Earth. Not to mention, this was his first time actually doing it.
"I read it in a book."
"For someone who has only read about it, you seem remarkably skilled."
"I'm... glad it looks that way."
The Archduke didn't press further, but Seven wasn't done.
"I even prepared your seat to win your favor."
The Archduke chuckled and looked at the carpet made of the wolf's skin beneath him.
"You're resourceful, I'll give you that."
Meanwhile, Seven shifted uncomfortably on his broken tree branch, muttering under his breath.
"Glad one of us is comfortable."
"..."
Both of them laughed.
For a moment, their interaction was not as an Archduke and his son's vassal, but as a father and his child.
The moment, however, was short.
The Archduke leaned back, crossing his arms as his gaze bore down on Seven.
"Now."
Despite sitting lower, his presence made Seven feel small.
"Tell me what happened."