''Who gave your this idea, boy?'' his father Alaric asked, while brushing his blue hair out of his face.
''Elara Crowhurst,'' Rodric replied with a chuckle. ''That lass is always haunting you, Master. You two were close, weren't you?''
His father let out a hearty laugh, then revealed something that left him stunned. ''The fox woman and I are old friends,'' he said with a nostalgic smile. ''I once explored dungeons by her side, but when Dahlia's father offered me the title of Count, I had to set that life aside.''
''Who's Dahlia, father? I haven't read about the empire's rulers apart from the current one. Magic and fighting have caught my attention,'' Raegar questioned.
The two men looked at him like he was an idiot and also with respect before laughing as Rodric questioned with an amused expression, ''Tell me who the current ruler of our empire is ?''
He grew confused at the question but nodded either way while answering, ''Yes, Alexander Dawnfire.''
Alaric stepped forward and spoke with a tired smile. ''Well, he has stepped down from the throne and passed it to his eldest daughter, Dahlia, who is the strongest Aether Mage on Kaldorra.''
Rodric nodded in agreement, adding, ''She's the one who led the decisive victory in the Northern Wars against the Stormrune Kingdom. It's no surprise the emperor chose her over the other princes and princesses.''
Raegar frowned slightly, curiosity flickering in his expression. ''The Stormrune Kingdom?'' he asked.
The name was unfamiliar, and he hadn't learned much about the other kingdoms on the Kaldorra Continent. All he knew it was massive compared to the ones on Earth, with many realms, but only one empire which he belonged to.
''Northmen little master,'' the Blackwood Commander answered. ''They used to raid the northern provinces, but thanks to your father and Dahlia, we won the ten year long war which forced them to sign a treaty of peace.''
Raegar nodded in fascination before his father finally gave his answer, ''Yes Rodric can train you but don't slack on your studies and your mother wants to take you to her noble meetings.''
His excitement shone briefly before he nodded earnestly. ''Yes, Father. I enjoy studying and won't neglect it.''
Over the following weeks, he began meeting regularly with Commander Rodric, who took charge of his training. The grueling regimen started with running laps around the manor grounds to build stamina, accompanied by intense physical exercises to strengthen his body.
Rodric then introduced him to dual-wielding techniques, using two Gladius-like swords. Each session pushed him to his limits, but his determination never wavered. His father was proud as he watched him grow.
On the day Raegar turned twelve, Alaric approached him with a sly smile and issued a challenge which he couldn't refuse. ''How about a duel?'' he said.
The offer lit a spark of excitement in him, who eagerly accepted. The training yard buzzed with anticipation as the Blackwood Guards gathered around, their eyes keenly watching the young master.
Among them, he noticed Yuki off to the side, her cheers ringing out in encouragement. Gripping his training swords tightly, Raegar took his stance. Across from him, Alaric readied himself, exuding confidence.
''I won't use magic or go all out,'' his father said, his tone teasing but firm. ''You're still a child.''
Raegar nodded in agreement, then burst forward with a surprising burst of speed that caught many of the onlookers off guard. He aimed a quick strike at Alaric's legs, but the older man moved just as swiftly, raising his blade to block the attack with practiced ease.
The clash of wood echoed through the training yard, drawing cheers and gasps from the watching guards as his mother quickly cheered for him. Seconds later, Raegar charged at Alaric, his training swords whirling in a flurry of strikes.
His muscles burned, his breath came in sharp bursts, but his determination drove him forward. Each swing was faster, stronger than the last. His mind focused on finding an opening in his father's defense.
The older man moved like a force of nature, calm, unyielding, and controlled. With every clash, he parried his son's strikes. When he feinted to the right and lunged for his father's unguarded side, Alaric spun with startling grace, disarming him with a single motion.
Raegar stumbled back, sweat dripping from his brow as his training swords clattered to the ground. Before he could recover, Alaric closed the gap and lightly tapped Raegar's chest with the flat of his blade.
''It's over,'' his father said, his tone firm but not unkind. ''You fought well, son. One day, you'll surpass me, but today isn't that day.''
Raegar fell to his knees, gasping for air, but he looked up with a fiery determination in his eyes. ''Not yet, Father. But I will.''
Alaric smiled, offering his son a hand. ''That's the spirit.''
Following that, he continued training and learning about the history of Kaldorra, which interested him. While sitting in the library going through what he had studied, Yuki suddenly appeared out of nowhere and made him jump.
''God woman, where did you come from?'' he asked.
The cat maid giggled before answering, ''Young master, don't look so afraid. I'm not here to bite you. I want to test you.''
Raegar narrowed his eyes and accused the pink-haired woman, as he knew she was up to something. ''What are you scheming, you mischievous cat? You can't trick me again.''
''No tricks, young master,'' she replied honestly, but he didn't miss the twinkle in her eyes. ''I want to see how much you've learned.''
Yuki got comfortable and asked her first question with a grin. ''Can you tell me the three kingdoms of the south and what do they border?''
Raegar narrowed his eyes as he explained everything he had learned since reading about the continent. ''The southern regions border the Forgotten Wastes. Then there are three nations, if I remember correctly. First, the Bloodborne Kingdom, a realm ruled by vampires and steeped in ancient, dark traditions.''
He thought for a few seconds before continuing, ''Then there's the Korrveth Kingdom, the homeland of the demons, known for its fierce warriors and powerful mages. Lastly, we have the Lunathyr Kingdom, a land of demi-humans, where many races coexist.''
Yuki's smile widened as the test continued until the sunset and she suddenly stood up, which surprised him. ''Come on, young master. The mistress wants to take you to a social gathering to spread your wings now that you're thirteen.''
Raegar sighed but didn't fight the cat woman who helped him prepare and when he was ready she gave him a satisfied smile, ''Very handsome. The girls will go crazy over this white hair of yours, young master. It's a very rare trait, after all.''
He chuckled as they made their way to the entrance, where his mother, Victoria, stood alongside Lyra Blackwood. She looked like the female version of their father, with flowing blue hair and the same light green eyes.
The younger woman turned to him with a smile, ''Evening little brother. I'm glad your coming with me. You can chase off all the noble boys when they become bothersome.''
Raegar chuckled before nodding, ''Yes. Mother wants me to learn how to interact with people and she thinks this will be the best way.''
Lyra nodded in agreement as she explained, ''She did the same with Isabelle and Jasper before they left.''
After talking for a while, his sister walked over to their mother, who was in conversation with the guards assigned to escort them to the gathering. Raegar, meanwhile, settled into a nearby chair, pulling out one of his books to pass the time as he waited.
He started reading about dungeons which interested him, as they worked a lot like the games he played back on Earth. They had levels, different monsters, treasure and bosses causing excitement to well up inside him.
Raegar soon discovered that the Drakenwood Magic Academy boasted dozens of dungeons, available for students to explore during their spare time or used for occasional tests held by professors.
The other academies also had dungeons, but they were focused on studying and academic assessments. Drakenwood, however, offered a unique balance, incorporating practical experience alongside theoretical learning.
Despite its appeal, Raegar knew it was the lowest-ranked among the four major magic schools in the Dawnfire Empire, often overshadowed by the more prestigious institutions. Yet, it was this very combination of theory and hands-on learning that drew him in.
While sitting there, his mother's voice reached his ears, ''Come on, darling! The carriage is waiting.''
Raegar closed the book with a soft snap, tucking it under his arm before following the two women. Though he often attended noble gatherings, his quiet nature ensured he get much attention like his brother Jasper, a fact that didn't bother him in the slightest.
His thoughts drifted to something far more intriguing. He had recently discovered that he could feel Aether in the air, its power just out of reach thanks to not having his pool. It was a discovery that stirred something deep within him.
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