The golden grimoire in Escanor's hands pulsed with warmth as if it were alive. He could feel the power within it, waiting—no, yearning—to be unleashed. The murmurs of the crowd faded into the background as he ran his fingers over the flaming four-leaf emblem.
A four-leaf grimoire. A symbol of extraordinary magic.
His heart pounded. This was proof. Proof that the sun within him had not faded. Proof that he was meant for something greater.
But before he could fully comprehend what this meant for him, a sharp voice broke through the noise.
"Hey, you!"
Escanor turned to see a boy around his age stomping toward him. His hair was short and spiky, and a smug grin curled on his lips. The dark green grimoire in his hand suggested he had already received his magic.
"You some kind of noble?" the boy scoffed, eyeing Escanor's grimoire with thinly veiled jealousy. "Only big-shot nobles get four-leaf grimoires."
Escanor simply shook his head. "No. I'm not a noble."
The boy's grin faltered for a moment before he scoffed again. "Tch. Doesn't matter. I bet you can't even use magic yet. What kind of spells you got in that fancy book of yours?"
Escanor paused. He had yet to open the grimoire, yet he could feel the magic coursing through it, through him. It was familiar, warm—like the sun had never left him.
He turned the cover.
The moment he did, golden light erupted from the pages, illuminating the room. The air crackled with energy as symbols and letters danced across the parchment, forming the spell's name.
"Solar Flare."
Escanor barely had time to react before the power surged outward.
A burst of golden radiance shot up toward the ceiling, momentarily blinding everyone in the tower. The intensity of the light was overwhelming like a miniature sun had ignited within the hall.
Gasps of shock and awe filled the chamber.
"W-What kind of magic is that?!"
"Light magic?"
"No… this feels different!"
Escanor's body trembled, but not from fear. The warmth that surged through him was unlike anything he had felt before. It wasn't the same overwhelming strength he had as the Lion Sin of Pride, but it was his. A new power. A new beginning.
As the golden flare dissipated, the boy who had challenged him stumbled backward, shielding his eyes. "Tch! Whatever! Don't think this makes you special!" he spat before storming off.
Escanor exhaled slowly. The rush of power had taken more out of him than he expected.
Yet, he smiled.
This was only the beginning.
The weeks following the Grimoire Ceremony were filled with intense training. Escanor was determined to master his new magic, to refine his control over the radiant power that now flowed through him.
He woke before dawn, as he always had, and practiced until the sunset. He experimented with his spells, pushing his limits each day.
At first, his magic was unpredictable—his flames flaring too wildly or flickering out entirely. He had power, but no control.
Rowan, the man who had taken him in, watched with concern. "You're workin' too hard, boy, Magic ain't just about strength—it's about control, precision."
Escanor nodded, taking the advice to heart.
Little by little, he improved. His Solar Flare became more stable, its blinding light directed only at his target. He discovered another spell, "Sunburst", which allowed him to conjure small, concentrated orbs of fiery light that he could hurl like projectiles.
But there was something else.
His magic felt… different depending on the time of day.
Under the bright midday sun, he felt stronger—his spells burning hotter, his body filled with an invigorating energy.
At night, however, his magic was weaker. The warmth inside him dimmed, making it harder to summon his flames.
It was similar to his former power in his previous life. But this time, it wasn't tied to his physical form—it was tied to the world's sun, to this world's magic.
Fascinating.
And frustrating.
If he wanted to become a Magic Knight, he couldn't afford to be weak at night. He needed to find a way to overcome this limitation.
One evening, as Escanor was practicing near the village outskirts, he heard a commotion.
Shouts. Panic.
Rushing toward the noise, he found a small group of villagers cornered by a monstrous, wolf-like beast, its eyes glowing red with hunger.
A magic beast.
Its black fur bristled as it growled, saliva dripping from its fangs. The villagers had no way to defend themselves—most were simple farmers with weak magic.
Escanor stepped forward.
The beast's eyes locked onto him, sensing his presence. It lunged.
Instinct took over.
Escanor raised his hand, calling forth his magic. The golden glow flickered—weaker than it had been earlier in the day.
"Tch!" He clicked his tongue. Not enough sun.
The beast closed the distance in a heartbeat, its claws aiming for his chest. He barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side.
He needed to end this fast.
Gritting his teeth, he focused his magic. His grimoire floated beside him, its pages flipping rapidly until it stopped on a new spell.
"Dawn Spear."
A thin, golden lance of light materialized in his hand, humming with barely contained energy.
The beast lunged again.
This time, Escanor met its charge head-on. He sidestepped at the last moment, twisting his body and thrusting the spear forward.
The golden weapon pierced the beast's side.
A burst of solar energy erupted from the point of impact, sending the creature flying. It let out a pained howl before collapsing, motionless.
Silence.
Then—cheers.
The villagers swarmed him, their faces filled with gratitude and awe. "You saved us!" one of them cried.
Escanor smiled, but inside, he knew the truth.
He had struggled.
His magic was powerful, but the time of day dictated how strong he was. If the sun had been shining, the fight would have been over in a second. But at night…?
He was vulnerable.
This wasn't like his old world. He had to adapt. He had to find a way to maintain his power even in darkness.
He had come far, but he was not yet strong enough.
And until he was, he wouldn't stop.
Because one day, he would stand at the top.
And when that day came—the sun would never set on his power again.