The air around the table still carried Emma's earlier words, leaving both Leon and Amelia in an awkward silence.
Leon wasn't one to stew in silence. His obsidian eyes flicked toward Amelia, who was busy brushing a strand of her black hair behind her ear, her cheeks faintly pink. Fuck… she looks even cuter when she's embarrassed, he thought, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
"So, big sis," he said shamelessly, leaning back in his chair, "are you going to be one of the elders presiding over the ceremony? You're at the same stage as them, right?"
Amelia blinked, caught off guard by his teasing tone. What's gotten into him today? Still, she straightened her back and answered with a light huff.
"Yes. That's the plan. The village elders kept insisting, so I finally gave in." Her lips curved into a smile as she added, "Though it will be more interesting now, since you'll be participating."
Leon smirked, his gaze sharp. She spoke with the confidence of someone older, wiser, guiding a younger brother. She had no idea the boy she was addressing had already soared past her realm — all the way to Stage Eight, far beyond what she could imagine.
He let her believe it.
"What about Astralis Academy?" Leon asked, tilting his head. "When are you going back?"
At the mention of the name, Amelia's eyes softened, her smile turning bright with pride. Astralis Academy — the greatest institution in the empire, sitting at the heart of the capital. It was the dream of countless cultivators, the crucible that molded geniuses into legends.
"I'll be returning right after the ceremony," Amelia said, her voice carrying a trace of longing. "And that reminds me…" She leaned forward slightly, her elegant black hair sliding across her shoulder as her eyes found his. "You should give it your best at the ceremony, Leon. An elder from Astralis will be attending to scout one person. If you stand out, you might be chosen. Who knows — we could end up together at the Academy."
Her words landed softly, warm and sincere, but Leon's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
If only you knew, big sis… I don't need to 'perform well.' I've already surpassed what you think I am.
Still, he chuckled lightly and answered in a teasing tone, "Together, huh? Sounds like fate to me."
Amelia flushed, her cheeks warming as she looked away. "Idiot…" she muttered, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her heart.
The afternoon passed quickly as the three of them chatted, the awkwardness from earlier softening into something warmer. Yet after half an hour, Amelia rose to her feet.
A messenger had come — the village elders were summoning her. With the ceremony only two days away, her responsibilities were piling up.
Emma tried to insist. "At least stay for lunch, dear," she urged, her tone motherly.
But Amelia shook her head with an apologetic smile. "I'd love to, Auntie, but this seems urgent. Next time, I promise."
Leon's obsidian eyes followed her as she left, her graceful figure vanishing through the doorway. The house felt quieter without her, though her words lingered in his mind. Astralis Academy… together, huh?
By evening, Leon's restless curiosity pushed him toward his father's small office.
The room was simple, modest in size, yet it smelled of ink, paper, and the faint musk of leather bindings. Stacks of scrolls and tomes lined the shelves — the fruits of his father's careful collecting over the years. Though it wasn't a library by any grand measure, to Leon it felt like a treasury of forgotten truths.
He trailed his fingers along the spines until one caught his eye. A thick, weighty volume, its cover worn but sturdy, the letters on it etched with faint gold:
"Histories of the Empires."
The empire's name felt heavy on his tongue.
With quiet anticipation, Leon pulled the book free and settled cross-legged on the floor. The lamp beside him flickered, shadows dancing over the parchment as he turned the first page.
Maps of provinces, crests of noble clans, the rise of dynasties long past — all lay before him. His eyes scanned the inked words, hungry for knowledge. He read of Astralis Academy: its towers piercing the skies of the capital, its elders known as masters of countless paths, its students forged through endless trials.
Each line painted a clearer picture: the empire was vast, brutal, and filled with both opportunity and danger. The Academy was not merely a place of learning — it was a battlefield where only the strongest survived.
After reading many things for three straight hours , he summed it up .
He flipped through the heavy tome, the pages rough beneath his fingertips. The ink was faded in places, but the words still carried weight — the kind of weight that shaped worlds.
So… there are three continents.
His eyes narrowed as the names etched themselves into his memory.
Vaeloria. Varaxis. Noctyra.
Vaeloria, the land he called home, rich and vast — yet far from simple. Varaxis, its restless neighbor, where war and shifting alliances never ceased. And then Noctyra, alone across the sea, a land whispered about in fear, the cradle of demons and cursed blood.
Leon lingered on the maps inked into the parchment. Borders carved like scars across Vaeloria. His gaze settled on the empire at its heart — Tranqueasia. His home. A land whose very name sang of peace, yet even the records hinted at shadows lurking beneath that calm.
Peace, he thought, was often just another word for strength hidden behind a smile.
The book spoke of three empires sharing Vaeloria's soil: Tranqueasia, Veyrath, and Eryndor. Allies, rivals, predators — their histories tangled like roots beneath the earth. But it was Tranqueasia that stood tallest. The parchment spoke of its cultivators, countless and powerful, the silent guardians of its so-called harmony.
And at the center of it all was Elyaryn, the capital.
Leon traced the name with his finger, imagining white spires rising against the horizon, banners catching the wind. The Eye of Vaeloria, the text called it. A city where wealth, knowledge, and power converged.
And within Elyaryn's heart: Astralis Academy.
His pulse quickened as he read those words. The academy wasn't just a school — it was a crucible. A place where talent was burned, hammered, and reforged until only brilliance remained. Those who walked out of its gates were more than cultivators. They were leaders, warriors, and legends in the making.
Leon leaned back, closing the book against his chest. His obsidian eyes burned faintly in the lamplight.
There were still countless things Leon didn't know about the capital and Astralis Academy. Living in a small village tucked away within Tranqueasia meant the world beyond was more rumor than truth. The records he had read only scratched the surface. But even so, the little knowledge he gained tonight left him satisfied.
Something is better than nothing, he thought as he closed the heavy tome.
"Honey, dinner is ready. Hurry up," his mother's gentle voice called from the kitchen.
Leon exhaled, rose to his feet, and carefully returned the scrolls and books to their places. Then he left the office, his steps steady though a faint weight pressed on his chest.
When he entered the dining room, his gaze fell on his father seated at the table. For the briefest moment, Leon's emotions wavered. A flash of horrifying memories — blood, screams, the faces of those he had once lost in another life — flickered through his mind. But he clenched his jaw and steadied himself, his expression calm and composed.
Alfred looked up. His eyes widened instantly, shock breaking through his stern features. Though Emma had already told him about their son's sudden transformation, seeing it with his own eyes was another matter entirely.
"Good evening, Father," Leon greeted, his voice calm as he pulled out a chair and sat at the table.
Alfred blinked once, twice, then managed a nod. He smoothed his beard, forcing composure back into his expression. "You… you've changed a lot, son. Taller than me now, even." His lips curved into a faint, proud smile.
Emma, bringing in the dishes, glanced at them both. Her face softened with warmth as she caught Alfred's surprise and Leon's composure.
Leon returned his father's smile with ease. "Yes, Father. And I'll be taking part in the ceremony as well." His voice was light, casual, but steady with intent.
Alfred's brows rose, and then a booming laugh escaped his chest. "Hoho! Good, son. Very good!" His hand came down on the table with delight, pride filling his voice.
Emma, watching them both, smiled quietly — relief and happiness mingling in her heart.