Leon gave a small smile, though his obsidian eyes burned faintly with resolve. "Don't worry, Veile. I've learned that lesson before."
For a moment, silence filled the room, broken only by the faint hum of the ring now glowing faintly around his finger.
After a few more rounds of bickering and smug remarks, Veile let out a faint hmph and dissolved into a streak of crimson light, vanishing back into her sword form.
Leon exhaled deeply, then shifted on his bed, crossing his legs into the lotus position. His breathing slowed, spirit energy circulating steadily within his spirit core as he slipped into meditation.
Cultivation was never just about sitting in silence. True breakthroughs required more than meditation — they demanded blood, battle, and the tempering of life-and-death struggles. Meditation alone could not forge strength, but it was the anchor. It balanced the heart, stabilized the foundation, and turned chaotic growth into firm progress.
And Leon… Leon was different. He had broken through realms in a frighteningly short span of time — progress that would have taken others years, he had forced within months. Such rapid advancement was a double-edged sword. Without careful stabilization, his foundation would crack, and a single misstep could collapse everything he had built.
That was why tonight mattered. He couldn't afford recklessness. His cultivation had to be polished, his soul sharpened. He guided the flow of spirit energy through every meridian, smoothing rough edges, tempering each channel with meticulous patience. Sweat gathered faintly at his brow as hours slipped away, but his obsidian eyes remained closed, steady and unwavering.
Only when his breathing grew calm and the pulse of his spirit energy was as smooth as a flowing river did he slowly release the breath he had been holding. His body felt lighter, more stable. His foundation had settled — for now.
Exhaustion crept in, and at last, he allowed himself to collapse onto the bed. The weight of the day pressed down, and sleep soon claimed him.
Dawn arrived swiftly. Golden rays pierced through the wooden shutters, spilling warmth across his room. The chill of the night gave way to the crisp air of morning.
Through the haze of slumber, Leon heard his mother's voice ring out from beyond the door, sharp and firm as always.
"Leon! Get up early and prepare yourself. Today is the ceremony — don't you dare make me drag you out of bed!"
Leon stirred, his obsidian eyes fluttering open. For a brief moment, he lay still, staring at the faint beams of sunlight dancing on the ceiling. His heart thumped with a mixture of anticipation and unease. Today wasn't just another day. Today was the beginning of something greater.
The Element Awakening Ceremony was no mere village festival. To outsiders, it might sound like a small affair — after all, it was being held in Stoneford, a village tucked away in the countryside. Yet Stoneford was no ordinary place. Its size rivaled that of towns found in the heart of the Vaeloria Continent, within the mighty Tranqueassia Empire. Moreover, it lay but a short distance from Elyaryn, the imperial capital itself.
Because of that, the ceremony always drew attention. Not only did villagers gather, but visitors from neighboring settlements arrived in droves, eager to witness the birth of new talents. Even dignitaries from Elyaryn occasionally appeared, turning this so-called "village event" into a stage that many youths dreamed of standing upon.
Leon washed up quickly, the cool water jolting him fully awake, and then joined his parents for a warm, hearty breakfast. The simple meal carried a sense of comfort, but the weight of the day pressed quietly in the background.
After the meal, Alfred placed down his cup and studied his son with steady eyes. His rough hands tightened slightly, betraying the worry hidden beneath his calm exterior. "Leon," he said slowly, "are you truly ready for this?"
Leon looked up, meeting his father's gaze. His obsidian eyes didn't waver. "Yes, Father. I'm sure."
Alfred held his gaze for a long moment before nodding, though a faint crease remained on his brow. "If you say so. But remember…" His voice lowered, carrying a weight only a man who had seen the harshness of the world could wield. "There are many powerful figures attending today. Rumors say even an elder from Astralis Academy has come to observe."
Leon's heart skipped a beat. Astralis Academy , he remembered Amelia's words— one of the greatest institutions on the continent, where geniuses from across Tranqueassia fought for a chance to enter. That caliber of existence stood like giants compared to village-born youths.
Alfred's tone grew sharper, almost grim. "Be careful. Don't let anyone grow suspicious about your… affinity." His eyes flickered, a shadow of unease flashing within them. "Darkness elements are not welcomed by many. In the eyes of the world, strength is admired — but fear is crushed before it has the chance to grow."
His words lingered in the air, heavy as iron.
Leon's jaw tightened, but he nodded firmly. "I understand, Father."
Alfred leaned back slowly, though his expression did not ease. He wasn't a cultivator, but he had lived long enough to know how merciless the strong could be. To them, a single spark of potential was either something to nurture… or something to snuff out before it became a flame.
Leon stepped out of the house, the crisp morning air brushing against his skin. His parents would join the ceremony later, taking their places among the audience, but for now, he walked alone.
He wore a black robe trimmed with crimson along the edges — a design strikingly similar to Veile's. The fabric clung to his tall frame, highlighting the sharp lines of his shoulders and the firmness of his build. The deep black of his attire contrasted against his pale skin and obsidian eyes, lending him a quiet but unmistakable presence. Handsome, yes — but there was something else in his bearing, something darker. His features carried a faint, demonic allure, a dangerous charm that made him look less like a boy of the village and more like a youth born from shadow.
Glancing down at the blade secured to his side, Leon let out a faint chuckle. "Look, Veile. I'm matching your clothes today."
A soft, childish huff echoed in his mind, Veile's voice dripping with disdain. "No, you don't."
Leon smirked faintly. He had discovered not long ago that Veile could speak to him through telepathy, even while sealed in her sword form. Unlike their first encounters, she no longer needed to manifest her figure to scold him.
Before he could reply, another voice reached him — clear, lovely, and familiar.
"Leon! Are you ready?"
He turned slightly, his gaze meeting Amelia's. She was walking toward him, her long black hair swaying with each step, the morning sunlight catching the faint crimson sheen in her obsidian eyes. Dressed in a light-blue robe with silver embroidery, she looked both elegant and radiant, her figure already drawing admiring glances from those passing by.
Leon smiled softly. "Mm. I'm ready."
Amelia studied him for a moment, her lips curving just slightly. "You look… different today." Her eyes lingered on his black robe, and a faint flicker of something unspoken crossed her face.
Leon chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his head. "Is that a compliment or a warning, big sis?"
Her gaze narrowed, though her smile didn't fade. "Both." She stepped closer, her voice lowering so only he could hear. "Just… don't go showing off too much. There are eyes watching today."
For a brief moment, Leon froze. Her words echoed almost perfectly what Alfred had said earlier. He nodded faintly, his obsidian eyes steady. "I'll remember."
Amelia's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Good."
Side by side, they began walking toward the ceremony ground.
Amelia walked beside him in silence for a moment, her eyes flicking toward him now and then. No matter how she tried, she couldn't shake the strange feeling pressing against her chest.
This wasn't the Leon she had grown up with.
His aura was heavier now, sharper, as though every breath he took carried the weight of unseen battles. His frame, once boyish and familiar, had hardened into something imposing. Even the way he spoke — calm, deliberate, steady — felt foreign compared to the carefree youth she remembered.
And it was no illusion.
Though he looked only a young man of fifteen on the outside, his soul was older. Twenty-eight years of soul growth, tempered by pain and agony no child should have endured, had reshaped him entirely. The boy she knew had been buried beneath scars she could not see.
Her chest tightened faintly. She wanted to speak, to reach for him, but the words caught in her throat.
Leon noticed her silence and tilted his head slightly, a faint smile brushing his lips. "What's wrong, big sis ?"
She blinked, her composure returning in an instant. "Nothing," she said softly, her voice calm, though her heart whispered otherwise. "You've just… changed."
Leon's smile grew faint, almost imperceptible. His obsidian eyes darkened, reflecting a depth she had never seen before. "Change isn't always bad, is it?"
Amelia's steps slowed for just a heartbeat, her gaze lingering on him before she looked away. "…No. Not always."