Episode 80: A Turning Point – The Guard Duty
When Elizabeth heard the news of Leon's injury, her heart ached. She knew he was close to her daughter Serena, and while she wanted to help him for that reason, she also remembered the hardships her family had endured before they rose in status. In Leon, she saw echoes of the comrades who had once stood by her side through those difficult years. She felt a genuine desire to give him an opportunity.
By chance, Elizabeth learned that a position had opened in the guard detail at Crown Prince Lian's training grounds. It was more than a mere posting; serving there meant standing close to the prince during his relentless drills, watching and learning from the best warriors in the kingdom. Rather than seeking favors or promotions on Leon's behalf, she judged this was the perfect opportunity for him to broaden his skills and grow—and quietly arranged for him to take the assignment.
Leon was puzzled by the sudden change of orders but obeyed without question. He assumed it would be a dull post. Yet when he arrived, what awaited him was far from routine.
Prince Lian's training was not what one would expect of a royal heir—it was fierce, punishing, and unrelenting. Elite masters and seasoned warriors sparred with him, driving him to his very limits. His stamina, keen instincts, and unyielding spirit stunned Leon.
As he watched, Leon felt something stir within him: a stronger determination to grow. The techniques Lian employed were unfamiliar and inventive, strategies Leon had never seen before. He committed every move to memory, realizing that to truly protect the kingdom, he too had to rise far above the level of a mere soldier.
That evening, Serena learned of Leon's new posting during supper with her mother.
"If he can recover in a safer place, I'm relieved," she said with a quiet smile. "And perhaps he'll gain something valuable there."
Elizabeth nodded, returning her daughter's smile. "Yes. Watching him grow will be good for both him and for you. A guard's post may seem modest, but there's much to learn in the shadow of great men. Let's hope he grows stronger for the kingdom's sake."
Days later, Leon had a chance to meet Prince Lian in person after training. Bowing low, he greeted the heir respectfully.
"I've heard you are diligent," the prince said, studying him. "Can you keep that resolve in the days to come?"
Leon's voice was steady despite his nerves. "Yes, Your Highness. I will do my duty for the kingdom."
The prince nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "Then the kingdom's future is in good hands. Learn all you can here, even while you serve."
Leon's heart burned with renewed purpose. He might be only a guard now, but this chance—this proximity to greatness—would be the foundation of his future strength.
**
Episode 81: Training Alone – Lessons Learned by Sight
On a rest day, Leon chose not to assist Serena at the research hall. Instead, he walked to the training grounds alone. The prince's movements had left an indelible mark on him, and he wanted to test himself—to see how much he could reproduce with his own body.
He closed his eyes and recalled the fluidity of Lian's motions, the decisive way he struck, the rhythm of a warrior who knew no hesitation. Then Leon tried to imitate them.
It was far harder than he imagined. His body faltered, his balance broke, and movements that had looked effortless when performed by the prince became clumsy when he attempted them.
"Of course… it's not that simple," Leon muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Doubt crept in—could he ever reach that level? But hope flared too: at least now he knew there was more to strive toward, a horizon he had never even glimpsed before.
He steadied himself, repeating each motion again and again, breaking them into smaller parts, drilling until the rhythm began to feel less foreign. Hours passed. His arms ached, his legs trembled, but his will held fast.
By the time he collapsed onto the training ground floor, breath ragged, he had not mastered the prince's style. But he had discovered something more important: his own persistence, his willingness to push beyond comfort, to inch closer to the strength he sought.
'One day,' Leon thought, staring up at the rafters above, 'I will stand as a warrior in my own right. Even if progress is slow, I will not stop.'
And so, sweat-soaked and exhausted, he rose once more, ready to continue the long, solitary journey of growth.
**
Episode 82: Leon's Search for His Own Technique
Leon had resolved to spend every spare moment of leave in training. The guardsman's duty at Prince Lian's side had shown him not only the ferocity of the heir's skills but also the mastery of the veterans who trained him. These sights had left a mark too deep for mere admiration. Leon believed that even without sparring directly with the prince, he could absorb what he had seen and forge it into something of his own.
Standing alone on the training ground, he gripped his sword and took a steady breath. At first he tried to mimic the prince's movements. Yet his strength and speed fell short, and he soon realized the futility. No… a simple imitation won't carry me. I need my own way.
Instead, he began devising a style built on defense and evasion. Where Prince Lian relied on raw power and decisive offense, Leon practiced drawing an opponent in, slipping away at the last instant, and countering with swift strikes. He experimented with enhancement spells, not flooding his whole body with energy but channeling bursts into a single limb—a sudden surge in his legs to dodge, or a sharp pulse in his arms to deliver a quick blow.
He drilled these motions again and again, weaving them into a rhythm of lures, feints, and ripostes. The pattern was erratic, unpredictable, and it suited him. If his enemies could not anticipate him, then his lack of overwhelming power would no longer matter.
Prince Lian wields strength that crushes. I will wield movements that confound. Let unpredictability be my weapon.
As the hours passed, Leon felt his body adapt to the strange cadence. Sweat stung his eyes, fatigue weighed heavy on his limbs, yet exhilaration burned in him. For the first time, he sensed the birth of a style that was his alone.
Though the drain of enhancement magic still loomed large, he learned to ration its use, compressing power into short bursts and retreating before exhaustion claimed him. It was imperfect, but it was progress.
By the time he lowered his sword and gazed at the sky above, his lips curved into a weary smile. It may be lonely work… but I'm finally finding my own path.
**
Episode 83: Toward the Martial Grand Tournament
Time passed, and with it came the approach of the Martial Grand Tournament—the greatest contest of arms in all of Elysium. Each year, warriors from across the kingdom gathered to pit their skill against one another. Victory brought not only honor but rich rewards and a royal commendation. For every fighter, it was a dream. For Leon, it was the perfect chance to test his growth.
The moment he saw the announcement posted on the barracks wall, his heart pounded. It's time. I belong on that stage now. Without hesitation he submitted his name and threw himself into harsher training than ever before.
Word of his entry spread quickly among his comrades. They clapped him on the shoulder and offered encouragement. "This is your chance to show everyone what you've been hiding," Ethan told him with a grin. "You've come a long way—don't hold back."
Leon returned the smile. "Thanks. I want to see how far I can really go."
Each dawn he was already at the yard, perfecting the footwork and timing that defined his style. He honed the art of evasion and surprise, sharpening his ability to draw opponents off-balance before striking. He trained his stamina to endure the bursts of enhancement magic without collapsing. The harder he pushed, the more his comrades marveled at his tenacity.
At night, when exhaustion finally pulled him down, he dreamed of the arena: of standing beneath the banners, sword in hand, cutting through foes with the unpredictable rhythm he had forged.
A few days before the tournament, he met Serena. She had already heard the rumors.
"So it's true—you're entering," she said, her eyes bright. "I can't wait to see it, Leon. I know how hard you've worked."
Her encouragement steadied him. "Then I'll fight with everything I have. I'll show you—and everyone—what I can do."
With those words lingering between them, Leon returned to his training. The stage was set, the moment near. At last, he would prove whether the style he had carved from sweat and stubbornness could shine in the eyes of the kingdom.