The grand dining hall was unusually quiet.
Dozens of maids stood at the corners, lined up like shadows. Knights stood tall, pretending not to stare. Silverware clinked. No one spoke.
Until Aria dragged her chair beside Kaito and plopped down like a queen claiming her throne.
He blinked, confused.
Before he could speak, she grabbed his cheeks. "OHHHHH~ so softtt~ like marshmallows!"
Everyone froze.
She laughed, picked up a spoon, and scooped soup into his mouth. "Say aaah~"
Kaito: "?!"
Laughter broke out around the room. The butler dropped his ladle.
Aria wiped his lips with a napkin, all smiles. "You're still such a baby."
Kaito turned red. His spoon shook in his hand.
Then she stood and clapped once.
"I've brought gifts."
She turned to Reyzen. "Father, for you."
A sword of black steel appeared in her hand, glowing faintly.
"Adamantite?" Reyzen asked, stunned.
"Yes. Practice with this one. You've already broken a thousand."
Reyzen chuckled. "You counted?"
"I did," Aria replied with a smirk.
Next, she moved to Selene and carefully pulled a box from her cloak. Inside was a diamond necklace, studded with a single ruby.
Aria gently clasped it around her mother's neck. "Still the most beautiful in the palace."
Selene smiled warmly. "You've grown elegant, my daughter."
Then came the voice.
Kaito: "What about me? What's mine?"
Aria turned, expression cold. "Tch. So impatient."
He flinched.
But then—fwoosh—the ground changed color.
She was kneeling on the floor now, a small velvet box in her palm. Inside: a ring, sleek and silver, inlaid with a tiny blue gem.
She slid it onto Kaito's finger.
"Here's your gift."
She leaned up and kissed his forehead.
Kaito went red from ear to neck.
The room exploded with laughter.
Knight Captain Elric: "Hey now, Lady Aria, when are you marrying this fine lad?"
Head Butler: "Captain, please. Look how red the boy is!"
Kaito buried his face in his hands. Aria ruffled his hair, humming.
The long night ended with cheers, teasing, and warm smiles.
---
The next morning, Kaito darted down the hallway, giggling as the maids chased him for skipping breakfast.
Then—CLANG! BOOM!
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the hall.
Kaito froze.
He turned toward the training chambers. His feet moved before his brain could catch up.
---
Inside, the air was heavy. The stone floor cracked beneath their feet.
Aria stood in the center of the field, black training outfit clinging to her sweat-covered body, sword in hand.
Facing her were three knights.
Uncle Valdin
Big bro Kaisen
And Vice Captain Rheorda… also known as "The Gambler"
Each one was a monster. All were stage 6 aura wielders—except Rheorda, who wielded a deadly maroon aura of stage 7.
Kaito whispered: "She's up against them?"
FWOOSH—Aria vanished.
Her sword lit up, a deep red flame dancing on the blade.
Valdin's sword went flying.
Rheorda's eyes widened. Nine strikes in a second?!
Kaito couldn't even count them. To him, it looked like two.
Then came a spell: Glacial Terra
The ground froze. Ice burst across the floor. Kaisen blocked the projectiles—but Aria was behind him.
BOOM!
He collapsed.
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Teleportation?"
Captain Elric stepped beside Kaito. "No, kid. She's just fast."
"But… magic and aura? At the same time?"
Elric smiled. "That's the Bloodcrest legacy. Purebloods can handle mana, aura, and even holy power. But one wrong step and their body explodes from the inside."
Kaito: "Wha—?! That's terrifying!"
Back in the field, Rheorda lunged. Aria met him head-on.
CRASH!
Waves of pressure exploded from the clash. The stone cracked. The air trembled.
Kaito would've been thrown if Elric hadn't grabbed him.
Three seconds. Dozens of strikes. Sparks flew.
Rheorda pushed harder. "You're good—but not good enough!"
Aria jumped back. She needed space. She prepped a spell—but Rheorda didn't give her time.
Too fast.
But Aria just smiled.
She'd already cast it.
Slide.
A childish ice spell meant for fun.
Rheorda stepped—and slipped.
Aria's sword stopped an inch from his neck.
She won.
"T-That was Slide, right?" one knight whispered. "I use that to prank squirrels…"
Everyone stood frozen.
Kaito: "SHE WON?!"
Rheorda chuckled from the ground. "You're terrifying, girl. That last spell… was pure genius. Who uses Slide like that?"
Aria smirked. "A mastermind, perhaps?"
Kaito ran up to her, eyes sparkling. "You're amazing, Sis! A genius! A tactical genius!!"
In that moment, Kaito decided: he wanted to be like her.
Aria blinked, sweat dripping.
In her head: I was so scared I casted it by reflex i thought i was a goner—but hey, it worked…
Then she scooped Kaito up and rubbed her face against his.
"Awww~ praise me more, meatball~! Your sister's a genius, right?! The coolest, right?! The most beautiful, right?!"
Kaito: "Sis—so sweaty!! Stop—!"
Aria grinned wildly. "Tehe~! Totally worth it."
"They'll never know I nearly peed myself when Rheorda lunged." AHH SO EMBARACING
Reyzen watched from the shadows, a faint smile ghosting his lips. "Just like your mother... but more reckless."
That night, Kaito couldn't sleep. His mind replayed her every move. But something was… off. The ring she gave him—was glowing.