Luka stepped into the library and immediately noticed Winter sitting in the middle of it. towers of books stacked around him but what caught her attention was the one he had open in his hands. A thick, leather-bound, with faded gold letters along the spine.
She quietly moved closer, curious as she has not seen this book before .
winter saw luka and as smiled and offer her as luka asked about the book .winter explain it is a biography of the hero of royce family .
Winter's voice was calm as he read. "Darian Royce," he said aloud, "the one who was born with the ability to control nature … to make them grow, bend to his will. They say he stopped the great war between Eldora and Leonfield not with soldiers or swords, but with nature itself.
The fields that burned in the fire due to war were turned into gardens of rose.
Luka's remembered her big brother have talked about him, He had told her stories about a hero who could stop wars without battles, who could protect the kingdom by bending nature itself. She didn't know his name, didn't know much of the details—but the story winter is saying matched perfectly.
Winter continued, his voice steady "Darian Royce's power was unmatched. He created forests that encircled the kingdom, forming a living barrier. Eldora's armies could not come inside without getting lost but the same problem for Leonfield's forces also as they struggle to go outside .
The forest still exists today, though now it's mostly uncontrolled and now a territory for dead souls ,owls ,forest guardians . kingdoms complains endlessly about it, but it's part of Royce's legacy."
Luka bit her lip, staring at him. She had always heard of the battles leonfield have fought , but never care to learn about it . The thought of fields of fire turned into garden of rose was almost too imagenary .
Winter leaned back in his chair, flipping a page. "He also started the royal bloodline of the Royce family by marrying the princess of Toria, the kingdom next to Leonfield, expanding Leonfield's territory even further." .
"Darian's descendants carried his abilities, his sense of responsibility, his… stubbornness. his descendants aren't just rulers—they're caretakers of this land."
"Winter's eyes lifted from the page, meeting hers for a moment. 'People read history as facts, as records, but they forget the main thing: each history is about someone's life or a place, a journey. Darian Royce's choices shaped the kingdom. His power saved lives. His vision… it left marks we still live with today.'
Luka nodded slowly, imagining the forest surrounding the kingdom, stretching along the borders. She could almost see it—the trees rising like silent guardians, thick roots twisting into barriers no army could easily cross, flowers and vines moving under the will of a single man. It was beautiful. Terrifying. Alive.
"And yet," Winter continued, voice soft, "even the greatest stories have limits. The forest, his greatest defense, became a problem for Leonfield later. It grows wild now. His control didn't last forever. But still… the land remembers him. The flowers bloom in memory of his courage."
Luka let out a small breath, staring at the book. "I think my brother mentioned about him before " she murmured something to herself .
Winter looked at her, eyes sharp, almost curious. "History is easier understand than stories," he said. "But stories… you live them and go on a journey with them that also why I like to read autobiography as a person tells about his journey . Even if the person didn't mention his name if he wrote about his journey you could feel a little that you lived that life ."
Luka nodded again, thinking that she wanted to write about herself , the girl who couldn't use magic but grow to became a empress who protect her kingdom .
Winter turned the page again and started to read it, while Luka quietly picked up the book she had come for before she leave she felt that winter looked at her as she turned her head to look at him but he was just reading For a moment she thought and came back and sat across winter and looked at him as he read .
***
[training room]
The sound of clashing steel echoed through the hall. Sparks flew each time the swords met, each strike sharp, precise. Even from this distance, it was clear—the General, though older than anyone would expect, moved with a speed and control despite his age.
"Even at his age…" Silver muttered, leaning forward, eyes tracking the movement. "…he's incredible."
Athena nodded. "I can only see a few moves. his movemnts It's like lightning."
Kite's eyes were sharp, observing each swing, each step. "I can see almost everything he's doing. He's using at least 95% of his power. Look at how he shifts his weight, even in small adjustments. And the Prince…"…he's holding back. he is not even close to 80%power."
Silver whistled quietly. "I can see that too. If he went all out, this would be one sided."
Athena tilted her head, watching. "It's crazy. Even I can only catch a fraction of the General's movements how can you both see it clearly ,do awaking boost your senses that much " as silver and kite noded .
"Kite leaned back slightly, shaking his head. 'my principle told us that with each new generation, the prodigy birth rate increases a little. In the older generations, prodigies were rare.
Athena smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah… it's lucky for us to born prodigies . Being a prodigy helps you in comprehending things easier and also helps you learn things faster ."
Silver laughed softly. "Watching the Prince and the General fight, though, it's like… poetry. Both of them only using swords, yet it feels like the entire hall is alive. Every strike, every counter—it's perfect, controlled chaos."
Kite's eyes never left the pair. "Notice the General's stance? Even when the Prince tries to feint, he adjusts without even thinking. His experience is what makes him dangerous. He doesn't need flashy moves; his simple swings carry precision and force."
Athena tilted her head, watching a quick parry. "I could see that one coming, barely. But the second one —no chance. He's like water, flowing and changing direction instantly."
Silver leaned back with a grin. "And yet, the Prince isn't panicking. He's testing, measuring, not even trying his full power. It's like he's playing with the General."
Kite smirked. "Or maybe he respects him enough to hold back. Either way, it shows how dangerous his full power would be. The General's strength is built on decades of mastery. Every strike has weight. Every attack has intent."
Kite's eyes narrowed. "Every prodigy moves differently, but the older generation… the General I could say is not a prodigy . You can't just learn what he does. You can only try to follow, catch glimpses, and maybe mimic it eventually."
Athena leaned forward. "I imagine fighting like that. Even seeing it… it's overwhelming strong . But watching them, I get it—the skill, the timing… it's not just strength. It's control, thought, instinct, experience ."
Silver nodded. "And courage. Discipline. both of them, controlling so much power, yet holding back when they don't need to. That's what makes them dangerous, and admirable."
The General swung again, and the Prince countered, stepping lightly, adjusting the angle of his blade. Sparks flew, ringing sharp in the hall. Kite's gaze softened. "Even if the Prince isn't using full power, he's still remarkable. The General is holding him off and also unknowingly teaching us without saying a word."
Athena clapped softly. "I love this. I wish I could spar like that someday."
Silver chuckled. "Watching is enough for now. Maybe one day, we'll be in the hall, fighting alongside them—or against them."
Kite smirked. "If we're lucky. But it won't be easy Look at how clean every movement is, how deadly yet elegant"
Athena leaned back, smiling. "I feel like we're witnessin , a moment worth remembering."
Silver nodded. "And to think, all of this skill, all of this instinct, comes from seeing things most people can't. We're lucky, Kite, really lucky, to have been born in this generation."
Kite's eyes stayed fixed on the fight. "Lucky… and responsible. We have to make it count. Every move, every choice. That's what being a prodigy is about."
Athena laughed softly again, brushing dust off her knees. "Yeah… and watching them, learning, even just a little, is amazing. The General may be old, but he fights like a storm. And the Prince… if he ever goes all out, it'll be unstoppable."
"What do you three want from Uncle Ted, that you're buttering him up so much?" the Prince said, dodging the General's attack and throwing him aside with a swift motion.
"No, we're just praising him—nothing more," Silver replied quickly, while Kite and Athena nodded in agreement.
"Uncle Ted, the sparring is over," the Prince said, sheathing his sword. Athena clapped, eyes bright, and asked the General, "Do other generals fight as strong as you?"
The Prince shook his head with a grin. "No one's stronger than Uncle Ted—he's the best of them all."
The Prince thought to himself, "Now comes the most difficult part of the plan … how do I convince Father about Winter?"