As Liam concluded his lecture, he raised his voice slightly and announced, "Listen carefully. In one week, there will be a grand banquet at the royal castle to celebrate the prince's tenth birthday. We are all invited, and we will be attending." His gaze then shifted to me. "Rayon, your Dad has also received an official invitation. Make sure to inform him. Also, tell him to come in the office I want to meet him."
I nodded in understanding.
Liam then added looking toward Calvin, "Oh, and you and Rayon will be accompanying me to the royal castle in the afternoon today."
I was taken aback, 'Why would he take me there? I wasn't a noble—what business did I have at the royal castle?'
"Why do I have to go there, Uncle?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
He smiled warmly, his voice soft yet firm. "Because I want to take you there. I thought it would be a good opportunity for you to enjoy yourself and see the grandeur of the castle."
I frowned. "But it isn't some picnic spot."
Liam chuckled. "Ah, acting all mature now, aren't we? Yes, I know that, but still, I have some work to do at the castle, and while I take care of that, you and Calvin can explore the allowed areas. But keep in mind, certain sections are strictly prohibited—even high nobles like us cannot enter them. Calvin will act as your guide."
I sighed, deep in thought. 'What's up with this guy? Why does he want me to visit the castle so badly? Is it because of his friendship with my Dad? Or is this about our sparring match? Whatever the reason, I might as well take the chance to see the castle.'
With that settled, I made my way to find my Dad. He was at the guard training grounds, and Master was busy instructing his new students. Meanwhile, Aurora was happily playing with my sister, so I decided not to disturb her.
Upon reaching the training grounds, I found the area enclosed by towering stone walls, shielding it from the outside world. Two armored guards stood at the entrance, their expressions stern and unyielding.
As I approached, one of them stepped forward and said gruffly, "Hey, boy. This is no place for children to wander around."
I maintained my composure and responded, "I am the son of Albert Krator. Sir Liam sent me to fetch him."
To drive my point home, I released a small surge of aura pressure. Instantly, the air around us thickened, pressing down on the guards like an invisible force. Both of them stumbled slightly, their knees nearly buckling under the weight of my pressure.
I smirked inwardly. 'That should teach them not to call me a kid.'
Realizing their mistake, the guards stammered, "Ah! O-okay... You may pass."
Smirking to myself, I stepped inside.
Dad was seated on a bench, observing the guards as they practiced. Two swords rested beside him, their hilts gleaming under the sunlight.
I walked up to him and asked, "Dad, do you have an aura sword? I want to see it."
He chuckled. "Still as eager as ever, I see."
He picked up one of the swords—a magnificent weapon with a silver scabbard that emitted a faint, pulsating aura. Handing it to me, he said, "Unsheathe it and show me some of the sword techniques your master has taught you."
Excited, I drew the sword and began performing a series of precise movements, executing each stance and swing with calculated finesse. The blade whistled through the air as I moved, its aura resonating with my own.
Dad laughed heartily. "Ha! As polished and perfect as ever. You wield that blade like a seasoned warrior, despite being only eight years old. Truly, a genius in both swordsmanship and magic."
I grinned. "By the way, Dad, Liam has asked for you at his office."
Dad stood up, stretching slightly. "Alright, let's go."
Turning to the training guards, he called out, "Training ends here for today! We'll continue tomorrow."
With that, we made our way toward the manor. As we reached the gate, I spotted Aurora playing with Elvina. The moment Aurora saw me, she leaped onto my shoulder, her tiny paws gripping me securely.
She spoke to me through our mental link, 'Papa, where were you?'
'I had to fetch Dad from the training grounds,' I replied.
'Why didn't you take me with you?' she pouted.
'I didn't want to interrupt your playtime with my sister,' I explained.
Just then, Elvina ran toward me, panting. "Borther, give me Aurora! I need to play more!"
I turned to Aurora mentally, 'Do you want to come with me to the royal castle?'
Her excitement flared. 'Yes! I want to go!'
'Alright then. But for now, go play with Elvina. I'll pick you up later.'
Aurora jumped off my shoulder, landing gracefully beside Elvina, who squealed in delight.
I turned to my sister and asked, "Where is Master?"
She answered, "In the training ground." Her words were slightly mispronounced, but I understood and made my way there.
Master was overseeing his two new students, who were deep in meditation. I approached him silently, not wanting to disturb the atmosphere.
"What are they doing?" I whispered.
Master mimicked my whispering tone mockingly, "Humans... Mana rehabilitation method." Then, without warning, he smacked my head with his rock-hard hand. "Go join them! Your mana breathing technique is still far from perfect."
I groaned, rubbing my head. "Yeah, yeah, old man. I'm going."
For the next hour, I focused on mana breathing, refining my technique under Master's watchful eye. Once training ended, I headed to my room, cleaned up, and helped Aurora freshen up as well.
Finally, we made our way to the gate, where Liam was already waiting.
"Are you ready?" Liam asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."
Once Calvin joined us, we set off for the royal castle.
As we approached, the sight before me was nothing short of breathtaking. The royal castle stood like a majestic titan against the sky, its towering spires piercing the heavens. The walls were constructed of pristine white stone, polished to a mirror-like sheen, reflecting the golden hues of the sun. Tall, elegant banners bearing the kingdom's crest fluttered proudly in the breeze, their rich fabric catching the light.
Beyond the gates, a sprawling courtyard stretched out, lined with vibrant gardens and sculpted fountains that shimmered like liquid crystal under the sunlight.
The castle itself was a masterpiece of architecture, a seamless blend of beauty and strength. High-arched windows adorned its facade, each one etched with runes that glowed faintly, pulsing with protective enchantments. The central tower loomed over the rest, a beacon of regal authority and power.
I took a deep breath, awestruck. 'This... is the royal castle.'
Liam smiled knowingly. "Impressive, isn't it?"
I could only nod, by seeing its magical beauty.