I lay leisurely under the giant tree by the lake, sunlight filtering through the leaves, dancing across my pale skin. The evening breeze carried the scent of wet leaves, but it felt… boring. Meanwhile, I, Gren Solstice, a fifteen-year-old, was already strong enough to make this world feel small beneath my feet.
My white hair now cascaded down my back, gleaming like liquid silver under the light. My golden-yellow eyes, just as captivating as before, were now sharper, seeming to pierce the secrets of anyone who dared meet my gaze. My body was tall and well-built for my age, muscles formed from countless hours of training, yet my movements remained fluid, graceful, and confident.
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a moment, and gave a slight smile. Yes, I knew—no one could match this combination. Almost everything I'd faced so far was just a warm-up. Even my father, Grand Duke Arwind Solstice, would feel slightly challenged if I got serious.
> "Time to have a little fun," I murmured, opening my eyes.
I activated Solar Authority, my personally cultivated Sun affinity. Heat spread around me, creating a subtle gravitational pressure on the ground; leaves at the edges caught fire slightly—but I remained relaxed, lying down.
Not satisfied, I added Lunar Authority—the Moon. Subtle illusions formed around me; leaf shadows danced wildly as if the lake itself shifted in silver waves.
Then, I balanced the two: Celestial Balance. Sun and Moon united within me, heat and illusion merging, forming an aura that could not be ignored. An absolute balance between light and shadow, reality and dream.
I looked at the sky, a slight, comfortably arrogant smile playing on my lips:
> "Heh… look at that, this world… is too small for me."
Rising to my feet, my long hair fell beautifully behind me, eyes radiating confident arrogance—but natural. I wasn't just strong—I was Gren Solstice. Fifteen years old, already mastering the Regnum User core. Arrogant? Of course. Cheeky? Definitely. But… who could really challenge me? Almost no one.
I had just turned toward the lake, enjoying the evening light filtering through the leaves, when I heard a small, quick, cheerful—and very annoying—giggle.
A toddler emerged from behind the bushes, hair as white and silky as mine, but eyes… ah, those eyes clearly belonged to Mom. Silver glowing softly, staring at me with curiosity and delight.
> "Grren~" came the small voice, and I knew—that was how my little sister, Allesa, called me.
I raised an eyebrow, holding back a smile.
> "Oh… so I'm not an only child anymore, huh?" I murmured, staring at her. "Seems my life's about to get more… interesting."
Allesa leapt toward me, hugging my waist with her tiny arms. Her laughter filled the air, softening my arrogance—just slightly.
> "Grren~"
I gently tapped her small head, pretending to be serious but clearly enjoying the moment.
> "Hmm, alright, Allesa… your big brother is indeed the best, but don't think you can beat me," I said with a cheeky smile.
Allesa looked at me with sparkling eyes, then tapped my chest as if confirming: she was cheeky like her brother, despite her tiny frame.
I sighed deeply, staring at the sky turning red with the sunset. Having Allesa by my side made the world feel a little more alive, warmer… and a little noisier. But of course, I was still Gren Solstice—fifteen, Regnum User core, who somehow still had to teach his little sister not to disturb his "sacred" power-training moments.
I lifted Allesa with one arm, her small body light as a feather. With a cheeky grin, I said:
> "Alright, Allesa… now let's go to Mom's garden. I'll show you something cool."
Allesa cheered, clenching her tiny fists, ready for adventure.
We walked from the lake, stepping through grass now tinged red from the sunset. The evening wind made my long hair dance as Allesa laughed joyfully, turning her head to the light filtering through the leaves.
Arriving at the garden, I lowered my gaze slightly to the grass, then performed a little magic trick.
> "Watch this…" I murmured, casting a mini version of Solar Authority—warm light balls appeared in the air, dancing around us.
Allesa watched with wide, sparkling eyes.
> "Grrren! Fly! Fly!" she cheered, chasing the floating light balls.
I chuckled, floating slightly as I waved my hand, the light balls dancing wildly, up and down, here and there, making Allesa laugh endlessly.
> "Ha, you think you can catch this?" I teased, spinning the lights rapidly above her head.
Allesa jumped, trying to catch them, always missing, making me laugh too. "Ha… this little kid is really lively."
Soon, a gentle voice came from behind. I turned, and… Mom Ivy was standing there, smiling warmly, holding freshly picked flowers.
> "Hm… seeing you two, it's like seeing a younger version of yourself again, Gren," she said, gently patting Allesa's head. "I hope you're not too arrogant while teaching your little sister, hm?"
I just raised an eyebrow, cheeky smile still on my lips.
> "Relax, Mom… I'm just showing a bit of magic. Allesa's enjoying it."
Ivy chuckled lightly, her eyes warm and amused.
> "Hm… it's time for you to enter the academy, my son," she said suddenly, serious but warm.
I snorted, glancing at Mom, then at Allesa, now sitting in the grass, tired but still smiling.
> "Academy, huh… kids my age are like ants compared to me, Mom. Do I really have to stoop to their level?" I asked, arrogantly, though my curiosity peeked through.
Ivy patted my shoulder softly, laughing at my arrogance.
> "Learning isn't just about fighting, Gren… you'll gain more than that. And you have to go, my son—all other Grand Duke kids have started, only this unique child of yours hasn't," she said, suppressing a laugh.
I turned to Dad, Grand Duke Arwind, standing by the garden gate, his face stern but eyes… hmm, seemed slightly entertained by my antics.
> "You heard that, son. No one is waiting at this academy, but you must go," he said, sternly yet with a touch of drama in his gaze.
I frowned, then looked at Mom.
> "Oh… so Lunia Drake is going to the academy too, huh, Mom?" I asked, curious.
Ivy chuckled, gazing warmly at me:
> "Hm… so you still remember her? Henry told me five years ago. You haven't met her again, right? Heh… my usually indifferent son toward the opposite sex, now asking about a girl."
I just gave a cheeky smile, patting Allesa, now lightly asleep in my lap.
> "Relax, Mom… just a bit of curiosity. After all, I'm Gren Solstice, fifteen with a Regnum User core… curiosity is my right, isn't it?"
Ivy laughed softly, while Dad only shook his head slightly, seemingly surrendering to my arrogance.
Night fell gradually, replacing the sunset with a silver moon. Crickets filled the air, and the lake mirrored the starry sky.
I stood at the water's edge, alone this time. My white hair flowed, caught by the night breeze. Allesa was asleep in her room, Mom and Dad inside. Just me… and the sky.
> "Hm. The world is too narrow during the day. Let's see how it feels at night."
I raised my hand, and the stigma appeared above my head—Sun and Moon merged into a single glowing circle. Celestial Balance.
The ground trembled faintly. The air around me cracked as if unable to contain the pressure. One step split the lake's surface as if gravity didn't exist. I felt power dancing, flowing—hot and cold, real and illusion, day and night, all in my grasp.
I swung my hand forward, golden light blending with silver pierced the air, leaving subtle cracks in the space around me. As if the sky itself tried to restrain my power.
> "Heh… exactly as it should be."
I smiled wryly, closing my eyes briefly, savoring the sensation of standing at the edge of human limits.
My sword was planted in the ground beside me, yet I didn't touch it. My empty hand alone was enough to shake the world.
I turned to the lake, seeing my reflection—white hair, glowing golden eyes, the celestial stigma above my head, looking like a young god descended from the sky.
> "Come on… I want to see who dares to face this."
The night wind blew gently, yet the Celestial Balance aura caused the air around me to ripple uncontrollably.
Under the twin sky, I—Gren Solstice—smiled, arrogant, cheeky, yet utterly undeniable.
And that was how the night ended.